To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here: The most interesting bit of news I garnered from last week’s conference was not news of a temple in Provo or disapproval at calling ourselves “Mormons.” It was Apostle Boyd K. Packer assuring young members of the LDS Church that the second coming of Jesus Christ is a long time coming. That’s a big shift from the early years of 19th century Mormonism, where blessings that promised recipients that they would witness the second coming of Jesus Christ were not uncommon. The church Joseph Smith initiated was pure millennialist is coming. I recall my father telling me that I would likely see Christ’s return and — remembering that fondly — I’ve mentioned the same to my children.
One bit of history that underscored the Christ’s-return-is-near doctrine of the 19th century LDS Church was the Mormon Reformation of the middle 1850s in Utah. What began as an effort to re-energize the spirituality of Utah saints via “home missions” to members degenerated into harsh denunciations of local church leaders, blood atonement speeches, accusations of adultery, fanaticism from guilt-obsessed members and finally, a counter-productive surge of interest in polygamy. It took the untimely death of a fire-breathing apostle to allow future church leader Wilford Woodruff to cool the Mormon Reformation down.
As Thomas G. Alexander recounts in the Summer 1992 Dialogue article, “Wilford Woodruff and the Mormon Reformation of 1855-57,” by 1855 the LDS prophet, Brigham Young, and other church leaders worried that “many Church members and leaders had fallen spiritually asleep, becoming more enamored of materialism and other trappings of Babylon than building the kingdom.” Besides Young, apostles Heber C. Kimball and Jedediah Grant preached that recent crop failures were punishment from God directed at the Saints. In the 1855 October general conference, Young proposed home missions — designed to bring members back to reactivity — rather than prostlyting to Utah non-members. The effort, Alexander explains, also broke with the church tradition of local congregations enjoying autonomy in many decisions. Instead, apostles were sent to direct the home mission efforts. By March 1856, Young realized that the home missions efforts had failed. At that point, Young, with the enthusiastic support of Kimball and Grant, decided to go “fire and brimstone” on Utah members.
Efforts to bring the Saints back to repentance evolved into fierce denunciations of church members as “working wickedness” by church leaders as they fanned out through the Utah territory. Young preached a doctrine in September 1856 espousing the now-discredited doctrine of blood atonement, which denied Christ’s atonement for certain sins. Other apostles, particularly Grant, preached the same during the reformation. As Alexander relates, it’s assumed that the murder of the Parrish family and some friends in Springville, Utah, in 1857 was in part due to local members’ diehard belief in the blood atonement doctrine that had been stressed. No one was ever punished for murdering the victims, who had apostasized and were seeking to leave Springville.
As is the case with many fundamentalist-type purges, the arts also suffered. Apostles Grant and Kimball dissolved the Polysophical Society, an arts and humanities appreciation group that met at the home of future church president Lorenzo Snow. In fact, apostles Woodruff, Amasa Lyman and Parley P. Pratt, as well as poet and lyricist Eliza Snow were members. However, according to Alexander, Grant described the society as “a stink in my nostrils” and “filled with an adulterous spirit,” writes Alexander, The Polysophical Society was no more.
Church leaders during the Mormon Reformation accused members and lesser leaders of adultery and demanded their repentance. Again, Grant was a particularly enthusiastic accuser. However, even Woodruff, a far more milder man, joined in these attacks. The most prominent charge of adultery was leveled at several presidents of the First Council of the Seventy on Oct. 7, 1856, in the old Salt Lake Tabernacle. After a rancorous meeting, the presidents were urged by Woodruff to “repent.” Later, a prominent bishop, Abraham Hoagland, came under condemnation for his efforts to assist and prostlyte to non-members. Woodruff told Hoagland, writes Alexander, that “sending priesthood holders to preach to them ‘was like casting pearls before swine.’” Although Hoagland defended himself for a while, he soon repented.
The unexpected death of Grant on Dec. 1, 1856 was the beginning of the end of the fanatical stage of the Mormon reformation. Woodruff, who assumed greater responsibility from Young, moved the reformation into a third phase, which stressed love and forgiveness, writes Alexander. The emphasis turned to pleas for personal improvement, rather than severe denunciations and unfounded charges of adultery. Members were urged to better themselves before preaching to other members. A series of rebaptisms that indicated renewed covenants occurred.
