--- title: Times and Seasons description: Issues of 1844 to 1845. authors: - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints editors: - Ebenezer Robinson - Don Carlos Smith - Smith, Joseph, Jr. - Taylor, John collections: - periodicals tags: - newspaper - times-and-seasons - nauvoo - nineteenth-century periodical: Times and Seasons volume: 5 number: 21 published: 1844-11-15 publisher: E. Robinson and D. C. Smith; later John Taylor publisher_place: Commerce and Nauvoo, Illinois language: en type: article reference: "“The Apostles and Apostates,” *Times and Seasons* 5, no. 21 (November 15, 1844): 711–716." printed_title: THE APOSTLES AND APOSTATES. source: url: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1844-11-15_5_21 transcription: Text from the Centerplace.org transcription (https://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v5n21.htm), with its page breaks; this Internet Archive scan is the reference copy (its OCR was used only as a witness for OCR repair) identifier: per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1844-11-15_5_21 start_page: 711 end_page: 716 curator_note: A Mormon newspaper published by the church in Nauvoo; included for historical study. Inclusion does not imply endorsement. rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1844 (Nauvoo, Illinois); published before 1931, so public domain in the United States source: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1844-11-15_5_21 publication_year: 1844 --- # The Apostles and Apostates SIR:-Having lately arrived from the east, and having seen a new paper purporting to be "the Latter-day Saints Messenger and Advocate," resuscitated, for the avowed object of opposing the course of the constituted authorities of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as left in the blood-sealed state of revelation by Joseph Smith and Hyrum his brother, who are a majority of the quorum of the first presidency; and having also waited patiently for Elder Phelps or some of the "Twelve" to give this "wandering star," or "cloud without water," a just judgment, I take my pen in hand to apprise the church and public of the fact, and offer a few remarks, and quote some revelations, which I think will not be amiss. The most of the paper is made up of a letter from a man by the name of Forgeus, which appears to me the crudest mass of chaos I ever saw thrown together. The whole maneuvre [maneuver], is just the sort of matter for "the man of sin" to reveal himself in; and Sidney Rigdon Esq.' who is held up throughout the lengthy epistle, as "the stem and branch of Jesse," will use it as dexterously as a manufacturer does materials for soap:-using Forgeus as the "stick of -" to mix the royal liquid, and frothify lixivium for the host of the Gentiles, and the fragments of Israel. So much for the religious artificer, the sacred soap stick, and holy pot of (not) manna, but soft soap suds: pardon the expression, gentle reader, it is not revelation, but composition, that will just fit religious gamblers: for Rigdon, Forgeus, & Co., are as corrupt as John C. Bennett. Their feint reverence for Joseph Smith, like the touch of the torpedo, is meant to benumb his fame: their seeming praise of virtue like the sting of the asp, is slow poison to truth: and their devoted breath for the welfare of the saints, like the sirocco of Egypt, is a blasting wind to ruin their future prosperity. The real drift of the paper, is, to support Sidney Rigdon Esq., as the head of a church, (not the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,) and lest any person be deceived by such "specious pretences [pretenses]" and false insinuations by misrepresenting the scriptures and revelations, I have concluded to try my skill at quoting some of the rules of the church, as left on record by the great apostle of the last dispensation, even the martyred Joseph Smith. On the 102 page of the second edition of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, paragraph 11, read as follows: "Of necessity there are presidents, or presiding offices growing out of, or appointed of, or from among those who are ordained to the several offices in these two priesthoods. Of the Melchizedek priesthood, three presiding high priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith and prayer of the church, form a quorum of the presidency of the church. The twelve traveling counsellors [counselor] are called to be the twelve apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ, in all the world: thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling. And they form a quorum equal in authority and power to the three presidents, previously mentioned. The seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world. Thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling: and they form a quorum equal in authority to that of the twelve especial witnesses or apostles, just named. And every decision made by either of these quorums, must be by the unanimous voice of the same; that is, every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions in order to make their decisions of the same power or validity one with other. [A majority may form a quorum when circumstances render it impossible to be otherwise.] Unless this is the case, their decisions are not entitled to the same blessings which the decisions of a quorum of three presidents were anciently, who were ordained after the order of Melchizedek, and were righteous and holy men. The decisions of these quorums, or either of them are to be made in all righteousness; in holiness and lowliness of heart; meekness and long suffering; and in faith and virtue and knowledge; temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity, because the promise is, if these things abound in them, they shall not be unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord. And in case that any decision, of these quorums, is made in unrighteousness, it may be brought before a general assembly of the several quorums which constitute the spiritual authorities of the church, otherwise there can be no appeal from their decision." There are three