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Show ROBERTS VS. RIGDON. In his recent sermon, delivered in the tnbernaclo, Mr. Brigham IT. Roberts made refcrenco to Sidney Rigdon. His remarks concerning Mr. Rigdon wore intended to refute tho idea that he had anything to do with the authorship of the Book of Mormon. Mr. Roberts says : "When he came ho was appointed the scribe to the prophet and forever afterward after-ward he held that subordinate po sl-tlon sl-tlon to Joseph the prophet. Ho w r man 37 years of age. The prophet was about 25. Wc might ask mon friends how t. came, if Sidney Uig-don Uig-don was the master spirit In bring ng forth the Book of Mormon and tho church, the real Mcphlstophelen of the gVeat drama that was being onRcted-how onRcted-how comes it that after Playjnff " part for a number or years, when he ?omc8 out Into tho public work with all Ms advantage of education and experi-c experi-c now consents to take second n"ace In the great drama; not even second sec-ond P "ce. for that had been conferred u pcVoilver Cowdcry. who hod been or-dalncd or-dalncd as second elder, and Slrtnej Kinder, Kin-der, becomes the Prophet's scribe? Is thero any consistency In claims of that sort? It is somewhat difficult to sec why Mr. Roberts should have said that, provided pro-vided ho -were earnestly engaged in an effort to publicly defend Joseph, tho Book of Mormon and the Mormon church. Ho plainly suggests thnt thero was a Mcphistopheles, but denies that Sidncv Rigdon enacted that role, Ho calls the whole thing a drama and thus plays direct ly mio iuo who contend that the story told by Joseph was a farce. And, again, he is not accurate; for while he declares that Sidnoy Rigdon never rose higher in such honor as may be considered to attach to the activities of Joseph and his friends than to be merely a scribe to the alleged prophet, history shows that Sidnoy was counselor to Joseph as president of the church in the days of Nauvoo. Indeed, Sidney Rigdon claimed tho right to succeed to the presidency at the death of Joseph Smith, and this claim on his part precipitated an intense strugglo bc-tweon bc-tweon himself and Brigham Young for the supremacy. As to the matter of a man of his ability abil-ity and experience and education regaining re-gaining in the background whilo Joseph 'Smith was always to the forefront, there is not an3'thing in it that should lnoci Biirnn'qMirr. A similar IJU III lMO IV.IUK U...z f,- - condition has existed in many instances boforo and since, and exists today, and will likely be repeated in the future. It may bo a tribute to Rigdon's wisdom wis-dom that he did consont to thus remain re-main behind tho scenes, so to speak, and he may even have gone so far as to urge upon Joseph tho advantage of that very thing. It is not tho first time in tho world that a man of su perior brain has set one- of inferior attainment to the forefront while he remained in the rear and did all the planning. As to whether or not Sidney Rigdon was the author of the Book of Mormon makes little .difference to the absurd claim that is made authoritatively concerning con-cerning its origin. The physical impossibilities im-possibilities attaching to that claim arc what are most considered by investigators. investiga-tors. And there is one evidence that casts discredit upon the story of the goiuou piaics, uic nngci iuoroni anu tho supposed method of translation. The first edition of the book contained the name of Joseph Smith as "author." Tn view of: the story told concerning its origin it was soon decided that the naming of Joseph Smith as its author was absurd, because it was claimed in tho book and the Btor3' concerning it that the authors were ancient inhabitants inhabi-tants of this continent. So that was changed to fit tho yarn, nnd in sub-ooqiicnt sub-ooqiicnt editions of tho book Joseph Smith was simply called its "translator." "transla-tor." "Translated by Joseph Smith, Jun.," is tho way tho inscription now rends. If all that is claimed for Joseph Smith, tho Boole of Mormon and the manner of establishment of tin Mormon Mor-mon church wore true, it is difficult to i;oo why it would require so much defending. de-fending. And that is ono of the; chief occupations of proponents. They hit eternally endeavoring to defend and to explain simply for the reason that, it. is difficult to compel the .world to swallow sclf-ovidcnt falsehood. |