Mormonism 1838 -- What Went Wrong?
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:30 pm
Apostle John F. Boynton has long been one of my favorite early Mormon leaders.
He later became a naval engineer and his name can be found here and there in the history books.
He was also the Elder who baptized my ancestral family in western Pennsylvania in 1832-33. They
were evdiently converted through Hyrum Smith's preaching there, but it was Boynton who stayed
and organized the local branch, and did the baptizing.
I wanted to share with you a letter that Apostle Boynton wrote in 1838, to help explain his
split with Joseph Smith, Jr. -- whom he came to see as an impostor and a swindler.
But, in order to help make sense of the Apostle's counsel, I'll first have to post a contemporary
letter written by Joseph Smith's Kirtland secretary, scribe and officer in the Kirtland Bank, Elder
Warren Parrish.
Perhaps some of you here will find these old letters as interesting as I do.
Uncle Dale
He later became a naval engineer and his name can be found here and there in the history books.
He was also the Elder who baptized my ancestral family in western Pennsylvania in 1832-33. They
were evdiently converted through Hyrum Smith's preaching there, but it was Boynton who stayed
and organized the local branch, and did the baptizing.
I wanted to share with you a letter that Apostle Boynton wrote in 1838, to help explain his
split with Joseph Smith, Jr. -- whom he came to see as an impostor and a swindler.
But, in order to help make sense of the Apostle's counsel, I'll first have to post a contemporary
letter written by Joseph Smith's Kirtland secretary, scribe and officer in the Kirtland Bank, Elder
Warren Parrish.
Perhaps some of you here will find these old letters as interesting as I do.
Uncle Dale
Belfast, Maine,
Friday, May 4, 1838.
Mormonism.
There is at this time much excitement in Vinalhaven and vicinity on the doctrine of Mormonism, or the religion of Jo. Smith, as it is called. The place was visited last August by two Mormon Preachers, who still remain, disseminating their new religious principles. They have baptized about fifty into the Mormon faith, and are encouraging others to go forward and embrace it. They have, prophesied the destruction of the town and its inhabitants, and are warning them to flee from hence to the far West, which has so frightened those who have joined them, that many have already sold their farms, stock, and every other article, and are getting in readiness to move to the West, to the community of the Mormons.
The following letters have been received in answer to inquiries made by the Postmaster and other persons at Vinalhaven:
KIRTLAND, March 13th, 1838.
SIR -- Yours of Feb. 20th was put into my hands this morning, by the Post Master of this place, requesting me to state some facts in relation to the subject of your inquiries, which I cheerfully do, as it is a matter of no small moment to those interested. I have been a member of the church of Latter Day Saints almost from its commencement. I enlisted in the Mormon faith, (as it is called,) in all good conscience, about one year before I ever saw Joseph Smith, Jr. -- believing him to be a prophet of God, by whose hand the Lord would gather Israel, and establish his glorious kingdom on the earth, by bringing in that universal Sabbath of rest spoken of by all the Holy Prophets, and so much desired by all the Saints. I have travelled much, and preached much, in many of the United States, as my friend Elder Woodruff will bear me record; (who I learn is the leading man in the Mormon reform in your vicinity) many hundreds, and I think I might safely say thousands of miles we have travelled together in the Southrn States, and western country. When I was successfully proclaiming in the State of Tennessee, brother W. found his way to that country, through the far distant western wilds of Missouri and Arkansas, whither we had journeyed together the season before. Under my hands he received his higher ordination to the ministry -- but enough of this -- give my respects to him; he is a man I highly esteem, and should be pleased to see him upon this subject. if convenient; please show him this letter, and tell him that our apprehensions respecting the wickedness of our leaders have heen more than realizcd, since our last interview before he left for the East. Smith and Rigdon have run away, and indeed most of the Smith family. Joseph Smith, Sen. the Patriarch, was arrested, after Joseph, Jr. and Sidney had absconded, upon a State warrant for a violation of the laws of his country, and would have been convicted, had be not been helped out of a window in the night and made his escape from Justice, as his son the prophet had done before him; and have not either of them been seen in this place since. Two or three days since, after Smith and Rigdon left this town, the Printing Office was set on fire and consumed, with all its contents, consisting of a large quantity of books, papers, book-binding, &c. I say set on fire, because this is the opinion of the public, and that too in fulfilment of Smith's revelation before he left; as I understand that he had prophesied the destruelion of this place by fire; and it is presumed that the midnight incendiary that committed this outrage was one of his faithful disciples, who acted under his direction, that his prophesying might be fulfilled. The printing establishment had belonged to them, but had been sold at Sheriff's sale, by virtue of two executions of $1000 each against said Smith and Rigdon for issuing banking paper or bills contrary to law. It had fallen into hands that would have used it to expose their iniquities which accelerated the doom, and hastened their exit from this place. This town (Kirtland) is called the stake of Zion for the gathering of the Saints, established as they said by revelation, a place of safety and peace. Smith now says that the Saints must flee out, for God will destroy this place for its wickedness; they are fleeing by night, and on the Sabbath, to cheat and defraud their creditors; as their leaders have set the exmple. Smith and Rigdon have obtained their earthly substance by thousands and tens of thousands, penury and want stares them in the face, innocent women and children are suffering, yet they flee at the summons of their prophet. Lots of land in this village that Smith sold to his brethren, the Samts, but lIttle more than one year since for $1000, can now be bought for $50. Their object for gathering them here is obvious, viz: to swindle them