Inside the lost McLellin notebook

Memorabilia collector Brent Ashworth announced last week the rediscovery of a notebook of William E. McLellin, a Mormon apostle who was excommunicated for apostasy in 1838.

Make no mistake about it. William E. McLellin had no love for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after his excommunication in 1838. But the former apostle's testimony of the Book of Mormon survived and forms a significant part of his recently rediscovered 1871 notebook.

McLellin's widow, who had joined the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now the Community of Christ), gave or sold the notebook to W.O. Robertson, who sold it to John Resch in 1919. Resch then sold it to RLDS apostle Paul M. Hanson, who put excerpts into a newspaper in 1929. Photographs exist from the 1920s or '30s of a few pages of the notebook. The notebook remained in Hanson's family until Brent Ashworth acquired it this summer at his store, B. Ashworth's, in Provo, Utah.

The following excerpts are presented with the original spelling and punctuation as they appear in the notebook. Deletions are crossed out and insertions are in <brackets>. Editorial insertions are in (parenthesis). Ashworth hopes to have the full notebook published soon.

WICKED PEOPLE

(What is arguably the angriest comment in the notebook by the former member of the church was crossed out with a large "x" — apparently by McClellin's own hand. It probably refers to plural marriage as practiced by the LDS Church until 1890:)

I do not endorse many of the acts of Joseph Smith. And the older he grew, the wider of the mark his course until finally he died at the hands of his enemies, as "a fool dieth." In his afterlife he introduced great wickedness, and even abominations the "church of Latter Day Saints." And to day that people at the great Salt Lake valley are carrying out the measures introduced by him in Nauvoo. I firmly believe that the people called Latter Day Saints are the wickedest people of any that now live on this wide earth. But here I will stop, but could say more.

HOW SHALL WE KNOW?

(This extended excerpt covers several pages in McLellin's notebook. In it he explores several testimonies of the Book of Mormon. The numbering of the sections is in the original. The excerpt mentions the last of the eight witnesses of the Book of Mormon — this was was John Whitmer who died in 1878. Also, notice how McLellin spells his name as "McLellan" in this notebook. There are several different spellings of his name in various historical documents.)

The Testimony of men.

11. In open day light, in an open wood lot, with their sensitive powers all calm and serene, Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris testify that an angel of glorified appearance and countenance came down from heaven, and stood before them, and took The plates which Joseph Smith had possessed, from which he had translated <read <off> the translation of the book> the Book, and held them in his hand, and showed as many of <the> leaves or plates as Joseph Smith had translated <completed>, to them. So that they saw and looked upon them until they were entirely satisfied. And <the angel> he spoke to David Whitmer and said, "David, blessed is the Lord, and he that keepeth his commandments." These men saw his form, saw his glorified appearance, heard his words, saw all that he showed them, and then saw him ascend to heaven again. This was no collusion. These men could not be mistaken. They either told the truth, or they wilfully lied. How shall we tell which, how shall we know?

This vision was in 1829. More than forty years ago, and what has been the conduct of those men since that day? Two of them are dead — <and probably> two living. Those who are dead testified to the last hour of their lives of to the truth of this vision. Those who are still living are firm in their testimony. I visited David Whitmer after he was more than 65 years of age, and <he>solemnly declared to me "I saw the Angel of God, I heard his voice, hence I know of a truth! Martin Harris is some over 89 years of age, and still he carries the book of Mormon under his arm, and testifies to all great and small, "I am Martin Harris in all the world, and I know the book of Mormon to be verily true. And although all men should deny the truth of that book, I can not do it. My heart is fixed! I could not know more truly or certainly than I do."

12. In 1833, when mobbing reigned triumphant in Jackson Co. Mo. I and O. Cowdery fled from our homes, for fear of personal violence on Saturday the 20th day of July. The mob dispersed, agreeing to meet again on the next Tuesday. They offered eighty dollars reward for any one who would deliver Cowdery or McLellan in Independence on Tuesday. On Monday I slipped down into the Whitmer's settlement, and there in the lonely woods I met with David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery. I said to them, "brethren I never have seen an open vision in my life but you men say you have, and therefore you positively know. Now you know that our lives are in danger every hour, if the mob can only only catch us. Tell me in the fear of God is that book of Mormon true"? Cowdery looked at me with solemnity depicted in his face, and said, 'Brother William, God sent his holy Angel to declare the truth of the translation of it to us, and therefore we know. And though the mob kill us, yet we must die declaring its truth". David said, 'Oliver has told you the solemn truth, for we could not be deceived. I most truly declare declare to you its truth"!! Said I, boys, I believe you. I can see no object for you to tell me false<hood> now, when our lives are endangered. Eight men testify also to handling that sacred pile of plates, from which Joseph Smith <read off the> translated<ion> that heavenly Book.

