A * t * ■ ! . I \. Division ^OC-* Sectiou O r/- 1 ^v^ ^ vV.-.- TUE GREAT SALT LAKE CITT. THE RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL, MD POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE lORlOIS, OR LATTER-DAY SAINTS, FROM THEIR ORIGIN TO THE PRESENT TIME; CONTAINING FULL STATEMENTS OP THEIR DOCTRINES, GOVERiS^MENT AND CONDITION, AND ME- MOIRS OF THEIR FOUNDER, JOSEPH SMITH. EDITED, WITH IMPORTANT ADDITIONS, BY SAMUEL M. SMUCKER, A. M., AtlTllOE OF " THE LIFE AND BEIGN OF OATHBBINE n.," " NICHOLAS L OF RUSSIA," ETO, NEW YOEK: 0. M. SAXTON, 25 PARK ROW. 1858. Entered according to Act of CJongress, in the year one tboasar;d eight hundred and fifty-six, BY MILLER, OETON & MULLIGAN, In the Clerks Office of the District Court of the Northern District of New York. auburn: MILLER, ORTON & MULLIGAN, STEREOTTPKEa AUV PRINTKE8. PEEFACE. Joseph Smith, the American impostor and visionary, was certainly no ordinary man. When we consider the obscurity of his original position, his want of education, the boldness o^ his pretensions, the skill with which he brought them forward and defended them, his indomita- ble perseverance, his defiance of difficulty and danger, and his ultimate success as the founder of a new religion, he seems indeed not unworthy of the title of the " Ameri- can Mahomet," which has frequently been applied to him. The extensive community which he estabKshed, and their various vicissitudes before and after the death of the Prophet, form a picture equally remarkable and mter- esting. We see in them — in their harmony, in their con- stancy, in their entire devotion to one great enterprise and purpose— a degree of moral elevation and courage which resemble in some degree that recorded of the great martyrs and apostles of a nobler and more ancient faith. The following pages contain a complete and impartial history of this extraordinary sect, from their very orio-in to the present tune. They also contam full descriptions of the government, ordinances, doctrines, the social, po- litical, and moral condition of the Latter Day Samts. The sources from which these materials have been derived, are authentic and reliable ; nor has either bigotry or pre- judice been permitted in the least degree to distort anv IV irP.fty A.c!E. of the statements mjido in reference to these important subjects. The author has endeavored to discriminate im- partially between the conflicting accounts as given, on the one hand, by the Mormons, and on the other, by their opponents ; to guard against all exaggeration on either side, and to present fairly and clearly what seemed to be the truth, in reference to the matter. Nor can it be de- nied, that the future probable admission of the' Mormon community, at no distant day, into this great confederacy of states, with coequal rights and prerogatives, adds very considerably to the interest and importance with which their character and fate have heretofore been invested. s. M. s. Philadelphia, July^ 1856. CONTENTS. CHx\PTER I. PAGI Birth and Parentage of Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet — His " Remarkable Visions" — EQs Consecration to the Priesthood — Alleged Appearance of John the Baptist to Joseph and his Confederates — The Golden Plates of the Hill of Cumorah — The Book of Mormon — The Mormon Witnesses of its Authenticity — The Witnesses who assert it to be a Fraud — Statements of Pro- fessor Antbon — The Spaulding Family — Mrs. Davison and Sid- ney Rigdon ... 17 CHAPTER II. The Book of Doctrmes and Covenants ; or the " Revelations" of Joseph Smith — Mormon Hymns and Poems — Materialism — The Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood — Confession of Faith — Scenes in Leamington and Wales 51 CHAPTER III. First Persecutions of the Sect — Exploratory Journey to the Far West — Establishment in Missouri — The Prophet " Lynched" by the Populace — Quarrels with the " Gentiles" — The New Zion — Persecutions in Missouri - ' 67 Vi CONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. Journey of the Prophet into Missouri — The Lamanite Skeleton- - The Shower of Meteors — Final Removal of Joseph from Kirt- land, Ohio — Persecutions in Missouri — ^Massacre at Haun's Mill — The Danite Band — Expulsion from Missouri - - - - 93 CHAPTER V. Establishment of the Sect in Illinois — Building of the City and Temple of Nauvoo — Joseph a Lieutenant-General — The Proph- et's Right-hand Man — The Mormons in England — Prosperity of Nauvoo 128 CHAPTER VI. Growth of Nauvoo — Joseph Smith a Candidate for the Presidency of the United States — Correspondence with Messrs. Clay and Calhoun — New Troubles and Persecutions of the Sect — The " Spiritual Wife" Doctrine — A Schism among the Mormons — The " Nauvoo Expositor" — Disturbances in the City — " Abate- ment" of the Nuisance of an Unfriendly Newspaper — Legal Pro- ceedings against the Prophet — His Surrender to take his Trial — Murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith by the Mob in Carthage Gaol 16J CHAPTER VII. The Prophet's Funeral — Addresses and Proclamations to the Saints — Appointment of Brigham Young as Successor to Joseph Smith — Trial and Expulsion of Sidney Rigdon — Transient Prosperity of Nauvoo — New Troubles and Localities — Siege of Nauvoo — Final Expulsion of the Mormons from Illinois - - - - 184 CONTENTS. vii CHAPTER VIII PAGE Departure of the Mormons for the Great Salt Lake Valley- Colonel Kane's Description of ISTauvoo after the Siege — The Exodus of the People— Incidents of Travel— Arrival in Lower California — The Great Salt Lake 216 CHAPTER IX. Brigham Young's Address to the Saints throughout the World- Mission of the Twelve Apostles— The Gathering— Utah Terri- tory— Mormonism in Great Britain— Emigration from Liver- pool-Agriculture and the Arts in the Salt Lake Valley— Re- ports by recent Travellers of the Prosperity of the New Colony 277 CHAPTER X. Mormonism : its Present State, and Social, Political, and Religious Aspect — The Book of Mormon— Ancient Glyphs— The Proph- ecy of Isaiah— The Prophecy of Ezekiel— Mormon Charges against all Christian Churches— Orson Pratt on the Christian Mmistry — Religious Aspects of Mormonism— The Book of Doc- trines and Covenants— Mormon Idea of " Faith"— Doctrines and Commandments — Priesthood and Office-bearers— Mormon Ma- terialism — Death of the Witnesses— The Spiritual Wife Doc- trine — Moral and Social Aspects of Mormonism — Opposition to Mormonism ... ... 