Page:History of Utah.djvu/244



192 THE STORY OF MORMONISM.

and foolish plans or imaginations scatter us abroad and divide us asunder as a people, to seek to save our lives at the expense of truth and principle, but rather let us live or die together and in the enjoyment of society and union. "^^

At this time the saints needed such words of ad- vice and consolation. Some were already making preparations to return to the gentiles; some feared that their organization as a sect would soon come to an end. To reassure them, one more address was issued on August 15th, in the name of the twelve apostles,*^ and signed by Brigham Young, the presi- dent of the apostles. The saints were told that though they were now without a prophet present in the flesh, the twelve would administer and regulate the affairs of the church ; and that even if they should be taken away, there were still others who would insure the triumph of their cause throughout the world.

In 1830, as will be remembered, the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in a chamber by a few humble men; in 1844 the prophet's followers mustered scores of thousands. Speedy dis- solution was now predicted by some, while others argued that as all his faults would lie buried in the tomb, while on his virtues martyrdom would shed its lustre, the progress of the sect would be yet more remarkable. The latter prediction was verified, and after the Mormons had suffered another period of per- secution, Joseph Smith the martyr became a greater power in the land than Joseph Smith the prophet.

7; Mackay's The Mormons, 180-2; Smucker^s Hist. Mormons, 189-92.
 * ^ The full text of both letters is given in Times and Seasons, v. 568, 586-

^■■^ Who are thus described in a letter addressed by Phelps to the editor of the New York Prophet, a small journal established to promulgate the vie\\s of the sect: ' Brigham Young, the lion of the Lord; Heber C. Kimball, the her- ald of grace; Parley P. Pratt, the archer of paradise; Orson Hyde, the olive branch of Israel; Willard Richards, the keeper of the rolls; John Taylor, the champion of right; William Smith, the patriarchal staff of Jacob; Wilford Woodruff, the banner of the gospel; George A. Smith, the entablature of truth; Orson Pratt, the gauge of philosophy; Jolm E. Page, the sun-dial; and Lyman Wight, the wild ram of the mountains. They are good men; the best the Lord can find.' See Mackai/s The Mormons, 186.