--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Nelson, N. L. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 16 number: 6 published: 1913-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Nelson, N. L., "An Open Letter to Bishop Spalding," *Improvement Era* 16, no. 6 (April 1913): 603–610.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1606unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1606unse start_page: 603 end_page: 610 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1913-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1606unse publication_year: 1913 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1913, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # An Open Letter to Bishop Spalding An Open Letter to Bishop Spalding. BY PROF. N. L. NELSON My Dear Reverend Sir: days you hear — — these If in and overhear—a cer- along the lines of your recent pam- phlet; but living as I do just now in tain familiar quotation from an the very heart of the desert, must-I ancient prophet, you will probably resort to this one-sided and therefore have an uneasy feeling tnat somehow somewhat unsatisfactory method of you yourself nave furnished the latest "crying out in the wilderness," after occasion lor bringing it forward. having fired your hroad-side at us The passage occurs in Isaiah 2 9, a think,man, of the "imprudence" of propnecy believed by Latter-day it!without a declaration of war, and taints, to refer to tne coming forth of in a time of profound peace. You the Book of Mormon. The quotation must be much oppressed with curihere given refers to some of the after osity to know the exact psychological effects: effect on a "Mormon" elder of being "Wherefore the Lord said, for as "hit." much as tnis people draw near me Let me assure you, then, that as rewith their mouth, and with their lips gards three-fourths of us, the effect uo honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear to- — was purely spectacular a compound of smoke and noise. Like Nathaniel of ward me is taught by the precepts of old, such is the assurance with which men; therefore, behold, I will proceed their shield of faith protects them, to do a marvelous work among this that they stop neither to ask nor to people, even a marvelous work and a entertain negative questions. It is wonder; for the wisdom of their wise of this type particularly that the Lord men snail perish, and the understand- has said: "My grace shall be sufficient ing of their prudent men shall be hid." for you." Moreover, if you should keep your As for the rest of us, however, the ears alert for current comments on case is unfortunately different. Our this famous passage, you would prob- faith, I hope, is no less ardent than ably find many a -'Mormon" elder just theirs; but, Thomas-like, we must now classing your late jury of savants make the findings of our heads coinamong the "wise men" there referred cide with the findings of our hearts beto. You yourself would doubtless be fore we can be completely at peace. placed among the "prudent men," for Speaking for myself, I may say that up till your latest move among us, while this discussion has been going that was the mental quality which dis- on, I have been distinctly at a disadtinguished you from the rest of your vantage; for contrary to your past clerical brethren. Let us hope that vogue, you neglected to furnish me this fine talent is not to be "hid" very with the "document" in question. I long. My dear fellow-worker, for a month read, — therefore let me confess if — frankly with a growing sense of dismy bones have been aching for one turbance, the first three or four arof our three-hour chats, especially ticles by the defense; and when you'' ' 604 IMPROVEMENT ERA pamphlet finally reached me. and I plausibility to these swift, off-hand had before me the full verdict of your verdicts. learned jury, that disturbance deepen- In the midst of such perplexities the ed into a profound disappointment. wise man leaves his convictions in "Was it possible?" I asked myself, statu quo. I concluded to wait. "thai Joseph Smith had presumed upon At this point I am willing to gratify his reputation as a translator, to set what must be a very natural curiosity irnvn here the vagaries of an undis^ on your part as to what was then my ciplined imagination? To what pur- mental attitude toward Joseph Smith's pose?" I asked myself. For these divine mission, especially in relation Egyptian cuts and th£ findings on to the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine them, ha^e only an incidental relation- and Covenants, the Pearl of Great ship to "Mormonism." The Book of Price and the system ui' belief and Abraham," like the Book of Mormon, conduct based as you affirm, upon is a vital contribution to our sacred them. I will answer by this compariliterature; but these curious drawings son: and their desultory and fragmentary Suppose you had looked day after decipherment— what purpose did the day upon a glorious