1844-09-14-The Prophet-Official Notice

Official Notice

The Prophet

14 September 1844

Official Notice

To the Saints. -- "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God," and beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves:" "wherefore, by their fruits shall ye know them." It has become my painful duty, for the rolling on of the cause of truth, to say, that notwithstanding our brethren have been murdered by false brethren (apostates), by fault finding saints, that there still remains some who are determined to continue the work of destruction, deceiving the unwary, and leading off the hearts of the simple, by charging the servants of God falsely. Among this number is our once beloved brother Benjamin Winchester, whose course for some two or three years, has been more or less censurable, (as all the heads of the Church will bear me witness,) of which a full account will be published hereafter, if necessary. The object of this brother is best known to himself: he gives as a reason for his opposition to the constituted authorities of the Church, the (by him) supposed existence of certain heresies in the Church, charged upon the heads of a few individuals; and this I consider slanderous, and will repel. And I hereby notify Elder Benjamin Winchester, that his services are no longer required in the Church of Jesus Christ, unless he repents, and that he is forbidden to preach any longer in the name of the Latter Day Saints. "All liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire." And that the Saints in Philadelphia may know how much confidence they may put in this Lump of Perfection, let them remember the charges he made in Conference, against certain brethren in New York, from whom I have received the following certificate, proving the falsity of said charges.

WILLIAM SMITH.

New York, Sept. 6th, 1844.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

This is to certify that we, the undersigned, did not directly or indirectly teach or profess belief in the plurality of wives to Elder Benjamin Winchester, and further certify that Elder Winchester did speak disrespectfully of the authorities of the Church (viz, the Twelve), and also, that Elder Benjamin Winchester endeavored to sow discord among the brethren by accusing them. We also certify that we never told said Winchester that any of the Twelve had taught such doctrine to us.

In testimony whereof, in truth, we set our hands and seals.

A. E. Wright,:::::Samuel Brannan,

G. J. Adams,:::::Thos. Braidwood,

William H. Miles.

N. B. It must be obvious to all, that B. Winchester's conduct and course against the Twelve lies cloaked; the mystery, then, is not in the above charges; but a desire on his part to destroy the Twelve and the Philadelphia Church, for various reasons which will be given at the proper time.