The Law of Succession- Part Two (Hyrum replaces Joseph as Prophet of the Church)

The Prophet Hyrum Smith

As is common when I do a series on any topic, I sometimes find it necessary to interject some important information and delay other parts to be addressed later.

Hence, our  discussion on the excommunication trial of Sidney Rigdon must be postponed for a later part of this series.

Before we continue on in our review of the great deception that took place during the LDS succession crisis and evaluate some of the key events and profound points of succession doctrine that came out during the trial of Sidney Rigdon, we need to address the calling of Hyrum Smith as the prophet of the church.

I would be getting ahead of myself to address the topic of Sydney Rigdon before adequately addressing the topic of Hyrum Smith with regard to the succession issue.

Additionally, let me remind you that you need to be familiar with the good news BEFORE you focus too much on the bad news provided in this series.

One of the challenges in writing on a controversial topic like this is that it is sometimes read by those who are not familiar with the doctrine of three watches and are not familiar with how God is going to remedy this situation created by the crisis.

This information can cause indigestion and despair if it is not read in the broader prophetic context that is provided in scripture.

You need to be familiar with the doctrine of the three watches and how the Lord has a remedy in place for the grand delusion that began approximately 180 years ago and continues up to this day.

If the doctrine of three watches is new to you, you can read about it starting here and then review over 50 scriptural and historical evidences documenting the doctrine of three watches and the fact that the Marvelous Work and a Wonder did not begin during the public ministry of Joseph Smith. It was at that time that the foundation of the future work was laid.

The Remedy for the Awful Situation We are In

So what is the remedy that God has provided for taking blindness off of Israel?

Paul provides the answer-

“There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob”

He is of course paraphrasing a passage out of Isaiah 59

“And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.”

Through the prophet Isaiah the Lord promises us that he will send an intercessory deliverer- redeemer to turn latter day Israel from their transgressions.

The Lord reminds us of his covenant with Israel (and of the enactment of the atonement statute contained in Lev 16 ) and the fact that his intercessory servant that initially delivered the law in the 2^nd watch, will restore the law in the 3^rd watch when the fulness of the gentiles comes in for the last time.

“As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, [the intercessory servant] and my words which I have put in thy mouth”

Clearly, the return of the Davidic Servant as the arm of the Lord, deliverer-redeemer marks the time in the 3^rd watch when the fullness of the Gentiles comes in for the last time preparatory for the return of Christ.

The Dispensational Bait and Switch

When the light began to shine forth at the special conference at the Morley Farm in 1831 when the Melchizedek priesthood was restored for the first time and 23 men were called to be High Priests, Joseph Smith and the gentile church were focused on ushering in the dispensation of the fullness of times.

Prior to that time, modern revelation had only mentioned two gospel dispensations, the dispensation of the last times and the dispensation of the fullness of times.

Had the church successfully received the fulness of the Priesthood, ie, fulness of the Gospel when it was being offered to them, they would indeed have ushered in the dispensation of the fulness of times.

Modern revelation had informed the saints that the current dispensation they were in was the dispensation of the last times which had began with the meridian apostles in the New Testament.

The purpose of the marvelous work and a wonder was to usher in the dispensation of the fullness of times that takes place within the dispensation of the last times.

When the saints ultimately rejected the fullness of the gospel in the 2^nd watch, the Lord secretly restored to Joseph and Oliver the keys to a lesser, ancient, preparatory dispensation.

The Great Secret of Joseph and Oliver

Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery had an incredible secret experience in the Kirtland Temple in 1836.

It is an astounding fact that neither of them ever publicly revealed this secret event during the remainder of their lives.

What was their secret?

It was the appearance of Christ and three ministering angels.

The event now known as section 110 was not made publicly known until about 16 years after it happened in 1836 and it was not canonized into the D&C until 40 years after it happened!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shortly after the gentile church rejected the fullness of the gospel and failed to usher in the dispensation of the fullness of times, the Lord and three ministering angels secretly visited Joseph and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple. At this time another gospel dispensation was ushered in.

However the dispensation that was ushered in was NOT the dispensation of the fullness of times, it was the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham which dates back to the covenant that God made with Abraham. It has to do with the patriarchal right of the chosen seed line to administer the gospel to the inhabitants of the world.

It appears that it can administer the fulness of the Gospel or the preparatory Gospel depending on the state of the people.

The secret visitation behind the veil represented an intercession that prolonged the lives of the Latter day Saints and resented a remedy for their aweful situation.

One can read more about the Gospel of Abraham in the Book of Abraham. I have written an article about it here.

