Who was the Successor of
Joseph Smith?

Not long ago we saw an article in an Iowa paper, dated Utah [18]90, but
directed to an Iowa divine. The answer was given to the Utah man, but it
did not agree with what Joseph Smith taught his people concerning his suc-
cessor thirteen years before his death. The Utah man claimed to be an honest
seeker for truth, and wanted to learn who the successor of Joseph Smith was.

We made up our mind to point the Utah man, to what God and
Joseph Smith said on that question. Men have claimed they were the duly
Ordained, and all others were usurpers, when they were the greatest villains in
all the land, and led many to ruin. There was no need of this, as Joseph left
all doctrinal questions plainly written in the book of D. & C. Men have seced-
ed, and others have cried, Mormon delusion, when these very men were the most
deluded of all men. Mormonism, proper, is no delusion. It will bear as close
criticism as any other ism, and will stand clear as the sun and fair as the moon,
when all other isms will travel with that stone John told of in Rev. xviii, 21.

No man ever contended for good order and the true sciences, clearer than
did Mr. Smith. No man despised unsound doctrine in State or Church more
than Joseph. And the policy of government he handed down to us yet speaks,
though he sleeps with the worthy dead. This subject of Prophet Making is
just as clearly set forth in the church Book of Rules, as is any city or state law
on election of city or state officers. As early as 1831, he told the church how his
successor would be planted in his stead. At his death, all the people had to do
to learn the duly appointed man, was to heed the rules he gave them 13 years
before his death.

There was no excuse for divisions; the honest man who could read could
see when, and through whom he was to be appointed, and would identify the
man Angels ordained, to be the successor. But they set the law
aside, and set up their own ways. And men are doing the same this day, in
sending out Sermons and Tracts far away, deceiving the people by their opin-
ions, and the testimony of dead apostates, who preached lies when alive -- and
many are led this day by these false teachers. Much of the past work of these
villians has been laid to Joseph Smith, when he had no more to do with them
or their principles, than Abraham Lincoln had to do with Jefferson Davis.

Many have claimed that Mr. Smith was not parliamentary, and did not
claim nor contend for good order. No greater mistake could been made. He
claimed the government of God (the church) on earth, could only exist and
prosper as it heeded the Priest-hood of the Son of God. And then added: "As
no city or State can do legal business without duly authorized officers, no more
could the church." We give his views on Prophet Making, and on what terms
to accept their Revelations: "We do not consider ourselves bound to receive
any revelations from any man or woman without their being called or legally
constituted and ordained, and given sufficient proffs of it." -- Joseph Smith's
Letter of April, 1833.

Who was the Successor of Joseph Smith?

Not long ago we saw an article in an Iowa paper, dated Utah 1890, but directed to an Iowa divine. The answer was given to the Utah man, but it did not agree with what Joseph Smith taught his people concerning his successor thirteen years before his death. The Utah man claimed to be an honest seeker for truth, and wanted to learn who the successor of Joseph Smith was.

We made up our mind to point the Utah man, to what God and Joseph Smith said on that question. Men have claimed they were the duly Ordained, and all others were usurpers, when they were the greatest villains in all the land, and led many to ruin. There was no need of this, as Joseph left all doctrinal questions plainly written in the book of D. & C. Men have seceded, and others have cried, Mormon delusion, when these very men were the most deluded of all men. Mormonism, proper, is no delusion. It will bear as close criticism as any other ism, and will stand clear as the sun and fair as the moon, when all other isms will travel with that stone John told of in Rev. xviii, 21.

No man ever contended for good order and the true sciences, clearer than did Mr. Smith. No man despised unsound doctrine in State or Church more than Joseph. And the policy of government he handed down to us yet speaks, though he sleeps with the worthy dead. This subject of Prophet Making is just as clearly set forth in the church Book of Rules, as is any city or state law on election of city or state officers. As early as 1831, he told the church how his successor would be planted in his stead. At his death, all the people had to do to learn the duly appointed man, was to heed the rules he gave them 13 years before his death.

There was no excuse for divisions; the honest man who could read could see when, and through whom he was to be appointed, and would identify the man Angels ordained, to be the successor. But they set the law aside, and set up their own ways. And men are doing the same this day, in sending out Sermons and Tracts far away, deceiving the people by their opinions, and the testimony of dead apostates, who preached lies when alive -- and many are led this day by these false teachers. Much of the past work of these villians has been laid to Joseph Smith, when he had no more to do with them or their principles, than Abraham Lincoln had to do with Jefferson Davis.

Many have claimed that Mr. Smith was not parliamentary, and did not claim nor contend for good order. No greater mistake could been made. He claimed the government of God (the church) on earth, could only exist and prosper as it heeded the Priest-hood of the Son of God. And then added: "As no city or State can do legal business without duly authorized officers, no more could the church." We give his views on Prophet Making, and on what terms to accept their Revelations: "We do not consider ourselves bound to receive any revelations from any man or woman without their being called or legally constituted and ordained, and given sufficient proffs of it." -- Joseph Smith's Letter of April, 1833.