THE  COLLECTED  WRITINGS  OF  SIDNEY  RIGDON
The First Theologian of the Latter Day Saints



SIDNEY  RIGDON'S  APRIL 1844
CONFERENCE  TALK

Part 1 (Apr. 6th a.m.)  |  Part 2 (Apr. 6th p.m.)  |  Part 3 (Apr. 7th a.m.)  |  Comments





Vol. V. No. 9.                          Nauvoo, Ill., May 1, 1844.                        Whole No. 93.



CONFERENCE  MINUTES.

Conference met pursuant to appointment, on Saturday the sixth of April, 1844

Present, President Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon and William Marks.

Of the twelve, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, and George A. Smith.

The members of the High Council, an immense number of elders, and an innumerable concourse of people.

Saturday, April 6, 1844.

Presidents Joseph, and Hyrum Smith came to the stand at 1-4 past 10 o'clock, when the meeting was called to order by elder Brigham Young. The choir sung a hymn, after which President Joseph Smith rose to state to the congregation the nature of the business which would have to come before them. He stated that it had been expected by some that the little petty difficulties which have existed, would be brought up and investigated before this conference, but it will not be the case; these things are of too trivial a nature to occupy the attention of so large a body. I intend to give you some instruction on the principles of eternal truth, but will defer it until others have spoken, in consequence of the weakness of my lungs. The elders will give you instruction, and then, (if necessary) will offer such corrections as may be proper to fill up the interstices. Those who feel desirous of sowing the seeds of discord will be disappointed, on this occasion. It is our purpose to build up, and establish the principles of righteousness, and not to break down and destroy. The great Jehovah has ever been with me, and the wisdom of God will direct me in the seventh hour; I feel in closer communion, and better standing with God than ever I felt before in my life, and I am glad of this opportunity to appear in your midst. I thank God for the glorious day that he has given us. In as large a congregation, it is necessary that the greatest order and decorum be observed; I request this at your hands, and believe that you will all keep good order.

Prayer was offered by W. W. Phelps, after which the choir sung a hymn.

[ Sidney Rigdon's April 6th morning address ]


Elder Sidney Rigdon then rose and said, It is with no ordinary degree of satisfaction, I enjoy this privilege this morning; want of health, and other circumstances have kept me in silence for nearly the last five years. It can hardly be expected, that when the violence of sickness having used its influence, and the seeds of disease have so long preyed upon me, that I can rise before this congregation. I am now come forth from a bed of sickness, and have enough of strength left to appear here for the first time in my true character. I have not come before a conference for the last five years in my true character. I shall consider this important privilege sacred in my family history, during life. I hardly promise myself lungs to make this congregation hear me, I shall do the best I can, and the greatest can do no more. -- The circumstances by which we are now surrounded points out the principles of my discourse -- the history of this church which I have known from its infancy: my text is, "Behold the church of God of the last days." I do not know that I can find it in the bible; I do not think it necessary to have Paul to make a text for me; I can make a text for myself;

I recollect in the year 1830, I met the whole church of Christ in a little old log house about 20 feet square, near Waterloo, N. Y. and we began to talk about the kingdom of God as if we had the world at our command; we talked with great confidence, and talked big things, although we were not many people, we had big feelings; we knew fourteen years ago that the church would become as large as it is to-day; we were as big then as we shall ever be; we began to talk like men in authority and power -- we looked upon the men of the earth as grasshoppers; if we did not see this people, we saw by vision, the church of God a thousand times larger: and when men would come in, they would say we wanted to upset the government, although we were not enough to well man a farm, or meet a woman with a milk pail; all the elders, all the members, met in conference, in a room 20 feet square.

I recollect elder Phelps being put in jail for reading the Book of Mormon. He came to see us, and expressed great astonishment, and left us apparently pondering in his heart; he afterward came to Kirtland, Ohio, and said he was a convert. Many things were taught, believed, and preached, then, which have since come to pass; we knew the whole world would laugh at us, so we concealed ourselves; and there was much excitement about our secret meetings, charging us with designs against the government, and with laying plans to get money, &c. which never existed in the heads of anyone else, and if we had talked in public, we should have been ridiculed more than we were, the world being entirely ignorant of the testimony of the prophets and without knowledge of what God was about to do; treated all we said with pretended contempt, and much ridicule; and had they have heard all we said, it would have made it worse for us; we talked about the people coming as doves to the windows, that all nations should flock unto it; that they should come bending to the standard of Jesus, saying, our fathers have taught falsehood, and things in which there is no profit; and of whole nations being born in one day; we talked such big things that men could not bear them, and they not only ridiculed us for what we did say in public, but threatened and inflicted much personal abuse, and had they heard all we said, their violence would have been insupportable. God had great things to say for the salvation of the world, which, if they had been told to the public, would have brought persecution upon us unto death; so we were obliged to retire to our secret chambers, and commune ourselves with God. [He here referred to the prayer of elder Phelps concerning our having arrived at the age to choose our own guardian.]

If we had told the people what our eyes behold this day, we should not be believed; but the rascals would have shed our blood, if we had only told them what we believed. There we sat in secret and beheld the glorious visions, and powers of the kingdom of heaven, pass and repass; we had not a mighty congregation to shelter us -- if a mob came upon us, we had to run and hide ourselves to save our lives. The time has now come to tell you why we had secret meetings. We were maturing plans fourteen years ago which we can now tell; were we maturing plans to corrupt the world, to destroy the peace of society? Let fourteen years experience of the church tell the story. The church never would have been here, if we had not done as we did in secret. The cry of false prophet and imposter rolled upon us. I do not know that anything has taken place in the history of this church, which we did not then believe; it was written upon our hearts, and never could be taken away; it was indelibly engraved, no power beneath yonder heavens could obliterate it. This was the period when God laid the foundation of the church, and he laid it firmly, truly, and upon eternal truth. If any man says it is not the work of God, I know they lie. -- Some of you who know you have a house, how long would it take to make you reason yourself into a belief that you have no house, where you now reside with your family? Neither have we any power whereby we can ever persuade ourselves, that this is not the church of God. We do not care who sinks or swims, or opposes; but we know here is the church of God, and I have authority before God for saying so. I have the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophesy; I have slept with it, I have walked with it; the idea has never been out of my heart for a moment, and I will reap the glory of it when I leave this world. I defy men and hell, and devils to put it out of my heart: I defy all, and will triumph in spite of them.

I know God, I have gazed upon the glory of God, the throne, visions and glories of God, and the visions of eternity in days gone by. What is a man of God to do, when he sees all the madness, wrath and follies of our persecutors. He will do as God does; he will sit and laugh; one breath from the nostrils of God would blow them out of existence to hell. These were the beginning of good days; shut up in a room, eating nothing but dry johnny cake and buttermilk; every man who had a little farm, or clothes, sold them and distributed what he had among the rest, and did the best they could. I had nothing to eat, nothing to wear, and yet it was the beginning of good days. Some say I want plenty to eat, plenty to drink, plenty to wear and a good house to live in, and say they, then I will believe; but God will not give it, until you have proved yourselves to him. No wonder then that we should be joyful to-day. If the people will do as they are told, I will tell you what to do. Get the visions of heaven, and seek not what you shall eat or what you shall drink, but seek the will of God; get into the presence of God, and then you will have johnny cake and milk and water no more. Would you not be astonished if even now we should tell the glories and the privileges of the saints of God to you, and to the world, we should be ridiculed; and no wonder we shut it up in secret; if we were to tell you when Jehovah looked on, lo it is beauty, it is heaven, it is felicity to look on; I should marvel if it were otherwise; if a man tells you one glory or one message, he is learning another at the same time. Do not be astonished then if we even yet have secret meetings; asking God for things for your benefit. Do not be afraid, go back to the commencement of this church, and see what was concocted then; there was no evil concocted when we first held secret meetings, and it is the same now; has God forgotten to be gracious? To be merciful to mankind? Did he ever concoct anything that was devilish for mankind? He could not do it, I never am afraid of God or man concocting any thing to hurt me, I have faith to detect man, even if he did; I would ask God to detect them, and would hold them fast before he should do it. I am not afraid of men or devils. I have none of those fears, jealousies, dreads, forebodings, surmisings, &c.: I put my trust in God, and whatever God does for me, is only for my salvation. A man is a bad teamster who runs his team in the worst road. [And showed how much like the gospel.] What I have already said, is only to prepare the way. [Here five of the Pottowattomie tribe appeared with their interpreter, and were assisted to the stand by the president.]

