The "Spirit Prevails" by Joseph Morris Pt. 2

Previously, I went over the history of Joseph Morris and his sect of Mormonism, while sharing a few passages from a collection of revelations given to him, compiled in a book known as the spirit Prevails. I shared only a fraction of what was contained in that book, and while I definitely cannot share every single entry, I will share a little more.

Instruction for the Prophet

No. 87.                                                Weber, Utah, August 14th, 1861.

1. Behold, I am he who moves forth in the midst of darkness and the darkness comprehendeth him not, even Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father; and I am come to speak unto you concerning those things which you desire to know of me. You must be very careful who you read this revelation to. You must read it to your two counsellors, and to none else. My servants wish to know when I am about to come out of my hiding place to deliver my people out of the hands of their enemies. I will make known unto them this secret. I will deliver these people out of the hands of all their enemies this fall. They shall not be hurt by the winter; therefore, let my people provide food to serve them until I place all things necessary in their hands; for I will do so according to my words. My people are restless where they are. They would like to know how long I intend to keep them there; but I dare not tell them this secret; if I did, I should greatly injure them. I wish to keep them quiet.

2. Let my servants strive to keep down that restless feeling which my people are in possession of. “I do not want to see confusion among them. I will send you a good number of people up to this place between this and the time when I shall come out in power to deliver my people. My plans are all laid, and I am working to them. Mine enemies say that they will not come up against me; they say that they will make my words fall to the ground unfulfilled; but I shall turn them hither and thither as it seemeth me good. I can make them obey me without any difficulty.

3. And as concerning those men who are acting as clerks in my Church: If they will do my will, they will humble themselves before me; or, if they do not, I will chasten them severely, and they will have hard work to stand. They suffer pride to enter into them, and they raise themselves up above their fellows, which thing is an abomination in my-sight. They need not to think that I cannot do without them; for I can. If they will not humble themselves, and do as I wish them to do, I can get others that will do my will.

4. And, behold. I say unto you, my son, it is my will that you, — in connection with your two counsellors, should strive to bring those clerks to a knowledge of their true position, If you can do ~ this, all will be well with them; but if you cannot do this, I will remove them out of that office, and they will see great affliction. They do not appreciate my blessings; but they lavish them away upon their lusts; and instead of doing good, they do injury to the rest of their fellows, which are as good as they are.

Let this suffice for the present, and, if necessary, I will speak unto you again upon this subject. I am Jesus Christ. Even so. Amen and Amen.

The Marriage Covenant

No. 89                                             Weber, Utah, August 23rd, 1861.

1. THE candidates for marriage shall stand before the high priest appointed to minister in that holy ordinance, and the bridegroom shall take the bride by the right hand, and, after the high priest officiating, shall repeat the following words: ‘ My dearly beloved bride, I, agreeable to the will of the Lord, and all the ' parties concerned, give unto you my hand and heart in a marriage covenant for time ; and hereby pledge my word and honor that I will be a true and faithful husband unto you.”

2. When the bridegroom has repeated these words, he shall loose the bride’s hand.

3. The bride shall then take the bridegroom by the ‘right hand, and, after the high priest officiating, shall repeat the following words: ‘ My dearly beloved bridegroom, I, agreeable to the will of the Lord, and all other parties concerned, give unto you my hand and heart in a marriage covenant for time; and hereby pledge my word and honor that I will be a kind and affectionate wife unto you, keeping myself from all others—purely for you only, so long as we both shall live.”

4. When the bride has repeated these words, she shall loose the bridegroom’s hand.

5. The high priest officiating in the ordinance shall then Say: “By virtue and authority of my holy calling, I pronounce you husband and wife. Even so. Amen and Amen.”

6. Their names shall then be recorded in a book set apart for that purpose.

The American Government

No. 120.                                               Weber, Utah, October 31st, 1861.

A REVELATION concerning the origin and nature of the American Government and the departure of modern legislators from its principles. —The apostacy of the apostles of the old Church. — Revealing the design of the Almighty in commanding his saints not to train with their enemies.

