| 253 John Landers, and Andrew Cairns, as circumstances permit.
The following comment from the Amboy Times, copied by Saints' Herald, will indicate how this movement was considered locally:-
'THE MORMON CONFERENCE.
"We devote considerable space to the proceedings of this body, believing that they are of great importance to us, even as a nation. There is a great body of these people scattered through the States, who, unwilling to follow the fortunes and doctrines of Brigham Young, have been quietly waiting for the time to come when they could organize under a lineal descendant of Joseph Smith, as their prophet. That time has at length arrived. Joseph Smith, Jr., occupies the position which his father once held. A new era in the history of Mormonism has dawned, an era which we hope will greatly improve the name of this despised people.
"Whatever ideas we may entertain in relation to the doctrines of the Mormons, we must look with approbation and satisfaction upon any movement on their part which look towards a radical reformation in their practices as a people.
"For many years past Brigham Young had been looked upon as the embodiment of Mormonism, and those professing to be Mormons have been regarded as no better than he. Henceforth, they, or at least one branch of them, are to be judged by a different standard. The eyes of the world will now be turned upon young Joseph. Hitherto this man has borne a good name. His talents are of no mean order; and it is earnestly to be hoped that he will use them for good, and not a bad purpose."-The True Latter Day Saints' Herald, vol. 1, p. 101.
It would be well to give here some of the causes leading up to the action of Joseph Smith in rejecting the people in Utah and in accepting the Reorganization. This can best be done in his own language, and so we quote extracts from his autobiography as published in the "Life of Joseph the Prophet," by Tullidge:-
(page 253) |
