Morrisite Prophecies and Letters are now available in the Morrisite Letters Section
The following excerpts are from an official correspondence from the sIBC to Francis Spataro regarding the Morrisite prophecies of the Mormon Prophet George Williams one time leader of the Morrisite Church. For full text of letter email mmccarr1@mail.ccsf.edu
From: Second International Baha'i Council
Neal Chase
Board Member of the second IBC/UHJ
328 Stephens Ave
Missoula, MT 59801
TO: Francis C. Spataro, M.S.
3-25-1992
THE HIGH PRIESTHOODS RETURN
How white is his raiment [the return of Jesus], how glittering his head;
Fresh out from the chambers where long he had stayed,
How brilliant his eyes! Like flames of a fire
Not a deed nor a thought from that gaze can retire.
How well his is prisoned by a process unshown;
The flaming sword still keeps this science unkown
with a ll his massive wisdom a spot of blood is there
Upon his heavenly garments as evidence declare
How soon began the malice with them would would obey
God's will and counsel white clothed in mortal clay.
[Williams, The High Priesthoods Return, c. 1870]
You wish to know what is the object of gathering together in Montana. It is our Lord's command [Jesus' coming in Montana] that his chosen people may come together to receive blessings spiritual and temporal, and the order of both Priesthoods prepared. Also a Temple [Ezekiel's Temple] prepared to receive the ministering angels of our God. [Letter to “Dear Sis Thomas,” from Cainan (George Williams) in Brigg, Lincolnshire, England, July 24, 1873, page 59]
The Morrisites were also given the date in which they could expect Jesus to come to the Temple/priosn in Deer Lodge. For over 100 years they celebrated August 9th as the day that they would meet the return of Jesus in Deer Lodge. This was their great Feast Day on August 9th and also the last day that they ever met.
Anderson: “Can you tell me a little bit about some of the special days or holidays thou had?”
Beck's: “Yes, the ninth of August was when we always had a feast day.”
It was the last day that they met.
Beck's: “Now a few years back Mrs. Staffenson, that was Agnes Hendrickson, she got all of us together, all of us that was left and we went down there [to the Lord's House—the Morrisite church] and we had a meeting...That was the last meeting we had... Ninth of August we all gathered at her house and all went to church. We had the meeting first. Frank Staffenson was there.” [MCLU, 2:2]
The last meeting was on August 9th and even more amazing is the fact that was on August 9th of 1969 which is the first full day that Dr. Leland Jensen spent in the “stone with seven eyes” in Deer Lodge.
Williams was also specifically clear that it would be the return of Jesus the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (see Hebrews chapters 5,6, and 7) and not the second coming of Christ (which is Baha'ullah the descendant of David) that would appear in Deer Lodge! Thus Williams prophecy on the return of Jesus in prison is specifically the return of Jesus the High Priest and he entitles his prophecy as such: the High Priesthood returns. Williams and the Morrisites were really into Jesus being of the order of Melchizedek (as a High Priest) and they held that Williams was the one representing him at their time. In this clarification that it is not Jesus Christ but Jesus the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek Williams prophesies:
You also wish to know something of Melchisedec—the real Melchisedec [Jesus the High Priest], not one representing him [Williams]. Now mark the first time we hear of him, he is declared to King of Salem or Peace. Here is brought out the bread and wine to Abraham, our faithful friend and brother. It is not written what was said at this interview; but I have no doubt it would be the same as said to the 12, at his last supper when he1 takes the bread and also the cup saying: “Take, eat and drink, all of you, for this is my body broken, and my blood shed for you. There he stood [Jesus the High Priest], without a scar. [Williams, Letter to Erasmussen, December 27, 1881]
1Underlines by Williams to stress identity of Jesus to the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek which is who he foresaw in Deer Lodge and not christ—Baha'u'llah the descendant of David.
The most astounding feature of the vision is that at the end of Muhammad's visit to him he hears the multitude of multitude of angels singing the most beautiful sound he had ever heard “Allah'u'lAbha, Allah'u'lAbha!” over and over again. Thus in this vision Williams received the most Great name brought by Baha'u'llah and Baha'u'llah alone thus showing that he had attained, as Baha'ullah has written: the true station which every Baha'i can attain which is that of an old Testament prophet.
Cainan [George Williams] bowed consent and then a pause. Muhammad said, “my time is expired. Farewell.” I heard now a loud rushing, it seemed of thousand voices, the most distinctive sound was Allah Abbah. This proceeded from the same body of light that swept past taking my visitor which I watched till I could see no more. And the voices left their memory, the sweetest ever mortal heard. [Williams, Vision of Muhammad, 1867]
This vision was given in 1867 in America long before the news of Baha'ullah had ever travelled to the West. Williams was a true Baha'i minor prophet and accurately foresaw the advent of the establisher of the Baha'i Faith in Deer Lodge, Montana. Because of Williams prophecies, to this very day an estimated two thirds of the population of the Deer Lodge Valley are descended from the Morrisite pioneers.