| 712 presidency; and having also waited patiently for Elder Phelps or some of the "Twelve" to give this "wandering star," or "cloud without water," a just judgment, I take my pen in hand to apprise the church and public of the fact, and offer a few remarks, and quote some revelations, which I think will not be amiss.
The most of the paper is made up of a letter from a man by the name of Forgeus, which appears to me the crudest mass of chaos I ever saw thrown together. The whole maneuvre [maneuver], is just the sort of matter for "the man of sin" to reveal himself in; and Sidney Rigdon Esq.' who is held up throughout the lengthy epistle, as "the stem and branch of Jesse," will use it as dexterously as a manufacturer does materials for soap:-using Forgeus as the "stick of -" to mix the royal liquid, and frothify lixivium for the host of the Gentiles, and the fragments of Israel. So much for the religious artificer, the sacred soap stick, and holy pot of (not) manna, but soft soap suds: pardon the expression, gentle reader, it is not revelation, but composition, that will just fit religious gamblers: for Rigdon, Forgeus, & Co., are as corrupt as John C. Bennett. Their feint reverence for Joseph Smith, like the touch of the torpedo, is meant to benumb his fame: their seeming praise of virtue like the sting of the asp, is slow poison to truth: and their devoted breath for the welfare of the saints, like the sirocco of Egypt, is a blasting wind to ruin their future prosperity.
The real drift of the paper, is, to support Sidney Rigdon Esq., as the head of a church, (not the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,) and lest any person be deceived by such "specious pretences [pretenses]" and false insinuations by misrepresenting the scriptures and revelations, I have concluded to try my skill at quoting some of the rules of the church, as left on record by the great apostle of the last dispensation, even the martyred Joseph Smith. On the 102 page of the second edition of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, paragraph 11, read as follows:
"Of necessity there are presidents, or presiding offices growing out of, or appointed of, or from among those who are ordained to the several offices in these two priesthoods. Of the Melchizedek priesthood, three presiding high priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith and prayer of the church, form a quorum of the presidency of the church. The twelve traveling counsellors [counselor] are called to be the twelve apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ, in all the world: thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling. And they form a quorum equal in authority and power to the three presidents, previously mentioned. The seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world. Thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling: and they form a quorum equal in authority to that of the twelve especial witnesses or apostles, just named. And every decision made by either of these quorums, must be by the unanimous voice of the same; that is, every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions in order to make their decisions of the same power or validity one with other. [A majority may form a quorum when circumstances render it impossible to be otherwise.] Unless this is the case, their decisions are not entitled to the same blessings which the decisions of a quorum of three presidents were anciently, who were ordained after the order of Melchizedek, and were righteous and holy men. The decisions of these quorums, or either of them are to be made in all righteousness; in holiness and lowliness of heart; meekness and long suffering; and in faith and virtue and knowledge; temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity, because the promise is, if these things abound in them, they shall not be unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord. And in case that any decision, of these quorums, is made in unrighteousness, it may be brought before a general assembly of the several quorums which constitute the spiritual authorities of the church, otherwise there can be no appeal from their decision."
There are three important points in this section: First; three presidents must be chosen and upheld by the faith and prayer of the church, to be legal; a self made machine won't do. Second; these three presidents form a quorum, and can NEVER act separately-though two may form a quorum when circumstances render it impossible to be otherwise. Now, allowing that Sidney Rigdon was one of the first presidency, for the sake of argument; when Joseph and Hyrum were martyred, the presidency was left vacant, and the next quorum, (the Twelve) being "equal in power and authority" to the three first presidents, hold the same standing and keys; and, of course, must bear off the kingdom in its destined road according to the pattern. Thirdly; if their decisions and conduct were righteous, then they fulfilled the promise, otherwise, all the quorums constituting the spiritual authorities
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