I am going to tell of something that surprised me at the beginning of the church; I have handled, and heard, seen and known things which I have not yet told. After the church began to grow, it was favored with monstrous wise men; they had so much wisdom that they could dispute what God said, and what his servant said. They were opposed to virtue; they would say they had revelations and visions, and were as certain that God had given it, as I was that the devil had. He referred to the children of Israel who were sniveling and murmuring about their leeks and onions, &c. &c., and so it is in these last days, some men are always yelling about what the church believes, and opposing every good thing. I want devils to gratify themselves, and if howling, yelling, pelping, will do you any good; do it till you are all damned. If calling us devils, &c., will do you any good, let us have the whole of it, and you can then go on your way to hell without a grunt. We hear these things ever since the church existed, they have come up with us, they have had so much more wisdom, they knew all about the kingdom before God revealed it; and they know all things before they are heard; they understand more than God knows. We gather of all kinds, if we get all nations, we get all wisdom, all cunning, and every thing else. The sectarians cannot be as wise as we are, for they have only got the plans of man for salvation, but we have got man's plans, the devil's plans and the best of all, we have God's plan. I do not know whether there are any of these wise men here this morning; I have merely given this as part of the history of this church.

I am disposed to give some reasons why salvation only belongs to the kingdom of God, and to that alone. I will endeavor to show you why salvation belongs to us more peculiarly, in contradistinction of all other bodies; will this be clear enough? I discover one thing, mankind have labored under one universal mistake about this, viz: Salvation was distinct from government; i. e.; that I can build a church without government, and that thing have power to save me. When God sets up a system of salvation, he sets up a system of government; when I speak of government I mean what I say; I mean a government that shall rule over temporal and spiritual affairs. Every man is a government of himself, and infringe upon no government. A man is not an honorable man if he is not above all law, and above government. I see in our town we have need of government, some study law, only for the purpose of seeing how many feuds, how many broils they can kick up, how much they can disturb the peace of the public, without breaking the law, and then say: "I know my rights and will have them;" "I did not know it was the marshal, or I would not have done it." He is no gentleman, gentlemen would not insult a poor man in the street, but would bow to him, as much as those who appear more respectable. No marshal, or any one else should pull me up; we ought to live a great way within the circle of the laws of the land. I would live far above all law. The law of God is far more righteous than the laws of the land; the laws of God are far above the laws of the land. The kingdom of God does not interfere with the laws of the land, but keeps itself by its own laws.

(To be Continued)







SIDNEY  RIGDON'S  APRIL 1844 CONFERENCE  TALK,  Part 2

There was a long break in the Times & Seasons reporting of the 1844 Spring Conference. After skipping three issues, the Times & Seasons reporting resumed with its issue for July 15, 1844 (V:13).

Rigdon's Apr. 6 p.m. And Apr. 7 a.m. texts were not published: See journal enties (below) for notes covering the remainder of his conference talk.




Vol. V. No. 13.                          Nauvoo, Ill., July 15, 1844.                        Whole No. 97.



CONFERENCE  MINUTES.
Continuation of last April's Conference.

(Elder Rigdon here stopped to refresh himself. The choir sung a hymn.)

Elder John Taylor being called upon to address the congregation, said, It gives me pleasure to meet and associate with so large an assemblage of the saints....

(view Taylor's text, below)


The choir, by request sung 'the red man,' after prayer by elder J. P. Green, the meeting was adjourned for one hour.

April 6th, 1844, afternoon.

The president arrived at the stand at 1/2 past 2 o'clock, P. M. The choir sung a hymn, after which prayer by elder J. P. Green, when the choir sung another hymn. Elder Rigdon resumed his history of the Church of Christ.

(For the want of room we postpone president Rigdon's remarks for the present.)


Note: Rigdon's April 6th afternoon address at the 1844 Nauvoo Spring Conference was never published: See below for partial transcripts taken down by Apostle Wilford Woodruff, supplemented with excerpts from Thomas Bullock's notes.




NOTES  FROM  LDS  APOSTLE
WILFORD WOODRUFF'S  DIARY

Rigdon's April 6th p.m. talk, according to
Wilford Woodruff's original notes
(which he subsequently recompiled)


At 2 oclok the conference Assembled & [Sidney Rigdon] resumed his subject.

Said we were discusing in the morning service upon the History of the Church of Jesus Christ. Its a miserable man that could not manufactor his own tex[t]. I have known many a sermon spoiled by a bad tex[t]. The Church of Jesus Christ then -- The H[e]ights of testimony, & amount of evidence that many of those have had that have fallen away has been of such a nature that when they say they dont believe this work to be true they lie. The things that were done in secret in the begining are now seen openly and [there] is nothing secret now but what all will know in time to come.

I am aware [there] is many things I did not hint at, I will speak of them now, I have seen the time when the Presidency of the Church sitting now before me, were locked up with me in secret places waiting upon God. We did not go out at all but to eat &c. But it was soon found out, & a mob came saying God damn you to Hell, & threatend our lives. It was at this time we sat for hours in the Visions of heaven around the throne of God & gazed upon the seenes of Eternity.

(Bullock records: "[We] had been locked up for weeks and had no time only to eat... weeks seeking God with prayer and fasting... bandittis came to the place -- some 20 or 30 men came rushing to the place cursing & blaspheming. This was the reason why we were shut up. They never cease[d] their warfare")

One evening a Mexican called upon us & he went out armed to see a dozen armed men in the corner of the fence. He wanted to shoot them.

(Bullock records: "A gentleman from Mexico having heard rumors of the Mormons came to see us[.] One night he went out of my house and found in the fence one after another a dozen men -- he returned into the house in fury and got his pistols and said he would kill them but they r[a]n away.")

Afterwards the mob came in & broke the door, took me & drag[g]d me out through the streets by my heels with my head pounding over the frozen ground. Another company took president Smith, & tar & featherd him. They tried to turn Aquiphertos down our our throats. This is the reason why we were in secret under lock & key,

(Bullock records: "A mob of 20 or 30 ruffians came damming & roaring against us -- our houses were surrounded ... At last there got some hundreds of them ...they broke into my house[,] drag[ged] me out of my bed -- out of the door my head beating on the floor. [T]hey drag[ge]d me over the wood pile[,] and on they went my head thumping on the frozen ground, after which they threw tar and feathers on me -- and endeavored to throw aqua fortes in my face but I turned my face and it missed me.")
(Alternative reconstruction of Bullard's shorthand, by Mark L. Staker: "I was dragged out of my bed, was put on a large wood pile -- some were putting it on me. My head went thump thump upon the hard frozen ground -- they then threw a quantity of pitch upon me and when they attempted to throw some thing else on me I fell and the next morning when I went to the same place I found it was a quantity of aqua fortis [nitric acid] that they were going to throw on me.")

Now if you will let us work openly we will not work in secret. We will work openly as much as you want. I think I have said enough already to show that the Church has come up through great tribulation. Let this suffice then upon this subject.

Their[e] is men standing in your midst who are not afraid of men or devels & men whos[e] mouths cannol be stop[p]ed unless you take their lives. For they will speak in defence of the innocent of virtue & truth while they live.

Their[e] is men in your midst who have learned their[e] is a great God who can do as he pleases -- take up the Hills as a little thing, & such men do not fear death. They know about Heaven. They have seen it & know all about it.

Their[e] is men in your midst which you must sustain or go to Hell. Save them & you save yourselves. Reject them & you go to Hell. We are 14 years of age now. Ch[o]use your guardeen and when you get to be 21 then do business for youselves. You can save yourselves or Damn yourselves.

You have just men among you & the reason is because God has taught them chose & ordained them & this is the reason why they are so.

You have men in your midst who will not turn to the right hand or left. If you are in their path you must get out. You cannot co[u]rt by favor or we[a]lth or any thing els[e]. They do not ask poleticians, kings or people for favor. They ask God for it alone. If the world make them rich or poor they never ask for it. The man whom God has raised up to lay the foundation of this work is placed in such a situation that he cannot fall and he is so lovely that I cannot get mad at him.

This is an important part in the History of the Church. The cry of some is I shall not get office if these men are not put down. Well God intended to keep them fearing. When God sets up his kingdom He will sustain it above all laws & kingdoms of the world & the world has no power over the kingdom of God. The laws will be so strict that the world will make to try to ketch the saints that it will hang themselves by the wholesale. We want to build up the Laws of God in Hancock Co. I dont care anything about all the laws in the world for I will live above them. God teaches his servants to respects kings Gov[ernorsl Presidents, & men in authority. But I have a right to proclaim myself a king and priest unto the most High God. Yet I will not transgresss your laws. But dont do as they did in Missouri -- kill people because they would not break the law.

I dont want any office in this goverment for I am determined to be a king in the kingdom of God. What be king in heaven and quarrel about the office of constable on earth?

The kingdom of God may rise up in the midst of the kingdoms of the world and live above all laws, and not be a law abiding man, I will live above all law. I will pay my taxes & obey all requirments that the goverment has upon me. The reason we was mob[bed] in Mo was because we would not have any thing to do with the laws. We did not break any. We lived above them so they sent a mob upon us. The kingdom of God to the world would be a light in a dark place. The kingdom of God could be set up in any kingdom or country & not break the law but live above it.