32a Vni CONTEXTS. CHAPTER XL First Settlement of the Mormons in the Utah Territory — Establish- ment of Great Salt Lake City — The Peculiar Doctrines of the Mormons — Concerning the Nature of the Supreme Beinir — ^The "Head-God" — Of the Bible and other Sacred Books — Mormon Doctrine respecting Man — The Final Restitution of all things — Of the Sacraments — Of the Spiritual Wife Doctrine — Artruments used in Favor of Polygamy — Arguments and Facts Asrainst Po- lygamy — Incest — ^Misery of the First Wife — ^Description of Brit:- ham Young — ^The Mormon Hierarchy — ^Mormon Industry, 400 CHAPTER Xn. The Gladdemtes — ^Mormon Worship in the Salt Lake City — ^Educa- tion in Utah — ^The Administration of Justice — ^Liberty among tbe Mormons — Mormon Missionaries — Mormon Arguments to Con- verts — Hostility to Lawyers in Utah — Brigham Young's Assault on Lawyers — ^Statisti^s of the Mormons — Probable Cause of Fu- ture Discord in Utah — The Admission as a State into the Union — A.rguments for and against her Admission, . . 43] HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. ♦ >»- CHAPTEE I. Birth and PARENTAaE of Joseph Smith, the Mormox Prophet — His "Eemarkable Visions" — ^His Consecration to the Priesthood — Alleged Appearance of John the Baptist to Joseph and his Confederates — The Golden Plates of the Hill of Cumorah — The Book of Mormon — The Mormon Witnesses of its Authenticity — The Witnesses who assert it to be a Fraud — Statements of Professor Anthon — The Spaulding Family — ^Mrs. Datison and Sidney Rigdon. In tne year 1825 there lived, in a small village in the United States of America, an obscure young man — of little or no education — of no fortune, and of but indifferent character. That obscure young man had meditated for five years before this time the establishment of a new religion. In 1830, being then in the twenty-fifth year of his age, he began to carry his design into effect. In the following year he became the head of a sect numbering five persons ; amongst whom were in- cluded his father and three brothers. In the course of a few weeks, the number of his adherents increased to thirty. At the present time, the sect so established numbers 300,000 people ; has its own Bible, and zealous missionaries to preach it in every part of the Christian world ; and besides this, in- habits and possesses a fertile and beautiful territory almost as large as England, and aspires to obtain admission, on equal 2 18 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS, terms, as a free State, into the great confederation of Ameri- can Republics. The name of this young man was Joseph Smith — of his new Bible, the " Book of Mormon" — of his sect, the *' Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints," — or in the parlance of those not members of it — The Mormons, or Mor- monites ; and of the state or territory of which they have taken possession, Utah or Deseret, in New California. The Mormons have thriven amid oppression of the most cruel and pertinacious kind ; they have conquered the most astonishing difficulties ; they have triumphed over the most vindictive enemies, and over the most unrelenting persecution ; and from the blood of their martyrs have sprung the courage, the zeal, and the success of tlf^ir survivors. They can boast not only an admirable and complete organization, but the posses- sion of worldly wealth, influence, and power. Their progress within the last seven years has been rapid to a degree un- paralleled in the history of any other sect of religionists. The remarkable career of Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Mor- mons, and the story of the rise of the sect which he founded, is one of the most curious episodes in the modern history of the world. To trace that history with all its fanaticism, all its zeal, all its genuine and sincere faith, all its folly and all its virtue, and to carry it through all the touching scenes in the varied and surprising fortunes of the people who believe in Joseph Smith as the prophet of God, from the day in which the doctrine was first broached amid the hatred and the de- rision of a few, to the present day, when the sect is too pow- erful and too sincere to be derided, is the object of the follow- ing pages. To avoid the appearance of unfriendliness towards men who — whatever the character or views of their former leaders may have been, or whatever may be thought of their own fa- naticism — are carrying on a great and remarkable work, but little understood, or even heard of, in this country, beygnd the VISIONS OF JOSEPH SMITH. 19 limits of their own body, we shall, whenever it is possible to do so, present their history in the words of their own writers, appending such statements on the other side as may be neces- sary for the exposition of the truth. The following particulars of the origin of the Book of Mormon, of the early life of Joseph Smith, and of his first appearance in the character of a man divinely inspired — to be the new Moses, or Mahomet of his generation — are extracted from the " Remarkable Visions," of Mr. Orson Pratt. This gentleman was formerly their emi- grational agent at Liverpool, and styles himself, in the title- page, " One of the twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints :" — " Mr. Joseph Smith, jun.," says this friendly narrator, " was born in the town of Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, on the 23d December, 1805. When ten years old, his parents, with their family, moved to Palmyra, New York, in the vi- cinity of which he resided for about eleven years, the latter part in the town of Manchester. He was a farmer by occupa- tion. His advantages for acquiring scientific knowledge were exceedingly small, being limited to a slight acquaintance with two or three of the common branches of learning. He could read without much difficulty, and write a very imperfect hand, and had a very limited understanding of the elementary rules of arithmetic. These were his highest and only attain- ments, while the rest of those branches so universally taught in the common schools throughout the United States were en- tirely unknown to him. When somewhere about fourteen oi fifteen years old, he began seriously to reflect upon the neceh- sity of being prepared for a future state of existence ; but how, or in what way to prepare himself, was a question aa yet undetermined in his own mind. He perceived that it was a question of infinite importance, and that the salvation of his soul depended upon a correct understanding of the same. He retired to a secret place in a grove, but a short 