 

The Three Part Prophecy of Jesus Christ

The rejection of the fulness of the priesthood appears to have begun with the special conference at the Morley Farm and came to its fulfillment in or before1834. At this time the law of consecration was broken and the Lord announced that Zion must be chastened and her redemption would be delayed. This resulted in the secret ushering in of the gospel of Abraham in the Kirtland Temple.

The restoration of the gospel of Abraham resulted in the mandate that Joseph gave to the twelve apostles to set up foreign missions to gather the children of Abraham. It also resulted in the mandate given to the twelve apostles in section 112, to publish the scriptures and testify of the name of Christ to the world. Section 112 informs us that gross darkness was covering the whole world at that time.

All of this was the fulfillment of a three part prophecy given by Jesus Christ in 3^rd Nephi-

Part One of the Prophesy

“And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.”

By the end of 1834 the above prophecy had been fulfilled. The restored church of Christ among the gentiles had rejected the fulness of the priesthood which is virtually synonymous with the fulness of the gospel.

Part Two of the Prophesy

“And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them. And I will show unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you; but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fulness of my gospel.”

The secret event in the Kirtland Temple represented the mandate and associated dispensational keys to begin the fulfillment of the second part of Christ’s prophecy.

The keys of taking the KNOWLEDGE of the fullness of the gospel (Book of Mormon & Doctrine and Covenants) to the rest of the children of Israel and Abraham’s posterity were restored.

Notice the admonition of Joseph Smith to the Twelve Apostles-

“If there is anything calculated to interest the mind of the Saints, to awaken in them the finest sensibilities, and arouse them to enterprise and exertion, surely it is the great and precious promises made by our heavenly Father to the children of Abraham; and those engaged in seeking the outcasts of Israel, and the dispersed of Judah, cannot fail
to enjoy the Spirit of the Lord and have the choicest blessings of Heaven rest upon them in copious effusions.” (Joseph Smith Jr., Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 195.)

Part Three of the Prophesy

“But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto me, saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel. And I will not suffer my people, who are of the house of Israel, to go through among them, and tread them down, saith the Father.”

As you can see, the third part of Christ’s prophecy in 3^rd Nephi addresses the opportunity for the fallen gentiles to REPENT.

This opportunity takes place AFTER the KNOWLEDGE of the gospel goes forth to Abraham’s seed in other parts of the vineyard. It takes place when the fulness of the gentiles comes in during the 3^rd and final watch.

It must be remembered that the current corporate church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints has a legitimate mandate from God to take the “knowledge” of the fulness of the gospel to the world by publishing the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants.

The fact that the modern church falsely insinuates that it has the  fulness of the priesthood and lives the fullness of the gospel does not take away from the fact that they are only dispensing the KNOWLEDGE of what the fullness of the gospel is by publishing the sacred scriptures to the world.

It is ironic that the very scriptures that the Latter day Saints publish and claim to believe in, TESTIFY that the modern church is in apostasy and the saints of the restoration polluted the holy church of God back during Joseph Smith’t ministry..

The inspired version of the Bible documents that those who lead the church do in fact hold the legal lease over the vineyard even though the Lord will destroy the miserable leaders that fail to repent, in the 3^rd watch, when the servants return and the Marvelous Work and a Wonder finally begins –

“And when the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, he will destroy those miserable, wicked men, and will let again his vineyard unto other husbandmen, even in the last days, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons.” (JST Matt 21)

All of these issues pertain to the succession crisis that took place in Nauvoo.

The Rise of Hyrum Smith

Hyrum Smith was such a low key individual that he hardly stands out as anything other than the loyal older brother to Joseph.

This is in part because much of his contribution has been down played or deleted from the history of the church.

A key word search in the D&C reveals that Hyrum is one of the first and primary missionaries for the church (sections 11 & 23)

He later becomes one of the 23 High Priests called by the voice of God out of heaven.

Directly after his calling as a High Priest, he is called to preach the gospel with John Murdock en route to the land of Zion in Missouri (section 52)

Following that, he received the promise of an inheritance (section 94)

Later Hyrum is teamed up with Frederick G. Williams when the more valiant brethren go on their journey to attempt to restore the saints in Jackson County (section 103)

Eventually in section 112, we find Hyrum as a member of the first presidency holding the keys of the kingdom with Joseph and Sidney-

“Verily I say unto you, my servant Thomas, thou art the man whom I have chosen to hold the keys of my kingdom, as pertaining to the Twelve, abroad among all nations—

That thou mayest be my servant to unlock the door of the kingdom in all places where my servant Joseph, and my servant Sidney, and my servant Hyrum, cannot come” (section 112 see also section 115)

Finally, Hyrum is called to act in concert with Joseph as a prophet seer and revelator to the church.