Conference adjourned till tomorrow morning,








SIDNEY  RIGDON'S  APRIL 1844 CONFERENCE  TALK,  Part 3

Rigdon did not make any further recorded addresses after his April 7th a. m. speech. This third segment of Rigdon's three-part conference talk was not published: the Times & Seasons minutes skip the morning sesssion and move directly to the afternoon, in which the first address was made by Hyrum Smith.




Vol. V. No. 14.                          Nauvoo, Ill., Aug. 1, 1844.                        Whole No. 98.



CONFERENCE  MINUTES.
Continuation of last April's Conference.
At two o'clock, P. M., Patriarch Hyrum Smith arrived at the stand, and said he wanted to speak something about the Temple....

(view Hyrum Smith's text, below)




Note: Rigdon's April 7th morning address at the 1844 Nauvoo Spring Conference was never published: See below for partial transcripts taken down by Apostle Wilford Woodruff, supplemented with excerpts from Thomas Bullock's notes.



NOTES  FROM  LDS  APOSTLE
WILFORD WOODRUFF'S  DIARY

Rigdon's April 7th a. m. talk, according to
Woodruff, with supplementary additions
by Thomas Bullock



April 7th Sunday -- The sun ple[a]sent air calm & serene & a vast multitude of about twenty thousand souls assembled together. After singing and prayers president Rigdon arose & said:

our borders are enlarged this morning, I shall preach from the same tex[t]we preached from yesterday. The Church of Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God, the le[a]ven, the little stone spoken of by Daniel &c. The testimony given would let the kingdom of God exist in any goverment Monarchiel or Republican. We intend to show why salvation belongs to this Church ownly.

(Bullock records: "[Elder] Rigdon said on looking over the congregation he observed it to be vastly larger than yesterday... [profound silence therein] all may hear -- Shall not be as explicit as yesterday. Shall pursue the same subject from the same text -- The Church of Christ, the kingdom of heaven of God of [the book of] Daniel ")

The kingdom of God is a goverment that exerciseing its ownly power in ev[e]ry respect it holds a place on the mind, not by force of arms but; by free will because they want to do the will of God & it is accomplished by truth itself that is manifest from Heaven by intelligence that He sees in heaven and it is power in itself. It is on this principle that power rests.

(Bullock records: "Yesterday established [one] fact... the peculiar characteristics which establishes it -- a kingdom -- They would not only be in [danger] but would be [entitled] to the protection of [king] [Intend] to [take a short] view of the reason why salavaton belongs to this k{ingdom} and to this only -- soley to this [rule] of government [and] this [only]. We rest upon the principle that this [kingdom] of heaven is actually a government. It enters into the very feeling[s], disposition and desires of a [sincere breast?] It has its own way of exercising it[s] authority -- and has the most certain way to effect its purposes... is [a voluntary] [one] not by force of arms... [It's] this that gives it power over every other kingdom.")

The Lord begins to teach a man what he can do and if he never would know what he was taught he never would know what he could do.

(Bullock records: "It is in the [exalted] principal of intelligence -- makes men acquainted with themselves -- God, angels -- and every thing in heave] and earth. [Thus... th[e] [kingdom] gains its influence... Salvation what is it -- upon which principle[s] is [man] [saved?] -- He has got the principle in himself -- God begins to teach him what is in him -- In accomplishing this man is much tried. If he never had [any] conflict with Satan... he never would know he had power to fight him. If it was not for these trials men would sit down and let the devil overcome them.")

No people can comprehend it but the Church of God. Then one of the main things in the kingdom of God is to let a man know what to do, what glory kingdom & power he can gain. Man is taught a principle that when it enters the mind it has a power over death, plagues, sickness, the gift of miracles. This is one great evidence of the work the power of God. This then [is] the kingdom of God.

(Bullock records: "He never knows what power he has got till God [teaches?]. No people [know] this power but the people of the [kingdom of God]. No other government has this power -- or teaches this principle.... power of the [Kingdom of Heaven] is to teach man what power, privileges &c they [have] and he gives them victory and eternal life -- [communications?] between the kingdoms -- Another thing has been told to him, that man has a principle in him that rises above all things -- takes power over everything -- heard it said many times -- astonishing that man should say it is impossible to [work] miracles -- [It's] living under the influence of this power that makes us believe it. ")

All religions then that there is in the world that has not these things has a tendency to do hurt instead of doing good for it teaches those things are done away. God has said he would take all the kingdoms of the world out of the way, he would break in peases & subdue & he would teach the kings and all powers the way that they may have a chance.

(Bullock records: "No other kingdom has power to save men Be [they] religious or evil... All religions then that do not put men in possession of this power have a tendency to [blind] man and prevent his [obtaining]... This is the reason that the Lord promise[d] to set up a [Kingdom as] the [Lord] says -- he had promised to restore [it] -- he would do it and remove all false governments -- [atheist] [civil] [religious] [and] [political]. He would call upon the kings, priests, nobles to hear his voice when he would teach men the ways of [light] and truth. No other organization wher[e] power unto salvation ever existed, only in the [Kingdom of God].")

We say then [there] is no power any wh[e]re els[e] unto salvation. Isaiah said the wilderness should blossom as the rose the lame leap, the blind see. We have got this power here yet the world says it is an imposition.

[Bullock records: "Salvation is the complete victory over every thing. The prophet said the vallies [shall] blossom as the rose &c. When he looks at salvation it [seems?] he has got it hear and he can't find it any where else and yet men say he is deceived. The wilderness shall blossom &c because our God shall come as a recompense &c.")

When He comes, He will save you. The lame shall leap, deaf hear blind see. He will come so you need not have sickness or lameness. But man has proclaimed salvation in the earth. When we exercise the keys of the kingdom of God who can oppose it? Not war with the sword but with another power. The world has always been sheding blood, I proclaim peace not war, & this is what he calls the kingdom. Has not the kingdom of God a right to extend in any part of the world to do good. Beat swords into plow shares & spears into pruning hooks, & it shall be a kingdom of glory, peace, & salvation.

(Bullock records: "He will come and save you by placing the K. of H. in your midst. He will come that you may have no more deaf -- [diseased] sick, lame, &c., but that ye may have power to heal them. When we exercise the power of the K. of H. what nation has [any] thing to say against [it]. They shall beat their swords into plowshares. The nations have been at war one with another -- sword has been unsheathed and death scattered over the earth. God proclaims peace, beat their swords &c and learn war no more. This is what God said he would set up in the last days. To cause [man's] [disease] and troubles to cease &c. and bring down upon their heads the [things] heaven has to bestow. [Know] they [------ right] [the--] to set up a [Kingdom] -- Shall be a kingdom of gathering & eternal glory.")

Let no man be alarmed because the Lord said that the kingdom of God should swallow up all other kingdoms. What harm would it do? For all the world would have the same spirit. The Lord said He intended to do by the whole world the same as he has done by us, & this is the thing the world is afraid of. Reflect then. This is as far as I intended to go upon this subject.

(Bullock records: "Let no man be alarmed because God said it should swallow up all [Kingdoms] -- Who would have objections. [-------sying] to the world -- if all the world [were] here and felt the [same] peace... here how many men would [be] killed the next century. The Lord says he intends to serve the whole world as he has served us -- He has given us a pattern -- will [bind] them with the [bonds]... stronger than death. Why is the world afraid of it -- because they do not understand and are not partakers of its blessings ")

A word then upon the Materials to carry on this kingdom. Any man publicans, sinners, scoundrals or any body else could repent & receive the gospel & become a member of the kingdom as well as the good. For when Jesus came He came to call sinners & harlots [came ?] into the kingdom. It dont requir[e] much of an exhertion of the mind.

(Bullock records: "Had a notion to talk a little about the gospel itself. The elementary principle[s] by which God formed materials to build a [Kingdom]... did not require much [wisdom] to comprehend -- and required no more than ordinary [honesty] to obey it. Christ came to save sinners not good folks -- He said [so] for as to get in publicans, sinners, harlots and all kinds -- the thief, liar, scroundral -- he made it large enough for all these")

Much depends however upon the decision of the mind. It depends upon one action or the mind. A man remarked to me he did not belong to a Church, was not worthy. But this is a mistake. Jesus Christ came to save sinners. He saves the unworthy. The Lord will offer a man salvation. He says he is not worth[y]. But what would you want your son to do if he was unworthy? He should return to his father, so with God. He calls to the world to return by Baptism.

(Bullock records: "it does not need a great deal of effort of mind and] gets the decision of man's mind, has more to do with it than men are aware of -- He that believeth &c. What [was] require[d] of the man -- one single act of the mind & one only -- Heard a gentleman say [once] this society [commenced] he was not worthy to belong to any church. The gospel is proclaimed to [meet] this case -- to those who are unworthy -- not to the honest & upright, but to the wicked & unworthy -- When man begins to feel they don't know that God looks upon them as a father looks upon his children. If a father had a profligate son and the father told him to come and he would receive him -- you would say you were not worthy -- What would your heavenly father want you to believe -- which would you want your son to do -- to [receive] just [what] he said -- that he was willing to return to the government of the family.")

