A few days ago I had a great interview with Alma Allred on the topic of Mormon Fundamentalism:
Episode 17: Alma Allred on Mormon Fundamentalism
In this interview, Alma referenced quotes from Church leaders that a key to determining which Church is true (within the broad "Mormon" restorationist movement) is where the majority of members are. Here are the quotes he sent me on this topic:
Keys to Determine True Church
At the time of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph, the Saints were
being gathered and were building a Temple, baptizing for the dead, etc., which
work unceasingly has been kept up by those who under the leadership of the Twelve
came to the Rocky Mountains notwithstanding the various factions which have
separated themselves from the true Gospel tree. The writer (Elder
Stevenson) heard the prophet say on a stand at the east end of the Nauvoo
Temple, that the time was coming when there would be many dissensions from the
Church. "But," said he, "I now see the time which I have
long desired to see. Let me go where I may, the Gospel tree is planted
never more to be rooted up, for there are those present who are prepared to carry
on the Gospel, whatever may become of me." He also said: "I
will give you a key by which you may never be deceived, if you will observe
these facts: Where the true Church is, there will always be a majority of
the Saints, and the records and history of the Church also."
[Infancy of the Church, by Andrew Jenson and Edward Stevenson, 1889, p. 5)
Once in Nauvoo I heard the Prophet declare to the people how they might
always know where to find the true Church. He gave it as a guide for them
ever afterwards, and said the day would come when they would need it. He
said: "Factions and parties will arise out of this Church, and
apostates will lead away many. But in the midst of all this, keep with
the majority, for the true leaders of God's people will always be able to have
a majority, and the records of the Church will be with them. Keep with
the majority, for where the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered
together." [Lyman O. Littlefield, Millennial Star, 45:389]
Now I look around this congregation, and contemplate that there are,
perhaps, some ten or twelve thousand persons, and it may be more, I do not
know, there is a very large number; then when I think that numerous as we are
here we are but the representatives--not more than a tithing of those left
behind, of the same stripe, if reminds me of the words of Joseph the Prophet,
when he said, "Brethren, remember that the majority of this people will
never go astray; and as long as you keep with the majority you are sure to
enter the celestial kingdom." [Orson Hyde, Journal of Discourses 13:367,
May 5, 1870]
Revelation given to Orson Hyde on the voice of the people.
In my meditations, this morning, the Spirit of the Lord came upon me,
and I was moved to write: and being grieved in my spirit on account of false
pretenses by evil designing persons to gain power, and lead away the flock of
God; It whispered me and said;
Evil men, ambitious of power, must needs arise among you, and they shall
be led by their own self-will and not by me. Yet they are instruments in
my hands, and are permitted to try my people, and to collect from among them
those who are not the elect, and such as are unworthy of eternal life.
Grieve not after them, neither mourn nor be alarmed. My people know my voice
and also the voice of my spirit, and a stranger they will not follow; therefore
such as follow strangers are not my people. Behold James J. Strang hath
cursed my people by his own spirit and not by mine. Never at any time
have I appointed that wicked man to lead my people, neither by my own voice,
nor by the voice of my servant Joseph Smith, neither by the voice of mine
angel; but he hath sought to deceive and Satan helpeth him; but before of old
was he one that was ordained to gather the tares of the field, and mine angels
have chosen him to do it because he was a wicked man, even as Judas was chosen
to betray his Lord. But his spirit and ambition shall soon fail him and
then shall he be called to judgment and receive that portion which is his mete,
and his treacherous followers, who have forsaken the counsel of their brethren
and turned from the covenants of their God, and have cast asunder the tenderest
ties, must drink from a bitter cup.
Let no man who putteth his trust in me be troubled about his
rights. The worthy shall have their rights and no power can prevent it,
for I will give them the hearts of my people, and their voice is my voice, even
as my voice is the voice of my father; and what they bind on earth I will bind
in heaven. But the unworthy have no rights except these, repentance or
condemnation. If they act upon the former, behold they are justified, but
if not, they must suffer the consequences of the latter.
By this you may know the unworthy among my people: for whomsoever they
reject, the same are rejected of me. And woe to such as shall follow him
who hath been rejected by my people. If my people sin I will correct and
chasten them because I love them, yet I will not reject them, neither give my
kingdom to other people, for behold the end draweth nigh, and judgment will I
pour out upon your oppressors and upon those who accuse you to hide their own
iniquity and their shame, and to get power for unholy purposes and not for the
building up of my kingdom. Let such beware lest they fall by the hand of
the destroyer, whose arrows are plague and pestilence, before their designs are
accomplished.
