Chapter XX

IMPORTANT DOCTRINAL ITEMS: SALVATION THROUGH KNOWLEDGE--AGED MEN ON COUNCILS--IMPORTANCE OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE ETERNITY OF THE MARRIAGE COVENANT--THE NATURE OF MATTER. THE PROPHECY ON THE HEAD OF STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS--THE WORK AMONG The SCANDINAVIANS IN ILLINOIS.

_Saturday, May 13, 1843_.--I rode to Yelrome, in company with Brothers Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith, and tarried for the night with Father Morley. Brothers Woodruff and Smith slept at Brother Durfee's. Brother Brigham Young went to La Harpe, and Brothers Heber C. Kimball and Orson Pratt to Ramus.

_Sunday, 14_.--Meeting at Yelrome, where I preached. [The following is a synopsis, reported by Elder Woodruff.]

_Salvation Through Knowledge_.

It is not wisdom that we should have all knowledge at once
presented before us; but that we should have a little at a time;
then we can comprehend it. President Smith then read the 2nd
Epistle of Peter, 1st chapter, 16th to last verses, and dwelt upon
the 19th verse with some remarks.

Add to your faith knowledge, &c. The principle of knowledge is
the principle of salvation. This principle can be comprehended
by the faithful and diligent; and every one that does not obtain
knowledge sufficient to be saved will be condemned. The principle
of salvation is given us through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Salvation is nothing more nor less than to triumph over all our
enemies and put them under our feet. And when we have power to
put all enemies under our feet in this world, and a knowledge to
triumph over all evil spirits in the world to come, then we are
saved, as in the case {388} of Jesus, who was to reign until He had
put all enemies under His feet, and the last enemy was death.[A]

[Footnote A: It is evident from this remark, "the last enemy
was death," that the prophet in saying that "salvation is * *
* to triumph over all our enemies," does not allude alone, or
even chiefly, to personal "enemies;" but to evil inclinations,
weaknesses, passions, sickness and death, as well.]

Perhaps there are principles here that few men have thought of. No
person can have this salvation except through a tabernacle.

Now, in this world, mankind are naturally selfish, ambitious and
striving to excel one above another; yet some are willing to build
up others as well as themselves. So in the other world there are a
variety of spirits. Some seek to excel. And this was the case with
Lucifer when he fell. He sought for things which were unlawful.
Hence he was sent down, and it is said he drew many away with
him; and the greatness of his punishment is that he shall not
have a tabernacle. This is his punishment. So the devil, thinking
to thwart the decree of God, by going up and down in the earth,
seeking whom he may destroy--any person that he can find that will
yield to him, he will bind him, and take possession of the body
and reign there, glorying in it mightily, not caring that he had
got merely a stolen body; and by-and-by some one having authority
will come along and cast him out and restore the tabernacle to its
rightful owner. The devil steals a tabernacle because he has not
one of his own: but if he steals one, he is always liable to be
turned out of doors.

Now, there is some grand secret here, and keys to unlock the
subject. Notwithstanding the apostle exhorts them to add to their
faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, &c., yet he exhorts them to
make their calling and election sure. And though they had heard an
audible voice from heaven bearing testimony that Jesus was the Son
of God, yet he says we have a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto
ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light shining in a dark
place. Now, wherein could they have a more sure word of prophecy
than to hear the voice of God saying, This is my beloved Son, &c.

Now for the secret and grand key. Though they might hear the voice
of God and know that Jesus was the Son of God, this would be no
evidence that their election and calling was made sure, that they
had part with Christ, and were joint heirs with Him. They then
would want that more sure word of prophecy, that they were sealed
in the heavens and had the promise of eternal life in the kingdom
of God. Then, having this promise sealed unto them, it was an
anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast. Though the thunders might
roll and lightnings flash, and earthquakes bellow, and war gather
thick around, yet this hope and knowledge would support the soul in
every hour of trial, trouble {389} and tribulation. Then knowledge
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the grand key that
unlocks the glories and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

Compare this principle once with Christendom at the present day,
and where are they, with all their boasted religion, piety and
sacredness while at the same time they are crying out against
prophets, apostles, angels, revelations, prophesying and visions,
&c. Why, they are just ripening for the damnation of hell. They
will be damned, for they reject the most glorious principle of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ and treat with disdain and trample under
foot the key that unlocks the heavens and puts in our possession
the glories of the celestial world. Yes, I say, such will be
damned, with all their professed godliness. Then I would exhort you
to go on and continue to call upon God until you make your calling
and election sure for yourselves, by obtaining this more sure word
of prophecy, and wait patiently for the promise until you obtain
it, &c.

