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Alexander Campbell, ed.
The Mormon Expose (1842-1843)

FROM

THE

MILLENNIAL HARBINGER.

NEW SERIES.

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VOL. VII. B E T H A N Y,   V A. AUGUST, 1843. NO. VIII.
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M O R M O N I S M.

Extracts from, a pamphlet entitled MORMONISM EXPOSED, continued.

      Though the book of Mormon professes to have been written by divine inspiration, it is full of blunders and contradictions, and in this respect it is not equalled by any other book we ever read.

      As the reader may not have an opportunity of examining any of the Mormon books for himself, we will here present a few more extracts from the "Doctrines and Covenants," that he may have a full view of the sublime mysteries of Mormonism. Instance the following:--

      "Revelation given April, 1829, to Oliver Cowdery:--Behold you have not understood; you have supposed that I must give it" [the translation of the golden plates] "unto you, when you take no thought, [346] save it were to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; that you must ask me if it be right; and if it is right, I will cause your bosom shall burn within you; then you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right, you shall not have such feelings; but then shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget those things which are wrong." Ib. p. 162.

      "Behold I command you" [Hiram Smith] "that you need not suppose you are called to preach until you are called." [!!] Ib. p. 168.

      Look at the following, said to be the word of God, and of equal authority with the holy scriptures:--

      "Verily, I say unto you, let my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., and Sidney Rigdon, take their journey, as soon as preparations can be made to leave their homes, and journey to the land of Missouri." Ib. p. 193.

      "I, the Lord, am willing, if any among you desireth, to ride upon horses, or upon mules, or in chariots, he shall receive the blessing, if he receive it from the hand of the Lord, with an upright heart in all things." Ibid, sec. 72.

      "All grain is good for the food of man, and also the fruit of the vine, that which yieldeth fruit when in the ground or above the ground. Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls, and for swine, and for all beasts of the field; and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks; and all other grain." Ib. p. 208.

      It is said those men have commenced a new translation of our common Bible; hence the following:--

      "It is my will that you should haste to translate my scriptures, and to obtain a knowledge of history, and of countries, and of kingdoms, of laws of God and man, and all this for the salvation of Zion." Ib. p. 213.

      From the following it seems Smith and Rigdon have become wiser than any of the Prophets or Apostles of God:--

      "We, Joseph Smith, Jr., and Sidney Rigdon, being in the spirit on the 16th of February, in the year of the Lord 1832, by the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened, and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God; even those things which were from the beginning, before the world was." Ib. p. 226.

      The Book of Mormon, they tell us, was written and translated by inspiration of God! and, of course, they were inspired when carrying it through the press. But this inspiration was not sufficient to save them from some of the veriest blunders and Jonathanisms, like the following:--

      "Bearing down against the church, p. 221. All manner of good homely cloth, p. 234. Were placed in most dangerous circumstances, p. 375. Sent forth to preach among the people, &c. p. 362. [This is the first time we ever knew that God revealed his will by an "&c."] Somewhat, p. 375. It supposeth me, p. 378. Rations, p. 380. Because of the numeriority of their forces, p. 382. The enormity of our numbers, p. 387. Are a marching, p. 389. It mattereth not, p. 399. The Lord spake and sayeth, p. 7. Dwindle in unbelief, p. 22. One eternal round, p. 23. I saw rumors of wars, p. 28. Make bellowses, p. 43. Having been waxed stronger in battle, p. 247. I am a man of no small reputation among all those who know me, p. 248. As I was a journeying, p. 249. The foundation is beginning to be laid, p. 251. [347] The scriptures are before you; if ye will arrest them, it shall be to your own destruction, p. 260. The walls were rent in twain, p. 264. As he was a going forth, p. 270. He found Mulaki a preaching, p. 254. Becometh worse than as though they had never known these things, p. 283. My heart is brim with joy, p. 296. A tremendous battle, p. 321. Neither Lamanites, nor no manner of ites, p. 515. One continual sound of murder, p. 532. He that eatheth this bread, eatheth of my body to their soul, p. 496. 1 will make thy hopes brass, p. 497. And he was in a clowd, p. 541. Never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it so, ye could not have seen my finger, p. 544. Did moulten out of a rock," [!!!] p. 543.

