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
"The above diagram (not included in this etext) shows the order and
unity of the Kingdom of God. The eternal Father sits at the head,
crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Wherever the other lines meet
there sits a king and priest under God, bearing rule, authority and
dominion under the Father. He is one with the Father because his Kingdom
is joined to his Father's and becomes part of it.... It will be seen
by the above diagram that there are kingdoms of all sizes, an infinite
variety to suit all grades of merit and ability. The chosen vessels
of God are the kings and priests that are placed at the heads of their
kingdoms. They have received their washings and anointings in the Temple
of God on earth."
Young's ambition was not to be satisfied until his name was connected
with some doctrine peculiarly his own. Accordingly, in a long sermon
preached in the Tabernacle on April 9, 1852, he made this announcement
(the italics and capitals follow the official report):--
"Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, saint and
sinner. When our father Adam came into the Garden of Eden, he came into
it with a CELESTIAL BODY, and brought Eve, ONE OF HIS WIVES, with him.
He helped to make and organize this world. He is MICHAEL, the ARCHANGEL,
the ANCIENT OF DAYS, about whom holy men have written and spoken.* HE
is our FATHER and our GOD, AND THE ONLY GOD WITH WHOM 'WE' HAVE TO DO...
Every man upon the earth, professing Christians or non-professing, must
hear it and WILL KNOW IT SOONER OR LATER.... I could tell you much more
about this; but were I to tell you the whole truth, blasphemy would be
nothing to it, in the estimation of the superstitious and over righteous
of mankind.... Jesus, our Elder Brother, was begotten in the flesh by
the same character that was in the Garden of Eden, and who is our Father
in heaven."**
* Young, in a public discourse on October 23, 1853, declared that
he rejected the story of Adam's creation as "baby stories my mother
taught me when I was a child." But the Mormon Bible (2 Nephi ii. 18-22)
tells the story of Adam's fall.
** Journal of Discourses, VOL I, pp. 50, 51.
This doctrine was made a leading point of difference between the Utah
church and the Reorganized Church, when the latter was organized, but
it is no longer defended even in Utah. The Deseret Evening News of March
21, 1900, said on this point, "That which President Young set forth
in the discourse referred to is not preached either to the Latter-Day
Saints or to the world as a part of the creed of the church."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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