The Rise and Fall of NauvooRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
History
The Rise and Fall of Nauvoo
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saints -- Illinois -- Nauvoo; Nauvoo (Ill.) -- History
The next day was the one appointed by Sidney Rigdon for The Church
to assemble and choose a "guardian." The attendance was large, as
intense interest had been awakened upon the subject to be considered.
Sidney Rigdon addressed the assembly, setting forth his claim to the
"guardianship" of The Church. He had full opportunity to present his
case and for one hour and a half spoke without interruption; but
despite his reputation as an orator, he failed to convince the Saints
that he was sent of God.
As soon as Sidney Rigdon had closed his speech, Elder Brigham Young
arose and made a few remarks. It was on that occasion that he was
transfigured before the people, so that through him the Saints heard
the voice and felt the presence of their departed leader. George Q.
Cannon, who was present on that occasion, says:
If Joseph had risen from the dead and again spoken in their
hearing, the effect could not have been more startling than it
was to many present at that meeting, it was the voice of Joseph
himself; and not only was it the voice of Joseph which was heard
but it seemed in the eyes of the people as if it were the very
person of Joseph which stood before them. A more wonderful and
miraculous event than was wrought that day in the presence of
that congregation, we never heard of. The Lord gave His people a
testimony that left no room for doubt as to who was the man chosen
to lead them. They both saw and heard with their natural eyes and
ears, and the words which were uttered came, accompanied by the
convincing power of God, to their hearts, and they were filled
with the Spirit and with great joy. There had been gloom, and in
some hearts, probably, doubt and uncertainty, but now it was plain
to all that here was the man upon whom the Lord had bestowed the
necessary authority to act in their midst in Joseph's stead. On
that occasion Brigham Young seemed to be transformed, and a change
such as that we read of in the scriptures, as happening to the
Prophet Elisha, when Elijah was translated in his presence, seemed
to have taken place with him. The mantle of the Prophet Joseph had
been left for Brigham. * * * The people said one to another: "The
spirit of Joseph rests on Brigham;" they knew that he was the man
chosen to lead them and they honored him accordingly. * * * As
far as our observation went (we were only a boy at the time) the
people were divided into three classes from the time of the death
of Joseph up to this meeting of which we speak. One class felt
clearly and understandingly that President Brigham Young was the
man whose right it was to preside, he being the president of the
Twelve Apostles, and that body being, through the death of Joseph
and Hyrum, the presiding quorum of The Church. Another class were
not quite clear as to who would be called to preside, but they
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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