landscape, sunprophet have in giving them to the flooded, and perennially renewed beworld? fore your eyes. Then comes a fog Then I recalled, that as to their which blurs or blots this view temtranslation, it came about differently porarily from your mind. Do you from that of the Book of Mormon— and therefore doubt that this landscape is for aught I know, from that of the a realty or that the sun is still shin- Book of Abraham. In those books the ning, and will in fact soon dispel the revelation proceeded in a stream, with- mist? out break or hesitation; but in these Well, there is your answer. The sasuperficial bits, Joseph studied diligent- cred books of "Mormonism" and the ly and worked the figures over, bit by principles of the gospel set forth therebit, quite as an uninspired translator in are in a very definite sense, indemight have done. pendent of Joseph Smith; just as the Did he merely "guess," then, at the Bible is its own vindication, without meanings he set down? If this jury of reference to high critics or low. For experts is to be trusted, he must have behind the fogs which men may credone so. But again tne question rises, ate, shines forever the Sun of rightwhy did he translate these Egyptian eousness who makes clear to each soul plates at all? To gratify vanity? Hard- whatever of truth in these divine recly: for so sure does he seem to be of ords is fitted for your soul's assimilahis work, that he transcribes and pub- tion or mine. lishes in fac-simile the translated "God is his own interpreter, — scrolls in effect, throws down the • And he will make it plain." gauntlet to the whole world. This aspect of my letter will receive Again, to assume that he guessed at. further attention later on; for indeed the meanings, would be to credit him it is my central, if not my only, rea- with a vanity amounting to fool-hardi- son for writing to you at all. Here, ness, and certainly, foolhardiness is a however, it will be apropos to resume quality not to be found in the history my narrative, as to the effect of your of his work as a church builder. In- pamphlet on a sample "Mormon" elder. deed, viewing the prophet in the latter The fog your critics spread did not capacity, must we not credit him with hang long. Dr. Robert C. "Webb's masthe very oposite qualification, that of terly explication of these plates rescientific construct! veness? stored to me more than your destruc- — On the other hand this verdict! And tive criticisms took away. For up till so cock-sure do these "savants" seem, the date of this discussion, I had given that theii investigation of the matter only the most casual attention to this appears trivial — to them too "dead part of Joseph Smith's work as transeasy" to occupy more serious time than lator. I therefore had no definite the tooth-pick interval after a hearty convictions with reference thereto. meal. Nay, one is led to believe from Never having sought the testimony of their letters that the veriest tyro in the Spirit concerning them I held these Egyptology, the mere connoisseur ie fragments from the lore of Egypt out any one of a score of museums, could in that boundless category of things overthrow the prophet's position. yet to be investigated. But following True, the lazy complacency and ir- Dr. Webb's careful paper, as best I ritableness of these experts is a sus- could, by aid of dictionary and enpicious ingredient in their verdicts; for cyclopedia, I obtained gratifying it is a mental attitude too often formed glimpses into the mythology of Egypt, ! n so-called intellectual (?) critics of and every bit of insight so obtained "Mormonism." On the other hand, the wns a new step in the direction of. cuts themselves lend a most tantalizing vindicating Joseph Smith. "JOSEPH SMITH, JR., AS A TRANSLATOR' 605 The effect upon me was that of a in every word of this hymn, and feeling- of pure joy— a sense of for spirit- that matter in all the ual triumph, which keeps welling up God-literature of the Bibte. How can there be at and. overflowing, whenever in thought on^e many Gods and yet mly I review Dr. Webb's findings. one God'' Wow, in the sense of Godhood that Remember, the needs of my faith . IB to say of the fullness of the priestrequire neither a complete nor an in- nool, there can be only one fallible translation of these plates by God in the universe-one truth, one power, one au- Joseph Smith. No Egyptologist living thority, which when wielded is able to give that, as the variations by the perfected man, makes that man among these experts sufficiently indi- God You will please note, my dear doctor, cate. It should suffice, therefore, for tnat God as unity may thus the faith of any honest man, if it be be repre- sented as any one or all of the pure made plain that the prophet has shown abstractions, viz., as truth, power aureal and profound insight into the rec- thority, as noted above, or as omnipoords of this dead and buried age of tence, omniscience, omnipresence, and the world; and such an insight