Scrap Book of Mormon Literature (Vol. 1 of 2): Religious Tracts
Religion
Scrap Book of Mormon Literature (Vol. 1 of 2): Religious Tracts
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines; Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines; Latter Day Saints
prospects of success than did Senator Douglas on that occasion. His
friends viewed him as sure to be seated in the Presidential chair,
because of his great popularity. But, alas, he and his friends had
reckoned without Divine interposition. He had lifted his hands against
the Saints of the Most High God and denounced the people whom {109} he
knew to be innocent and whom he ought to have defended. The result was
that he was sadly defeated at the election, as he only received two
electoral votes against seventeen cast for Abraham Lincoln (Republican)
and eleven cast for J. C. Breckenridge (Democrat).
When the result of the election became known in Utah Apostle Orson Hyde
published the following in the DESERET NEWS of December 12, 1860:
"EPHRAIM, Utah Ter., Nov. 27, 1860.
"Will the Judge now acknowledge that Joseph Smith was a true
Prophet? If he will not, does he recollect a certain conversation
had with Mr. Smith at the house of Sheriff Backenstos, in Carthage,
Illinois, in the year 1843, in which Mr. Smith said to him: 'You
will yet aspire to the presidency of the United States. But if you
ever raise your hand, or your voice against the Latter-day Saints,
you shall never be President of the United States.'
"Does Judge Douglas recollect that in a public speech delivered
by him in the year 1857, at Springfield, Illinois, of comparing
the Mormon community, then constituting the inhabitants of Utah
Territory, to a 'loathsome ulcer on the body politic,' and of
recommending the knife to be applied to cut it out?
"Among other things the Judge will doubtless recollect that I was
present and heard the conversation between him and Joseph Smith, at
Mr. Backenstos' residence in Carthage, before alluded to.
"Now, Judge, what think you about Joseph Smith and Mormonism?
ORSON HYDE."
A few months later, or in June, 1861, Judge Douglas died in
disappointment and grief. Never has the saying of any Prophet of God
been more literally and minutely fulfilled than the prediction made by
the Prophet Joseph Smith concerning this man.
CHRIST'S SECOND COMING.
Some have thought that Joseph Smith was an enthusiast or a religious
fanatic, and that his prophetic utterances were the result of his
impulsive nature or visionary mind. But such was not the case.
When he was under the influence of the Spirit of God his mind was
perfectly calm and collected, and his countenance beamed with heavenly
intelligence.
While some of his contemporaries allowed their zeal and enthusiasm to
lead them into erroneous expectations, he would reason with them calmly
and endeavor to balance their minds. To illustrate this I will relate
an incident that transpired shortly before he suffered martyrdom:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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