important points in this section: First; three presidents must be chosen and upheld by the faith and prayer of the church, to be legal; a self made machine won't do. Second; these three presidents form a quorum, and can NEVER act separately-though two may form a quorum when circumstances render it impossible to be otherwise. Now, allowing that Sidney Rigdon was one of the first presidency, for the sake of argument; when Joseph and Hyrum were martyred, the presidency was left vacant, and the next quorum, (the Twelve) being "equal in power and authority" to the three first presidents, hold the same standing and keys; and, of course, must bear off the kingdom in its destined road according to the pattern. Thirdly; if their decisions and conduct were righteous, then they fulfilled the promise, otherwise, all the quorums constituting the spiritual authorities of the church, could repeal their decisions, and appoint whom they pleased to rule over them. There is also another presidency which may be read at pleasure, on the 124 page of said Doctrine and Covenants; the 6th paragraph reads as follows: "The president of the church, who is also the president of the council, is appointed by revelation, and acknowledged, in his administration, by the voice of the church; and it is according to the dignity of his office, that he should preside over the council of the church; and it is his privilege to be assisted by two other presidents, appointed after the same manner that he himself was appointed; and in case of the absence of one or both of those who are appointed to assist him, he has power to preside over the council without an assistant: and in case that he himself is absent, the other presidents have power to preside in his stead, both or either of them." All that is necessary to remark on this subject, is that this presidency is over the high council of a stake, and has no more relevancy to the first presidency over the whole church, than a county judge has to president of the United States; in fact the high council being a tribunal for transgressors-perhaps it may justly rank as a judge to the president of the United states. No man of common sense would ever think of boosting up a man as president of a stake, to be like Moses. No, never. He is a Cushi, that proclaims such doctrine, and needs to tarry in Jericho till his beard grows. The third presidency mentioned in said Doctrine and Covenants, is, on page 107 and reads: "Wherefore, it must needs be that one be appointed of the high priesthood, to preside over the priesthood; and he shall be called president of the high priesthood of the church, or, in other words, the presiding high priest over the high priesthood of the church. From the same comes the administering of ordinances and blessings upon the church, by the laying on of the hands." This presidency is different from the other two, and means the presidency over the quorum of the high priesthood. It has nothing to do with the "first presidency" over the whole church, more than to send out high priests to preside over branches, stakes, &c., in any part of the vineyard, under the direction of the Twelve. Neither has it any thing to do with the presidency over the high council, more than to act in union. Having said so much on these three presidents, let it suffice. The Twelve are still a different presidency, because they compose a quorum that cannot be dispensed with; while, according to the very nature of the case, the before mentioned presidencies can. If there be no quorum of the first presidency, the Twelve must act in its place. If there be no stake organized, then there is no need of a high council; and so of the others, without a designated place. Not so with the Twelve, they are never twice chosen; vacancies may be filled, as was the case with Judas, or with some of our modern apostacies [apostasies]. The revelation for choosing them on the 258 and 9 pages of the said Doctrine and Covenants, is: "And now behold, there are others who are called to declare my gospel, both unto Gentile, and unto Jew: yea, even twelve: and the twelve shall be my disciples, and they shall take upon them my name: and the twelve are they who shall desire to take upon them my name, with full purpose of heart: and if they desire to take upon them my name, with full purpose of heart, they are called to go into all the world to preach my gospel unto every creature: and they are they who are ordained of me to baptize in my name, according to that which is written; and you have that which is written before you: wherefore you must perform it according to the words which are written. And now I speak unto the twelve:-Behold my grace is sufficient for you: you must walk uprightly before me and sin not.-And behold you are they who are ordained of me to ordain priests and teachers to declare my gospel, according to the power of the Holy Ghost which is in you, and according to the callings and gifts of God unto men: and I Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken it. These words are not of men, nor of man, but of me: wherefore you shall testify they are of me, and not of man; for it is my voice which speaketh them unto you: for they are given by my spirit unto you: and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power, you could not have them: wherefore you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words." In addition to this, a revelation directly to the Twelve, besides many other things, says, as recorded on the 417 page of said Doctrine and Covenants: "For unto you (the twelve) and those (the first presidency) who are appointed with you to be your counsellors [counselors] and your leaders, is the power of this priesthood given for the last days and for the last time, in the which is the dispensation of the fulness [fullness] of times, which power you hold in connection with all those who have received a dispensation at any time from the beginning of the creation: for verily I say unto you the keys of the dispensation which ye have received, have came down from the fathers: and last of all, being sent down from heaven unto you." This conclusively shows that the Twelve hold the power of the priesthood in ALL the world. To make the matter plainer, however, I take an extract from President Joseph Smith's charge to the Twelve on the evening of the 27th of February, 1835: "They are the Twelve apostles, who are called to the office of a travelling [traveling] high council; who are to preside over ALL the churches of the saints among the Gentiles, where there is no presidency established, and they are to travel and preach among the Gentiles until the Lord commands them to go to the Jews.