Dr. so on to the end of the category of Webb shows Joseph Smith to have had divine attributes. at a time, moreover, when he could But such an abstraction could not derive no aid from the work of schol- even begin to act in the universe; for ars. while the divine office contains all Dr. Webb has, indeed, vindicated the there is of power and authority, it reprophet better than he knew himself. mains inert and indifferent so far as Let me attempt to make plain at least creating and controlling are concerned, a single instance of this. without an executive wielding the of- After mentioning that one of th& fice. Your own definition of deity as critics, Dr. A. M. Lythgoe of New York, a being "without body, parts or pasfound "snatches of a hymn to the Sun sions" is a fairly good description of God" on the hypocephalus, or second this same ineffective abstraction. of the said cuts, Dr. Webb proceeds Note, now, in the pi-rase of the to quote one of these ancient Egyptian hymn above quoted, how superior is hymns at length. It is sufficient for the Egyptian definition: "Thou Only my purpose to reproduce this quota- One. whose arms are many." Jehovah tion only in part: and Jesus Christ are two examples or "Hail to thee, O Amen-Ra Lord of such "arms" or executives of the "Only the world's throne. The king of heaven One;" in short, of perfect men now and sovereign of the earth. Thou Lord wieiding the fullness of priesthood, or of things that exist; thou establisher of in other words, Godhood. Such in brief creation; thou supporter of the uni- is the contribution of "Mormon" verse. Thou art one in thine attri- philosophy to the world's concept of butes among the gods .thou . . . God. But to resume. chief of all Gods, Lord of truth, Father In the phrase above noted: "Thou of the Gods; Creator of men. .... Only One, whose arms are many," or Thou One, thou Only One whose arms in any of a score of other expressions are many. All men and all creatures in this Egyptian hymn, Joseph could adore thee and praises come unto thee havs discerned the "grand key-words from the height of heaven, from the of the holy priesthood." earth's widest space and from the In another place, Dr. Webb educes depths of the sea. .Thou One, . . the ideas of authority and truth from thou Only One, who has no second, the hieroglyphics. "It is respectfully whose names are manifold and innu- submitted -for determination," he then merable." asks, "whether these qualities fully Now, inasmuch as Joseph Smith de- represent the priesthood, or emblem clares figure 3 in the second plate "to the governance of God." The answer represent God sitting upon his throne is that they do most fully, and conseclothed with power and authority; quently give point to Joseph's transwith a crown of eternal, light upon his lation, viz., "emblematic of the grand head; representing also the grand key- presidency in heaven." words of the holy priesthood," Dr. Indeed the more carefully one studies Webb is led to remark that if the Dr. Webb's exposition, the more prophet could really read such strongly one is convinced that Joseph "snatches of a hymn to the Sun God," Smith read the deeper or esoteriche might well discover symbols typi- meaning of these symbols; while your fying the "grand key word of the panel of experts read the surface or priesthood." exoteric meaning only; whence Isa- It is concerning the meaning of this iah's words above quoted stand justivery expression that I desire to en- fied: "the wisdom of their wise viz., large. If a key-word means anything, men perish;" that is, come to shall it must mean that which unlocks a naught. For no man now honestly in- deep mystery. That mystery, faces us vestigating "Mormonism," need stum- 606 [MPR< >VEMENT ERA ble because of your late contribution learned jury were not fairly in possesto the aubjecl - sion of the facts, otherwise they would remains to point out in further de- Tt not have presumed to pass judgment how the "understanding" of at li. il, on the Book of Abraham, calling it a leasl one of the "prudent men" was "pure fabrication," etc. They should "hid;" for as intimated in the opening have been informed that the Mss. of this letter Isaiah'sphrase, in my of this book were probably destroyed in estimation, fits exactly the role you the great Chicago Are, and that what have played in this whole business. they were expected to pass upon was In the consider the in- first place, only incidentally related thereto. This dictment brought against you for "un- lapse on your part, whether through fair fairness" by my friend Polder Os- a;n advertence or by design, comes to borne J. P. Widtsoe. If it is a just in- the same thing, in helping to discredit dictment, as it seems to be, it surely your jury, and is an illustration of indicates a temporary eclipse of your how the "understudy" of a really pruwell known prudence. As has been dent man may be "hid," when he tries pointed out over and over again, the his hand at overthrowing the work ->f fac similes