In his book, Family Kingdom, Samuel Woolley Taylor recorded the following incident concerning his father John W. Taylor (son of LDS President John Taylor who was excommunicated for post-manifesto polygamy), and how he retained a high view of the Church and ecclesiology even after his excommunication:
The man carefully extracted a piece of paper from his billfold, handed it to Father, “Here is a copy of the revelation.”
“I have seen the original,” Father said, and passed it to Mother. “Read it aloud, Nettie.”
[text of 1886 revelation quoted]
Mother returned the paper. The man folded it carefully and put it in his wallet. “It speaks plainly enough,” he said, “but the Church has refused to obey this revelation.”
“A revelation is not binding upon the Church until it has been presented to the people for acceptance,” Father said.
“But that couldn’t be done at the time. It would have meant the destruction of the Church. This is like the original revelation on the subject, which was told only to a few and practiced as a secret doctrine for many years.”
“It is but a confirmation of the original revelation,” Father pointed out. “It adds nothing new. And it says that men should use their free agency in the matter. The Church has never denied the correctness of the Principle. It has used its free agency in setting aside the practice.”
“But while you were in the Quorum, didn’t you strongly urge that this revelation be accepted by the authorities?”
“That I was out of harmony is a matter of public record,” Father said. “What transpired in the secret sessions of the Quorum is not a matter for discussion. As to the Principle, my own actions speak louder than words. Because of my actions, I was dropped from the Quorum and subsequently cut off. I wouldn’t have done what I did without thinking I was right. The authorities wouldn’t have handled me without thinking they were right. Men has his free agency.”
“You are still an Apostle, with all the powers of your priesthood,” the men said. “When the Church repudiated the law of God by the Manifesto, it forfeited its priesthood by betrayal. Since the Manifesto, there has not been a single revelation by the Church authorities. The Church no longer holds the priesthood. It could not handle you.”
“You are splitting hairs,” Father said.
“Not at all, Brother Taylor. What was it that was given the Prophet Joseph? The Church? No. He was given the priesthood. He held the priesthood several years before he formed a Church. HE organized the Church by the authority of the priesthood. The priesthood is entirely independent of the Church organization. And we know, as Mormons, that every other Church in the world except our own is without the authority of the priesthood. Now the official Mormon Church itself is in the same situation, for it repudiated its priesthood by the Manifesto. Since then, God has ceased to speak through Church authorities. Wilford Woodruff spoke with the Lord before the Manifesto, but never since Joseph F. Smith has now been President a good many years, but he admitted in public testimony at Washington that he never had received a message from the Lord.
The man paused, Father said nothing. The man smiled. “Brother Taylor, the priesthood is held today only by those men set apart by your father to continue the Principle, and by those who have not denied it. The Church has apostatized. It is our responsibility to call the people to the true faith, to restore to them the priesthood. We must labor with the Church and cause it to repent its sins and return to the fold. As an Apostle your mission is to join us in this labor. You have great power among the people. It is your duty to go among them preaching the true gospel. The people will rally to your banner. If the Church refuses to repent and ask forgiveness, it will be our duty to form another. The true Church must go on with you as its leader.”
Father arose. “You have said entirely enough. Good night.”
“But Apostle Taylor. . . .”
Father said firmly, “My own difficulties with the authorities are strictly personal and private with me. If I was out of harmony, it was my own business and my own responsibility. Any adjustments will be made on the other side, not here. Every apostate claims the Church is wrong and he is right. The Church has disowned me, but I will never disown my Church. I will never join with any bitter group working for its downfall.”
“You are repudiating the Principle!”
“You’re a fine one to talk!” Father roared. “If my father received that revelation and set men apart to continue the Principle, it was as a secret mission for them. They were like espionage agents in wartime, pursuing a dangerous mission entirely at their own risk. You are betraying that mission by a public clamor against the Church itself! I haven’t repudiated the Principle; you have! I will never repudiate the Principle, but I here and now repudiate all men who try to use it as an attack on the Church! Good night, sir!”
When the man had left, Mother said, “You’re all alone now, John.”
He smiled, “No reason to run with bad company.” (Samuel Woolley Taylor, Family Kingdom [Madison Avenue, N.Y.: Signet Book, 1961], 235-37)
