Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Lorin Farr (1820-1909) on the Church being the Fulfillment of Daniel 2 and Jesus not Teaching Plural Marriage in the New Testament-Era

The following is taken from T. Earl Pardoe, Lorin Farr, Pioneer (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1953), 242-43 (emphasis added):

 

THE TERRITORIAL ENQUIRER

 

Provo City, Tuesday, September 1, 1885

 

UTAH STAKE CONFERENCE

 

“At 10 o’clock on Saturday morning the Conference opened in the new Stake Tabernacle, which had been temporarily fitted up for the occasion, Pres. A. O. Smoot, presiding . . .

 

“Elders Lorin Farr, of Ogden: How far we all realize the covenants we have made, and how near we come to keeping them, if for each of us to answer. There are no people upon the earth that have greater cause to be thankful and humble before the Lord, than the Latter-day Saints. When we came here the country looked like a barren desert. I thought then, how-ever, that our settling here was in fulfilment of the prophecy of Daniel, of the little stone cut out of the mountain, that was to fill the whole earth. But to make such an assertion, would almost be looked upon as treason. I feel, however, to bear my testimony, that we are the people spoken of by Daniel. I am often led to ask, how is it that the professed Christians are so intent upon trying to make the people generally believe that we are the worst people on earth. What have the Latter-day Saints done to justify this feeling?

 

Do we not teach the doctrines that Jesus taught? He taught all that we advocate with the exception of plural marriage, and I am a witness to the fact that the most of our persecutions were received before this principle was given to the people. Hence we see that the persecutions of the Latter-day Saints have come upon them for receiving the doctrines of the Christian world at large profess to believe in. My testimony is that our present persecutions are not on account of the practice of polygamy. This is only an excuse. But I wish to say that our prospects were never better than at the present time. There must be an opposition in all things. When may we look for a change from our present condition? Satan has since the fall of man, and I cannot remember of reading of a time when he had more to do with the government of the people of the earth, than at the present time. Well, in the face of all the opposition we have had to meet, it has taken will not cease his rule, until men shall look upon the things of this world as a secondary nature. All this persecution then is essential. The Lord has plead with this people for the last fifty years but it has not made much of an impression, and it seems necessary to use more force. I feel that this is the set time of the Lord, when he will set up a just government. The world may look upon us as they please, the Latter-day Saint will yet triumph over all their enemies. May we be prepared for that great event.”

 

Note that, according to Farr (1) The establishment of the Church in the Rocky Mountains was part of the fulfillment of the prophecy in Dan 2 and (2) Jesus, during the New Testament-era, did not teach plural marriage—such is a unique teaching to this dispensation.

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