Elders George A. Smith and Wilford Woodruff followed him with a
few remarks, and meeting closed for one hour. When we met again,
Wilford Woodruff opened meeting and spoke upon revelation and
obeying the commandments by building the Nauvoo House, and was
followed by George A. Smith upon the same subject. Elder Lorenzo
Snow then spoke somewhat at length concerning his mission to
England, which was interesting.

After meeting, we rode to Lima, and took supper with Calvin Beebe;
and while we were conversing with Brother Joseph and Brother Isaac
Morley, Brother Joseph made the following remarks:

_The Value of Aged Men in Counsel_.

The way to get along in any important matter is to gather unto
yourselves wise men, experienced and aged men, to assist in council
in all times of trouble. Handsome men are not apt to be wise and
strong-minded men; but the strength of a strong-minded man will
generally create coarse features, like the rough, strong bough of
the oak. You will always discover in the first glance of a man, in
the outlines of his features something of his mind.

Excitement has almost become the essence of my life. When that
dies away, I feel almost lost. When a man is reined up continually
by excitement, he becomes strong and gains power and knowledge;
but when he relaxes for a season, he loses much of his power and
knowledge. But in all matters, temporal or spiritual, preaching the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, or in leading an army to battle, victory
almost entirely depends upon good order and moderation. In going
to battle, move slowly, dress up into line; and though your enemy
rush upon you with {390} fury, meet them slowly but firmly. Let not
confusion or terror seize upon you, but meet them firmly and strike
a heavy blow and conquer.

A man can bear a heavy burden by practice and continuing to
increase it. The inhabitants of this continent anciently were so
constituted, and were so determined and persevering, either in
righteousness or wickedness, that God visited them immediately
either with great judgments or blessings. But the present
generation, if they were going to battle, if they got any
assistance from God, they would have to obtain it by faith.

President Young preached at La Harpe.

Almon W. Babbitt preached all the afternoon, and prevented Elders Kimball and Orson Pratt from giving instructions regarding their mission to Ramus.

The wind blew terribly from the southwest all day.

A naval action took place between the Texan and Mexican fleets at Campeachy.

Edward Brazier, aged 18, was drowned in the Mississippi river, by the upsetting of a skiff. Samuel Kearns was preserved from a similar fate by Captain Dan Jones.

_Monday, 15_.--Emma having arrived at Yelrome, last night from Quincy, with the carriage, we rode home together. On our way, we stopped a short time at Brother Perry's. Brothers George A. Smith and Wilford Woodruff rode in my buggy. I was asked if the horse would stand without tying. I answered, "Yes: but never trust property to the mercy or judgment of a horse."

[The following under this date is from the journal of George A. Smith:]

_The Love of the Prophet for George A. Smith_.

At noon, stopped at the house of Mr. McMahon, a notorious
anti-Mormon, at Green Plains, and waited some time for Mac to
come in. Joseph and myself spent this time in conversation on the
grass-plot south of the house. Joseph asked my opinion of W. W.
Phelps as an editor. I told him that I considered Phelps the sixth
part of an editor, and that was the satirist. When it came to the
cool direction necessarily intrusted to an editor in the control of
public opinion--the soothing of enmity, he was deficient, and would
always make more enemies than friends; but for my part, if I were
able, I would be willing {391} to pay Phelps for editing a paper,
providing no body else should have the privilege of reading it but
myself. Joseph laughed heartily--said I had the thing just right.
Said he, "Brother Phelps makes such a severe use of language as to
make enemies all the time."

At the close of the conversation, Joseph wrapped his arms around
me, and squeezed me to his bosom and said, "George A., I love you
as I do my own life." I felt so affected, I could hardly speak, but
replied, "I hope, Brother Joseph, that my whole life and actions
will ever prove my feelings, and the depth of my affection towards
you."

A great hailstorm in Gettysburg, Penn. The stones were from six to eight inches in circumference. Much damage done.

[Sidenote: Visit of the Prophet to Ramus.]

