Without Disclosing My True Identity
Brigham Young’s Views on Joseph’s Inspiration
After viewing the presentation of the Endowment and not having a clue what
anything about it actually meant, Brigham Young’s mind began to doubt the veracity of
Joseph’s position. Although Young seldom read the Book of Mormon any longer or used it in
any of his sermons, Young did believe that Joseph was a prophet, because of the book. Still,
in Young’s mind at the time, Joseph could very easily have been a fallen prophet. Upon
surrendering himself up at Carthage and after Joseph’s death, Young declared of him, “he
did not have one particle of spiritual light in him,”^66 something, of course, so-called official
LDS/Mormon biographers would not allow to be published. Although Young wielded
great influence over Heber Kimball and Willard Richards, he did not reveal his true feelings
to them about the man Kimball and Richards revered as a prophet.
Joseph reprimanded both Young and Kimball for their illicit affairs. (See Appendix 2
on polygamy.) These two men, as well as many other Church leaders, were incredulous as
to why they were reprimanded for desiring women when Joseph had already been sealed to
fourteen women this year (1842), and even more than that the next year. No other male in
the Church had such privilege. Deep resentment bred in Brigham’s heart that would one
day cause him and other leaders to doubt their prophet, adding to the betrayal that led to
Joseph’s murder. The LDS Church leaders would have killed him sooner had they known
that Joseph was “marrying” (sealing) the women only to protect them from the insatiable
lusts of their own priesthood leaders.
Events Leading to Joseph’s Martyrdom
The events of 1842 were the beginning of the end of Joseph’s short life. Entering into
“marriage bonds” with many women, while forbidding other men the same right, wore on
the egos of the men. Moreover, Joseph’s condemnation of their desire to create business and
commerce in whatever trade they wanted to enrich themselves, caused further alienation in
the hearts of the men.
Word quickly spread among the LDS Freemasons that the sacred LDS Temple
Endowment was borrowed from the secret and powerful Masonic rituals, which Joseph, as a
member of the brotherhood, decried and mocked throughout the presentation. Furthermore,
when Joseph nominated himself to be Mayor to replace the fallen Bennett, the men began to
believe that Joseph had ulterior motives other than being “God’s voice upon earth.”^67
Unsurprisingly, the “Spirit,” as supposed, was beginning to whisper to the men that maybe
it was better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle in unbelief.^68
Outside of Nauvoo, Joseph’s critics and enemies were being rallied, not only by the
cry of foul by John Bennett, but by an assassination attempt on the life of Missouri
Governor, Lilburn Boggs.^69 Some angry Saints spread the rumor that Joseph had
prophesied of the event and that a noble Saint had tried to carry out the prophecy. Joseph
never made such a statement. Joseph knew exactly who tried to assassinate Boggs, simply
by consulting the Urim and Thummim.
Although he was not allowed to reveal who it was at the time, he hinted the truth in
a letter he sent to Illinois’ Governor Carlin. The assassin had been commissioned by one of
Boggs’ political rivals who hoped, correctly, that the blame would be placed on the
Mormons. Joseph reassured the governor that he had nothing to do with the plot; but the
rumors still persisted. All politicians and American patriots, alongside those of the secret