Before we
start discussing what Prophet, Church Leader, or Apostles, past or present, has
said about the geographical setting of the Book of Mormon, perhaps we ought to
take a look at exactly what they would have entailed, had any of these great men actually have
known the answer to the location of where Lehi landed.
First, we
draw attention to a statement made by President George Q. Cannon, First
Counselor in the First Presidency to four Church Presidents, Brigham Young,
John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff and Lorenzo Snow. In addition, President Cannon
was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1860 to 1901, and was called
the “Mormon Richelieu” by the press in his position as the Church’s chief
political strategist. He worked in the printing office of the monthly Times and Seasons and the weekly Nauvoo Neighbor, which had succeeded the Elders’ Journal.
President
Cannon’s statement: “The First Presidency have often been asked
to prepare some suggestive map illustrative of Nephite geography, but have
never consented to do so. Nor are we acquainted with any of the Twelve Apostles
who would undertake such a task. The reason is, that without further
information they are not prepared even to suggest. The word of the Lord or the
translation of other ancient records is required to clear up many points now so
obscure” (George Q. Cannon “Book of Mormon Georgraphy,” The Juvenile Instructor, January 1,
1890).
Second,
it should be noted that the succession of the editorial position of the Times and Seasons is a little more
complex than typically stated: When the Church left Missouri as a result of
the 1838 Mormon War, the press and type for the elder’s Journal was buried in
Brother Dawson’s yard in Far West. In April 1839, Elias Smith and
Hiram Clark, among others, returned to the city and recovered the press and
type. It was taken to Nauvoo and in June 1839 was given to Ebenezer Robinson
and Don Carlos Smith, Joseph Smith’s younger brother, who served as the editors
of the officially founded monthly and twice-monthly Mormon periodical in 1839,
that was published on a press set up in the basement of a building.
In December 1840,
Robinson changed to exclusively book printing and dissolved his partnership
with Don Carlos, who took over as the sole editor of the Times and Seasons.
In May 1841, Robert B. Thompson joined as an editor. After the death of Don
Carlos in August 1841, Robinson rejoined as an editor and worked with Thompson
on a single issue before Thompson's death, just twenty days after the death of
Don Carlos, on August 27. Robinson was then joined by Gustavus Hills for a few
issues before he deeded the print shop to Joseph Smith.
In November 1841,
seven of the Twelve Apostles met in council at the house of President
Young, on the subject of the Times and Seasons; they not being satisfied with
the manner in which Gustavus Hills had conducted the editorial department since
the death of Robert B. Thompson. Ten days later it was voted that Ebenezer
Robinson (left) be solicited to give up the department of printing the Times and
Seasons to Elder Willard Richards, and if Robinson did not then Elder Richards was
instructed to procure a press and type, and publish a paper
for the Church.
In the Times and Seasons Vol 3 No. 6, dated
15 January 1842, p663, Gustasvus Hills was announced as Assistant Editor in the
Times and Seasons. According to some sources, discussion among the Twelve (and
Joseph, at some meetings) in November 1841 that Hills was already having some
informal input into the paper's contents before this date. However, on January
28, 1842, Joseph Smith received a revelation (not in the D&C, but
History of the Church 4:503) that stated: “Verily thus saith the Lord unto you,
my servant Joseph, go and say unto the Twelve, that it is my will to have them
take in hand the editorial department of the Times and Seasons, according to
that manifestation which shall be given unto them by the power of my Holy
Spirit in the midst of their counsel, saith the Lord. Amen.”
It seems interesting that the
exact wordage of the Lord is for the Quorum of the Twelve, not Joseph Smith,
“take in hand the editorial department of the Times and Seasons.” Most
theorists read this that Joseph smith was told to take over the Editorial
Department, “go and say unto the Twelve, that it is my will to have them take
in hand the editorial department of the Times and Seasons, according to that
manifestation which shall be given unto them by the power of my Holy Spirit in
the midst of their counsel, saith the Lord.”
