Writing in response to Joseph Smith
III and the Reorganized Church, Helen Mar Kimball Whitney wrote the following about Joseph Smith’s “Rocky
Mountain Prophecy” and how the LDS Church, not the then-RLDS Church, is the
true Church based on the fulfillment thereof:
I
will refer to Joseph Smith to his father's history for proofs that Brigham
Young was not father to the idea of bringing this people to the Rocky
Mountains. He will find them plainly written on page
three hundred and ninety-eight of the book which E. W. Tullidge wrote.
If
Brigham Young had been an imposter, instead of a man of God, he could never
have led this people here; and if they had not enjoyed a goodly share of the
same spirit of inspiration that guided him, they would, years ago, have sought
a more congenial, or at least a less forbidding spot than they found in this
desolate, barren and out-of-the-way place; and if he had not been led by some
other spirit than selfishness and a desire to gratify his own worldly ambition
he would have accepted the tempting offers held out to settle upon the Pacific
coast, in a land of gold mines. If he had not allowed wisdom to lead and
control his actions he would not have chosen the path that he did—struggling on
for years with the untoward circumstances that met him in every shape, and the
care of a great people dependent upon him and his brethren, not only for
counsel, but many for food, raiment and shelter. If there was ever a great
father upon this earth he was one; and if it had not been for the deep-rooted
faith which they had not been of the true metal, they could never have endured
and carried out the programme which he, by the light of revelation, had marked
out.
In
the book of Doctrine and Covenants it is written, "Let them therefore who
are among the Gentiles, flee unto Zion. * * * Go ye out from among the nations,
even from Babylon, from the midst of the wickedness, which is spiritual
Babylon." The Prophet Isaiah said, "in the wilderness shall waters
break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a
pool, and the thirsty land springs of water." "And it shall come to
pass in the last days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be
established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills;
and all nations shall flow unto it."
How
can these predictions be fulfilled by those who call themselves the
"Reorganized church" if they remain in the midst of Babylon and do
not separate themselves from the wicked? Where are the deserts and "the
parched ground" spoken of by Isaiah? not in the fruitful land of Iowa, nor
Missouri, nor in any of the places around about that portion of America. And
where are "the mountains" where "the Lord's house" is to
"be established" and "exalted above the hills," if not
here? Where are the temples that were to be built to the Lord in the last days
if not in these mountains? Isaiah said, "Many people shall go and say,
Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God
of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His
paths." We also read in the book of Isaiah these words: "how
beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings,
that publisheth peace: * * * for the Lord hath comforted His people."
All
these prophecies have reference to these times, and the Latter-day Saints
accept them just as they are written, nothing doubting, and I would like to know
how we are to get around any one of these predictions. Nothing could be
plainer, and those who try to gainsay them or to deny one had better deny the
whole book and cast it into the flames.
Has
not the Lord opened "rivers in high places and fountains in the midst of
the valleys?" for He said, "I give waters in the wilderness, and
rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen."
No
people can appreciate these sayings as do the Saints who first settled these
valleys of the Rocky Mountains, for we have witnessed their fulfillment to the
very letter. Nor could any one with a spark of the gospel light misunderstand
the prophet's meaning; and I think that we are nearing the time when the
"sinners in Zion" will be "afraid; and fearfulness will surprise
the hypocrite." The "ensign" which Isaiah foresaw, has been
lifted to the nations, and do we not see the people coming "with speed
swiftly" from all the nations of the earth and building up the waste
places? Who is so blind as those that will not see? Where on this earth is
there a people who stand in so little fear of the threats of men as do the
Latter-day Saints? It is true that were our trust in man alone we should
tremble; but our trust is in God, who has said to His people: "Fear them
not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God; and I will
strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right
hand of my righteousness;" and can we not "sing unto the Lord a new
song," who said, "Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up
their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the
rock sing; let them shout from the tops of the mountains." This is the
true secret of our strength, and no man can take to himself the glory. We also
read: "Behold all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed
and confounded; they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish."
"For I am the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying unto thee, Fear
not I will help thee." "This people have I formed for myself; they
shall show forth my praise." "Behold I have refined thee, but not
with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."
The
"Mormons" of Utah do not admit that it was the wisdom or the will of
Brigham Young, as Joseph's son appears willing to credit him with, but it was
the wisdom and the will of the almighty that prevailed, and which led and guided
His servants to the secure place in the Rocky Mountains, in fulfillment of
prophecy, and which we well know was previously "contemplated by Joseph
Smith." But his won speaks truly when he says, "This work is not the
work of Joseph Smith." No, no mortal man can take the credit of it to
himself.
The
Saints of Nauvoo well remember how the Prophet was warned by the Lord to flee
to the Rocky Mountains, and had it not been for his wife, Emma, and a few
faithless and frightened brethren, he would have come west, but it was
otherwise ordained. (Helen Mar Whitney, Plural
Marriage, As Taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith. A Reply to Joseph Smith,
Editor of the Lamoni (Iowa) "Herald" [Salt Lake City:
Juvenile Instructor Office, 1882] 17-19)
Further Reading:
Resources on Joseph Smith's Prophecies
