Salt Sermon facts for kids
The salt sermon was an important speech given by Sidney Rigdon on June 17, 1838. At the time, Rigdon was a top leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He often spoke for Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. This sermon was given against people who disagreed with the church's leaders. These people included Book of Mormon witnesses Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and John Whitmer, along with other leaders like W. W. Phelps. The Salt Sermon is sometimes confused with another speech called Rigdon's July 4th oration.
Why the Salt Sermon Happened
The years leading up to 1838 were tough for members and leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In 1837, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon started a business called the Kirtland Safety Society. This business was like a bank. When it failed, many people blamed Joseph Smith.
Some important church leaders, known as the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, thought Smith had made mistakes with the bank. One leader, Heber C. Kimball, later said that the bank's failure was so bad that very few people still believed Joseph Smith was a prophet.
Some former friends of Smith, like Warren Parish and Martin Harris, tried to take control of the church in Kirtland. They even took over the Kirtland Temple, which was an important church building. Smith and Rigdon had to leave Kirtland and move to a new community in Far West, Missouri. Many loyal followers traveled with them in a journey known as the "Kirtland Camp."
Even in Far West, Smith faced challenges from outside the church and disagreements from within. Smith and Rigdon felt it was very important to stop these disagreements. They believed the future of the entire Latter Day Saint movement was at risk. Because Sidney Rigdon was a very good speaker, he became Smith's main voice. He tried to encourage everyone to follow the church's main beliefs. This also made Rigdon a symbol of the church's strong stance in Far West.
What the Sermon Said
On June 19, 1838, in Far West, Sidney Rigdon gave a very strong public speech. He criticized many church members and leaders for what he saw as disloyalty to Joseph Smith and himself.
We don't have the exact words of Rigdon's sermon today. However, people who were there said that Rigdon based his speech on a verse from the Gospel of Matthew in the Bible.
If the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
—Matthew 5:13
Rigdon explained that the people who disagreed with the church were like the "salt" Jesus talked about. He said they were "good for nothing" and should be "trodden under foot." This meant they should be removed from the church and lose their influence.
After Rigdon finished, Joseph Smith gave a short speech. It seemed that Smith agreed with everything Rigdon had said.
