Rumors, Visions, and Revelations

Unable to attend public gatherings or to hold regularly scheduled meetings with the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve, and other Church leaders (many of whom were either in prison or on the Mormon Underground themselves), President Taylor attempted to keep the Saints informed through a series of epistles, circulars, and broadsides and through a remarkable letter-writing campaign during this difficult period.[83] Despite such extraordinary efforts, various rumors spread among the Saints regarding his activities in his physical absence, including reports that federal officers had captured him. Additionally, reports circulated about purported visions and alleged revelations he had received. For example, Abraham H. Cannon, a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, reported in March 1886, “Bro. Olson brought word in this evening that President Taylor had received a revelation from the Lord in which it stated that God was satisfied with the sacrifice made by the people in this crusade and that He would not turn their wrath aside. This word, he said, came from Bishop Allen of the 21st Ward, and, if true, we as a people can rejoice at it.”[84] Note his cautionary and hopeful acceptance of the report: “if true, we as a people can rejoice.” Additionally, this particular report reveals a rather unique situation as a General Authority was, in this instance, relying on lay members for information about President Taylor.[85]

Another account surfaced in July 1886, when Philo Dibble told a group of Saints that President Taylor had seen Joseph Smith the Prophet in vision and discussed with him the current challenges facing the Saints.[86]

In addition to this revelation and vision, another document surfaced after President Taylor’s death in July 1887 that purports to be President Taylor’s last revelation, received on September 27, 1886.[87] A copy in circulation begins: “My son John. You have asked me concerning the New & Everlasting covenant how far it is binding upon my peop[le.] Thus saith the Lord All commandments that I give must be obeyed by those, calling themselves by my name unless they are revoked by my [sic] or by my authority, and how can I revoke an everlasting covenant.”[88]

Later, a sensational vision became associated with revelation beginning in 1912.[89] In the 1920s a greatly expanded version of the vision began circulating which told of the ordination of five men who were authorized “to perpetuate plural marriage, independent of Church leaders.”[90] Although the authenticity of the vision is not necessarily connected to the veracity of the revelation itself, the issue of corroborative documentation for the revelation also remains the most significant obstacle in connecting it with President Taylor. For example, President George Q. Cannon did not say anything about the revelation in his personal diary.[91] They were in close proximity, both day and night, under the protection of guards in a secret location where movement was extremely limited; thus it seems odd that nothing was mentioned in his diary on this occasion.

Nuttall, President Taylor’s private secretary, does not mention the revelation or purported ordination regarding plural marriage in his fairly detailed diary. Nuttall was also in close quarters with President Taylor. Additionally, he was also responsible to keep the First Presidency’s office journal. The silence is deafening, raising serious questions about the purported revelation’s authenticity; some groups have claimed that Nuttall made five copies of the revelation at the time.[92] Finally, Samuel Bateman, one of President Taylor’s bodyguards, failed to mention the revelation or the special ordinations in his own diary.[93] The absence of any mention of this event undermines the claim that he was one of the men ordained on that occasion.

In addition to these purported visions and alleged revelation, there are at least two documents attributed to John Taylor that are most certainly not genuine, one dated December 16, 1877, and another that surfaced in 1951.[94]

By mid-1886, President Taylor’s health began to deteriorate. During the last eight months of his life he lived in the farm home of Thomas and Margaret Roueche in Kaysville, Utah. Finally, after two and half years on the Mormon Underground, President Taylor died on July 25, 1887, at 7:55 p.m.[95]