| 698 as their God. They go it regardless of feeling or consequences; no matter whether the game is played upon the tables of the living, or the coffins of the dead!
But we are saying too much, for in old times, when men became so hardened in sin, that they forgot the blessings of virtue and commandments of God, he turned his wrath upon them, as the history of Sodom, Egypt, Babylon, Tyre and Sidon, and Jerusalem show. We have a duty then, to act well our part, for though Noah, Daniel and Job plead with the Almighty, if the people repented not of their folly and sin, they could not escape the judgment written.
From the N. Y. Prophet
Salem, Oct. 11th, 1844.
To the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, Greeting:-
I deem it to be a duty which I owe to God and his church to express my feelings and bear my testimony unto you concerning certain things that are presented to you for your consideration; especially, the claims of Elder Sidney Rigdon to the exclusive right to lead and govern the church of Latter-day Saints.-I have examined the trial which Elder Rigdon has had before the authorities of the church in Nauvoo, as given in the Times and Seasons, Vol, v. No. 17, and I am satisfied that a righteous decision has been given in his case. I do not make these remarks without my reasons: and I will hereby give those reasons.
I will commence by asking where has Elder Rigdon been since he made his flaming speech in Far West, which had a tendency to bring persecution upon the whole church especially the head of it? Has he stood by the side of the Prophet and Patriarch as a true friend, to assist in carrying them through their trials, tribulations and persecutions? Has he walked up into his place as a man of God, and stood beside the Prophet as his counsellor [counselor]? Has he walked up into his place as a man of God, and stood beside the Prophet as his counsellor [counselor]? Has he, in any way, been a pillar or support to the church from that day until this? Has he sustained the cause and used an influence to spread the work abroad since the persecution in Far West? Has he in any way sustained the priesthood with dignity and honor, for the last five years of his life? Or, has the Prophet, in any point of view, leaned upon him as a counsellor [counselor], a staff, or support, for the last five years? Or has the Prophet Joseph found Elder Rigdon in his councils when he organized the quorum of the Twelve, a few months before his death, to prepare them for the endowment? And when they received their endowment, and actually received the keys of the kingdom of God, and oracles of God, keys of revelation, and the pattern of heavenly things; and thus addressing the Twelve, exclaimed, "upon your shoulders the kingdom rests, and you must round up your shoulders, and bear it; for I have had to do it until now. But now the responsibility rests upon you. It mattereth not what becomes of me." I say, has this been the case with Elder Rigdon, in any wise? No, no, verily no; but the reverse, until he had become like a millstone upon the back of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. And I hereby bear my testimony that I heard the said Joseph Smith declare that Elder Rigdon had become like a millstone upon his back -a dead weight-and he had carried him long enough, and must throw him off. And in my hearing requested one of the quorum of the Twelve to bring him up before the church that he might be dealt with according to the law of the church, that he might be cut off as a dead branch, and no longer encumber the tree, as there was sufficient testimony against him. But through the pleadings of Brother Hyrum Smith and others, he has been spared. Elder Brigham Young has been his friend-spoke in his favor, in consequence of his age and former standing, hoping that he might reform, get the spirit of the work, and magnify his calling. Upon this principle he has been sustained long, until the branch became twice dead, and necessary to be severed from the tree. Elder Rigdon, for the last five years of his life, has mostly been shut up in the post-office; confined himself mostly to his own temporal affairs, manifesting but little interest in the affairs of the church and when any alarm or report was in circulation unfavorable to the cause if we could judge at all from the course he pursued it had a tendency to increase trouble and disturbance, instead of decreasing it. It is true, that Elder Rigdon attended some of the councils that President Smith held with the Twelve and others, before his death, while giving them instructions; but I heard President Smith say, that he came in without his wish or invitation, as he had no confidence in him. Elder Rigdon and his friends would now claim, before the church and the world, that he holds the keys of the kingdom of God, of the last dispensation, above the Twelve, the church, &c. I am ready to admit before the whole church and the world, that he does hold one key beyond the Twelve; one, that they do not hold-one, that God never held, nor Jesus Christ, nor any true prophet, patriarch, or apostle: Joseph and Hyrum Smith were utter
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