Origin of the 'Reorganized' Church and the Question of Succession — John Shaqi
Origin of the 'Reorganized' Church and the Question of SuccessionSmith, Joseph Fielding
History
Origin of the 'Reorganized' Church and the Question of Succession
Smith, Joseph Fielding
Latter Day Saint churches -- Government; Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -- Government
We have already shown how he manifested great zeal in his work in the
Twenty-first quorum before he left the Church. But to continue:
"March 15, 1850 he wrote from St. Lawrence, New York, that he was
assisting Brother Silsby in organizing the brethren and helping
them in getting ready for Beaver. He was present at a conference
held at Voree, Wisconsin, June 1 and 2, 1850, and in these minutes
we find this entry: 'Brother Z. H. Gurley was'--
Then there is an ellipsis, no doubt it would be interesting to know what
follows, and the account continues--
'sent to the northeastern parts of Wisconsin, on the presentation
of President Strang.'"
Now, please note carefully what follows:
"It was probably while on the mission thus appointed that Elder
Gurley raised up the Yellowstone branch, the members of which
helped to form the nucleus of the Reorganization."--Page 744-5.
We have already seen that Jason W. Briggs raised up the Waukesha branch
of the Strangite church in 1849, also that he raised up the Beloit
branch for the same organization, and now we have the admission fatal
to their organization, that the Yellowstone branch was also raised
up to Mr. James J. Strang. These branches you see became the nucleus
of the "Reorganization." They were not connected with the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to their own admission,
but were organized for the Church of James J. Strang. Yet, mark you,
these Strangite branches were admitted into what was called the "New
organization," or the "Reorganization," on their original baptisms.[6]
It is quite evident that the "Reorganization" is the offspring of the
church of this man James J. Strang.
Now let us return to Jason W. Briggs. In Mr. Heman C. Smith's "True
Succession," pages 134-135, we have an alleged revelation that
this man received that was the cause of the coming together of the
so-called "Reorganized" Church. I have already told you that he was
the most important man in this movement, if not the father of it. The
"revelation" is as follows:
"Therefore, let the elders whom I have ordained by the hand of my
servant Joseph, or by the hand of those ordained by him, resist not
this authority, nor faint in the discharge of duty, which is to
preach my gospel as revealed in the records of the Jews, and the
Book of Mormon, and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants; and cry
repentance and remission of sins through obedience to the gospel,
and I will sustain them, and give them my Spirit; and in mine own
due time will I call upon the seed of Joseph Smith, and will bring
one forth, and he shall be mighty and strong, and he shall preside
over the High Priesthood of my Church; and then shall the quorums
assemble, and the pure in heart shall gather, and Zion shall be
reinhabited, as I said unto my servant Joseph Smith."
WHY BRIGGS SECEDED.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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