Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-11-27
"A Day wiaLs the NEursasons."
AT Mr.. O. E. CLEvELAND7s,

al MIR. ". f. CLEVELAND'S, [
NEAR STAUNToN, VA, Nov. -, 1874.
MEssRs. EDITORS VINDICAToR: In the
very kindly and courteous report in this
weeks ''Vindicator' of the interview of
your gentlemanly ''reporter'' with myself
and others, notice several errors which |
would respectfully ask the privilege of cor
rectlng, seeing that you have without soil
citation on my part brought our Church
and some of its humble advocates SO pro-
mlnently before your numerous readers.
/ will not take up much space in your in
teresting journal, us it could be more salts
iactorily occupied, I doubt not; but only
wish few mistakes corrected, which no
doubt were unlntontionally made by your
reporter, as our interview was very brief
and much hurried, and am surprised that
my remarks were so correctly noted. The
first Incorrect statement is found under
the heading, "The Church." While the
coming forth OF the Book Of Mormon
(which is mainly al historical work. is in
timately connected with the rise and or
ganization of the Church, yet still it's or
ganization does not depend upon any au-
thorlty obtained from that book-that is,
we do not pretend to claim any apostolic
OF prophetic succession i'll the line of the
Nephite Church of this land, any more
than we do from the Apostolic Church on
the Asiatic Continent, but that the Church
was organized lin part( "according to the
laws of the country" April 9th, 1880, al
though some were baptized and ordained
prior to this date. The foundation, or
commencement of the Church might more
properly date from, the manifestation of
the divine messenger in 1928. Another in
correct statement is found in the words,
(Which event was prophesied in the Book
OF Mormon,") having reference to the
death of Joseph Smith. The book referred
to afterwards as the one read from by me,
which was The Book of Doctrine and Cove
nants, is the one in which his violent
death was foretold. The Book of Mormon
is three times the size of the book seen by
your reporter, none of the Book of Nor
mon being on hand at the time which, in
stead OF being written as reported, 600
years B. c., began to be written at that
date, and was finished (being mainly his
torlcau at about 420 A. D., comprising a
period OF over 1000 years, and which book
as positively prohibits Polygamy as the
book quoted from, in which a.positive law
IS louhd requiring every man s'to love his
wife with all his heart, and to cleave unto
her and none else" The Church has ever
been Monogamic. while the ''Utah apos-
tacy'' has Polygamy for its corner, as well
as It's &eystone. Another point: The name
of the Church has been from the first
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints" 1t never has acknowledged
the name Mormon, o. that of any other
man. brigham Young calls his heretical
organization by the name we bear, and
thus has ''stoler the livery of heaven to
serve the devil in" The Church to which
the Elder belonged prior to his con-
nection with the present one was not
The Church to Come" but 1.-The Church
of God" or believers in 1.-The Age to
Come, 4. e., the millenial reign of Christ,
which includes the doctrine of Christ's
second coming and reign On the earth. and
the restoration OF the whole house of Israel
to their own land, &c. The present Church
is known as the Reorganization, as the orr.
glhal Church was in measure Gisorgan-
lied by the death Of Joseph and the apos-
tacy of Young and other prominent men.
This reorganization took place or COM
menced in 1852 and 1858, and is in every
sense distinct, and in many things antago-
nistic to Brigham Yonng's Church. He is
filling a part prophesied of in the Scrip
lures, as we are ready to demonstrate be-
fore any audience, and give our reasons
for repudiating him and his heretical dog
mas, Thanking you for the unusual cour-
tesY shown NE (for as 4 rule in other parts
we are generally grossly lnisrepresented,)
and craving pardon for presuming so much
on your time and patience. L subscribe my
self, Yours respectfully.
L. w. SMITH. !