He cannot make himself any better but decid[e] with the mind today. Then the Lord begins to teach him the things of God & heaven & I will make you like myself. I will give you my spirit & make you feel like my family, & this is the pivot to [a ?] God. Then decide & go, be baptized. Then you will be in the way of Salvation. If he decide otherwise he will not be any better.

(Bullock records: "God sent out a proclamation in a few words -- He that believeth &c. A man has not got to make himself better as well might the leopard change his skin. All that he can do is to give assent to what God has told him -- [----] must not attempt to pray himself to God lest he pray himself [-------] -- The moment he believes God takes him into his family and deals with him as a son. Hard for men to accept a profligate son but easy for God to do it. The Lord says come my one daughter [aprobated] believe what I tell you -- be baptised -- that I may put you in my family & I will give you my spirit & make you one of my [children] God then begins to teach the whole family. The salvation of every man and woman depends upon one act. If a man decides he will obey the proclamation he decides to be saved but if he decides he is unworthy he decides against himself because he will never be better [than] [when] he made that decision.")

A word upon the spirit. This noble decision of the mind causes angels to rejoice in the Heavens for their[e] is more joy over one sinner that repenteth than over ninety and nine just persons. Ev[e]ry person can do this & no man can do a better work. Let no man say they are unworthy.

(Bullock records: "The Lord says when a man decides to obey God the angels in heaven rejoice -- did you ever think of it. that one decision would make the heavens rejoice -- it is so -- All men possess power in themselves to begin the commencement of their career for eternal glory. You have power in yourselves to make the angels glad when you say you will obey God. The Lord makes no difference between old men and young sinners. The Lord can wash thy soul whiter than thy silver locks. Would [like] men feel it for a moment. He never ever did a greater thing until he did this. This made the heavens rejoice -- It is in the power of all to do it however wicked or corrupt. Let us never as excuse say I am unworthy...")

I wish all the teachers of the day could hear me. I was a Baptist & preached their doctrin[e] & was hampered, & hampered others in my teachings and all the teachers of the day do the same. They may be honest but they teach fals[e] doctrin[es]. They call people to the anxious bench & keep them down untill they will say they are willing to be damned. But I never was willing to be damned.

(Bullock records: "I was once a sectarian preacher a regular baptist & know all [about ?] while I [taught ?] that religion I had an embarassment all the while and never could get it [off ?]. I called upon men to repent & then told them they must get [the] spirit of God & they would go away discouraged. I know the sectarians baptists do not understand. The same difficulty among the Methodists -- Call to [souls] to [gain?] [something] [further] [--------] which God never promise[d]. They [fa---] a [big] pretentious conversion to get clear of the reproach of the world & revel in hypocrisy till they go down to hell -- They [have] [later] got to [---------] because a [lie ?] [decided] by [the] [world] -- Satan has blinded the minds of [the] [world] -- [he hates them] [they must] do something [soon]. He has seen them go down, down, and he has heard them say they were [willing] God should damn them [unreasonable] doctrine What would God have [said] to the little child [dost] [thou] believe Jesus can save you -- go [and] wash away your [sins]. Call upon God to break down the obsticles and let the [men ?] go free and come to the knowledge of salvation. [trust?] every body to see their privilege. All you my friends if you are not saved God will not be to blame. Do you believe that Jesus Christ will [save] you -- He [will] do it if you will obey him.... God will teach man he is a king -- he has power -- ")

The doctrin[e] Peter taught was different from sectarianisms. His doctrin[e] was repent & be baptized & you shall receive the Holy ghost. Take a view of this subject. Look at the spirit of promise. View the congregation on that day. They were stranger[s,] not having a knowledge of salvation. They were strangers to the power of God & did not know that Jesus Christ was crusified &[c] All they knew about it was what Peter told them on the day of Pentecost, (14th vrs of 2 ch. of Acts). The ownly knowledge they had about the Holy Spirit was what Peter taught them by quoting the prophet Joel (37 ver).

(Bullock records: "Will talk a little about the spirit of God. [Heard] a great deal [and] [was] surprised that there should be a [deal] [said] -- [Want] to talk about [as it] was first proclaimed. His promise was repent & be baptised and ]read] [Acts] [&c] In relation to [one point] -- to the [----] of p[----------] -- [there] [S.] [made] for [the people of the [L.] Must give a view of the congregation assembled at that day -- they [were] [entire] strangers & ignorant of the plan of salvation. They did not know [that] faith had anything to do with salvation. Did not know that the Jews had crucified the son of God -- [thought] it was [the] result of drunkeness. That is the kind of congregation. They were dependent upon what Peter said [for?] every thing.")

Now mark this, Peter had defined the spirit of God of the fruits of it be Prophecy, dreams, visions, revelations, &c. Yes this is the spirit of God the spirit of Prophecy, dreams, visions, heal the sick, & all the great things, & I will in the last days pour out my spirit upon all flesh. This is the definition of the Spirit. All were called to be baptized without any exceptions, villians harlots, scoundral[s] and all.

A question. How long would it take the sectarian religion before they would prophecy & have the gifts of the spirit[s] of God? It would take seven eternities to do it for it is on a different scheme. I will come to an anxious bench and get as good a convertion as can be got at an anxious bench. Will I be converted to God? No I will be converted to an anxious bench.

If I had been converted to God I shou;d have been prophesying according to the words of Joel. For he said the spirit of God should be poured out upon all flesh & I believe I am flesh & I believe you are flesh & I believe we are in the last days.

I will now sum up the testimony. What is a man to preach when they go out? Tell the people to repent quit their iniquity be baptized & you shall receive the Holy ghost, dream dreams, see visions, & prophecy & if they don't tell them this they preach another gospel.

[Note: This is end of the third segment of Rigdon's 3-part conference talk, which he finished up in his April 7th a. m. address. (Photocopies of Woodruff's journal pages and Bullock's notes, from University of Utah's Marriott Library, Special Collections: Manuscripts -- ACC 900, bx. 77)].

(To be continued.)









Vol. V. No. 15.                          Nauvoo, Ill., Aug. 15, 1844.                        Whole No. 99.



CONFERENCE  MINUTES.
Continuation of last April's Conference.

The president having arrived; the choir sang a hymn. Elder A. Lyman offered prayer.

The president then arose and called the attention of the congregation upon the subjects which were contemplated in the fore part of the conference. As the wind blows very hard, it will be hardly possible for me to make you all hear unless there is profound attention. It is of the greatest importance, and the most solemn of any that can occupy our attention, and that is, the subject of the dead; on the decease of our brother Follett, who was crushed to death ...


T&S report of conference minutes continues with King Follett sermon by Joseph Smith on Sunday Apr 7th, 3 PM. This ends the conference excerpts from T&S. A few short T&S excerpts on Rigdon's 1844 Church trial follow:


Times & Seasons Vol. V, p. 647: "Trial of Elder Rigdon"...

660: ... Sidney's first revelation in Kirtland was telling the people that the kingdom was rent from them, and they might as well all go home for they were rejected. The saints felt very bad and were almost distracted. When brother Joseph came home (who was absent at the time) he called Sidney into council and there told him he had lied in the name of the Lord... The object of Sidney's revelation was to divide the church and scatter it... When he was making his flowery sermon and endeavoring to captivate the people by his eloquence, they looked, and when he had got through, behold they had seen nothing... In our council in the Seventies' Hall, he said that his vision was a continuation of the vision recorded in the book of Doctrine and Covenants. There was however this difference, the one in the Doctrine and Covenants was an open vision, but the vision he received in Pittsburgh: was a mental vision, a vision presented to the mind...

661-662: ... President Rigdon, a man who ought to know better -- who does know better -- has been ordaining men to office that he does not hold himself; and yet he has come to us with a revelation to lead this church... his mind is enveloped in darkness... he is ignorant and blinded by the devil... We have tried him who said he was a prophet, and sent of God with revelations to this church, and found him to be a liar...

663-664: I think enough has been said to make the matter plain... He [Rigdon] has come and lied in the name of the Lord... the devil has blinded his eyes...

667: As to Elder Rigdon's revelations, they are from the same source as Oliver Olney's, Gladden Bishop's, Mr. Strang's, &c. They are from the Devil...

686: ... I never had any confidence in Brother Sidney as a revelator, and why? because I have so repeatedly heard Brother Joseph rebuke him for speaking in the name of the Lord, what was not so... I believe he is an evil designing man. He is dishonest, and he has lied to carry out his theory. He preached one thing one day and the contrary another...








Vol. V. No. 13.                          Nauvoo, Ill., July 15, 1844.                        Whole No. 97.



CONFERENCE  MINUTES.
Continuation of last April's Conference.