_Tuesday, 16_.--At eleven o'clock, with George Miller, William Clayton, Eliza and Lydia Partridge and J. M. Smith, I started for Carthage, where we tarried about half-an-hour conversing with different individuals, when we started for Ramus; arrived about half-past three, p.m., and stayed at William G. Perkins for the evening; then went to Benjamin F. Johnson's with William Clayton to sleep. Before retiring, I gave Brother and Sister Johnson some instructions on the priesthood; and putting my hand on the knee of William Clayton, I said:

_Remarks of the Prophet at Ramus--Lives that are Hid with God in
Christ--Importance of the Eternity of the Marriage Covenant_.

Your life is hid with Christ in God, and so are many others.
Nothing but the unpardonable sin can prevent you from inheriting
eternal life for you are sealed up by the power of the Priesthood
unto eternal life, having taken the step necessary for that purpose.

Except a man and his wife enter into an everlasting covenant and
be married for eternity, while in this probation, by the power
and authority of the Holy Priesthood, they will cease to increase
when they die; that is, they will not have any children after the
resurrection. But those who are married by the power and authority
of the priesthood in this life, and continue without committing
the sin against the Holy Ghost, will continue to increase and have
children in the celestial glory. The unpardonable sin is to shed
innocent blood, or be accessory thereto. All other sins will be
visited with judgment in the flesh, and the spirit {392} being
delivered to the buffetings of Satan until the day of the Lord
Jesus.

The way I know in whom to confide--God tells me in whom I may place
confidence.

In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; and
in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order
of the priesthood, [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of
marriage;] and if he does not, he cannot obtain it. He may enter
into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom: he cannot have
an increase.[B]

[Footnote B: The last paragraph is found in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 131: 1-4.]

The Twelve met in the office to see Mr. Brown, but he did not appear; and they voted that John E. Page be requested to repair immediately to Cincinnati and preach till they arrive.

_Wednesday, 17_.--Partook of breakfast at Brother Perkins'; after which we took a pleasure ride through Fountain Green.

At ten a.m. preached from 2nd Peter, 1st chapter and showed that knowledge is power; and the man who has the most knowledge has the greatest power.

_Items of Doctrine by the Prophet_.

Salvation means a man's being placed beyond the power of all his
enemies.

The more sure word of prophecy means a man's knowing that he
is sealed up into eternal life by revelation and the spirit
of prophecy, through the power of the holy priesthood. It is
impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.[C]

[Footnote C: This paragraph is also included in the Doctrine and
Covenants, section 131: 5,6.]

Paul saw the third heavens, and I more. Peter penned the most
sublime language of any of the apostles.

In the afternoon attended council, and afterwards rode with Benjamin F. Johnson's family.

In the evening went to hear a Methodist preacher lecture. After he got through, offered some corrections as follows:

_Items of Doctrine by the Prophet_.

The 7th verse of 2nd chapter of Genesis ought to read--God breathed
{393} into Adam his spirit [i. e. Adam's spirit][D] or breath
of life; but when the word "rauch" applies to Eve, it should be
translated lives.

[Footnote D: Doctrine and Covenants, section 131: 7-8. The
interpretation implied in the words in brackets is justified by the
following from the Book of Abraham: "And the Gods formed man from
the dust of the ground, and took his spirit (that is, the man's
spirit) and put it into him, and breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life, and man became a living soul." Chap. v: 7, 8.]

Speaking of eternal duration of matter, I said:

There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter,
but is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes.
We cannot see it, but when our bodies are purified, we shall see
that it is all matter.

The priest seemed pleased with the correction, and stated his intention to visit Nauvoo.

[Sidenote: New York Conference.]

A conference was held in the Columbia Hall, Grand Street, New York, where fifteen branches, six high priests, thirty-six elders, nineteen priests, sixteen teachers, five deacons, and three hundred and eighty-seven members were represented. Forty-nine have been baptized since last conference; many have removed to Nauvoo; and twenty-eight have been excommunicated. Four elders and one priest were ordained.

_Thursday, 18_.--We left Macedonia about half past eight a.m., and arrived at Carthage at ten.

[The following brief account of the prophet's visit with Judge Douglas while at Carthage is from the journal of William Clayton, who was present:]

_The Great Prophecy on the Head of Stephen A. Douglas_.

Dined with Judge Stephen A. Douglas, who is presiding at court.
After dinner Judge Douglas requested President Joseph to give him
a history of the Missouri persecution, which he did in a very
minute manner, for about three hours. He also gave a relation of
his journey to Washington city, and his application in behalf of
the Saints to Mr. Van Buren, the President of the United States,
for redress and Mr. Van Buren's pusillanimous reply, "Gentlemen,
your cause is just, but I can do nothing for you;" and the cold,
unfeeling manner in which he was treated by most of the senators
and representatives in relation to the subject, Clay saying, "You
had better go to Oregon," and Calhoun shaking his head solemnly,
saying, "It's a nice question--a critical question, but it will not
do to agitate it."