published in the "Pearl of God. Great Price" were no integral part This, however, becomes a trivial inof the ancient manuscripts of the stance, when compared with the col- Book of Abraham. They were pages lossal result you anticipate from the superficially attached to this manu- verdict of your panel of Egyptologists, script, and the translation forms no viz., the repudiation by every thoughtpart of the revelation known as the ful and honest Latter-day Saint, "with Writing of Abraham. whatever personal regret," As quoted in your pamphlet, page 16, (1) Of the Book of Mormon, and (2) George Q. Cannon says: of "the whole body of belief, which has "Attached to two of the bodies been built upon it and upon the repu- (mummies) were rolls of linen. . . . tation its publication gave to its Within the linen were rolls of papyrus author." 1earing a perfectly preserved record The more I contemplate this gigantic in black and red characters, carefully assumption on your part, my dear revformed." erend sir, the more astounded I am at These constituted the writings of your lapse of mental values. What! Abraham —the text by Abraham's own are my spiritual intuitions, which are hand; though there is nothing to show the voice of God to me—nay, are the that this text had not been widely testimonies of the Spirit to half a milcopied, and that this particular Ms. lion souls — to be counted fact or ficmay not, in fact, have been a copy 500 tion, according as a certain historical years after Abraham's day. incident shall be passed upon by a Afv to the fac-similes under discus- jury of Gentiles, prejudiced, ill-tem- pered and mad with the pride of husion, consider this further remark by Elder Cannon in the same extract: man learning? I can find no relief for my amaze- "With other of the bodies were papyrus ment, save in the restaging of your prostrins bearing epitaphs and astronomi- position, with new but I believe, faircal calculations." Does not this better ly analogous terms: des< ribe the probable source of these "Many years ago a certain noted Egyptian cuts? traveler discovered, floating down the Be that as it may, I have the testi- headwaters of the Mississippi a somemony of one who handled the Mss. of what curious object, which he dethe Book of Abraham scores of times. scribed as an overturned Indian canoe, This was Dr. John Riggs of Provo, at much battered. The incident received whose house I lived three years duri/ng considerable emphasis at the time from my student days in the Brigham Young the fact that people took sides as to academy. Dr. Riggs was distinguished the correctness of this description. Affor a memory almost photographic in ter three-quarters of a century a cerits exactness of details. As a boy in tain reverend gentleman, desirous of Kirtland he had constant opportunity vindicating the truth, discovered this of being present with viistors at the object floating in the Gulf of Mexico, "Museum," ? room in Father Smith's and promptly laid it before a jury of house, where the mummies were on ex- eight expert woodmen, who, though hibition. As I recall his testimony, they differed among themselves as to just what the object really was, nil the Mss. were in the form of a pad about six by eight inches and half an inch agreed in ridiculing the interpretation of the traveler; whereupon the revthick, and were found lying trans- erend gentleman, by a curious eclipse versely over the region of the mum- of 'undersanding' or common sense, my's stomach, directly underneath his made this demand; that every honest hands. and thoughtful person, not only re- The point of nil this, as insisted upon pudiate, 'at whatever personal regret, also by Elder Widtsoe, is that your the original interpretation of the ob- — "JOSEPH SMITH, JR., AS A TRANSLATOR" 607 ject but also discredit the reality of which space forbids divine revelation, the Mississippi river (the river of i'aith me to touch upon here. Finally you and spiritual intentions) which bad are prepared to bait your hook, and served to keep the object afloat, and here is how you do it. I have taken carry it out into the sea of worldly the liberty of placing the barb of that speculation!" hook in capitals: Here is another parallel: "It is surely clear to the reader that "Once upon a time a lover of fine the correctness of the translation of fruit proceeded to plant a noted garden the Book of Mormon is a most imwhich in time, and by the aid of his portant question. It was the convicsuccessors, became the livest and most tion that he had been selected by the fruitful orchard in the whole world. Almighty to give to mankind this At length a certain wiseacre in minis- Book, which won for Joseph Smith, terial broadcloth came along, and out Jr., the attention of earnest men and of pure envy, as some averred, or pure women, and gave him leadership over love of truth as be himself maintained, them. If the translation of the plates proceeded to throw discredit upon the is inaccurate, he did not deserve that