[ APOSTLE JOHN TAYLOR'S TALK ]

(Elder Rigdon here stopped to refresh himself. The choir sung a hymn.)

Elder John Taylor being called upon to address the congregation, said, It gives me pleasure to meet and associate with so large an assemblage of the saints. I always feel at home among the brethren. I consider them the honorable of the earth; and if I can do any thing to conduce to their happiness, or that will in any wise tend to their edification, I am satisfied. I therefore address this congregation with cheerfulness and pleasure; and if by unfolding any of the principles of truth that I am in possession of, or laying before you any thing pertaining to the kingdom; If my ideas will enlarge your minds or produce beneficial results to any, I shall consider myself on this, as on all other occasions amply repaid.

Many things have been spoken by Elder Rigdon concerning the early history of this church. There is no individual who has searched the oracles of eternal truth, but his mind will be touched with remarks with the remarks made by our venerable friend which unfold the dispensation of Jehovah, and have a tendency to produce the most thrilling feelings in the bosoms of many who are this day present, and to promote our general edification; he traces with pleasure on the historic page the rise of nations, kingdoms and empires. Historians dwelt with great minuteness on the heroic deeds, the chivalrous acts, the dangers and deliverances; the tact, bravery and heroism of their chieftains, generals and governments. We as republicans, look back to the time when this nation was under the iron rule of Great Britain, and groaned under the power, tyranny and oppression of that powerful nation. We trace with delight, the name of a Washington, a Jefferson, a La Fayette and an Adams, in whose bosoms burnt the spark of liberty. These themes are dwelt upon with delight by our own legislators, our governors and presidents; they are subjects which fire our souls with patriotic ardor. But if these things animate them so much, how much more great, and noble and exalted are the things laid before us. They were engaged in founding kingdoms, and empires that were destined to dissolution and decay, and although many of them were great, formidable and powerful, they now exist only in name. Their "cloud capped towers, their solemn temples, are dissolved," and nothing now remains of their former magnificence, or ancient grandeur, but a few dilapidated buildings and broken columns, a few shattered fragments remains to tell to this and to other generations, the perishable nature of earthly pomp and worldly glory. -- They were engaged in founding empires and establishing kingdoms, and powers that had in themselves the seeds of destruction, and were destined to decay. We are laying the foundation of a kingdom that shall last forever; -- that shall bloom in time and blossom in eternity.

We are engaged in a greater work than ever occupied the attention of mortals; we live in a day that prophets and kings desired to see, but died without the sight. When we hear the history of the rise of this kingdom, from one who has been with it from its infancy, from the lips of our venerable friend who has taken an active part in all the history of the church, can we be surprised that he should feel animated, and that his soul should burn with heavenly zeal? We see in him a man of God who can contemplate the glories of heaven; the visions of eternity, and who yet looks forward to the opening glories which the great Eloheim has manifested to him, pertaining to righteousness and peace; a man who now beholds the things roll on which he has long since beheld in prophetic vision. Most men have established themselves in authority, by laying desolate other kingdoms, and the destruction of other powers. Their kingdoms have been founded in blood and supported by tyranny and oppression. The greatest chieftains of the earth have obtained their glory, if glory it can be called, by blood, carnage and ruin. -- One nation has been built up at the expense and ruin of another, and one man has been made at the expense of another, and yet these great men were called honorable for their inglorious deeds of rapine. They have slain their thousands, and caused the orphans to weep and the widows to mourn. Men did these things because they could do it, because they had power to desolate nations and spread terror and desolation. They have made themselves immortal as great men.

The patriots of this country had indeed a laudable object in view, a plausible excuse for the course they took. -- They stood up in defence of their rights, liberty and freedom: but where are now those principles of freedom? Where the laws that protect all men in their religious opinions? where the laws that say a man shall worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience? What say ye, ye saints, ye who are exiles in the land of LIBERTY. How came ye here? Can you in this land of equal rights return in safety to your possessions in Missouri? No! -- You are exiles from thence, and there is no power, no voice, no arm to redress your grievances. Is this the gracious boon for which your fathers fought, and struggled, and died? Shades of the venerable dead, could you but gaze upon this scene and witness tens of thousands of Americans in exile on Columbia's soil, if pity could touch your bosoms, how would you mourn for the oppressed; if indignation, how would you curse the heartless wretches that have so desecrated and polluted the temple of liberty. "How has the gold become dim, and the fine gold, how has it changed." Let it not be told among the heathen monarchs of Europe, lest they laugh and say ha! ha! So would we have it. Ye saints, never let it go abroad, that ye are exiles in the land of liberty, lest ye disgrace your republic in the eyes of the nations of the earth; but tell it to those who robbed and plundered, and refused to give you your rights; tell your rulers that all their deeds of fame are tarnished, and their glory is departed. Are we now indeed in a land of liberty of freedom, of equal rights? Would to God I could answer yes; but no! no!! I cannot. They have robbed us, we are stripped of our possessions, many of our friends are slain, and our government says "your cause is just, but we can do nothing for you." Hear it, ye great men, we are here in exile! Here are thousands of men in bondage, in a land of liberty, of freedom!! If ye have any patriotism left, shake off your fetters, and come and proclaim us free, and give us our rights.

I speak of this government as being one of the best governments, as one of the greatest, purest, and yet, what a melancholy picture. O ye venerable fathers who fought for your liberty, blush for your children, and mourn, mourn over your country's shame. We are now talking about a government which sets herself up as a pattern for the nations of the earth, and yet, O what a picture, If this is the best, the most patriotic, the most free, what is the situation of the rest? Here we speak with national pride of a Washington, a La Fayette, a Monroe, and a Jefferson; who fought for their liberties, and achieved one of the greatest victories ever won, and scarcely has one generation passed away before 15000 citizens petition government for redress of their wrongs, and they turn a deaf ear to their cry. Let us compare this with the Church of Christ, fourteen years ago a few men assembled in a log cabin; they saw visions of heaven and gazed upon the eternal world; they looked through the rent vista of futurity, and beheld the glories of eternity; they were planting those principles which were concocted in the bosom of Jehovah; they were laying a foundation for the salvation of the world, and those principles which they then planted, have not yet begun to dwindle, but the fire still burns in their bones; the principles are planted in different nations, and are wafted on every breeze. When I gaze upon this company of men, I see those who are actuated by patriotic and noble principles, who will stand up in defence of the oppressed, of whatever country, nation, color, or clime. I see it in their countenances; it is planted by the spirit of God, and they have received it from the great Eloheim [Elohim], all the power or influence of mobs, priestcraft and corrupt men, cannot quench it, it will burn, it is comprehensive as the designs of God, and as expansive as the universe, and reaches to all the world, no matter whether it was an Indian, a negro or any other man, or set of men that are oppressed, you would stand forth in their defence [defense]. I say unto you, continue to cherish those principles; let them expand, and if the tree of Liberty has been blasted in this nation; if it has been gnawed by worms, and already blight has overspread it, we will stand in defence of our liberties, and proclaim ourselves free in time and in eternity.

The choir, by request sung 'the red man,' after prayer by elder J. P. Green, the meeting was adjourned for one hour.

April 6th, 1844, afternoon.

The president arrived at the stand at 1/2 past 2 o'clock, P. M. The choir sung a hymn, after which prayer by elder J. P. Green, when the choir sung another hymn. Elder Rigdon resumed his history of the Church of Christ.

(For the want of room we postpone president Rigdon's remarks for the present.)



Conference adjourned till tomorrow morning,







Vol. V. No. 14.                          Nauvoo, Ill., Aug. 1, 1844.                        Whole No. 98.




CONFERENCE  MINUTES.
Continuation of last April's Conference.

[ PATRIARCH HYRUM SMITH'S TALK ]
At two o'clock, P. M., Patriarch Hyrum Smith arrived at the stand, and said he wanted to speak something about the Temple....We want 200,000 shingles, as we shall resume the work on the Temple immediately; all who have not paid their tithing, come on and do it. We want provisions, money, boards, planks, and anything that is good; we dont [don't] want any more old guns or watches. I thought some time ago I would get up a small subscription, so that the sisters might do something. In consequence of some misunderstanding, it has not gone on as at first; it is a matter of my own, I do not ask it as a tithing. I give a privilege for any one to pay a cent a week, or fifty cents a year. I want it by next fall to buy nails and glass. It is difficult to get money, I know that a small subscription will bring in more than a large one; -- the poor can help in this way. I take the responsibility upon myself, and call again upon the sisters; I call again until I get about $1,000, it only requires 2,000 subscribers. I have sent this subscription to England, and the branches; I am not to be dictated to, by anyone except the prophet and God; I want you to pay in your subscriptions to me, and it shall always be said boldly by me -- the sisters bought the glass in that house -- and their names shall be written in the book of the law of the Lord. It is not a tax but a freewill offering to procure something which shall ever be a monument of your works. No member of the Female Relief Society got it up; I am the man that did it; they ought not to infringe upon it; I am not a member of the Female Relief Society; I am one of the committee of the Lord's House. I wish to accomplish something; I wish all the saints to have an opportunity to do something; I want the poor to have a chance with the purse of five dollars. -- The widow's two mites, were more in the eyes of the Lord, than the purse of the rich; and the poor woman shall have a seat in the house of God, she who pays her two mites as much as the rich; because it is all they have. I wish all to have a place in that house; I intend to stimulate the brethren; I want to get the roof on this season; I want to get the windows in, in the winter, so that we may be able to dedicate the house of the Lord by this time next year, if nothing more than one room; I will call upon the brethren to do something.

