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| W. W. Phelps Autobiographical
Letter |
| Followers of Jesus Christ are always persecuted.
Met Joseph Smith, December 24, 1830. Jailed
April 30, 1831 in New York. Baptized
June 10, 1831. |
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MA 1, no. 7 (Apr. 1835):
96. |
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LETTER NO. 6 |
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Liberty, Mo. Feb. 24, 1835. |
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Persecution
from beginning
Must suffer persecution
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Dear Bro. in the Lord:— I take a little time to answer your
3rd letter, addressed to me in the December number of the Messenger and
Advocate. Passing your apology, I come at once to the great point, in question,
that this church has suffered persecution from its commencement; and that,
too, in most cases, without the least provocation. Here suffer me to say,
as you and I are fellow members, and have been co-servants nearly from
the beginning, that we have known by example, what thousands are preaching
in precept, that "they that will live Godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer
persecution." |
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"Yea, and all that will live godly in
Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
2 Tim. 3:12 |
Baptized
June 16, 1831
Book of Mormon
Joseph, December 24, 1830 |
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Now, notwithstanding my body was not
baptized into this church till Thursday the 16th of June, 1831, yet my
heart was there from the time I became acquainted with the book of Mormon:
and my hope, steadfast like an anchor, and my faith increased like the
grass after a refreshing shower, when I for the first time, held a conversation
with our beloved brother Joseph, (December 24th, 1830,) who I was willing
to acknowledge as a prophet of the Lord, and to whom, and to whose godly
account of himself and the work he was engaged in, I owe my first determination
to quit the folly of my way, and the fancy and fame of this world, and
seek the Lord and his righteousness, in order to enter a better world,
where the duration, and glory, and honor, and power, and space, are equal
and endless: |
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| I remain loyal |
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And let me add that though all old churches, and some disciples,
like Orpah may kiss their mother-in-law, and go back to their people,
and their gods, yet, as Ruth, I am fixed in my purpose to "entreat me not to
leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest
I will go; and where thou lodgest I will lodge: thy people shall be my
people, and thy God my God." |
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"… and Orpah kissed her mother
in law; but Ruth clave unto her. And she said, Behold, thy sister in
law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after
thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to
return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go;
and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people,
and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be
buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part
thee and me." Ruth 1:14–17.
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| Church persecuted
from beginning |
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Well may you say that it is known
unto me, "that this church has suffered reproach and persecution from
a majority of mankind who have heard but a rumor, since its first organization, &c.
So it is. |
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| Imprisoned |
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On the 30th of April, 1830 [1831],
I was thrown into prison at Lyons, N. Y. by a couple of Presbyterian traders,
for a small debt, for the purpose, as I was informed, of "keeping me from
joining the Mormons." |
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| Escapes |
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How many hair-breadth escapes you and brother Joseph passed,
for writing and publishing the truth in the book of Mormon, as the constitution
and law allowed, I know not, but I hear church members and others declare
in language similar to the following: that every believer in the 'Golden
Bible,' (as the book of Mormon was called by many) ought to be sued and
sent or driven out of society. |
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Newspaper attacks
Allege Oliver behind Book of Mormon to destroy churches |
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The Rochester Observer, one of the principal Presbyterian
organs of the day, introduced the book of Mormon to the world with a flashy
article headed 'Blasphemy' and to cap the climax of gullibility, against
which the 'men of the meeting houses' showed an ancient zeal to guard their
flocks, it was carefully circulated, that to guard their flocks, it was
carefully circulated, that 'a Jesuit' had employed a young man by the name
of Cowdery, to write, and through the aid of one Smith, was bringing forth
a book to break down all religions. And when it came forth, some actually
said that they believed it was written to destroy the present religions,
because it carried religion to a nicer, or higher pitch then the old Bible. |
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Rochester Daily Advertiser
and Telegraph, Apr. 2, 1830 carries an article titled, "Blasphemy—'The
Book of Mormon,' alias the Golden Bible," but the contents are different.
