[Joseph Smith Diary] ...It is the constitutional disposition of mankind to set up stakes and set bounds to the works and ways of the Almighty....
Had I inspiration, Revelation, and lungs to communicate what my soul has contemplated in times /past/ there is not a soul in this congregation but would go to their homes and shut their mouths in everlasting silence on religion till they had learned something.
Why be so certain that you comprehend the things of God when all things with you are so uncertain. ...
The world is reserved unto burning in the last days. He shall send Elijah the prophet and he shall reveal the covenants of the fathers in relation to the children /originally written/ and the children and the covenants of the children in relation to the fathers.
Four destroying angels holding power over the 4 quarters of the earth until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. What is that seal? Shall I tell you? No.
Doctrine [of] Election Sealing /of the servants of God/ on the top of their heads tis not the cross as the Catholics would have it. Doctrine of Election to Abraham was in relation to the Lord. A man wishes to be embraced in the covenant of Abraham. A man [like] Judge Higby in world of spirits, is sealed unto the throne, and doctrine of Election [is] sealing the father and children together. [rest of page left blank]
To the mourner, do as the husband and the father would instruct you? [Then] You shall be reunited.
....
Mr. Bagby[, county tax collector out] of Carthage, who has exercised more despotic power over the inhabitants of this city than any despot of the Eastern country I met. He gave me some abusive language [and] took up a stone to throw at me. I siezed him by the throat to choke him off.
....Sidney Rigdon, I most solemnly proclaim the withdrawalof my fellowship from this man /on the condition that the Judgingbe true/ and let the Saints proclaim it abroad that hemay no longer be acknowledged as my counselor and that all who feel to sanction my proceedings and views will manifest it by uplifted hands. It was a unanimous vote that Sidney Rigdon be disfellow[shipp]ed and his license demanded.
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1843-44, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
pp.404-406.
ReplyDeleteThe rash, vindictive, and spiteful action by Joseph Smith against 1st Counselor Sidney Rigdon was rejected at the next church conference.
See also HC 5:538 for SR's response on Aug.20.
ReplyDeleteJS's motive for his actions were the direct result of his Apr.10, 1842 plural marriage request to Nancy Rigdon, SR's daughter, which she rebuffed in a flurry of anger. SR went thru the roof when he found out about this. Now 16 months later, JS was trying to kick SR off of his heels because if that evidence of JS's sexual advances to NR ever became public it would completely destroy his reputation as the "Prophet" and create even more enemies for himself. Also SR was a vehement opponent to polygamy. JS could not have him as 1st Counselor and continue to secretly spread his pernicious doctrine and whoredom - he needed his pet poodle and lackey Brigham to do that for him instead.
next church conference (Oct.6-8, 1843) - see HC 6: 47-49.
ReplyDeleteAlso see "Sidney Rigdon: A Portrait ..." by Richard S. Van Wagoner, p.295, for the NR incident with JS.
ReplyDelete