Nevertheless, as Alexander writes, the effects of the fundamentalist, accusatory phase of the reformation took a while to ease. One effect was an increase in members wanting to enter polygamy. This was not necessarily a positive for church leaders, who were aware that increases in polygamy tended to up the divorce rate. Indeed, as Alexander accounts, “…the 65 percent increase in the new plural marriages during the Reformation led to a subsequent escalation in the divorce rate …” However, even Woodruff was caught up in the plural marriage rage. He married a plural wife during the reformation and even offered his 14-year-old daughter to Young, who prudently refused Woodruff’s offer. Alexander also writes of Young’s denying “Old Father Alread” permission to marry three girls, ages 12 and 13.”
The reformation probably did prepare the saints to unite against outside adversaries. By the mid-1850s, it was clear that the federal government would soon be a part of Utah life, and for 35-plus years the LDS Church would face the threat of termination at the hands of the feds. Gentiles, and by extension the feds, were a target to call wicked.
Also, as Alexander writes, the church was successful, with the final emphasis on renewed love and charity, to bring members back to executive authority.
This post also was published in Currents, the Standard-Examiner’s digital-only section on politics and culture. For more information on Currents, call 801-625-4400.
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Are you sure he voiced disapproval at calling ourselves “mormons?” In fact, I understood that talk to say that was the particular case where it isn’t an issue.
Another interesting article on Mormon History (or should I say The Church of Latter Day Saints History) Doug – Thanks.
A couple of things that I am curious about – how is it that Joseph Morris, who prophesied the second coming as being eminent was considered a false prophet when it didn’t happen, while Joseph Smith who prophesied the same thing is not?
And how is it that if the prophets – who have a direct pipeline to God – said the second coming was about to happen and it didn’t – get it wrong? Did God fib to them, did they just misunderstand what God was saying, or is there some other explanation for prophesies by prophets that don’t come true?
Tom,
Joseph Smith talked of the Second Coming, in that it is coming, and I believe that too. A person like Morris and that Camping guy tried to provide the exact time of His coming, which the Bible specifically tells us no man is to know.
Joseph Smith did not say what you allege. You are repeating some false information. Here is the exact quote from the Doctrine and Covenants section 130:
14 I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following:
15 Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty-five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter.
16 I was left thus, without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the millennium or to some previous appearing, or whether I should die and thus see his face.
17 I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time.
Dwight
Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Just goes to show you that Boyd Packer is false prophet. He can’t know nobody knows but the Father and now the Son since He is with the father. Mormonism is a false gospel.
1 john 4:1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Man Joseph Smith made many false prophecies look at Utah Lighthouse Ministries and they will show you all the ones in the Doctrine and Covenants.
It is difficult to believe what some people think they know about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and those who have held general authority callings in the church. Boyd K Packer did not say when Jesus Would come He said that we should live and prepare for that day by rearing our families and taking care of business as though we had much time to enjoy our children and great grand children and maybe our great great grandchildren. He was speaking to the saints and if they are following the words of the Lord then they need not fear if they know the signs of the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ as He the Savior revealed them to us in the Bible. Those signs are far from complete.
I have been a student of the D&C and the other 3 standard works of the church for over 37 years and I can tell you casey that you are violating one of the commandments of the Lord by packing tails like these in your post.
You should read Matthew 12:36 & 37
Utah Lighthouse Ministries is as bogus as your statement. I have studied in years past their propaganda and most of what they say is taken out of context such as Joseph Smith having said that the Savior would return in the 1800′s as Dwayne Rogers has documented in Section 130 of the D&C.
I would rather obey God than the Utah Lighthouse Ministries or Casey! What misleading garbage.
He’s right. Joseph Smith never profesied that an exact date for the 2nd Coming. He recorded a vague revelation about him seeing the Lord’s face if he lived to be 85. His interpretation of the revelation was that he didn’t think that the 2nd Coming would happen before that time. Well, Joseph was right. It didn’t happen before 1890. It still hasn’t happened. Period. What more can we say?
I have to admit Packer’s announcing that the Second Coming was a long way off was a little disconcerting. I mean, preachers’ predictions about the Second Coming [generally that it was just ahead, within the lifetime certainly of whoever was doing the predicting, right down to the recent example from the California radio preacher] have been, so far, 100% wrong. If that “percentage wrong = 100%” holds for Packer’s prediction that the end time is not imminent, does that mean the odds are it is? [Grin. Sorry. Couldn't resist. ]
I prefer the Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
So, it behooves everyone to have their gear packed and in good order.