I cannot make a comparison between the house of God and anything now in existence. Great things are to grow out of that house; there is a great and mighty power to grow out of it; there is an endowment; knowledge is power, we want knowledge; we have frequently difficulties with persons who profess to be Latter Day Saints; when the sacrament will be administered in the Lord's house, it will do away with a great deal of difficulty that is now in existence. If we can have a privilege and confess our faults unto God and one another every Sabbath day, it will do away with these, you poor sisters shall have a seat in that house; I will stand on the top of the pulpit and proclaim to all what the sisters have done; when you offer up your sacraments every Sabbath, you will feel well a whole week; you will get a great portion of the Spirit of God, enough to last you a week, and you will increase. We are now deprived of the privilege of giving the necessary instruction, -- hence we want a house. All the money shall be laid out for you what you design it; it shant be paid for anything else. I am one of the committee; the committee tell me the quarry is blockaded, it is filled with rock; the stone cutters are wanting work; come on with your teams as soon as conference is over. It is not necessary for me to tell who will come and do it; I will prophesy that you will do it. There is not one in the city but what will do right if they know it; only one or two exceptions and they are not worth notice; God will take care of them, and if he dont [don't] the devil will. I described them once and you will always know them while you see them, they will keep hopping till they hop out of town. Some are tree toads who climb the trees and are continually croaking. -- We are now the most noble people on the face of the globe, and we have no occasion to fear tadpoles. We are designated by the all-seeing eye, designated to do good; not to stoop to any low thing. We are apt to suffer prejudice to get into our hearts on hearing reports, we never should allow it; never should pass our judgment until we hear both sides. I will tell a Dutch anecdote: a certain Dutchman had a cause brought before him and heard one side and he gave his decision, 'by sure you have got the case;' and when the other party brought their witnesses, he said again, 'by sure you have got the case too.' If you hear of any one high in authority, that he is rather inclined to apostacy, don't let prejudice arise, but pray for him; -- God may feel after him and he may return; never speak reproachfully or disrespectfully, he is in the hand of God, I am one of those peacemakers who take the stand above these little things. It has been intimated we should have investigations this conference, do you think I would trouble this conference with it. If I have difficulty with a man I will go and settle it, let them settle their difficulties; there is not a man who has had a difficulty, who would trouble this congregation about it; we ask no favors, we can settle it ourselves; don't think any thing about persons who are on the eve of apostasy, God is able to take care of them. Let God judge, do your duty, and let men alone.

I wish to speak about Messrs. Law's steam mill, there has been a great deal of bickering about it. The mill has been a great benefit to the city, no matter how much fault found; it has been the means of building the city, it has brought in thousands who would not have come here; but as they saw that the Mormons had got no horns, they came, and have got good by it. People would rather come in than starve. -- The Messrs. Laws have sunk their capital, and done a great deal of good; it is out of character to cast any aspersions on the Messrs. Laws. -- When we come to investigate conspiracy, it is that rascal Jackson who presumed upon them; he supposed he could lead them into any manner of iniquity. I do not believe that the Messrs. Laws would do any thing to injure me or any man's life. The men gave in affidavit that Jackson said they would go into it tooth and toe nail; I will not believe they will do it, if Jackson swore upon a stack of Bibles as big as Mount Etna. I make these observations for the purpose of putting down prejudice. If I was as full of the devil as an egg is full of meat, and you undertook to oppress me, you could not drive me, neither if I was full of the Sprrit [Spirit] of God. Never undertake to destroy men because they do some evil thing; it is natural for a man to be led and not driven; put down iniquity by good works; many men speak without any contemplation, but when they have a little contemplation it would not have been spoken. We ought to be careful what we say, and take the example of Jesus, cast over the mantle of charity and try to cover their faults. We are made to enlighten, and not to darken one another, save men but not destroy men; do unto others what you would have them do unto you. It is well enough to root out conspiracy, do not fear, but if you are in the right track, having God to guide you, he will save you, for God will save you if he has to destroy the wicked so as by fire.

I want to put down all false influence; all that brother Joseph said, was all right; but it was said by the rascal Jackson. If I thought I should be saved, and any in the congregation be lost, I should not be happy; for this purpose Jesus effected a resurrection; our Savior is competent to save all from death and hell; I can prove it out of the revelations; I would not serve a God that had not all wisdom and all power. The reason why I feel so good is because I have a big soul, there are men with small bodies who have got souls like Enoch; we have gathered out all the big souls from the ends of the earth; the gospel picks out all the big souls, out of all creation; and we will get all the big souls out of all the nations, and we shall have the largest city in the world; It works just like a God. We will gather out all the big souls out of every nation: as soon as the gospel catches hold of a big soul it brings them right up to Zion. There is a thing called an eye star; the gospel is similar; then will have a people big enough to be saved. -- Popery could not write what Enoch preached; he told the people the Spirit of God took him up into a high mountain; showed him the distress of the people; the destruction of the world, and he said his heart swelled wide as eternity; but Popery could not receive any thing as large as that. Every society are just like them; God Almighty has made men's souls according to the society which he lives in, with very few exceptions, and when men came to live with the Mormons, their souls swell as if they were going to stride the planets, as I stride the Republic of America. I can believe that man can go from planet to planet, a man gets so high in the mansions above.

A certain good sister came to my house and she was troubled because she heard so many big things; she thought it weakened her faith. I told her she had too much faith; she believed too much; I will tell you how you will know whether the thing is true or not. When any come to you with a lie, you feel troubled; God will trouble you and will not approbate you in such belief; you had better get some antidote to get rid of it. Humble yourself before God, and ask him for his spirit; and pray to him to judge it for you. It is better not to have so much faith, than to have so much as to believe all the lies. Before this conference eloses [closes] I want to get all the elders together. I shall make a proclamation: I want to take the line and axe [ax], and hew you, and make you as straight as possible; I will make you as straight as a stretched line. Every elder that goes from Nauvoo to preach the gospel, if he preach any thing else we will silence him through the public print; I want all the elders to meet and to understand, and if they teach any thing but the pure truth we will call them home.

(To be continued.)








SIDNEY  RIGDON'S  1844  SPRING  CONFERENCE  TALK

Comments by Dale R. Broadhurst

(under construction)

The published transcript of Sidney Rigdon's April 6, 1844 speech was never continued after the notice of its postponement in the Times & Seasons on page 579. Instead, the Church's newspaper skipped over the conclusion of his sermon and not long thereafter began to report on his excommunication trail, a trial which ended in Rigdon's being cut off from the Latter Day Saint Church. Rigdon's relationship with Joseph Smith and other Church leaders became increasingly strained between 1840 and 1843, when Joseph attempted to have him excommunicated at the Fall General Conference in Nauvoo. It appears that Sidney was attempting a come-back among the saints during the Spring 1844 Conference and that the results of this attempt extended even into the pages of the Times & Seasons reports. In May the Mormons nominated him to be Joseph's running mate in a short-lived bid for the US presidency. But after the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith the following month Sidney's hopes for reinstatement in the Church power circles ended. In not bending to the authority of Brigham Young and the Twelve Apostles, and in trying to set up his own following, he only succeeded in alienating himself even further from the ranks of the Church at Nauvoo.

It is important to note that in his trial he was accused of lying in the name of the Lord, both in Kirtland and in Nauvoo. Bishop Newel K. Whitney went even further, saying that Rigdon had often, throughout the history of the Church, lied in the name of the Lord. While this defamation of Rigdon's character was largely successful in destroying his claimed right to lead the Church, allegedly received through divine revelation in Pittsburgh, it also had the effect of destroying Rigdon's reputation right back to the earliest days of the Mormon movement.

The polemic voiced in the T&S during this period was that Sidney Rigdon had repeatedly lied in the name of the Lord, throughout his years as one of the guiding lights of Mormonism. The readers of the T&S must have wondered whether Rigdon's teachings and testimony were to be trusted at any point in the history of the Church. Had he lied when he had related the details in his story of being converted to Mormonism? Had he lied when he had made claims of receiving visions and revelation along with Joseph Smith, jr.? Had he actually conversed with the risen Christ? Was he fully truthful in his 1839 letter refuting the Spalding Theory for the Authorship of the Book of Mormon? Could people even trust his repeated denials of having no knowledge of the Book of Mormon prior to obtaining it from the four "missionaries to the Lamanites" in 1830?