fruit and upon all the workers in the leadership. However sincere he may orchard. have been in believing in his mission, "For I have discovered, said he, if the translation he gave to mankind bv delving into a certain incident of is false, he is shown to have been selfhis life, that the founder had but a deceived. More than this. This repoor and imperfect knowledge of bo- liance placed upon the witnesses who tany, a absolutely necessary science testified that God's voice assured them to the true propagation of fruit; which that the translation was 'by the gift deplorable ignorance of said founder and power of God is broken down. ' I have established by a jury of eight They, too, were self-deceived. They scientific men: and I consequently call did not hear God's voice; BECAUSE upon every honest and thoughtful man, GOD'S VOICE COULD NOT HAVE 'at whatever personal regret,' not only ASSURED THEM THAT AN INCORto repudiate the said founder but to de- RECT THING WAS TRUE." ny that said fruit is good and beauti- Once your antagonist accepts the ful, and also forthwith to abandon proposition have placed I capitals in said orchard. Yea, verily. Amen." Let me now proceed to uncover the — and ordinarily who would have the courage not do so? —your part of to adroit and subtle rhetorical approaches the argument done. is You have whereby this preposterous assumption merely to turn on him the crank of was made to stem plausible— first as the logic mill, and he is figuratively regards the repudiation of the Bo >k of reduced to sausage. Mormon. For instance, the first edition of the You start out by commending the Book of Mormon had in it about 2,000 iogic — from the Latter-day Saint point mistakes in spelling and grammar, of view — which places the Rook of which have since been eliminated; Mormon before the Bible in point of moreover, the present edition is very "correctness." Next you quote from far from being flawless, if judged by Elder Orson Pratt: the best literary standards; especially "This book must be either true or as regards grammar and rhetoric. false. If true, it is one of the most Turn now the logic crank, bishop, important messages ever sent from Here is the way it will go: God to man. ... If false, it is one of Can God's voice have proclaimed f.^e most cunning, wicked, bold, deep- as "true," a translation so very "in- 'aid impositions ever planned upon the correct" in spelling, grammar, and w^rld." rhetoric? Again, when the Book of Tn order to enhance further the idea Mormon shall come to have the cruthat a revelation from God must be cial examination invited by Elder "Perfect" and flawless, you next quote Roberts' outburst of enthusiasm that splendid burst of eloquence in a and every "Mormon" elder welcomes speech by Elder B. H. Roberts: "I am willinsr to repeat my state- it, just as did Elder Roberts it —is more than probable that the book will ment that the Book of Mormon must fail to measure up to the standard of — submit to every test literary criticism among the rest ... modern truths in botany, zoology, as- to histor- tronomy, geography, history and ical tests, to the tests of archaeolog- many other departments of human ical research, and also to the higher endeavor; of which it is at least the criticism. . .The Book is flung . indirect record among an ancient down in the world's mass of literature, people. Indeed, if it be not found full and here it is: we proclaim it true, of inaccuracies in details of this type, and the world has the right to test it it will be counted a suspicious docuto the uttermost in every possible ment to the real critics; those that wav." realize, once for all, that no ancient There are many other deft little document can be more perfect than touches, tending to build up the idea the best of the life it reflects. of a necessary flawlessness in every Yet, you with your false standard 60S IMPROVEMENT ERA of correctness have only to say: "God may and should hold reverently many being perfect, whatever comes from things, because of the authority that his hands, cannot possibly have inac- utters them; but they will become true curacies in it." It is this same fool- to him only when the time comes that ish logic that you will try to turn on they can be woven into the tapestry us, when you find Joseph Smith's of his soul-life. translation "incorrect" because for- In the third place, any considerable sooth, your experts unite in ridicul- revelation of modern science, could ing him. You seem really to think not have been made to the ancients, that there is such a thing as "correct- out of sheer failure to And a being ness" in an absolute sense. Which able to voice it. Nay, even the symthen of your eight witnesses is the bols necessary to convey the thought "correct"one? Your answer must were not in existence. condemn the other seven. Consider as an illustration the case Is it rot about time, my dear fellow of the Prophet Mormon himself, Supworker, that we gave up that foolish pase, after God had commanded