13. One circumstance I'll relate of one of these eight witnesses. While the mob was raging in Jackson Co. Mo. In 1833 some young men ran down Hiram Page <in the woods> one of the eight <witnesses,> and commenced beating and pounding him with whips and clubs. He begged, but there was no mercy. They said he was <a> damned Mormon, and they meant to beat him to death! But finally one of them said to him, if you will deny that damned book, we will let you go. Said he, how can I deny what I know to be true? Then they pounded him again. When they thought he was about to breathe his last, they said to him, Now what do you think of your God, when he don't save you? Well, said he, I believe in God — Well, said one of the most intelligent among them, I believe the damned fool will stick to it though we kill him. Let us let him go. But his life was nearly run out. He was confined to his bed for a length of time. So much for a man who knows for himself. Knowledge is beyond faith or doubt. It is positive certainty.

14. I in company with <a> friend, visited one of the eight witnesses <in 1869.> — The only one who is now alive, and he bore a very lucid and rational testimony, and gave us many interesting particulars. He was a young man when he had those testimonies. He is now <was then> sixty eight years old, and still he is firm in his faith. Now I would ask what will I do with such a cloud of faithful witnesses, bearing such a rational and yet solemn testimony? These men while in the prime of life, saw the vision of the Angel, and bore this testimony to all people. And eight men saw the plates, and handled them. Hence these men all know the things they declared to be positively true. And that too while they were young, and now when old they declare the same things.

JOSEPH SMITH'S MIND

(This short extract has McLellin looking at Joseph Smith's mind. McLellin had started a church in 1847 that he called, like the name of the church in 1830, "The Church of Christ.")

33. I have read the Book many, many times through; and am well acquainted with the manner of its coming to light, and the circumstances of the organization of the "church of Christ", as probably any man who (is) now living. I was personally and intimately acquainted with Joseph Smith, <the man who read off the> the translator <translation> of the book, for five years near the beginning of his ministry. He attended my High school during the winter of 1834. He attended my school and learned science all winter. I learned the strength of his mind as <to> the study and principles of science. Hence I think I knew him. And I here say that he had one of <the> strongest, well balanced, penetrating, and retentive minds of any <man> with which <whom> I ever formed an acquaintance, among the thousands of my observation. Although when I took him into my school, he was without scientific knowledge or attainments. And I know that I do know the truth of this great work of the Last Days. And I would advise all people, kindreds, and tongues to believe and embrace the Book, and the doctrine, and the principles, and government and practice of the true "church of Christ." For the time of Christ's second coming is soon at hand(.)

MAKING A BOOK

(Ashworth believes that this notebook was McLellin's attempt to write a book. An index at the front of the notebook seems to back up that interpretation:)

Index

1 Page — Treatise on faith.
" 10. On Repentance.
" 13. On Baptism.
" 20. On the work of the Holy Spirit among men.
" 39. The Kingdom of heaven.
" 51. A Seer of the Lord.
" 59. On the two Priesthoods.
" 77. The manner of giving and receiving revelations.
" 92. The call to the ministry.
" 99. On man, spiritual existences, influences, & powers.
" 113. On the ministry of the church of Christ.
" 121. Of heaven.
" 125. Of the Keys.
" 129. The Devil or Satan.
" 134. The performance of miracles.
" 138. The personality of the Holy Spirit.
" 146. Of Communion with heaven.
" 156. The unity of the Godhead.
" 161. The book of Mormon.
" 176. The "church of Christ".
" 188. Of dispensations.
" 197. The restitution of the ancient order of things.
" 208. B.W. Stone's views.
" 212. Quotations from history on gifts.
" 223. The Millennium, embracing:
           126. The second coming of Christ.
           132. The gathering of Israel.
           137. Zion and Jerusalem as places of deliverance
           139. A few words about Zion.
           140. Zion as a place of gathering.
           141. trust to the people of God.
           143. Satan bound.
           144. But what of the reign of righteousness.
           148. The laws of the Millennium.
           149. The resurrection at Christ's coming.
           152. The pure language restored.
           154. The scenes before the Millennium.
           160. The resurrection of the wicked.
           161. The general judgment.
           162. The new heavens and new earth.

CONCLUSION

LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter issued a statement on the McLellin notebook after Ashworth's announcement last week: "In recent years, a number of historical documents have been found that have added to our understanding of Joseph Smith, the time in which he lived and the challenges he faced. The church has welcomed and encouraged this process. While the church is not pursuing the acquisition of the McLellin manuscript, we are pleased the long-lost document has been found. "

Although he had left The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was highly critical of its leaders, practices and doctrines, McLellin has left a record of value to those who believe in the Book of Mormon and in the prophet Joseph Smith.

E-mail: mdegroote@desnews.com