But he dont believe that any man but God himself could have saved it. He dont know whether he has got the priesthood or not, if he has it not and nothing but the priesthood could save the Charter of course he could not save it. In regard to what he said concerning inflammatory speeches made in he had referrence to s speeches. He had no intention to cast reflections on the character of our deceased prophet
The reason of his offering this resolution is to facil[it]ate the progress of this mission. If it is said to be the voice of the spirit that a certain spot is designate then he submits to it, but if it is to be decided by this council then he would recommend the adoption of his resolution. Prudence dictates for us to take a course to ward of[f] the blow aimed by our enemies for the time being. If the time has come for the church to rise up and execute vengeance on our enemies he could [p. [108]]
In Missouri in 1838 Sidney Rigdon gave at least two intemperate speeches that helped inflame tensions between Latter-day Saints and their adversaries. On 17 June 1838 in Far West, Rigdon drew on Matthew 5:13 to liken dissident Latter-day Saints to salt that had lost its savor and was “henceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and trodden under foot of men.” In a Fourth of July sermon in Far West two and a half weeks after this “Salt Sermon,” Rigdon stated that if the Latter-day Saints again faced violence in Missouri, they would defend themselves and wage “between us and them a war of extermination.” In late 1844, in response to Rigdon’s leadership claims, Jedediah M. Grant, Orson Hyde, Brigham Young, and Wilford Woodruff all published statements identifying Rigdon’s sermons as “the prime cause of trouble in Missouri.” (Grant, Collection of Facts, relative to the Course Taken by Elder Sidney Rigdon, 10–12; “Trial of Elder Rigdon,” Times and Seasons, 15 Sept. 1844, 5:651; “Continuation of Elder Rigdon’s Trial,” Times and Seasons, 1 Oct. 1844, 5:667; Wilford Woodruff, Salem, MA, to “the Church of Jesus Christ,” 11 Oct. 1844, in Prophet, 19 Oct. 1844, [3]; see also Editorial Note before JS, Journal, 4–5 June 1838.)
Grant, Jedediah M. A Collection of Facts, Relative to the Course Taken by Elder Sidney Rigdon, in the States of Ohio, Missouri, Illinois and Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Brown, Bicking and Guilbert, 1844.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
The Prophet. New York City, NY. May 1844–Dec. 1845.