      The following are a few of the plagiarisms observable in this book; and no one but an ignoramus would think of denying that they are bungling attempts to imitate the scripture style:--

      "The cold and silent grave from which no traveller can return, page 61. O! wretched man that I am! p. 500. Sins which doth so easily beset me, p. 70. I know in whom I have believed, p. 70. Days of probation, p. 81. To be carnally minded is death, p. 82. Wars and rumors of wars, p. 104. Carnal, selfish, devilish, p. 189. Resurrection of endless damnation, p. 189. One faith and one baptism, p. 193. Born of the spirit, p. 214. Must be born again, p. 214. Gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity, p. 214. The driven snow, p. 4. O! Jesus, thou son of God, have mercy on me, p. 315. Whosoever will come may come, and partake of the waters of life freely, p. 339. For behold, to one is given, by the Spirit, that he may teach the word of knowledge, &c., p. 586. [Compare 1 Cor. xii. 7, 13.] Stand fast in that liberty wherewith God hath made them free, p. 393. Being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, p. 17. By faith on the Son of God, p. 23. He is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever, p. 23. They are they which shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel, p. 27. Pervert the right ways of the Lord, p. 30. How beautiful upon the mountains, p. 31. Did breathe out much threatenings, p. 49. Their torments shall be as a lake of fire and brimstone," p. 256.

      The book of Doctrines and Covenants is filled with these miserable attempts to imitate the scripture style, and from hundreds of others we select the following vulgarisms, as a matter of curiosity, coming, as they do, from a book professedly written under divine inspiration:--

      "Let him take with him he that is weak." Doc. and Cov. p. 94.

      "The earth rolls upon her wings." Ib. p. 102.

      "And the stars shall become exceeding angry." Ib. p. 105.

      "He (the angel) shall sound his trump both long and loud." Ib. p. 105, 113, 127.

      "Let not all be spokesmen at once." Ib. p. 107.

      "Art thou a brother or brethren?" Ib. p. 108.

      "All eternity is pained." Ib. p. 118.

      "And from thence whomsoever I shall go forth among all nations." Ib. p. 119.

      "And if thy brother or sister offend thee, thou shalt take him or her between him or her, and thee alone." Ib. p. 125.

      "I the Lord asketh you this question." Ib. p. 134.

      "That thy fasting may be perfect; or, in other words, that thy joy may be full. Verily, this is fasting and prayer; or, in other words, rejoicing and prayer." Ib. p. 140. [348]

      "Revelations," "in other words," are of frequent occurrence in this book.

      "I the Lord willeth." Ib. p. 143.

      "Verily, I say, for this once, I have forgiven your sins." Ib. p. 145.

      "I the Lord justifieth you--I the Lord God maketh you free." Ib. p. 216, 217.

      "I the Lord chasteneth him." Ib. p. 221.

      "For behold, and lo." Ib. page 232.

      "Saith son of Ahman; or, in other words, Alphus; or, in other words, Omegus; even Jesus Christ your Lord." Ib. page 234.

      "It is expedient in me." Ib. page 234, and many other places.

      "All they shall be comforted--all they shall be crowned." Ibid, page 235.

      "And they should gotten together." Ib. p. 236.

      "And his servant went and done all things whatsoever, &c." Ibid, page 238.

      "Shine-love-house." Ibid, page 242.

      And what is the sense of the following:--

      "That ye go to make use of the stewardship which I have appointed unto you, exclusive of the sacred things, for the purpose of shine-love these sacred things." Ib. p. 244.

XXX.--Mormons contemplate a combination with the American Indians
for the subversion of the civil government of this country.

      Our space, will not admit the testimony which we have at command in proof of this assertion. We are told that various methods have been adopted by Mormons for the purpose of corrupting the minds of different Indian tribes, and enlisting them against the government of the United States.