1. BEHOLD, I am Jesus Christ, and I will reveal unto you the design that I had in counselling my saints not to train with their enemies. 

2. According to the decree of heaven, I was compelled to establish a Republican form of government upon this land, to continue for a season, until I shall have accomplished a certain design. _ Notwithstanding this, the order of that great government is contrary to the true order of government which exists in heaven, and which will eventually exist upon the earth. That government is an exception to all other governments established either by my Father or by any other God connected with the quorum of worlds to which we belong. But when we established that government, we had an object in view. We inspired George Washington and his associates to establish that government, and to write the law which should regulate the people who should occupy this land.

We raised him up for that purpose. He was before appointed to that work. What object had we in view for establishing such a government upon this land? Our object was to give unto every person the right to liberty of conscience in religious matters. Under that government they were at liberty to act out that which was in them.

3. Under it I could have established my Church, if its administrators would have dealt with my people according to the law which I had caused to be written; but they would not. My people were as free to act, according to that law, as they were; but they assumed power over my people, and trampled their rights under their feet, and, contrary to the law, they shed the blood of my servant Joseph Smith, slew many of my saints, and others they drove from their homes ; but I will recompense them for it all.

 4. They have departed from the law which I, at the first, caused to be written, and they have framed laws of their own, adapted to their own corrupt purposes, in order that they might shed human blood to satisfy their bloody appetites. They tMirst for blood all the day long, and I will give unto them blood until they are satisfied. I will give unto them blood to drink, for they are worthy. I will cut off the inhabitants of the United States by millions; and I will lay their land nearly waste. I will begin with them as soon as I shall have purged my Church, and I will leave alive none but the pure in heart.

5. And now behold, I speak unto you concerning the people of the old Church. ‘They are more corrupt than the inhabitants of the United States are. They, also, thirst for the blood of those who cross them in their pathway. They are continually thirsting for blood. They cause those of my people who are innocent to swear oaths obligating them to shed the blood of their fellow men, contrary to my law. I claim the right myself to inflict the penalty of death upon the transgressors of my Church; but they take my work out of my hands. I do not call upon those whose hands are steeped in blood to attend to that business. When I pass the sentence of death upon any of my people, I do it justly.

6. Those men whom I called to be apostles to lead my Church under my servant Joseph Smith, have been pleading with several of the presidents of the United States to admit them into the Union (as they call it); but those presidents were ashamed of them, and did not wish to be disgraced by such an alliance; consequently, they would not be united with them. But they still feel discontented and continue to beg for shelter under the wings of their great father and protector, notwithstanding that their father has driven them from place to place, and taken their all away from them time after time, and slain their prophet, and also many of their brethren. What do those apostles by such pleadings and by such conduct say to that government? They say plainly: O, our father, we-now care nothing about our prophet whom you have slain, and our brethren, whose blood you have shed, nor about the many times that you have driven us from our homes. We are willing to forget all this, if, father, you will only permit us to become one with you. Our prophet was an imposter, and we were deceived by him! You did justice when you slew — him, and when you murdered our brethren in cold blood, and when you took all our possessions from us and drove us far from you into a barren country! Still, father, we plead with you, and say, O do admit us into the Union! Weare willing to acknowledge, father, that all that you have done unto us is right; and if you will not admit us into the Union, we shall break our hearts! And now, father, inasmuch as we plead with you in this manner, how can you refuse to accept of us? We have no friend but you. We believe that we were deceived by Joseph Smith. We do not believe now that he was a prophet. We deny everything that he taught us. He led us into trouble, and if you do not help us out, whatever shall we do? O, then, do take pity on us,-and help us out of this difficulty. If you will do this, we will be your slaves forever! Can you turn your back upon us any longer? ~Do accept of us, and we will never rebel against you anymore. We assure you that we will have nothing more to do with the doctrine of Joseph Smith. We will bid adieu both to him and to his doctrines forever! After this we will take good care that his doctrines shall not lead us into any more trouble. Therefore, father, we ask you now, for the last time, to receive us, or we perish.

