and was marked for great things. He was involved with the Bryant Church's bookshop in Salt Lake City at one time. On 28 March 1980 John Bryant had a revelation addressed to several people who were rebelling against his authority -- some were preaching the "doctrine of Jezebel" (Section 1982-22, v.2 -- one of these later became associated with SAI), others were claiming priesthood keys that Bryant hadn't "given" them (v.3), some were teaching reincarnation (v.7), and so on. The largest part of the document is directed towards David Clark (vv.4-5):
"David [Clark], also [along with an Elder Kent L. Slight, husband of Loriann Slight who was teaching the doctrine of Jezebel -- the couple, along with most of those leaving Bryant's group, eventually separated and divorced], hath claimed the keys of Judah, but never at any time have I conferred keys upon him, saith the Lord. The keys of Judah were received by my son Joseph (Smith, Jr.) under my own hands in the Kirtland Temple (see D&C 110). These keys passed from him to Brigham Young [in actual fact to Joseph Smith III] and from him to John Taylor who held them until he conferred them [supernaturally or by a personal manifestation??] upon my servant Samuel (John W. Bryant) who holdeth them to this day.
"David have I blessed with much knowledge and spiritual gifts, for he was foreordained to be a mighty one in my kingdom, but his foreordination hath he prostituted, for he hath taught men and women to enter into acts of fornication and adultery as an holy act [i.e. apart from Bryant's authority] which thing is most abominable in my sight, saith the Lord. Never at any time have I told any man that he could commit fornication or adultery as an holy act, which thing is most abominable in my sight, saith the Lord. Never at any time have I told any man that he could commit fornication or adultery and escape the wrath of an offended God. I, the Lord, delight in the chastity of men and women, and look with loathing upon the uniting of men and women outside the sealing power, the keys of which power are vested in my servant Samuel [Bryant] and his heirs in the Holy Anointing.
"Moreover, David hath created ordinances which are not of me. The ordinances are eternal; they need not that men should improve upon them or create their own ordinances. Such ordinances are of hell and their father is the devil. Therefore, let all the people of my Church [Evangelical Church of Christ] beware that they follow not after seducing spirits, neither the doctrines of devils. Receive not those who preach such abominations, neither wish them godspeed, for in doing so ye become partakers of their abominations. Let the children of Light [Bryant's followers] cleave unto one another and reject those who call themselves the children of Light but seek after the darkness (David Clark's faction)."
This revelatory statement says much about the state of the Bryant Church and David's part in it. Bryant's authority was being undermined for some were going to David for 'light' and not him. Even one of Bryant's own wives was coming under David's influence:
"My daughter Havah [Bryant], I have brought thee from death unto life. Thou art mine, for I have purchased thee with my own blood. Take heed unto my word, for when I speak through my servant Samuel, it is even as my own voice. Many have rejected my word through him (Bryant), but such are in darkness at noonday, perceiving not the Light which is in their midst. Give not comfort to the enemies of my word [David Clark's faction], my daughter, for they are not just a little out of the way as thou supposest [clearly she had real doubts about the authenticity of David's claims], but are the servants of the Anti-Christ [i.e. anti-Bryant], and their iniquity shall hereafter be revealed to their shame and to the shame of those who consort with them. Such is David Clark who hath taught and done those things which are abominable in my sight, saith the Lord. Verily I say unto thee, Whoremongers and adulterers must and shall be without the gate of the holy city [New Jerusalem or City of Enoch], saith the Lord, for such cannot enter into my presence, worlds without end. And there are others...." (Section 1983-22, v.3).
Havah Bryant, born Jean Poulsen, married Jean Pratt, now known as Hava Pratt (following her divorce...she left her husband and children to join the Bryant Church) claims she was visited by the angels Shulem and Moroni at Fairhaven, beginning on 16 February 1981, who dictated a new scripture which she believes to be part of the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon called the
Writings of Moroni. Initially supported by her husband, John Bryant, it seems he became envious of this manifestation and that this may have been in part the cause of their marrital estrangement. The new revelation was initially called the
Book of Havah and claims Moroni as the principle author. According to Hava anything belonging to the Firstborn Church is in principle a part of the "sealed portion", an interesting if slightly unusual concept. Hava Pratt and Dav[i]ed [Clark] Israel are the principal movers or founders of SAI.
The Evangelical Church of Christ left a trail of destruction behind it -- broken marriages, mentally disturbed people, and much spiritual pain. It also left a legacy of strange doctrines and practices which some of the survivors have perpetuated even in the absense of their leader, thanks largely to a book of ordinances (which this author has seen) known as the "Black Ordinance Book" after a man call Black whom we understand either recorded the ordinances or/and duplicated them.
Before we end our account of the Bryant Church it is important we understand the theological basis for their multiple marriage practices. Bryant claims he was visited by the wife of one of the Three Nephite apostles [7] with whom he had sexual intercourse because this was the only means by which the higher, or "patriarchal", Light of Christ could be transmitted from one person to another, the ordinance of laying on of hands being insufficient for this level of the Gospel. According to Bryant this form of multiple marriage is lived by the people in the City of Enoch otherwise known as the "fathers". This concept was co-opted by David Clark who took it further as we shall see.
Footnotes
[1] Unpublished Revelations of the Prophets and Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, pub. Fred C. Collier, 1979, Salt Lake City, Section 16, pp.61-62; or Journal of Discourses (JD) 2:342. Return
[2] Doctrine & Covenants, D&C LDS 77:20, RLDS 78:4d; see also LDS 96:17, RLDS92:3f. Return
[3] Known as the "Atik Yomin" in Kabbalistic texts, meaning the "Ancient of Days", and associated with the sephira Kether. Return
[4] Gilbert Clark, letter to the author, dated January 31, 1988, p.2. Return
[5] See Section 8:10 of Unpublished Revelations, op.cit., p.54; compare with D&C LDS 20, RLDS 17 received by Joseph Smith, Jr. the following year in 1830. Return
[6] Cov.& Comm. p. 1982-xxviii, footnote 5. Return
[7] Believed by all Restorationists to have been made immortal at the time Christ allegedly visited the Americas and who are still supposedly wandering around the world today. Return
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