It is worth noting that Hyrum had been acting as a member of the presidency of the Church BEFORE he was given the spiritual gift and calling to act as a prophet seer and revelator in Nauvoo via section 124.

Please also remember that Joseph, Hyrum and Sidney are presiding elders in the patriarchal priesthood during the Nauvoo years, not presiding High Priests over the High Priesthood.

Did Hyrum meet the Qualifications in the Law of Succession?

I have blogged about numerous people who I feel will play incredible role in the LDS restoration movement even though I feel much of the significance of their past and future involvement has largely been down played and obscured.

These tributes have included people like Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Oliver Cowdery, Frederick G. Williams, David Patten, etc.

Another one of the most influential personalities of the LDS restoration is Hyrum Smith, and yet, much of his contribution is downplayed, suppressed and perhaps not even documented since he was ultimately rejected as the prophet of the church by many of the leading brethren.

What would it be like to be the older brother of Joseph Smith who was always in the background?

Section 43 informs us that the true successor to the prophet Joseph Smith must be called of God through Joseph Smith.

Did Hyrum qualify?

Yes.

Section 124 is a clear revelation from God through the prophet Joseph Smith calling Hyrum to be a prophet seer and revelator to the church-

“And from this time forth I appoint unto him that he may be a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator unto my church, as well as my servant Joseph; That he may act in concert also with my servant Joseph.”

Section 43 requires a valid successor to also be ordained through the instrumentality of Joseph Smith

Does Hyrum qualify?

Yes.

In accordance with the mind and will of the Lord in section 124, Joseph Smith ordained Hyrum to be the prophet seer and revelator.

Section 43 requires a valid successor to first enter into the gate which in my opinion, if primarily referring, contextually to the protocol given in that revelation for being the successor to Joseph Smith, nevertheless, the term generally has reference to being born of the spirit which would probably be requisite to being blessed with the spiritual gift and calling of being a prophet seer and revelator. 

It is not unreasonable to assume that the spiritual rebirth must take place before God would call him to the spiritual calling and office of being a prophet seer and revelator to the church. Nevertheless we now that a successor of Joseph Smith must come in at the gate of having been called by revelation through Joseph Smith. Clearly, the only one that could make that claim after Joseph and Hyrum were killed, was Sidney Rigdon, but that is a story that comes later..

Had Hyrum been spiritually born again?

If so, did the Lord provide a canonized revelation proving that Hyrum had been spiritually born again?

It is interesting to note that God provided proof to the church that Joseph and Sidney had both received the spiritual rebirth by giving them the vision now known as section 76.

In this canonized revelation it is revealed that Joseph and Sidney both received a fulness of the glory of the Son and the Father–

“while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about. And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fulness”

Clearly, a person would need to have been spiritually born again before they could receive a fulness of the glory of the Son and Father, otherwise without a purified heart, they would be destroyed in the flesh by such an experience!

But what about Hyrum?

Did the Lord provide public documentation to the church membership that Hyrum had been born again?

My contention is that there is reason to believe that Hyrum had been born of the spirit!

The Integrity of his Heart

In section 124, when Hyrum was called to act in concert with Joseph Smith as a prophet seer and revelator of the church, the Lord made the following proclamation regarding the spiritual status of Hyrum Smith-

“…blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord.”

What an incredible endorsement from the Lord!

If you do a key word search on the word heart, you will find an abundance of passages documenting the fact that the heart is the spiritual chamber of the soul in which, the Holy Spirit ultimately resides OR the devil reigns.

Each soul on this earth will ultimately become a servant of God or a servant of the Devil.

It is in the heart that a person ultimately becomes sanctified and saved or becomes deceived and overcome by Satan-

Although the King James Version of the bible quotes the Savior as saying

“As a man thinketh, so is he”

The inspired version informs us that

“As a man thinketh IN HIS HEART, so is he”

The human body has the ability to initiate thought in both the brain and the heart!

The heart is a thinking organ with a mind of its own.

It is the thoughts of the heart that determine the status of the soul.

The ultimate sacrifice the Lord is looking for is a “broken heart and a contrite spirit“.

The Book of Mormon informs us that the gates of hell cannot claim us if we have a broken heart and a contrite spirit-

“May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite!”

It appears that Hyrum had offered up to a broken heart and a contrite spirit to the Lord.

It appears to me that Hyrum Smith had obviously received the spiritual rebirth as evidenced by the fact that he had integrity of heart and he loved that which was right before God.

It is no coincidence that one of the first main objectives that Hyrum had while acting in the inspired integrity of his heart, was to testify against polygamy and the spiritual wife doctrine and try to rid it from the church. It is a little know fact that Hyrum and others aggressively went forth in Nauvoo trying to stamp out polygamy. 

