Without Disclosing My True Identity
the Lamb”—the only church save the “church of the devil”—would have prospered and
brought salvation to the people. Instead, the “people’s church” brought about their own
destruction. The people were digging a
great pit, which hath been digged for them by the great and abominable
church, which was founded by the devil and his children, that he might lead
away the souls of men down to hell—yea, that great pit which hath been
digged for the destruction of men shall be filled by those who digged it, unto
their utter destruction, saith the Lamb of God; not the destruction of the soul,
save it be the casting of it into that hell which hath no end.^69In truth, the people would not listen to Joseph. He was commanded not to disclose
his true identity to the people but to (in a symbolic sense that was later revealed in the LDS
Temple Endowment presentation): “observe conditions generally; see if Satan is there (not
cast him out), and learn whether the people have been true to the token and sign given to
them in the Garden of Eden.”^70 Satan was there all right! He had his ministers, preachers,
and priesthood leaders nearly ready to start work. The official, public spokesman (Rigdon)
for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was well “trained for the ministry.”
The “saints” were heading into some of the most destructive and “hellish” years of
their lives. The people didn’t realize that it was them—the Saints of God—who were
digging their own “great pit.” Joseph tried to warn them through the “revelations”^71 that he
specifically designed for them, but they continued to “look beyond the mark” and did not
understand. Later, in their anticipated “endowment from upon high,”^72 Joseph would
specifically instruct Lucifer’s character, when asked by a true messenger, “How is your
religion received by this community,” to gesture towards the SAINTS WHO WERE
RECEIVING THEIR ENDOWMENT and proclaim, “VERY WELL!”^73
NOTES
(^1) See DHC, 2:351 and 2:470, n (*), cont. from pg. 469.
(^2) D&C, 19:26.
(^3) Barrett, Joseph Smith and the Restoration, 76.
(^4) Compare D&C, 68:21.
(^5) “Patriarchal blessings are given to worthy members of the Church by ordained patriarchs.
Patriarchal blessings include a declaration of a person’s lineage in the house of Israel and contain
personal counsel from the Lord. As a person studies his or her patriarchal blessing and follows the
counsel it contains, it will provide guidance, comfort, and protection.” (“Patriarchal Blessings,” The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2011, Intellectual Reserve, Inc., 26 May 2011
http://lds.org/study/topics/patriarchal-blessings?lang=eng.)
“Joseph made his father the first Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
in December of 1833. Joseph simply made up a position in the Church so that his father would have
some substantial prestige among the people and be justly provided for from the coffers of the
Church. Following his father’s death, Hyrum was called to ‘take the office of Priesthood and