| 70 Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and are sent out as missionaries under Brigham Young, the Mahomet of the Rocky Mountains, Utah Territory, have preached not only in the United States of America, but also in nearly every country of Europe, that polygamy was instituted by said Smith, and that it was and is a true doctrine of said church; we find ourselves bound to make known to the public, that Joseph Smith never brought forth such a doctrine, never preached and never practiced it, and that this doctrine of polygamy is not and was never a doctrine of true Mormonism, and is contrary to the standard works of the church, namely: the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Book of Doctrine and Covenants. And we feel it our duty, first, to do all that is in our power to warn the people from such impostors and their abominable teachings, and secondly, to cast off this stain from Joseph Smith and the original church of Mormonism; and we therefore challenge these men who preach such doctrine, to prove it in public.
JOHN AVONDET.
J. L. BEAR.
FREDERIC URSENBACH.
-The Saints' Herald, vol. 21, pp. 372, 373.
Thus in every place where the Utah elders and the elders of the Reorganization have met have the former been invited by the latter to discuss the issues, but they have steadfastly refused.
(page 70) |