Let my saints gather up with all consistent speed and remove westward,
except such as are counselled to tarry and must needs remain to settle their
business according to the counsel of my servant Joseph Smith, in the day that
he was with you in the flesh, and also according to the counsel of my servants,
the Twelve whom I have chosen, and who have abode in me.
Let there be no more disputes or contentions among you about doctrine or
principle, neither who shall be greatest, but hearken to those things which I
have spoken unto you, and which have before been given and you shall rest in my
kingdom, and have glory and honour for ever and ever - Yea! Saith the Spirit,
and the Spirit is truth, and the truth abideth for ever: Amen (Millennial Star,
Vol. 7 No. 10, May 15th 1846, pp. 157-158.)
ALTHOUGH DEAD, YET HE SPEAKETH. [page 136]
JOSEPH SMITH'S TESTIMONY CONCERNING MEN BEING ORDAINED BY ANGELS,
DELIVERED IN THE SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS, IN KIRTLAND, OHIO, IN THE WINTER
OF 1832-3.
The occasion which called forth his testimony upon this matter was as
follows:--One Francis G. Bishop, an Elder in our church, was very anxious to be
ordained a High Priest, but he was not considered a proper candidate to fill
the office at that time; and his urgent solicitations to be promoted to the
High Priesthood, confirmed the Saints in the opinion that he wanted a high
station without meriting it, or without being called by the Spirit of God in
that work. He was sent forth into the world to preach in the capacity and
calling of an Elder; but he was not long out before he declared himself to be a
High Priest--and that he was ordained by an angel from heaven. This made
much stir in the branches of the church and also in the world. But when
the news of his proceedings reached the prophet Joseph, he called Bishop home
forthwith. He was introduced into the school of the prophets, and there
closely questioned upon his course. He said he was ordained by an angel
to the High priesthood; yet, on a more close examination, he crossed his own
testimony and statements--became confused, and blushed with shame and guilt--he
fell down upon his knees and confessed that he had lied in the name of the
Lord--begged to be forgiven and cried aloud for mercy. We all forgave
him, but we could not give him our confidence, for he had destroyed it.
Elder Sidney RIgdon was present at that meeting, and though he has since fallen
still he knows that my statements ar correct. Zebedee Coultrin was also
present, and many others that I might name.
Brother Joseph observed to Bishop that he knew he had lied before he
confessed it; that his declarations were not only false in themselves, but they
involved a false principle. An angel, said Joseph, may administer the
word of the Lord unto men, and being intelligence to them from heaven upon
various subjects; but no true angel from God will ever come to ordain any man,
because they have once been sent to establish the priesthood by ordaining me
thereunto; and the priesthood being once established on earth, with power to
ordain others, no heavenly messenger will ever come to interfere with that
power by ordaining any more. He referred to the angel that came to
Cornelius and told Cornelius to send for Peter; but if there had been no Peter
with keys and power to administer, the angel might have done it himself; but as
there was, the angel would not interfere. Saul was directed to go to
Ananias for instruction and to be administered to by him; but if there had been
no Ananias with power and authority on the earth to administer in the name of
Christ, the Lord might have done it himself. You may therefore know, from
this time forward, that if a man comes to you professing to be ordained by an
angel, he is either a liar or has been imposed upon in consequence of
transgression by an angel of the devil, for this priesthood shall never be
taken away from this church.
This testimony was delivered in an upper room, in the south-west corner
of the White Store and dwelling-house, formerly occupied by Whitney and
Gilbert, situate on Kirtland Flats. If men would regard the testimony of
the servants of God who have laid down their lives for the cause, they would
have little to fear of being misled; but when the spirit of apostacy takes
possession of a man's heart, he becomes completely blind to every true
principle, and is filled with strife, debate, deceit, false accusation, and
treachery. He cherishes no desire to convert and save the world, but is
content to confine his operations to the church, which he slanders, defames,
and, like a ravening wolf, tries to tear in pieces and destroy; and having no
merit of his own to bring him into notice, he seeks to obtain notoriety by
contention and debate, which the Lord declares are not of him, but of the
devil. Their hearts being a fountain of evil, they can speak nothing but
evil; they, being disciples of the "accuser of our brethren," can do
nothing but accuse the brethren like their master whom they serve; they, having
a beam in their own eye, can see nothing but the mote in their brother's eye;
and well did the Saviour ask such characters, "How can ye, being evil,
speak good things?" They are like the filthy and indelicate bird
that has no relish for sweet and wholesome meat, but likes to feast on tainted
flesh and putrid carcasses. Mr. Strang. like Bishop, claims that an angel
ordained him. (Millennial Star Nov. 20, 1846, beginning on page 136.) Although
it is unsigned, Orson Hyde was the editor and unsigned editorials were (and
still are) invariably the work of the editor.