-They are to hold the keys of this ministry; to unlock the door of the kingdom of heaven unto all nations; and to preach the gospel to every creature. This is the power, authority and virtue of their apostleship." Elder Woodruff, one of the Twelve, having gone to England to preside; Elder Wm. Smith another of the Twelve, travelling [traveling] constantly in the eastern states, together with the labors of Elders Hyde and Page, and the last summer's tour of the whole Twelve, put along with their unabated vigilance in the vineyard since their appointment, is pretty strong testimony that "they are called, chosen, and faithful."-Thanks be to Jesus: the horrors and powers of the priesthood are not obtained, by money or craft. They are handed down by lineage from father to son, according to the order of the Son of God. No body disputes the apostacy [apostasy] of certain men from Cain down to Sidney Rigdon, Esq.: nor is it at all to be wondered, that they all claim to be "perfect." G. M. Hinkle has the "Bride, the Lamb's wife;" John C. Bennett has been "Joab a general in Israel;" Law notwithstanding he carried pistols to shoot Joseph, is so smooth that he is nearly "a new redeemer;" and Sidney Rigdon, Esq, who it seems, from the paper before alluded to, is the "stone that builders refused or rejected," independent of Jesus Christ:-We must be plain on the subject and quote a little scripture which seems to meet the case to a nicety, whether the prophet meant so or not; because Sidney's determined to fight the Gentiles among the Allegany [Allegheny] mountains. So hear what Daniel says: "And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous [marvelous] things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the god of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overthrow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans, and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain: yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him." All this is spiritual and shows that besides Sidney's being the "stone the Jews refused," holding the key of David which actually belongs to Jesus Christ, he is a kind of god that will trouble the Ethiopians, Egyptians, Lybians [Libyans], &c., probably with bees and flies, but will come to his end and "none will help him."-It may not be amiss, however, before Sidney obtains this mighty power, to square his claims from revelations in the aforesaid Doctrine and Covenants, Section 11, page 158; and which was the first word the Lord ever said to encourage Sidney up to that time, among other things, said of Brother Joseph, "and in weakness have I blessed him, and I have given unto him the keys of the mystery of those thing which have been sealed, even things which were from the foundation of the world, and the thing which shall come from this time until the time of my coming, if he abide in me, and if not, another will I plant in his stead." From the facts before us, and the blood of the martyred prophet, it is more than mere hope so, or say so, that Joseph did abide in God until he escaped in blood to bliss, giving Sidney not even the hope of a promise of the "keys of the mystery." As to the promise of his being a spokesman before the face of the Lord, if he did not transgress and get cut off by the legal authority of the church, I have not a word to say. It may be as necessary to have a Pelagoram as an Aaron, but that is no sign that either of them can enter the goodly land alive. Honor and shame can both be rewarded. But I have not done with keys: Sidney or his "stick," makes a great ado about the keys: on the 330th page of said Doctrine and Covenants, we read: "Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come: nevertheless, through you shall the oracles be given to another; yea, even unto the church." Sure enough-to the church: but nothing is promised to Sidney. In the next paragraph is this masterly idea:-(Sidney Rigdon and F. G. Williams) "They are accounted as equal with thee (Joseph) in holding the keys of this kingdom"-that is:-both of them were equal with Joseph, &c. One could not be "equal," because he could not constitute a quorum. It has been urged that Sidney was once ordained a prophet, seer and revelator in the church, and no doubt was so; but, what of it? On the 214th page of said Doctrine and Covenants, it reads, speaking of particular servants: "This is an ensample unto all those who were ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth: and this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, shall be scripture; shall be the will of the Lord; shall be the mind of the Lord; shall be the word of the Lord; shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation." But when was Joseph Smith ordained by man as a prophet, translator, seer, and revelator? Never. When was Moses or Jesus ordained prophets, seers, or revelators, by man? Never. God does such sacred business in heaven before hand. See Psalm 45. On page one hundred and fifty, of said Doctrine and Covenants, it is said to Joseph Smith by the Lord, "Behold thou wast called and chosen to write the Book of Mormon, and to my ministry." The church record does not show that Joseph Smith ever transgressed, but the same record, after showing Sidney in his ups and downs, leaves him "cut off" by all the spiritual authorities, for transgressions. And now if he still persists in his course of rebellion to the constituted authorities established by revelation, and endeavors to establish a new place of gathering, contrary to former commandments, we shall not have to mutilate the