"In a public assembly he wished me to state my views on the question, whether _if Brigham Young was not God, who was?_ I told him I would do so. I rose and stated that my idea of the being of God was expressed in a passage of Scripture, and I need only repeat the passage to explain the idea. The passage was: 'To us there is but one God, _the Father_, of whom are all things, and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.' I subsequently, in explanation, cited this passage of Scripture: 'This is life eternal, that we might know thee, the only living and true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.' I then sat down, and the Bishop rose and said: 'Brethren, we perceive that Father Stiles runs round Brigham.' I replied, 'Yes; I do not mention Brigham Young on the same day with God, as of the same Godhead.' His (the Bishop's) First Counsellor, then moved that Father Stiles be cut off from the church. This was seconded by the Second Counsellor. This was proposed to the assembly as a question by the Bishop, and I was cut off accordingly. I subsequently discovered that by my opposition and explanation, I gave offence to the authorities of the Mormon Church, and was cut off from the church and dismissed from the place of Missionary High-Priest of that Ward. I have never been restored as Missionary High-Priest. (Signed,) JOHN STILES. "Sworn to and subscribed before me at Great Salt Lake City, this April 26th, 1864. "JOHN TITUS, "_Ch. Justice of Utah_." Another doctrine of a startling character, promulgated by one of Young's counsellors and endorsed by him, is that of _human sacrifice for the remission of sins_. It was first announced by Jedediah M. Grant, Second Counsellor to the President, in the following language:-- "Brethren and sisters, we want you to repent and forsake your sins. And you who have committed sins that cannot be forgiven through baptism, _let your blood be shed, and let the smoke ascend_, that the incense thereof may come up before God as an atonement for your sins, and that the sinners in Zion may be afraid."[159:A] Again:-- "We have been trying long enough with this people, and I go in for letting the sword of the Almighty be unsheathed, _not only in word, but in deed_."[159:B] In accordance with such bloody teaching, it is said that an altar of sacrifice was actually built by Grant, in the temple block, upon which these human sacrifices were to be made. On the 21st of September, 1856, Grant said:-- "I say there are men and women here that I would advise to go to the President immediately, and ask him to appoint a committee to attend to their case; and then let a place be selected, and let that committee shed their blood."[159:C]