him proposition, which forms the back- to make, from the tomes of Nephite bone of your inquiry, viz., that any records at hand, the abridgment now . document put forward as a divine rev- — known by his name suppose, I repeat elation must be "flawless" by all the the divine Spirit guiding him, had human standards that happen to be held him up, whenever there came in vogue at the time? into his mind an aspect of botany, Suppose a given revelation, touching zoology, geography, astronomy, or any upon controversial matters, were in other such Nephite experience, the exfact pronounced flawless by the best pression of which would not be up-tohuman learning of the day; would it date with what the Spirit might forenot still be full of "inaccuracies" to see would be known of these things in advanced intelligences, like the angels, the twentieth century. Would not his or even to earth-people who are to pen have been paralyzed every little live a century in the future? while? Suppose the Spirit of Inspira- Again, if God's perfection must be tion had then, against his will, seized mirrored in every document which his his hand and written those passages voice proclaims to be "true;" then wherein his knowledge failed to measwe should have a revelation utterly ure up to what would be the exactions meaningless to man till such time as he shall attain to the same perfection. of modern truth — would he, Mormon, have stood for such passages? Would To make this plain, we have only to they not have seemed unintelligible, suppose the modern geological ex- not to say false, to him? And would planation of creation to have been they not have 'been essentially false, given to the ancients instead of the as a, portrayal of the life of an ancient account in Genesis. What meaning people? could it possibly have had for them? Now, such a supposition is foolish, Such a bit of modern truth injected from the fact that divine inspiration out of relation with all the rest of the could not thus have seized the anthoughts and experiences of the race cient writer's hand, for that would have for several thousand years to come? been violating man's free agency. The But could God not have revealed a Book of Mormon may thus be "true," sufficient arc of creation, as modern both as reflecting truly, by its very inscience now understands it, so as to accuracies, an imperfect people, and as bring- the ancients nearer to truth? being fitted, even by its very short- The answer is no. First, because to comings, for assimilation by the poor do so would violate the fundamental and lowly of another people 1,500 years principle of divine education, the ab- in the future. solute need of self-effort to psychic de- That is true for us which is fitted to velopment; and, second, because the awaken and keep growing our soul- more truth he would reveal, as mod- life, however incorrect it may be as erns see truth, the more would the mental life of the ancients have been measured by a more perfect standard. confused; just as the truths now Genesis was therefore the "truest" doc- Known to intelligences a million ages ument concerning the creation that in advance nf us, would, were they could have been revealed to the an- imposed upon our intellects by divine c'ent world: and considering the class fiat, serve only to blight our spir- of souls God meant to draw together itual development. For though we for the foundation of his Church in might hold such "truths" reverent- this dispensation, the Book of Mormon ly, they would not be "true" to us, is aiso — "true" truer, indeed, than a ,-in-- more than a stone would be diges- morn perfect revelation — a revelation tible, because held in the stomach. classic in diction and flawless as to That only is true to any one. which scientific concepts — could possibly have can be felt to be true; i. e., which been. can be assimilated, and incorporated The vindication of the truth, as to with the body of his experiences. Man whether God's voice did or did not "JOSEPH SMITH, JR., AS A TRANSLATOR" 609 speak to the witnesses, lies, therefore, through the medium of the Holy Spirit. not in your dinky little verdict of ex- So also of its historical relation of Joperts, but in the tremendous fact of seph Smith, Brigham Young or any the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- other of its past leaders. Their names day Saints itself. — might go into oblivion which God for- And this thought, viz., that in your judgment that litle pop-gun of opin- — bid yet the life of the Church still go on. ion had potency enough to blast down Paul points out the true source of the mighty mountain of faith in this the Church in a single phrase: "The ancient record—a faith, mind you, power of God unto salvation," inherbased mainly on the internal evidence: ent in each true member. Not in of the book itself— brings me to my tenet, therefore, nor doctrine, nor orlast topic, viz., the mistaken idea you dinance, nor ceremony, nor organizaseem to have concerning the nature