following passage much, to touch his case exactly: "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him. That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, not by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." The saints of the last days have witnessed the outgoings and incomings of so many apostates that nothing but truth has any effect upon them. In the present instance, after the sham quotations of Sidney and his clique, from the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants, to skulk off, under the "dreadful splendor" of "spiritual wifery," which is brought into the account as graciously as if the law of the land allowed a man a plurality of wives, is fiendish, and like the rest of Sidney's revelation, just because he wanted "to go to Pittsburg [Pittsburgh] and live." Wo to the man or men who will thus wilfully [willfully] lie to injure an innocent people! The law of the land and the rules of the church do not allow one man to have more than one wife alive at once, but if any man's wife die, he has a right to marry another, and to be sealed to both for eternity; to the living and the dead! there is no law of God or man against it! This is all the spiritual wife system that ever was tolerated in the church, and they know it. The cream of Sidney's stick is the explanation of the parable of the twelve olive trees in said Doctrine and Covenants, at the latter end of the wonderful epistle. This must be the glory of Sidney's excellency. By the bye the parable was given while the church was in Jackson county, Missouri, long before the "Twelve" were chosen; and the Bible and Book of Mormon allow the house of Israel to be the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts, and the olive trees, the twelve tribes, which were scattered, and the Gentiles, the wild olive, were grafted in, and the temple at Jerusalem, not the tower, was thrown down. Such spiritualizing as Sidney stick's "Would light up a smile in the aspect of wo!" That a fool is a fool though he thinks he is wise. Comparitively [comparatively] judging, the whole letter is about as near to truth, light, and salvation as the toot of a rams-horn is to the tone of an organ. One thing more, and I have done, that ne plus ultra of book making memory, Benjamin Winchester, is about to publish according to Sidney's paper, "a work in which he will cancel the claims of Elder Rigdon at length."-Now this is the unkindest cut of all. To "cancel" is to draw black lines across; or to obliterate: so, as a matter of convenienee [convenience], this religious, literary dandy, will expunge Sidney's claims and his own, as they both have been cut off from the church for unchristianlike conduct. Where little is, little is expected. Before I conclude let me drop one word relative to trying the spirits. It is tolerably well known that God reveals his ordinances in a place appointed. He has said he will do it in the temple as soon as that is completed. The way the work now goes on it will soon be ready for washing, anointing, and the endowment; but while we are waiting, and frequently are annoyed with such animals as "Sidney's stick," it may be well to reflect on the following pattern to try spirits: it is on the 294 page of said Doctrine and Covenants: "And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived, for satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations: wherefore he that prayeth whose spirit is contrite, the same is accepted of me, if he obey mine ordinances: he that speaketh, whose spirit is contrite, whose language is meek, and edifieth, the same is of God, if he obey mine ordinances. And again, he that trembleth under my power, shall be made strong, and shall bring forth fruits of praise, and wisdom, according to the revelations, and truths which I have given you. And again, he that is overcome and bringeth not forth fruits, even according to this pattern, is not of me: wherefore by this pattern ye shall know the spirits in all cases, under the whole heavens." TO OBEY MINE ORDINANCES! Ah! that is the touch stone! If a man does not tithe himself on the temple and for other purposes, his religion is a mere echo; and his professions will leave him with the rich man in hell. Read and practice the 430th page of said Doctrine and Covenants. In conclusion let me solemnly say, and I thought so when I saw the smoky houses of Pittsburg [Pittsburgh], as I passed through on my way down the river, Sidney and his "clique" (for so I call it) are perfectly at home, and will be as long as they can kick up fuss enough to attract the Gentiles and apostates;-for misery loves company: and let me tell you when the sow that was washed hath returned to her wallowing in the mire; and the dog to his own vomit again; and such events show that judgment has begun at the house of God; and where shall the sinner and ungodly appear? Oh, let me say to the brethren, and sisters, as you have followed the glorious revelations of your late martyred prophet for good, continue and finish that splendid monument of his sublimity, the temple, where you can receive an endowment in season to triumph over the machinations of apostates, and the wiles of satan! AN OLD MAN OF ISRAEL. To the Editor.-SIR: Permit a stranger to say a word or two in favor of your pleasant city, I learn from your people much that never gets abroad. First, instead of broils and contention, jarrings and strife, as some, who have gone out from among you, are trying to make the world believe, you are all peace, almost a Millennium; in fact I never saw so great a union. Second. Instead of Gen. Smith's widow, (Emma,) being cut off from the church, she is in as good standing as she ever was, and manifests to strangers, the same noble disposition. Thirdly. The church seems more united since the death of Gen. Smith, than when I was here last year. Your "union" is almost a miracle; and there seems to be a spirit thrilling through the bosoms of all Nauvoo-let false tongues say what they may, we will carry out Joseph Smith's measures, in union, now and forever. "If you do, God is with you." Yours respectfully, PHILADELPHIA.