20 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. distance from his father's house, and knelt down and began to call upon the Lord. At first he was severely tempted by the powers of darkness, which endeavored to overcome him, but he continued to seek for deliverance until darkness gave way from his mind, and he was enabled to pray in fervency of the spirit, and in faith ; and while thus pouring out his soul, anxiously desiring an answer from God, he at length saw a very bright and glorious light in the heavens above, which at first seemed to be at a considerable distance. He con- tinued praying, while the light appeared to be gradually de- scending towards him ; and as it drew nearer it increased in brightness and magnitude, so that by the time it reached the tops of the trees the whole wilderness around was illuminated in a most glorious and brilliant manner. He expected to see the leaves and boughs of the trees consumed as soon as the light came in contact with them ; but perceiving that it did not produce that effect, he was encouraged with the hopes of being able to endure its presence. It continued descending slowly, until it rested upon the earth, and he was enveloped in the midst of it. When it first came upon him, it produced a peculiar sensation throughout his whole system ; and im- mediately his mind was caught away from the natural objects with which he was surrounded, and he was enwrapped in a heavenly vision, and saw two glorious personages, who exact- ly resembled each other in their features or likeness. He was informed that his sins were forgiven. He was also informed upon the subjects which had for some time previously agitated his mind — namely, that all the religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines, and consequently that none of them was acknowledged of God as his church and king- dom. And he was expressly commanded to go not after them ; and he received a promise that the true doctrine, the fulness of the Gospel, should at some future time be made known to him. After which the vision withdrew, leaving his mind in VISIONS OF JOSEPH SMITH. 21 a state of calmness and peace indescribable. Some time after having received this glorious manifestation, being young, he was again entangled in the vanities of the world, of which he afterwards sincerely and truly repented. " And it pleased God, on the evening of the 21st Septem- ber, A.D. 1823, to again hear his prayer. It seemed as though the house was filled with consuming fire. This sudden ap- pearance of a light so bright, as must naturally be expected, occasioned a shock of sensation visible to the extremities of the body. It was, however, followed by calmness and sereni- ty of mind, and an overwhelming rapture of joy, that sur- passed understanding, and, in a moment, a Personage stood before him. ** Notwithstanding the brightness of the light which pre- viously illuminated the room, yet there seemed to be an ad- ditional glory surrounding or accompanying this Personage, which shone with an increased degree of brilliancy, of which he was in the midst, and though his countenance was as lightning, yet it was of a pleasing, innocent, and glorious ap- pearance, so much so, that every fear was banished from his heart, and nothing but calmness pervS-ded his soul. " The stature of this Personage was a little above the com- mon size of men of his age ; his garment was perfectly white, and had the appearance of being without seam. " This glorious being declared himself to be an angel of God, sent forth by commandment to communicate to him that his sins were forgiven, and that his prayers were heard ; and also to bring the joyful tidings that the covenant which God made with ancient Israel concerning their posterity was at hand to be fulfilled : that the great preparatory work for the second coming of the Messiah was speedily to commence ; that the time was at hand for the Gospel, in its fulness, to be preached in power unto all nations, that a people might be 22 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. prepared with faith and righteousness for the Millennial reign of universal peace and joy. " He was informed that he was called and chosen to be an instrument in the hands of God, to bring about some of his marvellous purposes in this glorious dispensation. It was also made manifest to him that the ' American Indians' were a remnant of Israel ; that when they first emigrated to Ameri ca they were an enlightened people, possessing a knowledge of the true God, enjoying his favor and peculiar blessings from his hand ; that the prophets and inspired writers among them were required to keep a sacred history of the most important events transpiring among them, which history was handed down for many generations, till at length they fell into great wickedness. The greatest part of them were destroyed, and the- records were safely deposited, to preserve them from the ^ hands of the wicked, who sought to destroy them. He was informed that these records contained many sacred revelations pertaining to the Gospel of the kingdom, as well as prophecies relating to the great events of the last days ; and that to ful- fil his promises to the ancients, who wrote the records, and to accomplish his purposes in the restitution of their children, they were to come forth to the knowledge of the people. If faithful, he was to be the instrument who should be thus highly favored in bringing these sacred writings before the world. After giving him many instructions concerning things past and to come, he disappeared, and the light and glory of God withdrew, leaving his mind in perfect peace, while a calmness and serenity indescribable pervaded his soul. But before morning the vision was twice renewed, instructing him further and still further concerning the great work of God about to be performed on the earth. In the morning he went out to his labor as usual, but soon the vision was renewed the angel again appeared, and having been informed, by the previous visions of the night, concerning the place where those Uir.L ON WHICH THE PLATES WERE FOUND. VISIONS OF JOSEPH SMITH. 