Unfortunately, the atonement statute would eventually kick in and the Lord would cover the eyes of the seers. Hyrum would eventually be persuaded by Brigham Young to endorse Joseph polygamy doctrine.

Joseph Announces that Hyrum is the Sole Prophet

As documented in the diary of William Clayton, one of Joseph Smith’s personal secretaries, on Sunday, July 16 1843, Joseph preached again, proposing a radical change in church organization-

“He stated that Hyrum held the office of prophet to the church..”

Hyrum is Called to Reform the Church

William Clayton also reveals that Joseph had acknowledged that Hyrum was to conduct a REFORMATION in the church-

“…He [Hyrum] was going to have a reformation, and the Saints must regard Hyrum for he has authority.”

The reformation of the fallen church during the Nauvoo period had previously been prophesied in the book of commandments-

Within this section the following passage was in the original revelation as it is documented in the Book-

“And thus, if the people of this generation harden not their hearts, I will work a REFORMATION among them, and I will put down all lyings, and deceivings, and priestcrafts, and envyings, and strifes, and idolatries, and sorceries, and all manner of iniquities, and I will establish my church, like unto the church which was taught by my disciples in the days of old.4:6 And now if this generation do harden their hearts against my word, behold I will deliver them up unto Satan, for he reigneth and hath power at this time, for he hath got great hold upon the hearts of the people of this generation: and not far from the iniquities of Sodom and Gomorrah, do they come at this time: and behold the sword of justice hangeth over their heads, and if they persist in the hardness of their hearts, the time cometh that it must fall upon them. Behold I tell you these things even as I also told the people of the destruction of Jerusalem, and my word shall be verified at this time as it hath hitherto been verified..”

At first blush, the above passage given before the church was even legally organized seems somewhat illogical. The Lords church was in the early stages of being restored and organized yet the Lord is speaking about doing a reformation if that generation will not harden their hearts.

This prophecy was also given prior to the restoration of the three priesthoods.

Clearly the restored church could not yet be reformed at the time the revelation was given as it had not yet be fully restored.

Those passages represent a prophecy about a future fulfillment, after the Church transgresses.

Additionally, all of the existing protestant churches had been created out of the great reformation. What good would it do to work a reformation among the reformed churches of the protestant reformation when it had been clearly revealed that they were dead branches from a dead tree without authority?

Clearly, the LDS restoration movement was about restoring the keys of the New Testament church, NOT about reforming an existing church.

Again, the above passage from the Book of Commandments is a prophecy about a future opportunity that would take place AFTER the restoration of the Church of Christ and after that restored church has gone into apostasy.

As we will see, the above prophecy was not referring to the initial beginning of Joseph Smith’s public ministry, rather, it is making specific mention of a future opportunity to reform the church after the keys are restored and the latter day church goes into apostasy during the early Kirtland years.

That apostasy of the restored church would take place in Kirtland after the saints cumulatively reject the greater light that began shining forth beginning at the special conference at the Morley Farm.

After the saints rejected the fulness of the Gospel and failed to redeem Zion, the Lord gave an unpublished revelation informing both the leaders of the Church and also the membership, that they were all under condemnation and that there needed to be a REFORMATION among them.

‘Verily, condemnation resteth upon you, who are appointed to lead my Church, and to be saviors of men; and also upon the Church; and there must needs be a repentance and a REFORMATION among you, in all things..” (Unpublished revelations Pg 73)

As we can see from the above documentation, the appointed time of reformation was to take place some time  after the church was restored and then in a state of apostasy. With this understanding, the events that took place in Nauvoo begin to make sense.

The reformation was to take place in Nauvoo.

It began under the direction of the Prophet Hyrum Smith, when he was trying to stamp out polygamy-

Section 124 and the Nauvoo period was the last chance during the 2^nd watch for the apostate saints to reform the apostate restored church.

Again, look at the statement from William Clayton-

On July 16^th 1843 The prophet Joseph Smith “stated that Hyrum held the office of prophet to the church by birth-right &he was going to have a REFORMATION and the saints must regard Hyrum for he has authority”

This is remarkable.

Joseph stated publicly that Hyrum was now the sole prophet of the church.

The saints must regard Hyrum because he has the authority.

Hyrum was going to lead a reformation.

Few if any of the Nauvoo Saints appear to have recognized the fulfillment of the succession prophecy in section 43 taking place before their very eyes when Joseph announced that Hyrum would now be the sole prophet. It is virtually unknown among latter day saints that Hyrum became the sole prophet of the church and that we was the sole prophet at the time of the martyrdom.