7. O ye people who have yielded obedience unto the fulness of my gospel, hearken unto my words, for I am about to talk to you. Will you obey me, or would you rather make the same. Shipwreck of your faith that those have done whom I first called to the priesthood -under Joseph Smith? Will you go to their standard and be regulated by their laws, or would you rather obey me?

8. I commanded my people not to train with their enemies, and why did I do so? In order that I might obtain a clue on mine enemies. I knew that, if my people did not train, mine enemies would fine them; and that, if my people would not pay the fine, they would take away some of the property which belonged to my people. Were they justified by the law of the United States’ in doing this? They were not. Therefore, by extorting a fine from those of my people who are not American citizens, and taking away their property, they broke the law which they profess to keep. If they never take away another cent’s worth of property from my people, I can now, according to the law of heaven, take away all that they have. When I commanded my people not to train with them, I set a trap for them, and I caught them in it. I have won the first point with them. They will set (as they suppose) another trap to ensnare a few of my people. ‘They are gaining confidence. They think that because my people did not oppose them, but, on the contrary, suffered them to take whatever their feelings dictated, they won the last cast. They feel proud now, and they think that they will win the day. They are constantly studying what scheme they shall put in operation next. They want to keep things on the move ; therefore, I will give unto them another pretext. They have to wait for me. They can do but little without me. I have to lay both their plans and mine own too. And I wish to lay another plan for them that will induce them to come up against my people to slay them; and this I can do without much difficulty, for they are bloodthirsty. They are ready for the slaughter; therefore, I will bring them to that point.

10. But, when they come, they will make a pretence that they do not wish to slay all my people. They will offer to protect as many of them as will forsake me and go over to their side. They will try to make as many of my people as will hearken to’ them believe that they are their best friends; but those who may be false-hearted among my people will not have much time to talk with them, for I shall speedily remove them out of the way. Mine enemies will pretend that they only want my servant Joseph, and a few of his brethren, and that, if my people will let them take those few men, they will not molest the remainder. But, as I have said unto you before, so I say unto you again, I will not spare the lives of any but those who will faithfully stand by my servant Joseph, and by my servants who stand by him. I have told my people what I mean to do; and they can please themselves what they do. ‘They will find out that I have told them the truth.

I now add no more. I am the Son of the Eternal Father; even Jesus Christ. Even so. Amen and Amen.

To the Prophet

No. 138.                         Weber, Utah, November 19th, 1861. 

You say that you are satisfied that I could give unto you the theory of the fulness of my gospel. You are satisfied that I have the power to reveal unto you the secret things of eternity; in this respect you are satisfied. But you say that you are not satisfied in relation to my power. You say that you do not know to your satisfaction whether I have the power to cut off mine enemies, or not. O, how hard it is for me to deal with you. You have not confidence to believe that I shall give unto you’ the power over your enemies; but you almost believe that I shall leave you, and let your enemies take you, and do what they like with you. You actually believe that I will not sustain you. You think that I have let them drive you from place to place, and that I have always given them power over you; and you cannot think that I ever intend to stay their course. If I had intended to let the people of this ‘Territory go on as they were doing, I should not have interrupted them in their course, and consequently I should not have called you, and afflicted you with them. You know that I have done nothing, as yet, but give unto you the keys of the holy priesthood. I know that I have done but little, as yet. I have only been preparing you for your work. I will satisfy you that I have the power when the enemies come up against me. You must place confidence in me and go on following the dictates of my holy messengers. And as I have satisfied you with the theory, will satisfy you with the power; therefore, go on, and be steadfast. I am Jesus Christ. Even so, Amen and Amen.

Revelation denouncing Polygamy as Practiced in the Old Church. Instructions for the settlement of Family Difficulties.

No. 214.                                 Weber, Utah, February 3rd, 1862.