out of ther money -- their object in telling them to flee from this place, after assuring them that it was the will of God that they should purchase here and build up this city first, is to gather them and others that have something yet left, to swindle them out of their money -- divisions and disease reign here, society is a wreck. Smith and Rigdon are notorious in this country for their rascality; also in the far West, Missouri, the place of gathering, as we learn by letters from that place, one of the twelve Latter Day Apostles, a friend of mine, says, that Smith and Rigdon acted more like desperadoes, when they were in that place last fall, than like civilized men or christians. The presiding elder of the church in that place, some of the Apostles there as well as here, and most all men of influence have left them to their own destruction. Many are moving away from Zion to the far West, on account of the confusion that prevails among them. Martin Harris, one of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon, told me and others a few days since, that he never saw the plates with his natural eyes, but in a vision. He also said that Joseph, nor any other man, ever saw them in any other way; which agrees with the revelations, (see book of covenants, new edition, page 171.) On comparing the first and second edition of the book of covenants, which Smith claims to have received by direct revelation from heavan, there is a wide difference; whole sentences altered; language and meamng essentially different, which shows that they have no confidence in themselves. Any man that would add to or diminish from John's revelations, God said, should be cursed; has the Lord given Joseph more liberty than he did his beloved disciple? Harris further stated that Joseph got drunk after he commenced translating, and the spirit of inspiration left him for a week -- no doubt it did if he ever had it -- but the faithful Paul inrorms us that God would choose the base things to bring to nought the things that are mighty. Query -- do they remain base while God is using them? However, drunkenness is a characteristic of the family, if report is true. Be this as it may, two years ago this spring, at the solemn assembly, or enduement; as it was called, held at the Temple, in this stake of Zion, I saw one of Joseph Smith Jr.'s brothers, a high councillor and High Priest, drink wine and prophesy, until he fell down beastly drunk, and vomited. For further information I would refer you to the Zion's Watchman, printed at New York. I have commenced a correspondence with the editor upon this subject. Yours respectfully,
WARREN PARRISH.
KIRTLAND, March 18th, 1838.
This may certify that the letter that encloses this, contains matter of fact, as stated by Mr. Parrish. He has been Smith's Secretary and has been in high standing as an official member of the church, and much esteemed by them as a minister of the gospel. Last winter, said Parrish and myself, and some forty others, withdrew from the church, after having witnessed the abominations of Josepb Smith Jr. and Sidney Rigdon, in lying, cheating, and defrauding; and also having access to their secret councils, we, learned their private sentimentS; and we are now fully convinced that they are infidels, while they are publicly proclaiming christianity; therefore they are base hypocrites, wolves in sheep's clothing, seeking to devour their flocks. I am convinced that they do not believe the Bible, Book of Mormon,or the revelations that they profess to have received from Heaven themselves. Rigdon once said in my hearing, that he had rather have one revelation of common sense, than the whole bundle that had been given from old Adam to the present time. Among those that withdrew, are one of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon, some of the first Presidents of the church, some of the twelve Apostles, a number of the Presidents of the Society; also some of the seventy, several high councillors, and some High Priests; all men of good standing until they remonstrated against the high-handed wickedness of their leaders, and withdrew from them. Since that time our names are bandied to the four winds as apostates, reprobates, &c. to destroy our influence; but we have raised the warning voice, and intend that the truth shall triumph, and echo, and reach from Maine to Missouri, and from the eastern to the western sea; we have prepared the charges named in these letters, with many olhers of the like nature, against them, and challenged them publicly to meet them, but they dare not; clouds of witnesses would testify to their truth, and they know it too well to venture an investigation. Yes, we have made their ears to tingle, while we have proclaimed their abominations to them, and our testimony shall go forth upon the wings of the wind; and the characters of these desperadoes shall be known, not only upon this continent, but it soon shall reach the distant shores of Europe, and the islands of the sea.; and whether men believe or not, we are determined to discharge our duty, so that those who hereafter submit to be their willing victims, cannot say they were not faithfully warned. Yet there are many (strange as it may appear) who have witnessed many or these things, that still continue to support these men in their iniquities; and I am sorry to say that Jonathan H. Hale and Henry Herryman, my brothers-in-law, are among that number; but so it is. I understand that Hale and Woodruff are the men who first brought the Mormon faith to your Island, that they are warning the people who have joined them to flee to this place, to escape the judgments of God. The same cry has been heard here from morning until evening, since Smith and Rigdon ran away -- flee -- flee -- for God will destroy this city. One year ago last fall, when they were in the midst of their speculation, the word of the Lord was, buy an inheritance in Kirtland, the city of Zion, at any price, for this city must be built up first. But where the carcass is, the Eagles will be gathered together. It has been my lot to be called and chosen one of the twelve Latter Day Apostles. I have held important stations in the church for about five years and have travelled much and preached much in the Eastern States, and built up many churches; and indeed I have baptized hundreds in your own State, and did it in all honesty and good faith; but after becoming acquainted with the above facts, and many others of the like character, I have with the same principles of honesty and good fdith, withdrawn from them.