Section 124 was essentially informing the saints that they had lost the fulness of the priesthood and it was offering them the chance to reform or be rejected as a church.

The William Clayton Journal does not provide the only testimony that Hyrum became the sole prophet of the church-

Apostle Willard Richards gave a similar report in a letter to the absent Brigham Young:

“[Joseph] said he would not prophesy anymore— Hyrum should be the prophet.”

 Joseph was making it clear in a public discourse that Hyrum would be the sole prophet, seer and revelator of the church and that He, [Joseph] was no longer going to speak prophetically for the church membership.

Hyrum is rejected by the Saints

According to Willard Richards, the following morning, a number of fretting Saints came to Joseph protesting about Hyrum. They felt he was not qualified to be the sole prophet of the church-

“Brother Joseph, Hyrum is no prophet: he can’t lead the church.”

It is truly amazing that some of the saints had no faith in the Lord’s calling of Hyrum Smith as a prophet seer and revelator to the church in section 124.

Having demonstrated that Hyrum had been called of God to be a prophet seer and revelator and had spiritually been born again, it is a rather sobering fact that Hyrum had not yet received the keys pertaining to how to pray and receive answers to prayer!

(I believe the reason Hyrum failed to continue with the mandate to reform the church is because the saints did not sustain and uphold him in his calling as the sole prophet of the church. In this series we shall see that even though Hyrum attempted to reform the church and then had his eyes covered by the Lord because of the sins of latter day Israel, another person holding the keys of presidency would stand in the gate and valiently offer the church a reformation. It may shock you to find out who it was)

The Keys to ASK and RECIEVE

“…and that he shall receive counsel from my servant Joseph, who shall show unto him the keys whereby he may ask and receive”

This brings us to another interesting question.

Did Joseph teach Hyrum how to ask and receive before the martyrdom as he was commanded to do in section 124??

Perhaps another way to pose the question is, did Hyrum ever actually begin acting as a prophet and revelator?

Did he authoritatively receive revelation from God and did he provide inspired explanations regarding the scriptures?

Did Hyrum have the spirit of Prophesy?

Did the spirit of prophecy reside in Hyrum Smith?

Did he ever interpret scripture for the church, give them commandments and say

“thus sayeth the Lord?

I believe he did.

The following prophetic counsel to the saints is one of my favorite quotes from Hyrum Smith. It was published on November 19^th 1841 in the Sangamo Journal (which was quoting from the “Times and Seasons).

The following admonishing to the saints from the prophet Hyrum Smith came less than one year after he was called by God to be a prophet seer and revelator to the church in concert with his brother Joseph-

“All the saints that dwell in that land [Kirtland] are commanded to come away, for this is, ‘Thus saith the Lord;’ therefore pay out no monies nor properties for houses, nor lands, in that country, for if you do, you will lose them; for the time shall come that you shall not possess them in peace; but shall be scourged with a sore scourge; yet your children may possess them; but not until many years shall pass away; and; as to the organization of that branch of the church, it is not according to the spirit and will of God:

Hyrum is authoritatively paraphrasing elements of section 124 and also expanding upon a prophetic sermon previously given by Joseph Smith. ( See Building the Zion of the Lord given on July 19, 1840)

Hyrum was informing the saints in Kirtland and other places that the Lord wants them to come to Nauvoo and not to settle in Kirtland and other places.

Hyrum continues in his admonition and warns the saints that they have neglected the house of the Lord and the baptismal font.

Interestingly, he confirms that the dispensation of the fullness of times HAS NOT BEEN USHERED IN!

He informs them that the key of knowledge and the revealing of the mysteries of God necessary to unfold the dispensation of the fullness of times will not be turned until the temple and baptismal font have been finished!

“…and as to the designs of the leading members of that branch relative to the printing press, and the ordaining of Elders, and sending out Elders to beg for the poor, are not according to the will of God; and in these things they shall not prosper, for they have neglected the House of the Lord, the Baptismal Font, in this place, wherein their dead may be redeemed, and the key of knowledge that unfolds the dispensation of the fullness of times may be turned, and the mysteries of God be unfolded, upon which their salvation and the salvation of the world, and the redemption of their dead depends, for ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ ‘there shall not be a general assembly for a general conference assembled together until the House of the Lord shall be finished, and the Baptismal Font, and if we are not diligent the church shall be rejected, and their dead also,’ ‘saith the Lord,’ therefore, dear Brother, any proceedings otherwise than to put forth their hands with their might to do this work, is not according to the will of God, and shall not prosper; therefore, tarry not in any place whatever but come forth unto this place from all the world, until it is filled up and polished, and sanctified according to my word…”

As you can see, Hyrum is chastising the saints which is what true prophets do when the church is not obeying the commandments of God.