25 records were deposited, he was instructed to go immediately and view tliem. *' Accordingly he repaired to the place, a brief description of which shall be given in the words of a gentleman named Oliver Cowdery, who has visited the spot : — " ' As you pass on the mail-road from Palmyra, Wayne county, to Canandaigua, Ontario county. New York, before arriving at the little village of Manchester, say from three to four, or about four miles from Palmyra, you pass a large hill on the east side of the road, " * It was at the second-mentioned place where the record was found to be deposited, on the west side of the hill, not far from the top down its side ; and when myself visited the spot in the year 1830, there were several trees standing — enough to cause a shade in summer, but not so much as to prevent the surface being covered with grass — which was also the case when the record was first found, " ' How far below the surface these records were placed 1 am unable to say, but from the fact that they had been some fourteen hundred years buried, and that, too, on the side of a hill so steep, one is ready to conclude that they were some feet below, as the earth would naturally wear, more or less, in that length of time. But being placed towards the top of the hill, the ground would not remove as much as two thirds perhaps. Another circumstance would prevent another wear- ing of the earth — in all probability, as soon as timber had time to grow, the hill was covered, and the roots of the same would hold the surface. " ' However, on this point I shall leave every man to draw his own conclusion, and form his own speculation : but, suf- fice to say, a hole of sufficient depth was dug. At the bottom of this lay a stone of suitable size, the upper surface being smooth. At each edge was placed a large quantity of cement, and into this cement, at the four edges of this stone wer^ 2 26 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. placed erect fojr others, their bottom edges resting in the cement at the outer edges of the first stone. The four last named when placed erect, formed a box ; the corners, or where the edges of the four came in contact, were also ce- mented so firmly that the moisture from without was prevent- ed from entering. It is to be observed also that the inner surfaces of the four erect or side stones were smooth. This box was sufiiciently large to admit a breastplate such as was used by the ancients to defend the chest from the arrows and weapons of their enemy. From the bottom of the box, or from the breastplate, arose three small pillars, composed of the same description of cement used on the edges ; and upon these three pillars were placed the records. * This box con- taining the records was covered with another stone, the bot- tom surface being flat, and the upper crowning.' " When it was first visited by Mr. Smith, on the morning of the 22d of September, 1823, * a part of the crowning stone was visible above the surface, while the edges were concealed by the soil and grass.' From which circumstance it may be seen ' that, however deep this box might have been placed at first, the time had been sufiicient to wear the earth, so that it was easily discovered, when once directed, and yet not enough to make a perceivable difference to the passer-by.' * After arriving at the repository, a little exertion in removing the soil from the edges of the top of the box, and a light lever, brought to his natural vision its contents.' While viewing and contemplating this sacred treasure, with wonder and as- tonishment — behold I the angel of the Lord, who had previ- ously visited him, again stood in his presence, and his soul was again enlightened as it was the evening before, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and the heavens were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about and rested upon him. While he thus stood gazing and admiring the angel said, ' Look !' And, as he thus spake, he beheld the Princo THE GOLDEN PLATES. 27 of Darkness, surrounded by his innumerable train of associates. All this passed before him, and the heavenly messenger said, * All this is shown, the good and the evil, the holy and impure, the glory of God and the power of darkness, that you may know hereafter the two powers, and never be influenced or overcome by the wicked one. You cannot at this time obtain this record, for the commandment of God is strict, and if ever these sacred things are obtained, they must be by prayer and faithfulness in obeying the Lord. They are not deposited here for the sake of accumulating gain and wealth for the glory of this world ; they were sealed by the prayer of faith, and because of the knowledge which they contain ; they are of no worth among the children of men only for their knowl- edge. In them is contained the fulness of the Gospel of Je- sus Christ, as it was given to his people on this land ; and when it shall be brought forth by the power of God, it shall be carried to the Gentiles, of whom many will receive it, and after will the seed of Israel be brought into the field of their Redeemer by obeying it also.' " ' During the period of the four following years, he fre- quently received instruction from the mouth of the heaven- ly messenger. And on the mining of the 22d of September, A.D. 1827, the angel of the Lord delivered the records into his hands. " These records were engraved on plates, which had the appearance of gold. Each plate was not far from seven by eight inches in width and length, being not quite as thick as common tin. They were filled on both sides with engravings in Egyptian characters, and bound together in a volume a? the leaves of a book, and fastened at one edge with three rings running through the whole. This volume was some- thing near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed. The characters or letters upon the unsealed part were small and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many 28 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. marks of antiquity in its construction, as well as much skill in the art of enjrraving. With the records was found ' a cu- rious instrument, called by the ancients the XJrim and Thum- mim, which consisted of two transparent stones, clear as crys- tal, set in the two rims of a bow. This was in use in ancient times, by persons called seers. It was an instrument by the use of which they received revelation of things distant, or of things past or future.' " Having provided himself with a home, he commenced translating the record, by the gift and power of God, through the means of the Urim and Thummim ; and being a poor writer, he was under the necessity of employing a scribe to write the translation as it came from his mouth. " In the meantime, a few of the original characters were accurately described and translated by Mr. Smith, which, with the translation, were taken by a gentleman, by the name of Martin Harris, to the city of New York, where they were presented to a learned gentleman of the name of Anthon, who professed to be extensively acquainted with many languages, both ancient and modern. He examined them, but was un- able to decipher them correctly ; but he presumed that if the original records could be brought, he could assist in translat- ing them. " But to return — Mr. Smith continued the work of transla- tion, as his pecuniary circumstances would permit, until he finished the unsealed part of the records. The part translated iB entitled the ' Book of Mormon,' which contains nearly as much reading as the Old Testament. " After the book was translated, the Lord raised up wit- nesses to the nations of its truth, who, at the close of the vol* ume, send forth their testimony, which reads as follows : JOSEPH'S WITNESSES. 