      Besides visiting them in the professed character of Missionaries, it is said they have proposed intermarriages with them, and with some success. The following is from Mr. Harris' pamphlet, before referred to:--

      Voice of Warning, by Parley P. Pratt, one of the Twelve Apostles, page 186:--"The government of the United States has been engaged, for upwards of seven years, in gathering the remnant of Joseph (the Indians) to the very place where they will finally build a New Jerusalem--a city of Zion--with the acquisition of the believing Gentiles, who will gather with them from all the nations of the earth; and this gathering is clearly predicted in the Book of, Mormon, and other revelations; and the place before appointed, and the time set for its fulfilment; and except the Gentiles repent of all their abominations and embrace the same Covenant, (namely, the Book of Mormon,) and come into the same place of gathering, they will soon be destroyed from off the face of the land: as it is written by Isaiah, 'the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish. Yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.'" It is further stated in the same work, that the Indians shall be gathered, and that they, in connexion with the Mormons, shall be amongst the Gentiles as "a young lion among the flock of sheep, and none can deliver;" and that the Gentiles (all anti-Mormons) shall be "as a thing long since passed away, and the remembrance of it almost gone from the earth." [349]

      But to cap the climax, read the following:--"All who will not hearken to the Book of Mormon shall be cut off from among the people; and that, too, in the day it comes forth to the Gentiles and is rejected by them." And not only does this page set the time for the overthrow of our government and all other governments on the American continent, but the way and means of this utter destruction are clearly foretold; namely, the remnant of Jacob (or Indians) will go through among the Gentiles and tear them in pieces like a lion among the flocks of sheep. Their hand shall be lifted up upon their adversaries, and all their enemies shall be cut off. This destruction includes an utter overthrow, and desolation of all our cities, forts, and strong holds--an entire annihilation of our race; except such as embrace the Covenant, and are numbered with Israel!!! "And I will state, as a prophecy, that there will not be an unbelieving Gentile on the face of this continent fifty years hence; and if they are not greatly scourged and in a great measure overthrown within five or ten years from this date, (1838,) then the Book of Mormon will have proved itself false."--This last quotation comes from Pratt's "Mormonism Unvailed, or Truth Vindicated;" a work, by the way, so popular among them that it has already passed through several editions. Comment is unnecessary here; the fact stands proved, clearly and incontrovertibly proved, that they contemplate nothing less than the butchery! murder!! and entire annihilation!!! of all who will not subscribe to their ridiculous teachings. And what adds injury to insult is this, that they raise a long and loud cry of "persecution," when people are only defending themselves against their unlawful aggressions. In conclusion, permit me to ask my countrymen whether they are prepared to allow these "wolves in sheep's clothing" to impose upon them by the false cry of peace, when it is evident that they have only "religion on their tongues," at the same time "holding a dagger in their hands, and murder in their hearts."

      The time was when we supposed Mormonism too great an absurdity to be received by any person of common sense, who believed the Bible. But we know no system of error was ever broached too monstrous to be believed, by some one. All the impostures ever concocted, have, in their time, had their advocates. And no system of fanaticism, in any previous age, has combined so many fatal errors as this Mormonism, which has been delineated in these extracts. Here you have it as plain as language can make it, that Mormonism authorizes and approves the most horrid crimes which it is possible for any one to perpetrate. Deception, lying, fraud, theft, plunder, arson, treason, and murder, are among the crimes which have characterized this miserable delusion.

      And will it be said that these deluded creatures committed these dreadful crimes in self-defence? Treason, theft, and murder in self-defence! What kind of religion is that which leads its votaries to perpetrate such crimes under the pretence that he is doing it in self-defence? The truth is, Mormons believe that the whole of this country belongs, of right, to them; and they are training their followers, and preparing them to obtain possession of the country, either by "purchase or by blood." We may laugh at these as idle pretensions, and persuade ourselves that they cannot amount to any thing. So the [350] good people of the West thought; but we now see that Mormonism has actually involved one portion of our land in all the horrors of a civil war. And what it has done in Missouri it will do in other places, just as soon as it can find a sufficient number silly enough to yield their hearts and property to its unreasonable, unscriptural, and wicked claims.

[The Millennial Harbinger, New Series, 7 (August 1843): 346-351.]


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Alexander Campbell, ed.
The Mormon Expose (1842-1843)