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4 Threats in Desperation On June 15, 1859, Joseph Morris wrote to Brigham Young describing a visit he had recently made to Salt Lake City with the intention of visiting him. Apparently, this was by invitation or supposed invitation based upon some reference Brigham Young had made to Morris in the Deseret News, the local newspaper. Morris interpreted the article as an acknowledgment of his role as a prophet, although the reference was undoubtedly facetious. Whatever the case, Morris did not receive an audience with Young, and his subsequent letter contained sharp words of rebuke. The letter ended on a militant note: “a Commandment I give unto you that you call my servant Joseph [Morris] up to the head of my Church forthwith and linger not, or you will be cut off; for my time has come.” Following this letter, Joseph Morris began more and more to stress the imminence of the Second Advent of Christ and the beginning of the millennium . On September 1, 1859, Morris wrote: To President Brigham Young: Dear Sir, I am happy to inform you that I am still alive and in the discharge of my duty . . . . It is true that the full keys of the Priesthood is now given and it will make a material difference in the organization of the Church when it is reorganized again. But a perfect organization cannot take place at present until Jesus comes and brings with him those hundred and forty and four thousand that John speaks of clothed upon with their resurrected bodies and they shall bring their wives with them. And at their appearance upon this earth a certain portion of it will undergo a change and be prepared for their reception and they will commence the resurrection. It is now turned two years since I was first call[ed] of the Lord and from that time to the present I have fought the Devil and everything else that came in contact with me, without a person on the earth that I could tell my afflictions to. And now I am compelled to fight feelings with you and the twelve. This I never expected. I have written nothing to you, only that which the Lord dictated me and if you do not know it now, you will know it hither to your salvation or damnation. I have never had a feeling in my heart to lessen your influence in the estimation of the saints; but my feeling has always been to raise 44 The Making of a Prophet you up and to bless you all the day long. It is not in my heart to hinder you from enjoying any blessing that the Lord has laid out for you. I have pleaded before the Lord for you in your affliction that he might bear you up and that you might do your duty. I wish you to become one with me in the great work of the Lord, and let us work together in union, that we may bring about the purposes of the Lord. As concerning Joseph Smith, I love him as I do my own heart’s blood, and I will swear by the Gods of eternity that I will avenge his blood upon the United States. I do not only love Joseph, but I love you and the twelve, those of them that are faithful, and I could lay my life down for you if it were necessary, if you would only become one with me. But if you set your heart against me to hinder me from coming to the head of the Church rest assured that the Lord will accomplish his own purposes. Israel will be delivered and the Kingdom of God will triumph. And Jesus will come to reign and Adam’s posterity will be saved and this world will be glorified whether you give us your hand or not. The purposes of the Almighty cannot be frustrated by mortal man, and if you do not give us your hand, it will be your own loss and if you value your own standing as the President of the Church, you will take the counsel that I am about to give unto you. I wish to come up to the head of the Church for I have some business to attend to before a public meeting is called. [It is] business of importance , and as soon as you have read this letter I want you to send for me [to come...

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