History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

192 THE STORY OF MORMONISM.
and foolish plans or imaginations scatter us abroad
and divide us asunder as a people, to seek to save our
lives at the expense of truth and principle, but rather
let us live or die together and in the enjoyment of
society and union." 41
At this time the saints needed such words of advice
and consolation. Some were already making
preparations to return to the gentiles; some feared
that their organization as a sect would soon come to
an end. To reassure them, one more address was
issued on August 15th, in the name of the twelve
apostles, 42 and signed by Brigham Young, the president
of the apostles. The saints were told that
though they were now without a prophet present in
the flesh, the twelve would administer and regulate
the affairs of the church ; and that even if they should
be taken away, there were still others who would
insure
world.
the triumph of their cause throughout the
In 1830, as will be remembered, the church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in a
chamber by a few humble men; in 184.4 the prophet's
followers mustered scores of thousands. Speedy dissolution
was now predicted by some, while others
argued that as all his faults would lie buried in the
tomb, while on his virtues martyrdom would shed its
lustre, the progress of the sect would be yet more
remarkable. The latter prediction was verified, and
after the Mormons had suffered another period of persecution,
Joseph Smith the martyr became a greater
power in the land than Joseph Smith the prophet.
41 The full text of both letters is given in Times and Seasons, v. 56S, 586-
7; Maekay's The Mormons, 180-2; Smucker's Hist. Mormons, 1S9-92.
42 Who are thus described in a letter addressed by Phelps to the editor of
the New York Prophet, a small journal established to promulgate the views
of the sect: ' Brigham Young, the lion of the Lord; Heber C. Kimball, the herald
of grace; Parley P. Pratt, the archer of paradise; Orson Hyde, the olive
branch of Israel; Willard Richards, the keeper of the rolls; John Taylor,
the champion of right; William Smith, the patriarchal staff of Jacob; Wilford
Woodruff, the banner of the gospel; George A. Smith, the entablature of
truth; Orson Pratt, the gauge of philosophy; John E. Page, the sun-dial;
and Lyman Wight, the wild ram of the mountains. They are good men;
the best the Lord can find.' See Mackay's The Mormons. 186.