He is identifying things they shouldn’t be doing and reiterating the warning in section 124 that the saints will be rejected as a church with their dead if they fail to finish the temple and the baptismal font.

Hyrum, like most prophets, is not interested in tickling the ears of the saints or worrying about being liked. His words are stern. His warning is ominous.

Then Hyrum Smith reveals a grand secret that had possibly never been revealed to the Nauvoo Saints before.

He prophetically notifies them that Nauvoo, (which had been designated as the cornerstone of Zion) is the “hiding place” where the Lord will hide his elect from the “indignation” which shall punish the wicked.

It becomes obvious that Hyrum is revealing Nauvoo as the “chambers” mentioned in Isaiah 26.

“Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”

Hyrum is warning the saints that Kirtland was not to be righteously inhabited again by the saints until after the great cleansing.

Finally, Hyrum ends with these remarks-

“…saith the Lord, come ye forth from the ends of the earth, that I may hide you from mine indignation that shall scourge the wicked, and then I will send forth and build up Kirtland, and it shall be polished and refined according to my word; therefore, your doings and your organizations, and designs in printing, or any of your councils, are not of me, saith the Lord, even so, Amen”
HYRUM SMITH,

Again, compare the prophetic warning of Hyrum Smith above to the prophecy in Isaiah 26

Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Un-be-freakin-lieveable!

The ordinance of baptism for the dead in section 124 interrelates to the prophetic utterances of Isaiah who proclaimed that “dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise“.

It appears that the prophet Hyrum Smith was revealing that the ordinance of baptisms for the dead is not just an ordinance that enables those who missed out on the opportunity of the gospel during probation… it appears that the ordinance is an integral part of the ordinance of resurrecting or quickening people from the dead!

We learn from Hyrum that Isaiah was prophetically looking forward at Nauvoo and the temple and baptisms for the dead.

Isaiah and Hyrum were both filled with the spirit of prophecy and realized that Nauvoo, the cornerstone of Zion, is the grand hiding place where God will, at some point in time, gather his elect into the chambers while the wrath of the Lord chastises the wicked of the earth.

It is very possibly after the Lord pulls down the tower of the enemy and hides his people in the designated hiding place in the cornerstone of Zion that the saints will eventually redeem the center place of Zion in Missouri and build the temple.

Additional key word searches seem to reveal that the sacred gathering places in Ohio, Missouri and Illinois where the Lord will gather and hide his people will be flooded at about the time that the servants return.

“waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.”

Incredible.

One of the signs that accompany the return of God’s servants is the flooding of the hiding place… probably to remove the unbelievers from the holy ground for the gathering of the elect.

Thanks to Hyrum and Isaiah, we know that the servants return at a time when the hiding place overflows.

Watch for flooding. (although the term flooding could actually be referring to something other than water)

And your covenant with death shall be disannulled

We also know that when the servant returns, he will restore the fulness of the priesthood and the fulness of the true gospel covenant.

This will result in the spiritual rebirth, for those who repent and reform.

He will also disannul the agreement with hell that the miserable wicked leaders of apostate latter day Israel have bound the saints over to.

The saints collectively had the opportunity in Nauvoo under the prophet Hyrum Smith to repent of their abominations and reform, by renewing the original covenant of the gospel and restoring the fulness of the priesthood which had been lost. Hyrum actually announced to the saints that the endowment in Nauvoo would be the same endowment that was had in Kirtland. It was only after the saints rejected Hyrum that the Satanic Masonic endowment eventually emerged to replace the authentic endowment.

The saints allowed themselves to be seduced into a heretical ceremonial covenant with death, one which substituted the holy spiritual endowments with ritualistic secret signs and tokens and secret handshakes and swearing by the neck.

Imagine a ceremony where Satan himself is depicted as being in a position of authority over the saints, administering an oath and binding the saints over to a covenant with death if they fail to keep every single commandment according to the letter of the law.

Through this false covenant Satan will lead many of the saints away from the truth.

We don’t have time in this series to elaborate on the evil gift that Isaiah refers to as the covenant with death. Those wanting more information on this topic may ref this article.

Incredible future events are going to take place in Nauvoo and the return of the dead will take place in conjunction with the return of the servants when the true covenant is restored and the key of knowledge will be turned and unfold the ushering in of the dispensation of the fullness of times.

I believe Hyrum Smith was the real deal. He may not have been what the people wanted, but he was a true prophet. Apostate Israel don’t want a prophet, they want a king, and that is what they ultimately got in the form of Brigham Young.

Hyrum met the qualifications of succession itemized in section 43.