In the published portion of his speech Rigdon spoke proudly of grand plans hatched in secret NY meetings with the other founders of Mormonism. He said those plans and their results were events "which we can now tell." Did the unpublished continuation of his speech elaborate further on the secret activities in NY and their effect upon early Mormonism? If Sidney Rigdon had often lied in the name of the Lord, did such lies extend back to the time of those first secret meetings and were any other of those early Church members partners with him in religious deceptions? If Rigdon was the kind of person who fabricated accounts of divine visions and revelations, had he also fabricated Pentacostal experiences in Kirtland? Did Rigdon tell lies in name of the Lord when he worked with Smith in revising the text of the Bible, first in NY and later in OH? Had he and others secretly fabricated latter-day holy scripture before this altering of the Bible to conform to Mormon doctrines? Did Rigdon have a hand in the writing of the so-called "Book of Moses" or some part in bringing forth the Book of Mormon?

The T&S accusations opened the saints to some disturbing new ideas as to the truthfulness of anything ever said or done by the one time OH preacher. Ten years later they could find a shred of consolation when Joseph's mother placed some of Sidney's religious lying in the context of mental agitation following the terrible abuse he and Joseph suffered at the hands of an anti-Mormon mob. But, whether Rigdon's lies are excused on the grounds of his mental breakdown, of his being a pious fraud, or of his being a man possessed by demonic powers, he forever stands accused of being the sort of person who could and did fabricate latter-day revelations.


"Gazed upon the scenes of Eternity... for hours"

Many contemporary Latter Day Saints would probably agree that Sidney Rigdon was a religious liar for a short time in Kirtland, and again following the death of Joseph Smith. Those who take a critical view of the "Inspired Version" of the Bible, might even agree that Rigdon is not to be trusted at any point where his activities intersected with the production of latter-day scriptures. It becomes problematic, however, to extend these "religious liar" reports to a more specific accusation that Rigdon had a hand in producing the Book of Mormon. For example, writing in 1910, Harriet T. Upton mentioned that "The present home of James H. Stevens [in Hiram, Ohio] was said to be the place where the Mormon Bible was written by Joseph Smith, and from this house Mr. Smith was taken and tarred and feathered in the back yard; Sidney Rigdon was treated similarly at the same time." If the writer intended the term "Mormon Bible" to stand for the Book of Mormon, her report would indicate that the John Johnson home in Hiram (later the Stevens' residence) was the location where the Book of Mormon was surreptitiously compiled, well before Rigdon and Smith's first known encounter, at the end of 1830. This kind of speculation has been the bread and butter of anti-Mormon writers and the Latter Day Saints have long since learned how to ignore or defend themselves against such unsubstantiated conjecture.

Unless reliable sources can be produced, showing that Rigdon was in communication with persons from the Manchester-Palmyra area of New York, prior to December 1830, it is probably not possible to link his 1820s activities in Ohio to Smith's "translation" of the Book of Mormon. And, even if some evidence of their pre-1830 historical proximity were uncovered, that record alone would not demonstrate that Sidney and Joseph worked together on the Book of Mormon text in the same way they later cooperated in producing the "Inspired Version" of the Bible. Even computerized word-print analysis, demonstrating Book of Mormon textual contributions from both Rigdon and Smith, cannot serve as proof that the two men engaged in joint visions and cooperative scripture writing prior to 1830.

While considering this subject, it might be useful to present here a synthesis of the Bullock and Woodruff transcripts of Sidney Rigdon's April 6th, afternoon Conference talk. At least such a compilation can begin to reconstruct show what Rigdon himself said:


Synthesized Excerpt from Rigdon's 1844 Discourse
I am aware there are many things I did not hint at [this morning]. I will speak of them now. -- I have seen the time [at Hiram, in 1831] when the Presidency of the Church were locked up for weeks in secret places waiting upon God. We [had no free time and] did not go out [of a room in the Johnson house] at all, [except] to eat [and sleep].

But [our scripture translation work] was soon found out, and a bandit mob of 20 or 30 men came rushing to the place, cursing and blaspheming and saying "God damn you to hell," and threatening our lives.

This was the reason why we were shut up [in the Johnson house]. [But the mobbers] never ceased their warfare against us. It was at this time we sat for hours in the Visions of heaven, around the throne of God, and gazed upon the scenes of Eternity.

A gentleman from Mexico having heard rumors of the Mormons came to see us. One evening he called upon us [at the Johnson farm], and that night he went out of my house and found by the fence [on one edge of the property], one after another, a dozen armed men. The man from Mexico returned into the house in fury and got his pistols and said he would kill [the intruders, who then were] in the corner of the fence.

He wanted to shoot them, but they ran away. [Not long after this] another mob came [at night to my cabin] and broke the door. [These intruders] took me and dragged me by my heels, out of my bed, over a wood-pile and through the street, with my head thumping on the frozen ground, after which they threw tar and feathers on me.

[At about the same time]. another company [of the intruders] took Joseph Smith, and tarred and featherd him. They endeavored to throw aqua fortes in my face but I turned my face and it missed me. They tried to [pour] this aqua fortes down [both] our throats, [but did not succeed]. This is the reason why we were in secret, under lock and key.


For some ideas on who the "gentleman from Mexico" might have been see comments attached to page 115 of Richard S. Van Wagoner's 1994 Sidney Rigdon.

For a possible linkage of local opposition to the Mormon leaders' 1832 joint visions at Hiram, see Mark L. Staker's comments in his 2002 article, "Remembering Hiram, Ohio," where the writer attributes that opposition to a "planned migration" of Hiram area converts to Missouri, "as well as differences in religious doctrine." Staker more directly addresses this issue in a 2008 interview, where he remarks, "a number of [the March 24, 1832 assailants] wanted to stop family members from going to Missouri -- Zion -- and thought that harming the Prophet would somehow prevent the gathering, which was to take place in a couple of weeks. Others apparently were upset about the vision now contained in Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants about seeing God and Jesus Christ and the new doctrine that there are many kingdoms in the hereafter." See also chapters 26-27 of Dr. Staker's 2010 book, Hearken, O Ye People.



Whatever the final answers might be to accusations concerning the character of Sidney Rigdon and his reputation as a controversial religious reformer, his influence on the doctrines and structure of the early Church of Christ remains a fact. Even the Mormons' use of the term "Latter Day Saints" was probably his idea. And, while the details of Sidney's first knowledge of the "golden bible" may forever remain in doubt, its effect upon his followers in Ohio was the catalyst which helped transform Joseph Smith's tiny Church of Christ into a religion with adherents now numbering in the millions.


Final Segment of Rigdon's Speech

Woodruff's text on this page is briefer than is that obtained in a reading of Bullock's notes for this same initial section of Rigdon's speech. Woodruff eliminates Rigdon's comment as recorded by Bullock: "Shall not be as explicit as yesterday." Clearly Rigdon's brief admission here was an embarrassment to the LDS leadership. Rigdon was both admitting that he felt the pressure to limit the content of his spoken words and that he had previously somehow overstepped the bounds of what the LDS leadership felt was proper communication from the rostrum at a general conference in Nauvoo.

The pressure on Rigdon to limit his comments to "the party line" may have come in reaction to his accenting the political aspects of the Mormon conception of the Kingdom of God in his previous two speeches. He had bragged his own living above the laws of the land and of the Siants having gotten mobbed in Missouri for following similar convictions. Such talk was inappropriate for a man apparently then being chosen as Joseph Smith's vice-presidential running-mate in the 1844 election campaigns.

More likely, however, is the probability that the pressue to soften his words came in the wake of Joseph Smith and others in the LDS leadership becoming a bit alarmed at Rigdon's many previous comments regarding the secret activities of the LDS Church in its earliest years. Rigdon had just been inducted into the secret Council of the Fifty in Nauvoo and ecclesiastical secrecy was perhaps very much on his mind at the time. However, the unpredictable Rigdon was prefectly able to ride off on some rhetorical flight of fantasy in his speech-making and begin to reveal actual secrets of the Church before a multitude of Saints in Nauvoo.

Finally, Rigdon had hinted previously as to his differences of opinion with Joseph Smith. Although he had kept the references vague in his previous speech, no doubt Smith did not care for any further public explanations of their private relationships and problems. All of the above considerations probably entered into the decision (made by Smith most likely) not to print Rigdon's second and third speeches in the pages of the "Times and Seasons"

WOODRUFF:

April 7th Sunday -- The sun ple[a]sent air calm & serene & a vast multitude of about twenty thousand souls assembled together. After singing and prayers president Rigdon arose & said:

our borders are enlarged this morning, I shall preach from the same tex[t]we preached from yesterday. The Church of Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God, the le[a]ven, the little stone spoken of by Daniel &c. The testimony given would let the kingdom of God exist in any goverment Monarchiel or Republican. We intend to show why salvation belongs to this Church ownly.