You’re right. We should try to live our lives, ready to meet our maker should he come tomorrow, but we shouldn’t stop planting cherry trees.
That’s a sensible scripture Owain pointed to, but Bob has a point that saying it’s a long way off is a backhanded way, perhaps, of claiming inside info from the one high above!
I have always gotten a little smite on my face when I hear people say “the end is near” or anything similar.
To an Immortal Being, what is “soon”?
We don’t look at “time” the same way.
One perspective is in seconds, minutes, hours…
The other is “eternities”…
Owain does provide a good scripture, which fits with this one quite nicely:
Revelation 14:14-16
And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
“smite” should be “smile”… ug, no edit button…
IMO, BKP’s comment did not mean that the second coming was way off, but that it wouldn’t impact the raising of families adversely. In other words, our world isn’t going to fall off the top of a cliff just because Jesus comes.
I think too much has been read into what BKP said, though I think he may have been a bit careless with the wording.
I agree. How are people interpreting it as a long way off?
President Packer said, “Sometimes you might be tempted to think as I did from time to time in my youth: “The way things are going, the world’s going to be over with. The end of the world is going to come before I get to where I should be.” Not so! You can look forward to doing it right—getting married, having a family, seeing your children and grandchildren, maybe even great-grandchildren.”
So, basically he was trying to tell everyone that it’s foolish to put off making important life-changing decisions out of fear that the world as we know it is going to end soon. It’s a good point.
Packer just can’t seem to say the right thing, can he? I thought his talk was very insightful and reminded me of what my Great Grandmother told my Mother when she was young and concerned about the “end of the World” during the depression – “honey, I worried about it also but I am here to tell you, no one knows or will know the time of His coming and just don’t worry about it, just live in a way that God would want you to and He’ll come when He comes”. Packer was giving the same advise.
Pingback: It makes sense to live as if Christ is heading back any day now | Eye of Faith
Why does everyone seem to think that what Pres. Packer said is something entirely new? Apparently no one has been paying attention to similar talks that have been given over the last few decades.
Pres Packer is a prophet, and in my estimation, one of the greatest seers we have had in the church. I am confident his words were wisely and prayerfully chosen with the exact message he wanted to get across. We ought to take his words and listen to them in the spirit of the talk and draw the conclusion that the Spirit gives us. As for me, I heard that we are to continue to make the most of life and that there is no fear in the coming of Christ for the righteous.
Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Just goes to show you that Boyd Packer is false prophet. He can’t know nobody knows but the Father and now the Son since He is with the father. Mormonism is a false gospel.
1 john 4:1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Lee, you don’t seem to know what a seer is, please look it up. It is different than a prophet or a revelator. Packer is saying what he has to say because there are so many young Mormons putting of marriage and not giving their 100% to the church.
This is a side effect of false prophesies: you get people worked up (and doing what you say) by telling them that in their lifetime they will see the second coming, they are THE generation that has been held back to handle the end times, you put in their patriarchal blessings that they are here to usher the lord, that many events in the world are signs of the end…and then they begin to act accordingly, well Packer has to make an adjustment, no different that the one he did he when he got pressure from homosexuals to change his talk. Its not revelation if it changes all the time…its not revelation if it does not come true…
I don’t know that “long-time” was defined. A “long-time” can go by while chaos is taking place. In listening to President Packer, I took his message to mean that those who are worried about the current challenges need to continue to live their lives in pursuit of education, employment, etc. While the coming of Christ is something most “Christians” are likely looking forward too, there is still a great deal of chaos to go through before it happens. The chaos is likely going to take some time. Has anyone ever been through a disaster that took a short-time to get through or did it seem to go on forever?
Is the word “long” even in his talk? No!
I also agree except for the “careless wording” part; I just went back to LDS.org & read his words, which were that the world wouldn’t END for several generations. Isn’t that supposed to happen at the end of the Millenium?
I would say having your gear packed may not be of benefit. I would rather study the words of the Savior and pinpoint the signs given to His apostles and prophets and then be prepared for the Savior’s arrival for you will not take your gear with you. All that will go will be just you that is your body and spirit. Whatever is left will be consumed by the glory of the Lord according to the scriptures.