He was called to be a prophet seer and revelator to the church through Joseph.

He became the sole legal successor to the Prophet Joseph Smith once Joseph informed the Church that he would no long prophesy for the church.

Joseph declared that “the saints must regard Hyrum for he has authority“.

Sadly, the saints did not regard and sustain Hyrum and his calling as the sole replacement for Joseph Smith as the prophet seer and revelator of the church has largely been written out of history.

It is only because of a few dairies that we even know that Hyrum was the sole prophet and president of the church at the time of the martyrdom.

The Lord loved him because of the integrity of his heart.

Praise God for the prophet Hyrum Smith.

One of the most important events in Hyrum,s short lived ministry that very few people know about is that when it became apparent that some sort of spiritual wife form of Polygamy was infiltrating the church, He and fellow member of the First Presidency William Law, and Stake President William Marks became engaged in a special mission to stamp out the abomination of Polygamy. The High Council, under the direction of William Marks charged Henry G. Sherwood to “ferret out” the evil practice among the saints as well. This is according to a rather lengthy thesis on the succession issue done by LDS Church apologist and historical revisionist Andrew Ehat. Here is a snippet,

In November 1842, the High Council charged one of its members, Henry G.
Sherwood, to “ferret” out “evil practices and pursuits among some who profess to be
saints.”(153) Hyrum Smith, Assistant President of the Church, appeared in High Council
meetings to aid in this reformation of the Saints.(154) Thus Marks, Smith and Law were
engaged in “ferreting out” anything that hinted of the kind of conduct of which Bennett
was guilty.
The brethren conducted this crusade in the private meetings of the High Council and in
public gatherings of the Saints, where they preached against polygamy and kindred evils.

Ehat characterize this as a “a struggle to the prophet”. 

He notes that Joseph once attempted to teach the spiritual wife form of polygamy to the saints and William Law vehemately objected declaring that: “If an angel from heaven was to reveal to me that a man should
have more than one wife, if it were in my power I would kill him”. Ehat notes that Hyrum Smith and William Marks were both present on that occasion and agreed with President Law”

Ehat observes that because of the hard reaching of these leading brethren, “Joseph had to submit to it” (according to the recollection of Brigham Young.)

This is truly facinating that Joseph had made Hyrum the coPresident of the church by revelation, then removed himself from the first presidency, presumably by revelation, and then when Joseph tests that waters to try and introduce the doctrine of polygamy into the church, he gets slam-dunked by the leading authorities that have replaced him as the Presiding Elder of the church. Ehat continues:

“In May 1843, when Hyrum, William Law and William Marks realized that their efforts
had not ended the rumors of the private practice of to them aberrant marriage forms, they
decided to bring the issue into the open. They were suspicious that their worst fears were
true — Joseph was teaching plural marriage. So while Joseph was out of town, Hyrum
spoke on 14 May to the Nauvoo populace taking as his text Jacob 2 in the Book of
Mormon — quoting the verses that are a severe denunciation of polygamy.(159) Almost
echoing William Law’s sentiments, Hyrum said to the Saints, “If an angel from heaven
should come and preach such doctrine, [you] would be sure to see his cloven foot and
cloud of blackness over his head.”160″

Following Hyrum’s public rebuke of the doctrine of polygamy, Joseph gave a discourse which made some carefully crafted allusions to the fact that there were things in his bosom that he could not share with the saints, implying that perhaps Hyrum was not correct about his beliefs about polygamy. Ehat continues:

“Apparently, Hyrum Smith, William Law and William Marks were disturbed by the
Prophet’s remarks. They did not understand why some concepts of the Gospel still needed
to remain unsaid, concepts relating to the doctrine of eternal covenants. Two days later,
Heber C. Kimball and William Clayton “conversed concerning [rumors they had
apparently heard, rumors of] a plot . . . being laid to entrap the brethren of the secret
priesthood by bro. H[yrum]. and others.”(164) Other diary passages show that the
“brethren of the secret priesthood” was Clayton’s specific designation of those who were
living plural marriage.(165)”

As you can see, Hyrum Smith along with President Law and President Marks valiantly tried to put an end to polygamy. Sadly, the vast majority of the people still viewed Joseph as the true prophet and the converts coming in from the British Isles had a strong connection to the members of the quorum of the Twelve, most of whom had become infected with the doctrine of polygamy. Sadly, Htyrum became converted to Joseph’s teachings. He  was converted by the workings of Brigham Young who strewdly got Hyrum to enter into a solemn oath to believe, before being told about what Joseph had been doing.”

