Opposition To Adam-God Intensifies

Brigham's opposition did not consist of Orson Pratt alone. Apparently there were a number of Mormons who were muttering their disbelief. It was to this group that the prophet addressed the following remarks during a discourse delivered on October 7, 1857:

Some have grumbled because I believe our God to be so near to us as Father Adam. There are many who know that doctrine to be true... Now, if it should happen that we have to pay tribute to Father Adam, what a humiliating circumstance it would be! Just wait till you pass Joseph Smith; and after Joseph lets you pass him, you will find Peter; and after you pass the Apostles and many of the Prophets, you will find Abraham, and he will say, "I have the keys, and except you do thus and so, you cannot pass"; and after a while you come to Jesus; and when you at length meet Father Adam, how strange it will appear to your present notions (45).

Nevertheless, it was the Mormon Apostle Orson Pratt who was the real thorn in Brigham's side, and it was inevitable that the President would seek its removal. In 1860 Young gathered his Apostles to consider the case of Orson Pratt's remarks.

After the Mormon General Authorities assembled in the President's office on the evening of January 27, Brigham read to them various doctrinal statements written by Pratt. He followed by expressing his disbelief in these doctrines. Wilford Woodruff then confessed his trust in Young:

...it has ever been a key with me that when the Prophet who leads presents a doctrine or principle or says thus saith the Lord I make it a point to receive it even if it comes in contact with my tradition or views being well satisfied that the Lord would reveal the truth unto his Prophet whom he has called to lead the Church before he would unto me, and the word of the Lord through the prophet is the End of the Law unto me (46).

One by one the Apostles expressed their faith in their prophet and sought to lead Pratt to a confession and repentance. The stubborn Apostle did not budge, however. Having no confidence in the prophet's declaration, Pratt refused to confess what he believe to be false:

I must have something more than a declaration of President Young to convince me. I must have evidence. I am willing to take President Young as a guide in most things, but not in all.... President Young said I ought to make a Confession But Orson Pratt is not a man to make a Confession I do not believe. I am not going to crawl to Brigham Young and act the hypocrite and confess what I do not believe.... President Young condemns my doctrine to be false. I do not believe them to be false... I will not act the hypocrite. It may cost me my fellowship But I will stick to it. If I die tonight I would say O Lord God Almighty I believe what I say.

The Apostles stood amazed. After a moment's pause Apostle John Taylor tried to convince Orson of his error. Wilford Woodruff followed:

Brother Orson Pratt, I wish to ask you one or two questions. You see that the spirit and doctrine which you possess is entirely in opposition to the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve, and all who are present this evening, and it chills the blood in our veins to hear your words and feel your spirit. Should not this be a Guidance to you that you are wrong... Every man in this room who has a particle of the Spirit of God knows that President Young is a Prophet of God and that God sustains him and He has the Holy Spirit and his doctrines are true...

Various other Apostles testified that Orson was in error. President Young then closed by stating the importance of following God's Prophet. The meeting was dismissed; Pratt made no concession.

It must have been a sleepless night for Orson, however; the following day saw a change in the disposition of the Apostle. Wilford Woodruff noted this in his journal:

I spent the day in the office. I met with the Twelve in the prayer circle. Orson Pratt met with us. He did not dress but said he wanted to be in the society of the Twelve. He seemed much more soft in his spirit then he had been.

Quite unexpectedly, Orson Pratt on the next day confessed from the Tabernacle stand that he was in error. Woodruff informs us of the event:

Sunday I met at the Tabernacle. Orson Pratt was in the stand and quite unexpected to his brethren he arose before his brethren and made a very humble full confession before the whole assembly for his opposition to President Young and his brethren and he said he wished all the Church was present to hear it. He quoted Joseph Smith's revelation to prove that President Young was right and that all was under obligation to follow the Leader of the Church. I never heard Orson Pratt speak better or more to the satisfaction of the People, than on this occasion.