29 '« ' TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES. " ' Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that we through the Grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken ; and we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us ; wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true, and we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates ; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare, with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon ; and we know it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true, and it is marvellous in our eyes ; nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it ; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen. " ' Oliver Cowdert. David Whitmer. Martin Harris. i( < testimony of eight witnesses. " ' Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, unto whom this work shall come, that Joseph Smith, jun,, the translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold : as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated we did handle 30 HISTORY OF TilE MORMONS. with our hands; and we also saw the engi-avings thereon, all of which have the appearance of ancient work, and of curious work- manship. And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and lighted, and know of a surety that the said Smith has got the plates of wliich we have spoken : and we give our names unto the world of that which we have seen ; and we lie not, God bearing witness of it. " ' John Whitmee. Christian Whitmer. Jacob Whitmer. Peter Whitmer, jun. Hiram Page. Joseph Smith, sen. HtrujM Smith. Samuel H. Smith.' " Such is the story of a friend, derived from statements made at various times by the "Prophet" himself. It will be seen, that the witnesses of its truth were principally of the two families of Whitmer and Smith. The Smiths were the father and brothers of Joseph. Who the Wliitmers were is not clear — and all clue to their character and proceedings since this date, though probably known to the Morm.ons themselves, is undiscoverable by the "profane vulgar." As, in the his- tory of an imposture so remarkable as this, the narrative of the principal actor becomes both curious and important, the following account of the matter is extracted from the auto- biography of Joseph Smith, which was published in the " Mil- lennial Star :" — "So great was the confusion and strife among the different religious denominations, that it was impossible for a person, young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong. My mind at difierent times was greatly excited, the cry and tumult was so great and incessant. The Presbyte- JOSEPH'S ACCOUNT OF THE VISION. 31 lians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists, and used all their powers of either reason or sophistry to prove their errors, or at least to make the people think they were in error. On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous to establish their own tenets and disprove all others. " In the midst of this war and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself, what is to be done ? Who of all these parties are right ? or are they all wrong together ? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it ? " While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties, caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I wa? one day reading the epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads, ' If any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth unto all men liberally and upbraidetb not, and it shall be given him.' Never did any passage of Scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did ; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, would never know ; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passage so differently as to destroy all confidence in set- tling the question by an appeal to the Bible. At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to * ask of God,' concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally and not upbraid, I might venture. So, in accordance with this my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first 32 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never yet made the attempt to pray vocally. " After I had retired into the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me and finding myself alone, I kneeled dov^n and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such astonishing influence over me, as to bind my tongue, so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction. But exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruc- tion, not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some ac- tual being from the unseen world, who had such a marvellous power as I had never before felt in any being. Just at this moment of great alarm, I saAV a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon mc, I saw two person- ages, whose brightness and glory defy ali description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name, and said (pointing to the other) — ' this is my be- loved son, hear him.' " My object in going to inquire of the Lord, was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the personages who stood " above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at tliis time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong), and which I should join. I was answered that I JOSEPH AND THE " PERSONAGE." 