The record-union., 1896-03-07

Now appears a writer who assumes
that the prophecy is an "after-thought"
by the Mormons; that it could not have
been known at that time, else Brigham
Young would not have sent Sam Bran
nan to California via Cape Horn. Does
the writer know that the mountain
ranges OF the West, taken collectively,
are known as the Rocky Mountain sys-
temp" and that the easiest route by
which TO come, at that early day, from
the East to the West" even to Utah,
was via Cape Horn. Again, it is argued
that the saints knew they were coming
to California, because one of their i'm
spired poets,'' in Hymn No. 299 of the
fifteenth edition, says: Upper Cali
fornia, oh, that's the land for me-"
Certainly. But does the writer realize
that the California of that day was not
the California of to-day? 1t would be
well TO review the history and
geography of '46 to 80 before
using that as argument, and it
viii then be seen that the saints were
actually the pioneers of what then was
California. And Notwithstanding that
| fact, they also built cities in the midst
of the Rocky Mountains thus fulfilling
the prophecy. California then in
Guided what is now Nevada, Utah and
Arizona beside parts of Colorado and
| Wyoming.
The West had not been explored by
the Saints in the days of the prophet.
Neither he nor his successor, Brigham
Young, knew the exact location where
settlement would be made. They were
| looking West to the California of that
day-to the midst of the Rocky Mount
aims" The prophecy was made, re-
corded and fulfilled. Not alone that,
but other prophecies referring to the
exodus of the Saints, and arrange
ments had been made prior to the mar
| tyrdom of Joseph Smith for an explor-
| ing expedition to the mountains to
search out a suitable location. The
| Government had been petitioned for
protection for the explorers, but inter-
vening expulsion from their homes
or other difficulties delayed the expe-
dition.
The writer attempts the making of
another point by quoting the Doctrine
and Covenants page 461, as follows:
Il was once praying very earnestly to
know the time of the coming of the
Son of Man, when 1 heard a voice re-
peat the following: Joseph, my son, If
thou livest until thou art S5 years old,
thou shalt see the face of the Son of
Man. " Figuring by means of the
prophets age, the writer makes the
year of Christ's second coming 1S9O.
But why not give the rest of the quota
tion, which is explanatory of the above?
If the object of the letter is the uncover
ing of "delusion' and not "delusion" it
self, why use trickery? Why extract
that which would suit the purpose of
delusion, and leave out the context ex-
planatory? The text quoted continues
as follows:'I was thus left without be-
ing able to decide whether this coming
referred to the beginning of the millen-
MUM, or to some previous appearing, or
whether I should die and thus see His
face" The Savior's not looming in the
clouds of Heaven" in 1890 does not
make him false prophet in the light of
the above.
The other prophecy quoted from the
thirteenth volume of the "Millennial
Star" has also been mutilated by TAX
ing only a part, and placing individual
construction upon it. 1t is alleged that
it has been left out of recent editions of
our church works, and yet reference to
it appears upon the very page of the
Doctrine and Covenants" quoted by
the writer.
The other attempted point concerning
John, Elias and Elijah space will not
permit a detailed explanation of, suffice
it to say that it is a superficial view and
unjust to the Prophet ]. Smith. BY
reference to the Doctrine and Cove
nants," section 81, verses 6 and Z, Sec
ton II, verses 9 and IA; Roberts Sc
clesiastical History" page AZ, and the
LID. SIS Compendium" pages 281,
2S2 and 2S3, it will be seen that Joseph
Smith is not justly liable to the charge
of error or confusion upon that point
We trust the reading public will fairly
investigate the subject before deciding
and not be influenced by the letter in
question.
Another discourse will be delivered
upon the subject in Pythian Castle Sun
day evening next. We are aware that
there are some people even nowadays
who seem to be in the same predica-
ment as those referred to by ST. Peter
in his second epistle QI. Epistle 20-22).
We deeply sympathize with them and
sincerely admonish them to turn again
to righteousness and do their first
works over again, live righteous lives
and search thoroughly before condemn
ing. If that admonition is unheeded,
we can only say as did Paul to Titus
CTitus iii. 10. ID.
HENRY PETERSON.