Quote mining/Journal of Discourses/JoD 5:88:Analysis

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Quote mining analysis

The quote and its use by the critic(s):

List Actual quote Critical use

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Brother Brigham was speaking this forenoon, showing what an influence he has over this people. I want to know if he has any over a man or woman that is not in this vine, he being the head now? When Joseph was here, he was the head of the vine in the flesh; but since he stepped away, brother Brigham is head of the vine, and we are connected to it; all you men and women, and then all the Saints throughout the world are connected to that vine to which he is connected; and he has power and influence over them, because they partake of his nature and his element, and he partakes of the element that came through Joseph, and Joseph from Peter, and Peter from Jesus, and Jesus from the Father, and then it extends through all the Quorums that pertain to the house of Israel….

What! of those that do not belong to this Church? Yes, just as much as those that do; and they cannot get salvation upon any other principle. Well, now, you need not think that is a tight jacket; for I will tell you it is a jacket you have all to wear. You may grunt, and you may take a course to kill this people and destroy the Prophet. Good God! there will a hundred come up where you kill one. Bless your souls, if a man is a Prophet, and that Prophet has a posterity, his whole posterity are prophets. Tell about raising up kings, and priests, and prophets unto the Most High God! You may kill brother Brigham: kill him, if you can; but I tell you, you will never do it nor his brother Heber, until the times comes.

Joseph Smith would be looked upon as a god.

Analysis

  • Note that there is nothing about Joseph being a god or divine. He is compared to Peter, and even put subservient to Peter: the chain is Joseph -> Peter -> Jesus -> Father.
  • This is prelude to emphasizing the blessings to all: by following a prophet, they become his spiritual posterity, "his whole posterity are prophets."
  • All of these are subservient "unto the Most High God"—which is the Father, not Joseph.
  • Heber C. Kimball on Joseph as "a god."
  • Joseph Smith's status in LDS belief