3& must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the per- sonage who addressed me said, ' that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight ; that those professors were all cor- rupt, they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me ; they teach for doctrine the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof He again forbade me to join with any of them ; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. Some few davs after I had this vision, I happened to be in company with one of the Methodist preachers who was very active in the before-mentioned religious excitement, and conversing with him on the subject of religion, I took occasion to give him an account of the vision which I had had. I was greatly surprised at his behavior ; he treated my communication not only lightly, but with great contempt, saying it was all of the devil, that there were no such things as visions or revelations in these days ; that all such things had ceased with the apos- tles, and that there never would be any more of them. I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause of great persecution, which continued to in- crease ; and though I was an obscure boy, only between four- teen and fifteen years of age, and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world, yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me, and create a hot persecution, and this was common among all the sects ; all united to persecute me. It has often caused me serious reflection, both then and since, how very strange it was that an obscure boy of a little over fourteen years of age, and one, too, who was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty maintenance by his daily labor, should be thought a character of sufficient importance 3 34 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. to attract the attention of the great ones of the most jjopular Beets of the day, so as to create in them a spirit of the hottest persecution and reviling. But strange or not, so it was, and was often cause of great sorrow to myself However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had a vision. I have thought since that I felt much like Paul when he made his defence before king Agrippa, and related the account* of the vision he had when he ' saw a light and heard a voice,' but still there were but few who believed him ; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad, and he was ridiculed and reviled ; but all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise ; and though they should persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would know un- til his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking to him, and all the world could not make him believe otherwise. — So it was with me ; I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two persona- ges, and they did in reality speak unto me, or one of them did ; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true ; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart, why persecute for telling the truth ? I have actually seen a vision, and ' who am 1 that I can withstand" God ?' or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen ? for I had seen a vision ; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dare I do it ; at least, 1 knew that by so doing I would offend God and come under condemnation. I had now got my mind satisfied, so far as the sectarian world was concerned, that it was not my duty to join with any one of them, but continue as I was until further directed."* * History of Joseph Smith, Millennial Star, vol, iii., No. 2. p. 21. VISIT OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. 35 Without stopping to inquire whether Joseph were a knave or a lunatic — a cool, calculating impostor — or a weak-minded enthusiast, who, in the visions of a distempered brain, fancied and believed that he saw things which he has thus reported, we proceed to the next incident. Having seen God the Fa- ther and God the Son, he was in a short time afterwards, as he tells the world, favored with a visit and a communication from John the Baptist I The circumstance is thus recorded by himself in the "Millennial Star," vol. iii., page 148 : — " While we (Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery) were thus employed (in the work of translation), praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us, saying unto us, 'Upon you, my fellow-servants, in the name of the Mes- siah, 1 confer the priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins ; and this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.' He said this Aaronic priesthood had not the power of laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, but that this should be conferred on us hereafter ; and he commanded us to go and be baptized, and gave us directions that I should baptize Oliver Cowdery, and afterwards that he should baptize me. Accordingly, we went and were baptized. I baptized him first, and afterwards he baptized me. After which I laid my hands upon his head, and ordained him to the Aaronic priest- hood ; afterwards he laid his hands on me, and ordained me to the same priesthood, for so we were commanded. The messenger who visited us on this occasion, and conferred this priesthood upon us, said that his name was John, the same that is called John the Baptist in the New Testament, and that he acted under the direction of Peter, James, and John, who held the keys of the priesthood of Melchizedek, which 36 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. priesthood, he said, should in due time be conferred on us, and that 1 should be called the first elder, and he the second. It was on the 15th day of May, 1829, that we were baptized and ordained under the hand of the Messenger." The scheme was now ripe for a fuller development ; but as we have hitherto had the story as in the words of Joseph him- self, and of his ardent disciples, Mr. Orson Pratt and the " witnesses," it is necessary to go back a little, and narrate a few circumstances relative to one of the most important of these witnesses, and to the manner in which he was originally induced to become a believer in the " prophet" and his book. It will also be necessary to inquire whether the statements of Mr. Pratt, with reference to Professor Anthon, were admitted by that gentleman. Joseph Smith having made known his doctrine to various persons, the wonderful plates began to be talked' about. Among the persons who were originally most disposed to join the new sect was the Mr. Martin Harris whose name appears along with those of other witnesses in the above testimony. This Martin Harris was a farmer, who appears to have been possessed of more money than wit, and of more credulity than judgment. His religious opinions were unsettled, as he was at one time a member of the Society of Friends, afterwards a Wesleyan, then a Baptist, and, at the time when Joseph Smith made his acquaintance, a Presbyterian. He was at once captivated by the doctrines and pretensions of Joseph, a-nd lent the " prophet" the sum of fifty dollars to enable him to publish his new Bible. Joseph, though asked by Martin Harris to show the plates, refused, on the pretence that he was not pure of heart enough to be allowed a sight of such treasures ; but he generously made a transcript of a portion of them upon paper, which he told him to submit to any learned scholar in the world, if he wished to be satisfied Martin Harris was an earnest man, and he set out from Pal MARTIN HARRIS. 