# Title: Letter to Br. J. Gregg [James M. Greig], part 1, Messenger and Advocate (Pittsburgh) I:1
# Date: 1844-10-15
# Source: http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/RigWrit/M&A/MA-1844.htm | Provenance: signed SIDNEY RIGDON. High confidence. Contains brief inline scripture quotations.

Pittsburgh, Oct. 15, 1844.

Br. J. Gregg -- Dear Sir: -- Yours of the 14th inst., was received per mail this morning. The intelligence
was cheering; these early evidences of the virtue and firm integrity of the saints speaks volumes in favor of
their future prospects. What, dear brother, can withstand the truth when its advocates are uncompromising in
their attachment to virtue and holy principles. Since the world began, all the dispensations delivered to men
of the living God, have been thrown into confusion by the introduction of doctrines and practices which were
at war with Godliness, and subversive of all that was good and noble. Hence the distraction of the religious
world. At some tomes past so great were the departures from truth, by those who professed to be prophets of
God, that if a Noah, a Daniel, and a Job, had been among them, the could save their own souls only, and not be
able even to save a son or daughter. Such an attempt has Satan made on us, and was maturing his plan so
completely to effect our overthrow, that the few left who could not be corrupted could do nothing more than
save their own souls; but the iniquity was discovered before the adversary had gotten the fangs of his corruption
so fastened on us that we could not unfasten them.

I have been informed,
since Mr. Page published his Bull ,
and subsequent departure from this place, that he had attempted to teach the doctrine of spiritual wives in
this city some time since. This will account for his sudden departure from both this place and yours.

It would seem almost impossible that there could be found a set of men and women, in this age of the world,
with the revelations of God in their hands, who could invent and propagate doctrines so ruinous to society,
so debasing and demoralising as the doctrine of a man having a plurality of wives; for it is the existence of
this strange doctrine -- worse than the strange fire offered on the altar, by corrupted Israel -- that was at
the root of all the evils which have followed, and are following the church, the very mention, of which could
not fail to redden the cheek of decency with a blush.

The whole of the revelations of God in all ages, charge the prophets and leaders of the people, with being
the authors of the corruptions, which from time to time overrun the people of God. We need not marvel then
that like evils have befallen us. The crime of the people was that they loved to have it so, they were not
charged with introducing the corruptions, but having pleasure in them after the prophets, and leaders, had
introduced them. It is no small degree of satisfaction to me, to find the people rising in the exercise of
their just rights, and casting off, not only the leaders, but those who are led by those corruptors' seducing
spirits which introduce doctrines of demons.

Those who read the New Testament with care, cannot avoid seeing that the apostles have declared that a
corruption like that we complain of, was to make its appearance in the last days. See Second Timothy,
3d chapter, from the 1st to the 9th verse inclusive. These sayings which the apostles, at Nauvoo, have applied
to the professing world, are as applicable to themselves as to any others now living, or any others who have
lived since the days of Paul. In the 6th verse we are told that "For of this sort are they which
creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts." Now
what sort are those who creep into houses and lead astray silly women? The answer is given in the preceding
verse. Persons that can do that are such as are without natural affection, boasters, proud inventors of evil
things, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. When we see such men as above
described, they, according to Paul, would do other things; that is, enter into houses and lead astray silly
women.

That the Twelve and their adherents have entered into houses and led silly women astray, is a fact susceptible
of the highest proof; and we are authorized by Paul to apply all the rest he has said to them. "For if this
sort enter into houses and lead astray silly women," what sort? we ask; the before described religionists,
for says Paul, "they have a form of godliness." The conclusion then is, that they effected the ruin of silly
females by, or through a form of godliness.

Paul says, the corruption he has described was to take place in the last days. Now, from this, the people of
the last days are authorized to call any thing of the kind which may make its appearance, it matters not by
whom these corruptions were introduced, Prophet, Apostle, Evangelist, or Pastor, whosoever introduces them,
has an account to settle with Paul in the great day when the affairs of the universe shall be adjusted before
an umpire who cannot err, for either these doctrines and practices are corruptions, or else Paul stands
charged with a departure from the truth.

From what is said in the 9th verse, the iniquity complained of, was to be a thing conducted in secret.
"But they shall proceed no further, for their folly shall be manifest unto all men;" Nothing can be
plainer than that this abomination of leading silly women astray, was to be a secret thing -- carried on
privately, and the exposure of it was to put a final stop to their wickedness. "But they shall proceed
no further, for their folly shall be manifest."

This secret working in matters of religion is, and always has been evidence of corruption. The saints always
have been warned against the secret works of darkness; light and truth not only manifest themselves, but also
make manifest the secret works of darkness. It is equally plain according to Paul, that no such thing could
be carried on, however secretly it might be done, without detection. "For their folly SHALL be
made manifest."

Those leaders of silly women, if they had regarded the scriptures, might have known that their race was a short
one, and that their wickedness would be made manifest; for thus had Paul written more than 1700 years ago, and
as proof that Paul was inspired behold it has come to pass in our day and before our eyes.

It is a fact, so well known, that the Twelve and their adherents have endeavored to carry
this spiritual wife business in secret , that I hardly need mention it here, and have gone to the most
shameful and desperate lengths, to keep it from the public. First, insulting
innocent females , and when they
resented the insult, these monsters in human shape would
assail their characters by lying,
and perjuries, with a multitude of desperate men to help them effect the ruin of those whom they had insulted,
and all this to enable them to keep these corrupt practices from the view of the world. I could bring facts
which can be established in any court of justice, in relation yo these vile abominations practised under the
garb of religion that would make humanity blush. No falsehood too great and no perjury too daring, in order
to conceal these heaven-daring abuses of mankind; but I say in the language of Paul, they shall go no further,
for their folly is now being made manifest, and will not cease until it is manifest unto all.

How often have these men and their accomplices stood up before the congregation, and called God and all the
holy Angels to witness, that there was no such doctrine taught in the church; and it has now come to light, by
testimony which cannot be gainsaid, that at the time they thus dared heaven and insulted the world, they were
living in the practice of these enormities; and there were multitudes of their followers in the congregation
at the time who knew it. These things only tend to confirm the fact that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints is the true church of God, for we now see in that body fulfilling, what the Apostles and Prophets
said should take place in that order of things which God acknowledged. According to both prophets and apostles,
the true church in the last days would be tried, with all the corruptions which had overthrown all the previous
orders, kingdoms or churches which God had set up; and before she could be exalted to her true glory, to
overcome all the inventions of Satan or of man; but more of this in our next.

Dear Brother, through this letter to you, I would call on all the saints into whose hands this may come, to
arise and deliver themselves from the corruption, disorder and ruin, that satan through the twelve as instruments,
designs to bring upon [them], know ye that no strange thing has befallen you, than attempt is being made upon
you by those in high authority, and those who are arrogating to themselves authority in violation of the
order of heaven.

SIDNEY RIGDON.