1. I CALLED upon all my people who intend to take the oath which I have placed before them, to settle all their difficulties with each other before they are called to stand before me to take that oath, and some of them have settled their disputes; but others of them are backward in doing so. ‘They say in their feelings that they do not see the possibility of becoming reconciled with those who have offended them; that their grievances are of such a nature that they cannot see how they can be settled. They wish to know what to do to satisfy me, and whether, or not, there is any chance for them to do so. There is a chance for them if they will do as I command them. Inasmuch as there are difficulties of long standing existing in families, which difficulties have broken heir peace, and set them one against another, they ought to consider that the false and lying influence under which those difficulties were brought about has been the cause of their disunion and miserable grievances with each other. But when I cast the devil and his band out of my Church, their influence will go with them, and will no more exist among my people; for my spirit will then rule in my kingdom; in it there will be no confusion ; all will be peace, for my people shall have my law to govern them, and I shall continually be with them to take care of them. They will not be left any more to the destroyer as they, for many years past, have been. Such a state of things had to be according to law. While Satan has ruled among my people he has brought them into misery and confusion until they.do not know what they are doing. They are in hell. They know nothing but misery. Their lives area burden to them. They are held by the chains of the devil, and they know not what ails them. They long to be liberated. ‘They feel, at times, as though they were about to be overcome by the current of evil; for it appears.so strong that it almost carries them away with it. Some of my people are almost ready to cease striving against it, and to go with it; but they ought to know that I am close by their side, and that I will shortly give unto them the victory. I will catch them before they faint. - Mine eyes are over them for good, and I will quickly release them. I am the Lord of Hosts.

2. And behold, I say unto you, my son, —my people must consider that they have been under the influence of the devil, -and that that influence has caused so much hatred, confusion, division of feelings, and even fornication to exist among them. These are the fruits which have been. produced by the evil spirits which have led the people of the old Church; and those who have yielded obedience to the fulness of my gospel are not, as yet, entirely free from that influence. Some of them have drunk deeper into it than others have, and have, thereby, given the devil greater power over them, and they cannot be fully liberated until I come in power to set them free. But others of them who have not drunk so deeply into that influence, are partially delivered, so much so that they can have comparative peace in their families, and also with their neighbors; while others are bound so fast in in the snares of the devil, that they cannot loose themselves ; therefore, I shall have to liberate them by power.

3. Those shepherds of the old Church, who wefe ordained by my servant Joseph Smith, have led my people into all manner of abominations by giving unto them a plurality of wives contrary to my will. I did not command my servant Joseph Smith to teach my people to practice that doctrine. -I only made known unto him that such a doctrine belonged to my kingdom. I did not give it as a doctrine to be practiced by the people of my Church while they were in weakness. That doctrine belongs more particularly to the fulness of my gospel. But those people misunderstood me, and run into it, and they have, thereby, run themselves to destruction. They have filled the Church with adultery by running into that doctrine without authority, and contrary to my will and to the order of my kingdom. I am the Lord, and I do not, in that respect, sanction their works; for I do not sanction what I have not appointed; and I do not appoint except by law.

4. There are those who have yielded obedience to the fulness of my gospel who have been caught in that snare, and, on that account, have had great difficulties to contend with, which they otherwise might have avoided. I never sanctioned those unions; consequently, nothing but trouble and misfortune have attended them. My people have been called to endure sept misery on that account.

5. And behold, I say unto you, my ee as there are some of my people who are still laboring under these difficulties, who seem to be entirely bound up, and who do not know what to do, I will tell you what I require of them. Let them, as much as they possibly can, forgive each other all past offences; and if they will do this, I will accept of them; for I know their situation. This is as far as they can now go towards settling their difficulties; but when I come, I will fully settle all their disputes and give unto each of them their rights; but as this cannot be done until I come, let them do as I have commanded, and the remainder I will settle when I come. Lo, I come quickly—even the Lord of Hosts. Even so. Amen and Amen.