Yours, JOHN F. BOYNTON.
Witness, LUKE JOHNSON, one of the twelve Apostles.
P. S. If you are disposed, you may cause both of these letters in answer to yours to be published in some newspaper, for the benefit of others. We would be glad to have you do so, and send us some half dozen copies of the same; and if you desire it, we will continue the correspondence.
WARREN PARRISH,
JOHN F. BOYNTON.
We the undersigned are neighbors of Warren Parrish, and are acquainted. with his moral character; and do most cheerfully say that, as a man of truth and veracity, his character is unimpeachable.
LYMAN COWDERY,
THOMAS LYON,
CHARLES C. WINCHEL,
W. Z. [sic - A?] COWDERY,
ARIAL HANSON.
P. M. Kirtland, March 17th, 1838.
Cleaveland, March 25, 1838.
Dear Brother, -- I have just received yours, directed to the church under my pastoral charge, and hasten its reply. I am very sorry that you should be tormented with the most foolish and blasphemous system of Mormonism. Of all ancient and modern isms or impostures, it is the most strikingly absurd. It combines within itself all the elements of the most vulgar and heartless depravity, as well as certain dissolution. I knew Jo Smith before he commenced this crusade of Knight errantry. He was then, what he now is, a poor, intemperate, quarrelsome and ignorant fellow; just fit for a tool in the hand of some wicked, designing man to accomplish any nefarious purpose. He would put a certain magical stone into his hat, and then by looking upon it, he could discover gold and silver mines; and succeeded in duping some credulous persons whom he ruined. Soon after this, unquestionably at the instigation of some person equally depraved, but of a sounder head, he wrote his Mormon book, a perfect tissue of the most consummate folly and duplicity. After wandering about from place to place, he fixed upon Kirtland, by divine direction, as the great moral centre of the universe, from which laws were to be given to the world; and where our Saviour was to dwell personally in the latter days. He succeeded in exciting that part of the community given to the miraculous and strange, and whom sober sense and sound reason could not move. In Kirtland they built what they called the splendid Temple, but which in fact is nothing more than a great unsightly stone building, with nothing singular, save the folly of its erection, excepting some hanging curtains in the interior, and some mysterious figures and characters painted on the spiritual wardens' seats; enough to fill the mind of every ignorant beholder, with the emotions of the sublime. A man by the name of Rigdon is associated with Smith in the management of the temporal and spiritual interests of this concern. Rigdon possesses more mind than Smith, and perhaps an equal amount of depravity. They attempted to establish a Bank, and after professing to have a million and a half in specie, they succeeded in throwing into circulation a large amount of money, which, of course, the public have lost. They would fill boxes with sand, and then covered them over with silver, and solemnly protest they were filled with specie. This a gentleman told me, whose authority cannot be questioned. Jo. Smith has been detected, I know not how many times, in fraud -- he has been indicted once for murder -- and how many times more, and how varied the charges, I have never taken the trouble to inquire. Smith is exceedingly quarrelsome -- fights any one against whom he holds a grudge. The minister of the largest congregation in this county, a few months since, merely told Jo. Smith that he believed Mormonism was a most foolish and wicked system; when Smith struck him several times, using the most bitter language. A lady remarked to me not long since, that before the Mormons came, they lived in peace and safety; but now their gardens and orchards were pilfered, and nothing was safe, excepting under lock and key. But their Temple, their farms and property have gone. Smith and Rigdon have both run away and left the country; and others, poor, despised, afflicted, and deceived, are following the example of their leaders; some going one way and some another. But strange as it may appear, some yet adhere to Smith, while others declare him a notorious impostor, and choose other leaders. I would not be understood as saying I do not think it possible that a good person can be deceived, or that they are all like their wretched leaders; but the number of good or even moral, I should think exceedingly small. In this very hasty sketch, I am not conscious of having said one thing too severe; but I am confident that what I have written would be mild if compared with what thousands of the most intelligent citizens in this country would say, if asked to write their views upon this subject. As to their baptism, it is but a part of their blasphemies, for which may God forgive them. In haste, I am respectfully yours, LEVI TUCKER.
----------
Note: For additional communications from Warren Parrish, see the Painesville, Ohio Republican of Feb. 15, 1838, as well as the Carthage, Ohio Evangelist of Oct. 1, 1838. Parrish's March, 1838 Zion's Watchman articles have not yet been transcribed, but John C. Bennett's 1842 book reproduces a similar Parrish letter on page 46.
http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/NE ... htm#050438