Without Disclosing My True Identity
Christ Gave the People What They Wanted
Christ instituted the ordinance of the sacrament—a ritual that was based on the Law
of Moses. He gave them their church and told them (in symbolic fashion reserved for those
who do not have ears that hear) to “watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for
Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.”^27 This was the first time that
Christ ever mentioned a devil, a Satan, or a Lucifer. Along with a religion and everything
that it encompasses, therefore, Christ gave them their Satan, something that had nothing to
do with the Code of Humanity that he had given to teach the people how to simply treat each
other kindly and live together in peace.
Because of their church, their ordinances, and everything that made them think they
were special, the Nephite people eventually rejected the fullness of Christ’s gospel and put the
emphasis of their beliefs back on their religion. This eventually resulted in the people being
lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel, and all manner of
fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world. And from that time forth, they
did have their goods and their substance no more common among them.
And they began to be divided into classes; and they began to build up
churches unto themselves to get gain, and began to deny the true church of
Christ. [In other words, the people] professed to know the Christ, and yet
they did deny the more parts of his gospel.^28Joseph’s Tribulations Caused by People Looking Beyond the Mark
In the summer of 1837, Joseph almost died from a sickness^29 brought on by the
tremendous stress he was experiencing as he continually gave the people what they wanted.
Joseph detested the Church he had suffered to rise up from his name and authority. The
people, especially the leaders, had formed a religion that was an abomination in the Lord’s
eyes, and Joseph’s as well. Not one part of the “fullness of the everlasting Gospel as
delivered by the Savior” was heeded—NOT ONE!
Stalling the Spread of the People’s Religion
Joseph had done all he could do to keep this abomination from spreading to other
countries of the world. He did not allow the Book of Mormon to be translated into other
languages, because he knew that the message was strictly and specifically meant for the
ancestors of the Book of Mormon people and the Gentiles who had cast them out, scattered
them, and “trodden them under [their] feet.”^30 He did all that he could, without violating the
mandates he had been given, to keep the missionaries from going to foreign countries^31 and
spreading what caused him immense personal sorrow and to continually “groan within.”^32
When the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was first formed,^33 Joseph counseled
Cowdery, Rigdon, and Harris to discourage the Twelve whom they had chosen from
traveling to other nations and spreading the news of their restored American-based gospel. He
found a way to do this within the parameters of his undisclosed calling. He counseled Oliver
Cowdery to meet with the Twelve soon after they were organized in 1835 and command them
“not to go to other nations till you receive your endowments.”^34 The endowment was
reserved for those who lived the gospel as given by Christ; but because the Twelve were