tion, must we look for the secret of and constitution of the Church itself. its strength, lent in the "power of To you "Mormonism" is evidently God unto salvation." In other words merely a "body of belief built upon it to the Holy Spirit poured out upon [the Book of Mormon] and upon the each member. reputation its publication gave to its Instead of its organigation making author." Perhaps it was this very it strong, the converse is more nearly feeble estimate of its internal strength, true; its strength is what makes for a which gave you the confidence, Don perfect organization. "And as for you," Quixote-like, to attack it with a single so wrote John to the early Saints, "the spear. You probably reasoned: The anointing which ye received of him Book of Mormon is sure to fall; abideth in you, and ye need not that and if it falls, the prophet must also any teach you; but as this anointing fall; but as it is his reputation as a teacheth you concerning all things, and prophet — which Atlas-like holds up — is true, and is no lie, and even as it the whole Church, that also must come taught you, ye abide in him." down with a crash. One is constantly When each member is thus directly tempted to smile at the way the "un- "taught of God" (see John 6:45), do derstanding" of a certain prudent man you see how incongruous it is to repwas "hid." 'resent Church as resting upon a the Permit me, my dear fellow-preacher, single and that an historical pillar, to enlighten you as to the real genius one? Nor does the Church rest upon of "Mormonism." 12 or 15 pillars — the presidency and In a previous paragraph of this letter quorum — of apostles as is so often I state that the Church of Jesus Christ maintained. It rests on thousands of of Latter-day Saints was in a very pillars. Indeed, every member with definite sense independent of Joseph a testimony of the gospel is such a Smith. The time is now opportune to pillar; and new pillars of divine grace explain that the relation between the are going neavenward every day. two is like that between the planter of Rather a formidable forest of cola tree and the tree itself. Observe that — umns—is it noL? for any man to attack without the planter- and his care during with the fragile spear of intellectual the early part of its life, there would negation! have been no tree at all; nevertheless In such a broad foundation of comits life conies not from the planter but mon sense, in iruch a widely shared sufrom God; its growth may be promoted perstructure of spirtual intentions, lio or retarded, and its fruit be scrubby or that internal strength and cohesive- according to the care it re- ness. luscious, ceives from the husbandmen, but the Bishop, you expect too much from fact that it lives and bears fruit at all your little flash in the pan. And that is due ultimately to the Creator. brings me to my final word with you. So also of the Church. It will al- What is your ultimate purpose in hop- ing to overthrow "Mormonism?" It ways stand indebted to Joseph Smith is surely not a negative one— that of both as founder and protector, but to pure destructiveness, for that would God and to him only for the spirit brand you at once as an emissary of which is its life. Nor is this life of the "spirit that denies." the spirit merely a collective possession Yet what have you and your secof the Church, with its voice in the tarian confreres to offer, that would in living oracles; it is likewise, or may any way compensate for the child-like become, the peculiar endowment or and simple faith of the Latter-day each member. Saints, their unfeigned trust for daily As for the sacred books of "Mormon- guidance in spiritual intuitions, and ism," they are all profitable as sources the virile strength of the social life of truth and guides to correct living, in every ward throughout Zion? but "should they all be taken away at Let me answer for you: All your once, the Church would live on by vir- — religious efforts what do they cultue of God's guidance of each member minate in? — 610 l M PR( >VEMENT ERA Chape] services! lOxquisitely, boau- trowel in hand, daubing a log-house t i in and artistic, no doubt, but .still 1 in mid-winter! only chapel services. Oh, come out of her, my brother! mm" faith culminates in "Mor- '.Mm 'i Did, once lor all the effete and fruit- i mon" works; here is the program: less refinements of scholarship and the "Be ye fruitful and multiply and re- higher critic ism. The truth of replenish the earth, and subdue it" the — ligion is to be felt, not reasoned very first command given to the race. about. Embalm and lay down gently Yours culminates in Singing and for ever, in the mauscleums mispraising the Lord! You can't develop named chapels, a religion which at best i nough of "works" among you to is but a Sunday veneering upon life; gather the tithes necessary for your and come into one which is life itself! missions, but must rely upon contri- —horny-handed, blood-red palpitating butions from abroad. life! A \\