On February 3, 1842, "Elder
Woodruff took the superintendence of the printing office, and Elder Taylor the
editorial department of the Times and Seasons; and he commenced by taking an
inventory of the establishment this day” (History
of the Church 4:513), and the next day, Joseph "closed a
contract with Ebenezer Robinson for the printing office, including the paper
fixtures, bookbindery, and stereotype foundry for a cost between 7,000 and
8,000 dollars" (History of the Church 4:513-514).
Of the high price, Brigham Young later said, "The reason I paid such a
price was [because] the Prophet directed the Twelve to pay him whatever he
asked” (Millennial Star 13 February 1864,
26:119).
A month later, Joseph evidently
became involved in the hands on editorial work, stating on March 2, 1842,
"I read the proof of the Times and Seasons, as editor for the first time” (T&S
No. 9, Vol. III; History of the Church
4:542). And then a
week later, "Examining copy for the Times and Seasons, presented by Messrs.
Taylor and Bennett...." (History of the
Church 4:548). Then the following week, on
March 15, 1842, Joseph provided a formal announcement that he was taking over
as editor from Robinson and Hills: “This paper commences my editorial career, I alone stand
for it, and shall do for all papers having my signature henceforward. I am not
responsible for the publication, or arrangement of the former paper; the matter
did not come under my supervision” (imes and
Seasons Vol 3 No 9, 15 March 1842, p710).
It
should be noted that Joseph’s wordage is specific: “all papers having my signature
henceforward." Herein lies the difficulty. Did Joseph mean by “all papers”
those articles that were editorials, those articles that were published in the
paper, the entire paper, or those only bearing his signature. Of course,
different people, looking through different lenses, read different things here.
This becomes specifically important when we come to the five articles, or
editorials, regarding Mesoamerica about John L. Stephens book, Incidents of
Travel in Mexico,” and Frederick Catherwood’s drawings of the Mayan ruins, for
those articles, appearing following his announcement of his becoming the
editor, are unsigned.
As an example, two weeks later, on
April 1, 1842, an extensive editorial on "Try
the spirits." In History of
the Church the article is denominated as "The Prophet's
Editorial in the Times and Seasons" (History of the Church 4:571), in which it is not
signed, but has ED at the conclusion (Times
and Seasons Vol 3 No 11,
April 1842. p748). This seems to suggest that Joseph then signed his editorials
with ED for Editor. However, three of the five articles about Incidents of Travel and Mesoamerica do
not have any name or ED following the article.
On the other hand, in June of
1842, another editorial on “Baptism for the Dead,” has ED following, but no
corresponding proof from the History of the Church it was written by Joseph
Smith. The same can be said of other editorials signed ED, covering “the Holy
Ghost,” and “Mosaic traits among the Aztec in Mexico,” which draws attention to
the plates found in the hill Cumorah and the account found in Mexico.
Yet, during this month, a letter
addressed to the Editor is published in its entirety with the following
comment: “We publish the foregoing letter entire; and for the information of the
citizens of the neighborhood where the circumstances transpired, take this
opportunity of expressing our decided, unqualified disapprobation of the
proceedings of William and Alford Young. If they have ever been united with
this Church and are not cut off, we withdraw fellowship from them until they
make satisfaction for what they have done..." (Times and Seasons Vol 3 No 16, 15 June 1842, p822).
Regarding this incident, there is
a note in the The
Nauvoo High Council Minute Books, where a
meeting was held “according to adjournment and adjourned to the House of
Councillor Aaron Johnson (left), January 8,1843, where it was “resolved that a piece
be published in the Times & Seasons” stating that William & Alford
Young have been restored to fellowship (they having been disfellowshiped by
Joseph Smith) upon the complaint of John D. Lee and others and that the Clerk
shall prepare the piece and make report thereof at the next council” (The
Nauvoo High Council Minute Books of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, March 8, 1840, Book #1, Fred C.
Collier, Collier Publishing, 2005; and signed by Hosea Stout who was appointed
to act as Clerk Protem. On March 8, 1840).
What
we know from all of this is only that someone called for the Youngs to be disfellowshipped
in an editorial in the Times and Seasons on June 15,1842, which was later done
by Joseph Smith, and then later withdrawn by an act of the Church High Council
on January 8, 1843.
(See the next post, “Has the
Location of the Land of Promise Ever Been Revealed? – Part II,” for more
information on who has said what about the specific location)
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