The Story of the Mormons, from the Date of Their Origin to the Year 1901Linn, William Alexander
History
The Story of the Mormons, from the Date of Their Origin to the Year 1901
Linn, William Alexander
Latter Day Saints -- History; Utah -- History
A well-authenticated story of the manner in which one of the Palmyra
Mormons received his call to preach is told by Tucker* and verified by
the principal actor. Among the first baptized in New York State were
Calvin Stoddard and his wife (Smith's sister) of Macedon. Stoddard told
his neighbors of wonderful things he had seen in the sky, and about
his duty to preach. One night, Steven S. Harding, a young man who was
visiting the place, went with a companion to Stoddard's house, and
awakening him with knocks on the door, proclaimed in measured tones that
the angel of the Lord commanded him to "go forth among the people
and preach the Gospel of Nephi." Then they ran home and went to bed.
Stoddard took the call in all earnestness, and went about the next
day repeating to his neighbors the words of the "celestial messenger,"
describing the roaring thunder and the musical sounds of the angel's
wings that accompanied the words. Young Harding, who participated in
this joke, became Governor of Utah in 1862, and incurred the bitter
enmity of Brigham Young and the church by denouncing polygamy, and
asserting his own civil authority.**
* "Origin, Rise and Progress of Mormonism," pp. 80, 285
**Stoddard and Smith had a quarrel over a lot in Kirtland in
1835, and Smith knocked down his brother-in-law and was indicted for
assault and battery, but was acquitted on the ground of self-defence.
AS a result of Smith's and Rigdon's conferences came a "revelation" to
them both (Sec. 35), delivered as in the name of Jesus Christ, defining
somewhat Rigdon's position. How nearly it met his demands cannot be
learned, but it certainly granted him no more authority than Smith
was willing to concede. It told him that he should do great things,
conferring the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, as did the apostles
of old, and promising to show miracles, signs, and wonders unto all
believers. He was told that Joseph had received the "keys of the
mysteries of those things that have been sealed," and was directed to
"watch over him that his faith fail not." This "revelation" ordered the
retranslation of the Scriptures.
The most important result of Rigdon's visit to Smith was a decision to
move the church to Ohio. This decision was promulgated in the form of
"revelations" dated December, 1830, and January, 1831, which set forth
(Secs. 37, 38):--
"And that ye might escape the power of the enemy, and be gathered unto
me a righteous people, without spot and blameless:
"Wherefore, for this cause I give unto you the commandment that ye
should go to the Ohio; and there I will give unto you my law; and there
you shall be endowed with power from on high; and from thence whomsoever
I will shall go forth among all nations, and it shall be told them what
they shall do; for I have a great work laid up in store, for Israel
shall be saved.... And they that have farms that cannot be sold, let
them be left or rented as seemeth them good."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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