Source |
No proof of accusations
Prophets consistent with scriptures
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One thing is remarkable, that of all I ever heard said about
the work or book, in that day of gross darkness, not one pretended, in
truth, to have the least particle of positive proof, that a man or woman
joined the church for sinful purposes, or that the book contained one precept
of doctrine that was contrary to pure religion: but the idea of a church
with a prophet in it, in this enlightened age and land of liberty, was
so exactly like old times; so agreeably to the order of the Scriptures,
and so perfect a way of knowing the will of the Lord, and of what religion
consisted, that the wise men of the world, and the wary who watched diligently
over their flocks, that their fleeces might be long, white and clean, against
the shearing, whispered, and sometimes talked aloud something very like
or approaching this: |
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| Bible commentators,
other great men not prophets |
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What is the reason, if God has any thing to reveal for the
benefit of his people or his numerous churches, as he is no respecter of
persons, that he does not do it, or reveal it to Dr. Clarke, Dr. Gill or
Dr. Scott, the commentators, or to some great minister, such as the Archbishop
of England, or Dr. Ely, or even the president of the United States, or
some great man that could be believed? Then every body would know it was
true, and the different churches would be bound to accept of it as they
have the Bible, and our priests who are brought up and educated for the
purpose, could explain it, and every body would have to obey it. |
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Adam Clarke (1760–1832).
Influential British Methodist; three-term
president of the Wesleyan Conference during the troubled years after
John Wesley's death; wrote an influential eight-volume Bible commentary.
John Gill
(1697–1771). Born in Ireland, member of Particular Baptist church.
Moved to London. Pastor, Strict Baptist Church (1720–71).
Called a "hyper-Calvinist" by some.
Thomas Scott (1747–1821). British Anglican, Methodist. Published a
Bible commentary in 174 weekly numbers. Later published with the scriptures
themselves. |
False churches
False prophets opposed:
Ann
Lee
Joanna
Southcoate
Jemima Wilkinson |
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But God has done his work, and we don't need
any more prophets. We have Bible societies, missionary societies, abolition
of slavery societies, and temperance societies, to convert the world with
and bring in the Millennium, and away with your deception! False prophets,
false prophets, beware! Blasphemy! We have plenty of churches, and plenty
of priests to regulate them, and don't you know that God, man and the Devil
will oppose you? If you start a church with a prophet in it, every body
will against you, as they were against Ann Lee, Joanna Southcoate, and
old Jemima Wilkinson. |
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Ann Lee (1736–1784) was a Shaker in England. Jailed for denunciation
of "fleshly lusts, which war against the soul,"she had a vision of Jesus Christ.
They led celibate lives. Moved to America in 1770.
Joanna Southcote (1750–1814), had a large following in England. She claimed
to be a virgin carrying the new Messiah, "Shiloh"— though she was diagnosed
with dropsy.
Wilkinson, Jemima (1752–1819), aka the "Publick Universal Friend."
Born in Cumberland, R.I. Influenced by George Whitefield sermons,
example of Ann Lee.
Awakening from a coma, reported having gone to
heaven. Preached
throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island, established churches at New
Milford, Conn., and at Greenwich, R.I. Advocated celibacy, did not prevent
followers from representing her as the Messiah. Founded “Jerusalem” [1790]
in Yates Co., N.Y. , near present Penn Yan. Later demanded
gifts from followers and punished rule breakers. Spent last years far from
other dwellings. |
| Blood of the saints
a testimony |
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But I will not pursue this subject further at present, leaving
it for your addition of facts. Instead of standing in the way, and asking
for the old paths, they have stood in the way, and put darkness for light,
and light for darkness, till not only 'large sheets of their opinions,
and attested volumes of our lives and characters,' have 'inundated our
land with scurrilous reports,' but the blood of the saints has curdled
upon the sacred soil of freedom, and now smokes up to heaven as a testimony
that they are martyrs to that religion which has ever been despised and
rejected, by every church and people that have fallen away from its true
principles, and lost the gift of the Holy Ghost. Our tribulation, our suffering
for the truth's sake, and our blood, (shed in defence of holiness) are
testimony that says: your religion is true and hold out faithful to the
end and you will earn a crown, and a fulness of joy where the wicked cannot
come—eternal with God. |
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As ever, W. W. PHELPS. |
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W. W. Phelps
W. W. Phelps to Sally, May 26, 1835
W. W. Phelps to Sally, September 9, 1835
Biographies
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