37 myra to New York, to visit Professor Anthon, a gentleman of the highest reputation, both in America and Europe, and well known for his valuable and correct editions of the classics. He found the Professor, and submitted the plates to him. The Mormons at this time were too insignificant to excite atten- tion, and the result of Marl in Harris's interview with the learned man was not known until three or four years after- wards, when a report having been spread abroad by the Mor- mons that the Professor had seen the plates, and pronounced the inscriptions to be in the Egyptian character, that gentle- man was requested by a letter directed to him by Mr. E. D. Howe, of Painesville, Ohio, to declare whether such was the fact ? Professor Anthon returned the following answer, de- tailing his interview with the simple-minded Mr. Harris : — ''New York, Feb. 17, 1834. " Dear Sir. — I received your letter of the 9th, and lose no time in making a reply. The whole story about my pronouncing the Mor- monite inscription to be ' Reformed Egyptian Hieroglyphics,' is per- fectly false. Some years ago a plain, apparently simple-hearted, farmer called on me wiih a note from Dr. Mitchell, of our city, now dead, requesting me to decipher, if possible, a paper which the farmer would hand me. Upon examining the paper in question, 1 soon came to the conclusion that it was all a trick, perhaps a hoax. When I asked the person who brought it how he obtained the writing, he gave me the following account : — A ' gold book,' consist- ing of a number of plates fastened together by wires of the same material, had been dug up in the northern part of the State of New York, and along with it an enormous pair of ' spectacles !' These spectacles were so large, that if any person attempted to look through them, his two eyes would look through one glass only ; the specta- cles in question being altogether too large for the human face. 'Whoever,' he said, ' examined the plates through the glasses was enabled not only to read them, but fully to understand their meaning. All this knowledge, however, was confined to a young man, who had the trunk containing the book and spectacles in his sole posses- 38 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. sion. This young man was placed behind a curtain, in a garret, in a farm-house, and being thus concealed from view, he put on the spectacles occasionally, or rather, looked through one of the glasses, deciphered the characters in the book, and having committed some of them to paper, handed copies from behind the curtain to those who stood outside.' Not a word was said about their having been deciphered by the ' gift of God.' Everything in this way was ef- fected by the large pair of spectacles. The farmer added, that he had been requested to contribute a sum of money towards the publi- cation of tiie ' golden book,' the contents of which would, as he was told, produce an entire change in the world, and save it from ruin. So urgent had been these solicitations, that he intended selling his farm, and giving the amount to those who wished to publish the plates. As a last precautionary step, he had resolved to come to New York, and obtain the opinion of the learned about the meaning of the paper which he had brought with him, and which had been given him as part of the contents of the book, although no transla- tion had at that time been made by the young man with the specta- cles. On hearing this odd story, I changed my opinion about the paper, and instead of viewing it any longer as a hoax, I began to regard it as part of a scheme to cheat the farmer of his money, and I communicated my suspicions to him, warning him to beware of rogues. lie requested an opinion from me in writing, which of course, I declined to give, and he then took his leave, taking his pa- per with him. " This paper, in question, was in fact a singular scroll. It con- sisted of all kinds of crooked characters, disposed in columns, and had evidently been prepared by some person who had before him at the time a book containing various alphabets, Greek and Hebrew letters, crosses, and flourishes ; Roman letters inverted or placed sideways, were arranged and placed in perpendicular columns; and the whole ended in a rude delineation of a circle, divided into various compi^rtmcnts, decked with various strange marks, and evidently copied after the Mexican Calendar, given by Humboldt, but copied in such a way as not to betray the source whence it was derived. I am thus particular as to the contents of the paper, inasmuch as I liave frequently conversed with my friends on the subject since the THE BOOK OF MORMON. 39 Mormon excitement began, and well remember that the paper con- tained anything else but ' Egyptian Hieroglyphics.' " Some time after the same farmer paid me a second visit. He brought with him the ' gold book' in print, and offered it to me for sale. I declined purchasing. He then asked permission to leave the book with me for examination. I declined receiving it, although his manner was strangely urgent. I adverted once more to the roguery which, in my opinion, had been practised upon him, *and asked him what had become of the gold plates. He informed me that they were in a trunk with the spectacles. I advised him to go to a magistrate and have the trunk examined. He said, ' The curse of God' would come upon him if he did. On my pressing him, how- ever, to go to a magistrate, he told me he would open the trunk if 1 would take the ' curse of God' upon myself. I replied I would do so with the greatest willingness, and would incur every risk of that nature, provided I could only extricate him from the grasp of rogues ; he then left me. I have