See the paper by Denver Snuffer titled Brigham Young's Telestial Kingdom.
It definitely wasn't something celestial being built. Compare to the days of King Noah in the book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon is an actual record of prophets who used to live in the American continent. North America.
Joseph Smith was an actual humble and virtuous man who was an actual prophet like those in Scripture.
But those two facts does not let us conclude that the way things are today in the church are as they should be. That was one of my first answers to prayer at the Idaho Falls Temple. It took many years for the Lord to show and explain to me why that was true. And the more I learned the more it broke my heart. I'm still learning things about what corruption lies in church history. I thought I learned it all but it's still coming.
AFFIDAVITS SAYING JOSEPH SMITH SAID BRIGHAM YOUNG WOULD LEAD THE CHURCH ASTRAY:
This is to certify that I, S. L. Crain, was personally acquainted with Joseph Smith from about 1840 to 1841, and that I heard him say to and of Brigham Young, whom I also knew, that if he (Brigham Young) was left to lead the church, the pride of his heart would lead them to hell. This was said at a conference of the church, in Nauvoo, where there was a large assemblage of the people, and probably in the spring of 1843—possibly 1842.
Witness my hand, S. L. Crain.
Done in the presence of Wm. Pickering.
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SAN BERNADINO, CALIFORNIA,
February 4th, 1884.
Joseph Thorn, a resident of San Bernardino, California, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I was personally acquainted with Brigham Young, late president of the Utah Mormon Church, and knew him when both he and I were living in Nauvoo, Illinois; and I heard Joseph Smith, Jr., at a public meeting in a grove east of the Temple in Nauvoo, when he had been reproving said Brigham Young for taking and using for his own private purposes church moneys without authority, says of him, “If Brigham Young ever leads this church he will lead it to hell.” This is said with great emphasis.
JOSEPH THORN.
Sworn and subscribed to before me at San Bernardino County, California, this fourth day of February, 1884.
E. H. Morse, Notary Public.
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To Whom it May Concern: —Know ye that I, David Dixon, now resident at Riverside, San Bernardino county, California, was personally present at a public meeting in Nauvoo, Illinois, before the building of the Temple; and there and then saw and heard the Prophet Joseph Smith, while preaching, raise his hand (pointing to Brigham Young who was in the stand with him) saying: “Talk about leading this church; here is Bro. Brigham, if he ever leads this church, he will lead it to hell.” There were more than a thousand people present at the time; several of whom, I, David Dickson, know are now living and heard him say it.
DAVID DICKSON
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my official seal, at my office in the county of San Bernardino, California, on this 29th day of December, 1883.
W. W. Smith, Notary Public.
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CITY OF ALTON, ILL., March 6th, 1884.
Bro. Joseph Smith: —In the summer of 1843, one day when your father and William Clayton went into the country to transact some church business, after their return Bro. Clayton came to the office [Brother Whitehead was then the Seer’s private secretary. Ed.] about one o’clock p. m. Father Cutler and I were in the office, and he said, “Well, brethren, I have heard something to-day a little strange.” Bro. Cutler asked him if he was going to tell us what it was; he said, “Yes, I am; and I hope that you will make a note of it.” He said, “After we had finished our business, we started for home, and had traveled but a very short distance when Joseph stopped talking and was very much absorbed in thought. He never spoke till we were going down the Temple hill. He then uttered this language aloud: ‘If Brigham Young ever leads this people he will lead them to the devil.’ He never spoke another word. When we got to my house I got out of the buggy and Joseph drove on.
JAMES WHITEHEAD.
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SAN BERNARDINO, CAL., Dec. 31st, 1883
Mrs. Huntington says: “While living in Nauvoo, I lived three years in Joseph Smith’s family; was well acquainted with church affairs there; and several times heard the Prophet Joseph Smith say, ‘If Brigham Young leads this church he will lead it to hell.’ ”
Catherine Huntington
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SAN BERNARDINO, CAL., Dec. 31st, 1883
I lived in Nauvoo from the first of its settlement, and was well acquainted with Joseph Smith and family. I well remember the day Joseph prophesied, “If ever Brigham Young leads the church he will lead it to hell.” I believe Joseph was a true prophet of God.
Hannah Lytle
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Personally appeared before me, Charles W. Oden, a Notary Public in and for Harrison county, Iowa, this 8th day of March, 1884, John Conyers and Priscelia Conyers his wife, who on oath says: “On or about the year 1843, in Hancock county, Illinois, at a public meeting, Joseph Smith said in reference to Brigham Young leading the church, ‘If Brigham Young led the church, he would lead it to hell.’ ”
His
John X Conyers
Mark
Her
Priscelia X Conyers
Mark
F. M. Terry} Witness
W. C. Atwell } Witness
Chas. W. Oden,
Notary Public in and for Harrison County, Iowa
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