The judge listened with the greatest attention and spoke warmly
in {394} depreciation of the conduct of Governor Boggs and the
authorities of Missouri, who had taken part in the extermination,
and said that any people that would do as the mobs of Missouri had
done ought to be brought to judgment: they ought to be punished.

President Smith, in concluding his remarks, said that if the
government, which received into its coffers the money of citizens
for its public lands, while its officials are rolling in luxury at
the expense of its public treasury, cannot protect such citizens
in their lives and property, it is an old granny anyhow; and I
prophesy in the name of the Lord God of Israel, unless the United
States redress the wrongs committed upon the Saints in the state of
Missouri and punish the crimes committed by her officers that in a
few years the government will be utterly overthrown and wasted, and
there will not be so much as a potsherd left, for their wickedness
in permitting the murder of men, women and children, and the
wholesale plunder and extermination of thousands of her citizens to
go unpunished, thereby perpetrating a foul and corroding blot upon
the fair fame of this great republic, the very thought of which
would have caused the high-minded and patriotic framers of the
Constitution of the United States to hide their faces with shame.
Judge, you will aspire to the presidency of the United States; and
if ever you turn your hand against me or the Latter-day Saints, you
will feel the weight of the hand of Almighty upon you; and you will
live to see and know that I have testified the truth to you; for
the conversation of this day will stick to you through life.

He [Judge Douglas] appeared very friendly, and acknowledged the
truth and propriety of President Smith's remarks.[E]

[Footnote E: Seenote at end of chapter.]

We then rode home, where we arrived about half-past five p.m., and found my family all well.

Mr. Joseph H. Jackson, who professed to be a Catholic priest, was at my house awaiting my arrival.

At six p.m., I called at my office for Arlington Bennett's letter.

_Friday, 19_.--I borrowed of Orson Hyde fifty dollars, which I paid to Mr. Eric Rhodes, and which he is either to repay in cash or let me have lumber.

I rode out with Mr. Jackson in the afternoon.

Told Brother Phelps a dream that the history must go ahead before anything else.

Elder George P. Dykes writes:

{395} _The Work Among the Scandinavians of Illinois_.

One year since, I visited a settlement of Norwegians in La Salle
county, Illinois, and baptized five, and ordained one elder, when
I left them for about one month; then returned and organized the
branch, and called it the La Salle Branch of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, and ordained Brother Gudmund Haugaas
an elder--a man of strong mind and well skilled in the scriptures.
He can preach in Norway, Sweden and Demark, having an understanding
of their languages.

I returned to Nauvoo, and in a few days I was appointed by the
special conference in August to labor in Illinois. I traveled
through eighteen different counties, baptized six in Perry county,
and returned home in December.

In January I left again and went to St. Clair county, where I was
joined by Brother Henry B. Jacobs, who baptized twelve; and I
baptized a German after he left.

I preached in Chester, Sparta and Bellville. From thence returned
home, and again visited Ottawa, La Salle county. Spent two weeks,
and baptized seven. I found the Church there in good spirits and in
the enjoyment of the spiritual gifts.

The La Salle branch now numbers fifty-eight in good standing. Elder
Ole Hoier was chosen to preside over them. He is well worthy of the
office.

Elder Gudmund Haugaas and Brother J. R. Anderson visited the
Norwegian settlement in Lee county, Iowa, in January last. Spent
three weeks, baptized ten, ordained one priest, and left them and
went home to La Salle county.

From thence Brothers Haugaas and Hoier visited a large body from
Norway in Wisconsin Territory, and have laid the foundation of a
great work, to all appearance. There are now fifty-seven members of
the Church from Norway; and the time is not far distant when the
saying of Micah 4:2 will be fulfilled.

NOTE.

_The Prophet Joseph's Prediction Respecting Stephen A. Douglas_.

The prediction concerning Stephen A. Douglas in this chapter,
is one of the most remarkable prophecies either in ancient or
modern times. It was impossible for any merely human sagacity to
foresee the events predicted. Stephen A. Douglas was a bright,
but comparatively an unknown man, nationally, at the time of the
interview, May, 1843, and but thirty years of age. It is a matter
of history that Stephen A. Douglas did, however, aspire to the
presidency of the United States, and was nominated for that office
by the Democratic convention held in Charleston, South Carolina, on
the 23rd of June 1860.