Hyrum’s conversion

“Hyrum took the lead in the attempt to “trap” one of the brethren — namely
Brigham Young. Brigham later referred to this effort on the part of Hyrum that possibly took place two but
certainly no more than three days after Clayton and Kimball’s conversation — on or the
day before 26 May 1843.

Right north of the Masonic Hall in Nauvoo the ground was not fenced . . . . There were
some rails laid along to fence up some lots. Hyrum saw me and said, Brother Brigham, I
want to talk to you.” We went together and sat upon those rails that were piled up. He
commenced by saying, “I have a question to ask you. In the first place I say unto to [sic]
you, that I do know that you and the twelve know some things that I do not know. I can
understand this by the motions, and talk, and doings of Joseph, and I know there is
something or other, which I do not understand, that is revealed to the Twelve. Is this
so?”(166)

Brigham was alert to Hyrum’s intent and replied, with equal coyness, “I do not know any
thing about what you know, but I know what I know”. Hyrum’s bluff had been called; he
had no choice but to be more specific:

I have mistrusted for a long time that Joseph has received a revelation that a man should
have more than one wife, and he has hinted as much to me, but I would not bear it . . . . I
am convinced that there is something that has not been told me.

Brigham replied, “Brother Hyrum, Joseph would tell you every thing the Lord reveals to
him, if he could.” This may have been a piercing reminder to Hyrum of Joseph’s
comments the previous Sunday regarding how his prophet-brother had to keep things in
his own bosom.

Brigham’s account digresses at this point to make an important comment about the
differences of personality of Joseph and Hyrum.

I must confess I felt a little sarcastic towards Hyrum, although he was just as honest as an
Angel, and full of integrity as the Gods; but he had not that ability which Joseph
possessed to see and understand men as they were . . . . Now Hyrum was as good a man
as ever lived, and he was no better a man than his brother Joseph. His integrity was of the
highest order; but his ability was not equal to Joseph’s. Hyrum was a positive man;
Joseph was a comparative man, regarding every thing acording to the circumstances of
the case, and every person according to their intrinsic worth. Hyrum did not know enough
to do this.

Perhaps this was Brigham’s explanation for Joseph’s patience with such men as John C.
Bennett. Joseph Smith had the gift to make use of the talents and ability of someone short
on integrity rather than use his other leaders who were more sterling in character but had
appreciably less administrative ability and political influence.(167)

One of Joseph’s plural wives had thought “Hyrum seemed more like a Prophet than Joseph did . . . . Hyrum . . .was more sedate, more serious . . . [Joseph] was always so jolly and happy. He would
play with the people.”(168) Continuing, Brigham said, I used to think and think now that an angel dwelling in the presence of the Father and the Son possessed no more integrety [sic] in their hearts than did Hyrum Smith . . . but he had not that ability which Joseph possessed to see and understand men as they were. Fully assured of the Prophet’s revelations on plural marriage and the course he was pursuing, Brigham Young felt it would not be wrong then to turn the tables on Hyrum and appeal to his own integrity in order for him to receive the truth. Brother Hyrum, I will tell you about this thing which you do not know if you will sware
with an uplifted hand, before God, that you will never say another word against Joseph and his doings, and the doctrines he is preaching to the people.”

He replied, “I will do it with all my heart;” and he stood upon his feet, saying, “I want to know the truth, and to be saved.” And he made a covenant there, never again to bring forward one argument or use any influence against Joseph’s doings. Joseph had many wives sealed to him. I told Hyrum the whole story, and he bowed to it and wept like a child, and said, “God be praised.” He went to Joseph and told him what he had learned, and renewed his covenant with Joseph, and they went heart and hand together while they lived, and they were together when they died, and they are together now defending Israel.(169)
William Clayton confirmed the fact of Hyrum Smith’s conversion to plural marriage. On
26 May 1843 he recorded in his journal: “Hyrum received the doctrine of priesthood.”

Sadly, Hyrum was converted to the practice of polygamy by entering into a secret oath to believe whatever he was told, before being told that. Of course it is ok to do that if you are speaking to the Lord, as the Brother of Jared was, however putting your faith in the arm of flesh that way is contrary to the teachings of the Lord.

Nevertheless, the story of how the saints were offered the opportunity to repent and reform is not over . In this series we shall continue that fascinating narrative. Also, in a future part of this series we shall evaluate the claims of Sidney Rigdon and the trial that cut him off from the Brighamite faction of the apostate church. In it we shall see that the Lord had actually called both Hyrum and Sidney to be prophets seers and revelators through the prophet Joseph Smith and both of them met the terms of the success protocol given by revelation..

That’s right, the Lord used Joseph Smith to identify, by revelation, his own successor and his successor’s successor, but the saints rejected BOTH of these prophets.