The kingdom of God is a goverment that exerciseing its ownly power in ev[e]ry respect it holds a place on the mind, not by force of arms but; by free will because they want to do the will of God & it is accomplished by truth itself that is manifest from Heaven by intelligence that He sees in heaven and it is power in itself. It is on this principle that power rests.

Here Woodruff continues to follow the same general textual sequenceas provided by Bullock', but he softens or omits the material presented by Bullock's regarding the interior principle within man that "takes power over everything." Bullock's version of Rigdon's comments on this "power" are no doubt closer to the original spoken text. Rigdon was either at this point still a true believer in the approaching millennial rule of the kingdom of God, or he had grown so used to preaching sermons constructed along those lines that his millenarian talk had become his stock phrases. What Rigdon speaks of as a resident power within humankind, Smith more likely thought of at the "power of the hierarchical Mormon priesthood.

Both Rigdon and Smith continued to hold similar views on establishing a political kingdom of God -- though Smith's purposes by 1844 may have been a bit more earthbound than Rigdon's lofty religious restorationism. Rigdon continued to promise what the Mormons had never been able to deliver to their converts: a heavenly city set up on earth where "miracles" would be a matter of everyday affairs. The promise had been made in Kirtland and then quickly transferred to "Zion" in Missouri. Now he was attempting to place it in Nauvoo. At least Sidney had become more reserved in making wild predictions of impending great heavenly endowments. etc. He seems to have fallen in with Smith's plan to create an independent Mormon state in the west and leave the details of its management and expansion for the future.

WOODRUFF:

The Lord begins to teach a man what he can do and if he never would know what he was taught he never would know what he could do.

No people can comprehend it but the Church of God. Then one of the main things in the kingdom of God is to let a man know what to do, what glory kingdom & power he can gain. Man is taught a principle that when it enters the mind it has a power over death, plagues, sickness, the gift of miracles. This is one great evidence of the work the power of God. This then i[s] the kingdom of God.

All religions then that there is in the world that has not these things has a tendency to do hurt instead of doing good for it teaches those things are done away. God has said he would take all the kingdoms of the world out of the way, he would break in peases & subdue & he would teach the kings and all powers the way that they may have a chance.

We say then their[e] is no power any wh[e]re els[e] unto salvation. Isaiah said the wilderness should blossom as the rose the lame leap, the blind see. We have got this power here yet the world says it is an imposition.

Both Woodruff and Bullock pick up and pass on Rigdon's "Disciple" doctrine that mental assent to their teachings regarding Christ and salvation is all that is required for entry of a new convert into the Church through baptism. Rigdon appears ready to admit anyone who will mouth the words to his Disciple baptismal formula. A change of heart is not required of the sinner. A murderous Porter Rockwell or a ploygamous, money-grabbing top leader were equally welcome among Rigdon's version of the Saints of God.

Both reporters converge in their notes regarding the fact that the Mormon kingdom was destined to "swallow up" all other governments on earth. Still, that pronouncement probably sent a chill down the spines of Rigdon's gentile listeners.

WOODRUFF:

When He comes, He will save you. The lame shall leap, deaf hear blind see. He will come so you need not have sickness or lameness. But man has proclaimed salvation in the earth. When we exercise the keys of the kingdom of God who can oppose it? Not war with the sword but with another power. The world has always been sheding blood, I proclaim peace not war, & this is what he calls the kingdom. Has not the kingdom of God a right to extend in any part of the world to do good. Beat swords into plow shares & spears into pruning hooks, & it shall be a kingdom of glory, peace, & salvation.

Let no man be alarmed because the Lord said that the kingdom of God should swallow up all other kingdoms. What harm would it do? For all the world would have the same spirit. The Lord said He intended to do by the whole world the same as he has done by us, & this is the thing the world is afraid of. Reflect then. This is as far as I intended to go upon this subject.

A word then upon the Materials to carry on this kingdom. Any man publicans, sinners, scoundrals or any body else could repent & receive the gospel & become a member of the kingdom as well as the good. For when Jesus came He came to call sinners & harlots [came ?] into the kingdom. It dont requir[e] much of an exhertion of the mind.

Much depends however upon the decision of the mind. It depends upon one action or the mind. A man remarked to me he did not belong to a Church, was not worthy. But this is a mistake. Jesus Christ came to save sinners. He saves the unworthy. The Lord will offer a man salvation. He says he is not worth[y]. But what would you want your son to do if he was unworthy? He should return to his father, so with God. He calls to the world to return by

Here Woodruff reports much less than Bullock. Rigdon spends a good deal of time telling his listeners how the angels in heaven rejoice when sinners make the decision to accept the Mormon gospel and be baptised. But Woodruff sums the whole Rigdon excursus into the loving fatherhood of God and rejoicing angels in just a few short lines.

For a speaker who had established a reputation for being "eloquent," Rigdon presents no good example of this speaking power in his printed words. No doubt the tone of his voice, bodily movements, and such contributed greatly to his reputed persuasive powers over audiences of religious seekers. His text itself is rambling and repetitive -- it shows no real evidence of superior compositional talent on Rigdon's part. What does show through is Rigdon's ability to flatter and reassure his audience. Entry into the Mormon kingdom comes through exercise of the intellectual prowess of the convert and exercise of the great "power" resident within him. Nothing more is needed for entry onto the pathway to "eternal glory."

And, as before stated, Rigdon does not call upon his intended converts to make nay great changes in their previously sinful lives. Though the audience listening to him was overwhelmingly Mormon, the few "sinful" gentiles reflecting upon his words may have been a bit reassured that upon joining the Saints they could continue to be sinners. To the faithful LDS listening to Rigdon, his teaching no doubt washed away as much lingering guilt as his baptism had washed away from their burden of pre-conversion "sins."

WOODRUFF:

He cannot make himself any better but decid[e] with the mind today. Then the Lord begins to teach him the things of God & heaven & I will make you like myself. I will give you my spirit & make you feel like my family, & this is the pivot to [a ?] God. Then decide & go, be baptized. Then you will be in the way of Salvation. If he decide otherwise he will not be any better.

A word upon the spirit. This noble decision of the mind causes angels to rejoice in the Heavens for their[e] is more joy over one sinner that repenteth than over ninety and nine just persons. Ev[e]ry person can do this & no man can do a better work. Let no man say they are unworthy.

After economizing so well in his previous reporting, finally contributes more to the preservation of Rigdon's speech than does Bullock. Both reporters supplement one another in telling about Rigdon's Baptist days and a good reconstruction of the original speech at this point probably must incorporate both writers' notes. Woodruff gives a much fuller report than does Bullock, when it comes to telling about Rigdon's view of Joel's predictions and Peter's sermon at pentecost. Most likely Woodruff has let his own sermonizing inclinations color and expand the content of his earlier notes. The comment about the Baptist "anxious bench" is, however, a pure Rigdonism.

WOODRUFF:

I wish all the teachers of the day could hear me. I was a Baptist & preached their doctrin[e] & was hampered, & hampered others in my teachings and all the teachers of the day do the same. They may be honest but they teach fals[e] doctrin[es]. They call people to the anxious bench & keep them down untill they will say they are willing to be damned. But I never was willing to be damned.

The doctrin[e] Peter taught was different from sectarianisms. His doctrin[e] was repent & be baptized & you shall receive the Holy ghost. Take a view of this subject. Look at the spirit of promise. View the congregation on that day. They were stranger[s,] not having a knowledge of salvation. They were strangers to the power of God & did not know that Jesus Christ was crusified &[c] All they knew about it was what Peter told them on the day of Pentecost, (14th vrs of 2 ch. of Acts). The ownly knowledge they had about the Holy Spirit was what Peter taught them by quoting the prophet Joel (37 ver).

Now mark this, Peter had defined the spirit of Cod of the fruits of it be Prophecy, dreams, visions, revelations, &c. Yes this is the spirit of God the spirit of Prophecy, dreams, visions, heal the sick, & all the great things, & I will in the last days pour out my spirit upon all flesh. This is the definition of the Spirit. All were called to be baptized without any exceptions, villians harlots, scoundral[s] and all.

A question. How long would it take the sectarian religion before they would prophecy & have the gifts of the spirit[s] of God? It would take seven eternities to do it for it is on a different scheme. I will come to an anxious bench and get as good a convertion as can be got at an anxious bench. Will I be converted to God? No I will be converted to an anxious bench.

If I had been converted to God I shou;d have been prophesying according to the words of Joel. For he said the spirit of God should be poured out upon all flesh & I believe I am flesh & I believe you are flesh & I believe we are in the last days.

I will now sum up the testimony. What is a man to preach when they go out? Tell the people to repent quit their iniquity be baptized & you shall receive the Holy ghost, dream dreams, see visions, & prophecy & if they don't tell them this they preach another gospel.


 
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last updated: Apr. 15, 2010