An Expression from the Army of Heaven

No. 215.                                             Weber, Utah, February 4th, 1862.

1. WE are coming! we are coming! We are coming to war! We shall make a slaughter. Therefore, look out for us. We are the warriors of heaven, the sons of the Eternal Father, whose right it is to reign. We understand your feelings, and we will speedily set them at rest. Look out for us, for lo, we come, we come, we come quickly—even the warriors of heaven. Even so. Amen and Amen.

Revelations disclosing the intention of the Enemy to Destroy the Saints if they swear the Oath. 

No. 216.                                               Weber, Utah, February 4th, 1862.

1. Lo, I come! I come! I come! even the Lord of Hosts; for mine enemies are on the watch tower, watching the movements of my people; and they say in their hearts, that if my people take the oath, they will come out upon them, and put them all to death; that they have endured enough from them, and that they will bear with them no longer. They should say, “If we are not put to death ourselves.” I will promise them that they shall not have the power to hurt one of my faithful people; for I will take care of them. I will make mine enemies do what I want them to do. If they will not serve me willingly, I will make them answer mine own purposes. I will bring them to those points which I wish to bring them to. They cannot do anything, except what I permit them to do; for I control them, even as I control those who are heirs to the resurrection.

2. My Father has given me the power over all races of people who dwell upon the earth, and they are subject to me. If the wicked will not serve me in one way, I will make them serve me in another; for I have the power over them. They cannot even move one of their fingers, without my permission. I could, in a few minutes, lay them all in the dust, where they could not move. Their breath and lives are in my hands. They cannot do the smallest thing without my permission. In vain do they boast of their power and greatness. I will speedily show them what they are, and try how much power they have—even as soon as my people shall have done as I have commanded them. They have boasted of their power, and even challenged the whole world to battle. They are for wiping out (as they call it) everything that crosses their path. But should a few thousands of people come up against them, they would run into the mountains and hide their heads in the clefts of the rocks, or in some other secret place (behind the sage brush, for instance), and they would watch for their enemies with fear and trembling; they would raise their heads and peep out from their hiding place, and if they heard a bush shake with the wind, or from some other cause, they would drop their heads again. O what brave men to challenge the world to battle! Let them hide their faces in shame; for they are like the devil who is at their head—he is the greatest coward upon the earth; for if he saw the least danger, he would run fit to break his neck; and the rest of his band are like him.

3. If they fight, it must be in secret, where they can take the advantage of their opponent—where he has no chance whatever with them; and thus, they will slay him. O what champions they are in war! There is not an honorable act about them. They are rotten and unprincipled in all their actions, like the devil himself. Rather than to challenge the world to battle, they need to hide their cowardly faces. I will shortly try their strength. I will stop their boasting as soon as my people will open the way for me. My people are now holding me. I cannot come and deliver them until they have sworn the oath. But, seemingly, some of my people will not settle their difficulties, although I have called upon them several times to do so; and if they do not very speedily settle them, I will come and accept of those who are ready. All my people are ready to take the oath, with the exception of a few who are stupid and rebellious. They know what to do to satisfy me; but they will not do it. They are gazing all around them, and their minds are upon almost everything but what they ought to be upon; but if they do not heed me now, it will be too late for them to do so, for I am about to appoint the day for my people to commence taking the oath. It may take as much as two days to get through that business. Mine enemies are waiting to see it commence, and if they do not then do something, it will be because they cannot. I will take care of them myself and bring them to the right point.

4. But behold, I say unto you, my son, —I shall be driven to the necessity of coming to release my people as soon as the taking of the oath is well through. I know the feelings of mine enemies towards my people, and I will take them while they are hot. When my people have taken the-oath, it will arouse their enemies and bring them into the right state of mind for me to sweep them off the earth—it will stir them up. Therefore, let those of my people who have not settled their difficulties as yet, settle them as - soon as they can, that it may be well with them; for lo, I come, I come, I come quickly; even the Lord of Hosts. Even so, Amen and Amen.