When in the convention he was declared the regular nominee of the
Democratic party, "the whole body rose to its feet, hats were waved
in the air, and many tossed {396} aloft; shouts, screams and yells.
and every boisterous mode of expressing approbation and unanimity,
were resorted to."

When Mr. Douglas aspired to the presidency, no man in the history
of American politics had more reason to hope for success. The
political party of which he was the recognized leader, in the
preceding presidential election had polled one hundred and
seventy-four electoral votes as against one hundred and twenty-two
cast for the other two parties which opposed it; and a popular
vote of 1,838,169 as against 1,215,789 votes for the two parties
opposing. It is a matter of history, however, that the Democratic
party in the election of 1860 was badly divided: and factions
of it put candidate into the field with the following results,
Mr. Abraham Lincoln, candidate for the Republican party, was
triumphantly elected. He received 72 electoral votes; Mr. Bell 39;
and Mr. Douglas 12. "By a plurality count of the popular vote, Mr.
Lincoln carried 18 states; Mr. Breckinridge 11; Mr. Bell 3; and
Mr. Douglas but one!" Twenty days less than one rear after his
nomination by the Charleston convention, while yet in the prime of
manhood--forty-eight years of age--Mr. Douglas died at his home in
Chicago, a disappointed, not to say heart-broken man.

Let us now search out the cause of his failure. Fourteen
years after the interview containing the prophecy recorded in
this chapter, and about one year after the prophecy had been
published in the _Deseret News_, Mr. Douglas was called upon to
deliver a speech in Springfield, the capital of Illinois. His
speech was delivered on the 12th of June, 1857, and published
in the _Missouri Republican_ of June 18, 1857. It was a time of
excitement throughout the country concerning the Mormon church
in Utah. Falsehoods upon the posting winds seemed to have filled
the air with the most outrageous calumny. Crimes, the most
repulsive--murders, robberies, rebellion and high treason--were
falsely charged against its leaders. It was well known that Mr.
Douglas had been on terms of intimate friendship with the Prophet
Joseph Smith; and was well acquainted with the other Church
leaders. He was therefore looked upon as one competent to speak
upon the "Mormon question," and was invited to do so in the speech
to which reference is here made. Mr. Douglas responded to the
request. He grouped the charges against the Mormons, then passing
current, in the following manner:

"First, that nine-tenths of the inhabitants are aliens by birth
who have refused to become naturalized, or to take the oath of
allegiance, or do any other act recognizing the government of the
United states as the paramount authority in that territory [Utah];

"Second, that the inhabitants, whether native or alien born, known
as Mormons (and they constitute the whole people of the territory)
are bound by horrible oaths and terrible penalties, to recognize
and maintain the authority of Brigham Young, and the government of
which he is head, as paramount to that of the United States, in
civil as well as religious affairs; and they will in due time, and
under the direction of their leaders, use all the means in their
power to subvert the government of the United States, and resist
its authority.

"Third, that the Mormon government, with Brigham Young at its head,
is now forming alliance with Indian tribes in Utah and adjoining
territories--stimulating the Indians to acts of hostility and
organizing bands of his own followers under the name of Danites or
destroying angels, to prosecute a system of robbery and murders
upon American citizens who support the authority of the United
States, and denounce the infamous and disgusting practices and
institutions of the Mormon government."

Mr. Douglas based his remarks upon these rumors against the saints,
in the course of which he said:

{397} "Let us have these facts in an official shape before the
president and Congress, and the country will learn that in the
performance of the high and solemn duty devolving upon the
executive and Congress, there will be no vacillating or hesitating
policy. It will be as prompt as the peal that follows the flash--as
stern and unyielding as death. Should such a state of things
actually exist as we are led to infer from the reports--and such
information comes in an official shape--the knife must be applied
to this pestiferous, disgusting cancer which is gnawing into the
very vitals of the body politic. It must be cut out by the roots.
and seared over by the red hot iron of stern, unflinching law. * *
* Should all efforts fail to bring them (the Mormons) to a sense
of their duty, there is but one remedy left. Repeal the organic
law of the territory, on the ground that they are alien enemies
and outlaws, unfit to be citizens of a territory, much less ever
to become citizens of one of the free and independent states of
this confederacy. To protect them further in their treasonable,
disgusting and bestial practices would be a disgrace to the
country--a disgrace to humanity--a disgrace to civilization, and
a disgrace to the spirit of the age. Blot it out of the organized
territories of the United States. What then? It will be regulated
by the law of 1790, which has exclusive and sole jurisdiction over
all the territory not incorporated under any organic or special
law. By provisions of this law, all crimes and misdemeanors,
committed on its soil can be tried before the legal authorities
of any state or territory to which the offenders shall first be
brought to trial and punished. Under that law persons have been
arrested in Kansas, Nebraska and other territories, prior to their
organization as territories, and hanged for their crimes. The law
of 1790 has sole and exclusive jurisdiction where no other law of a
local character exists, and by repealing the organic law of Utah,
you give to the general government of the United States the whole
and sole jurisdiction over the territory."

The speech of Mr. Douglas was of great interest and importance to
the people or Utah at that juncture. Mr. Douglas had it in his
power to do them great good. Because of his personal acquaintance
with Joseph Smith and the great body of the Mormon people then
in Utah, as well as their leaders (for he had known both leaders
and people in Illinois, and those whom he had known in Illinois
constituted the great bulk of the people in Utah, when he delivered
the Springfield speech), he knew that the reports carried to the
East by vicious and corrupt men were not true. He knew that these
reports in the main were but a rehash of the old exploded charges
made against Joseph Smith and his followers in Missouri; and he
knew them to be false by many evidences furnished him by Joseph
Smith in the interview of the 18th of May, 1843, and by the Mormon
people at sundry times during his association with them at Nauvoo.
He had an opportunity to befriend the innocent, to refute the
calumny cast upon a virtuous community; to speak a word in behalf
of the oppressed; but the demagogue triumphed over the statesman,
the politician, over the humanitarian; and to avoid the popular
censure which he feared befriending the Mormon people would bring
to him, he turned his hand against them with the result that he
did not destroy them but scaled his own doom--in fulfillment of
the words of the prophet, he felt the weight of the hand of the
Almighty upon him.

There is, and can be no question about the prophecy preceding the
event. The prophecy was first published in the _Desert News_ of
September 24, 1856. It was afterwards published in England in the
_Millennial Star_, February, 1859. The publication in the _Deseret
News_ preceding Douglas' Springfield speech, mentioned above,
(June, 1857) by about one year, and about four years before Douglas
was nominated for the presidency by the Charleston Democratic
convention.

Moreover, a lengthy review of Mr. Douglas' speech was published in
the editorial columns of the _Deseret News_ in the issue of that
paper for September 2nd, 1857, {398} of which the following is the
closing paragraph addressed directly to Mr. Douglas:

"In your last paragraph [of the Springfield speech] you say, 'I
have thus presented to you plainly and fairly my views of the
Utah question;' with at least equal plainness and with far more
fairness have your views now been commented upon. And inasmuch as
you were well acquainted with Joseph Smith, and this people, also
with the character of our maligners, and did know their allegations
were false, but must bark with the dogs who were snapping at our
heels, to let them know that you were a dog with them; and also
that you may have a testimony of the truth of the assertion that
you did know Joseph and his people and the character of their
enemies (and neither class have changed, only as the saints have
grown better and their enemies worse); and also that you may
thoroughly understand that you have voluntarily, knowingly and of
choice sealed your damnation, and by your own chosen course have
closed your chance for the presidential chair, through disobeying
the counsel of Joseph which you formerly fought and prospered by
following, and that you in common with us, may testify to all the
world that Joseph was a true prophet, the following extract from
the History of Joseph Smith is again printed for your benefit,
and is kindly recommended to your careful perusal and most candid
consideration."

Then follows the interview between Joseph Smith and Mr. Douglas as
recorded in the journal of William Clayton, as published in the
_News_ a year before Mr. Douglas' Springfield speech, and as now
given in this chapter of the HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

This _News_ editorial boldly accepted the challenge of Mr. Douglas.
He raised his hand against the followers of Joseph Smith, despite
the warning of the prophet; and they in the chief organ of the
Church, reproduced the prophecy and told Mr. Douglas that he had
"sealed his damnation and closed his chance for the presidential
chair" through disobeying the counsel of the prophet. The
presidential election of 1860, and the death of Mr. Douglas in the
prime of life, the year following, tells the rest.

{399}