given you a full statement of all that I know respecting the origin of Mormonism, and must beg you, as a personal favor, to publish this letter immediately, should you find my name mentioned again by these wretched fanatics. " Yours respectfully, " Chakles Antiion." This letter speaks for itself, and needs no comment. The following summary of the contents of the Book of Mormon,- thus strangely issued into the world, is from a publication called the Voice of Warning, by Parley P. Pratt, another apostle : — " The Book of Mormon contains the history of the ancient inhab- itants of America, who were a branch of the house of Israel, of the tribe of Joseph ; of whom the Indians are still a remnant ; but the principal nation of them having fallen in battle, in the fourth or fifth century, one of their prophets, whose name was Mormon, saw fit to make an abridgment of their history, their prophecies, and their doc- trine, which he engraved on plates, and afterwards, being slain, the record fell into the hands of his son Moroni, who, being hunted by 40 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. his enemies, was directed to deposit the record safely in the eartli, with a promise from God that it should be preserved, and should be brought to light in the latter days by means of a Gentile nation, who should possess the land. The deposit was made about the year 420, on a hill then called Cumora, now in Ontario county, where it was preserved in safety until it was brought to light by no less than the ministry of angels, and translated by inspiration. And the great Jehovah bore record of the same to chosen witnesses, who declare it to the world." The question will be asked, could Joseph Smith, a notori- ously illiterate, though clever man, really write the Book of Mormon ? Without pretending to state positively that Joseph Smith was not the sole author of the volume, or that he was not aided by other persons in its composition, we present the following short history, which the American opponents of Mormonism consider to be a true statement of its origin. . It is stated by them that, in the year 1809, a man of the name of Solomon Spaulding, who had formerly been a cler- gyman, failed in business at a place called Cherry Y alley, in the State of New York. Being a person of literary tastes, and his attention having been directed to the notion which at that time excited some interest and discussion, namely, that the North American Indians were the descendants of the lost ten tribes of Israel, it struck him that the idea afforded a good groundwork for a religious tale, history, or novel. For three years he labored upon this work, which he entitled The Manuscript Found. " Mormon" and his son " Moroni," who net so large a part in Joseph Smith's Book of Mormon, were two of the principal characters in it. In 1812 the MS. was presented to a printer or bookseller, named Patterson, residing at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a view to its publication. Before any satisfactory arrangement could be made, the author died, and the manuscript remained in the possession of Mr. Patterson, apparently unnoticed and uncared for. The printer THE BOOK OF MORMON. 41 also (lied in 1826, having previously lent the manuscript to one Sidney Rigdon, a compositor in his employ, who was at the time a preacher in connection with some Christian sect, of which the proper designation is not y^ry clearly stated. This R-igdon afterwards hecame, next to Joseph Smith him- self, the principal leader of the Mormons. How Joseph Smith and this person became connected is not known, and which of the two originated the idea of making a new Bible out of Solomon Spaulding's novel is equally uncertain. The wife, the partner, several friends, and the brother of Solomon Spaulding, affirmed, however, the identity of the principal portions of the Book of Mormon with the novel of The Man- uscript Found, which the author had from time to time, and in separate portions, read over to them. John Spaulding, brother to Solomon, declared upon oath that his brother's book was an historical romance of the first settlers in America, en- deavoring to show that the American Indians are the descend- ants of Jews, or the lost ten tribes. He stated that it gave a detailed account of their journey from Jerusalem by land and by sea, till they arrived in America ujider the command of Nephi and Lehi ; and that it also mentioned the Laman- ites. He added that " he had recently read the Book of Mor- mon, and, to his great surprise, he found nearly the same his- torical matter and names as in his brother's writinsfs. To the best of his recollection and belief, it was the same that his brother Solomon wrote, with the exception of the religious matter." The widow of Solomon Spaulding afterwards married a Mr. Davison ; and a statement, purporting to have been made by her in the following words, was published in a Boston news- paper in May, 1839 : — " As the Book of Mormon, or Golden Bible (as it was originally called) has excited much attention, and is deemed by a certain new 3 42 HISTORY OF TUE MORMONS. sect of equal authority with the Sacred Scriptures, I think it a duty which I owe to the public to state what I know touching its origin. " That its claims to a divine origin are wholly unfounded needs no proof to a mind unperverted by the grossest delusions. That any sane person should rank it higher than any other merely human composition is a matter of the greatest astonishment ; yet it is re- ceived as divine by some who dwell in enlightened New England, and even by those who have sustained the character of devoted Christians. Learning recently that Mormonism had found its way into a church in Massachusetts, and has impregnated some with its gross delusions, so that excommunication has been necessary, I am determined to delay no longer in doing what I can to strip the mask from this mother of sin, and to lay open this pit of abominations. " Solomon Spaulding, to whom I was united in marriage in early life, was a graduate of Dartmouth College, and was distinguished for a lively imagination, and a great fondness for history. At the time of our marriage, he resided in Cherry Valley, New York. From this place, we removed to New Salem, Ashtabula County, Ohio, sometimes called Conneaut, as it is situated on Conneaut Creek. Shortly after our removal to this place, his health sunk, and he was laid aside from active labors. In the town of New Salem there are numerous mounds and forts supposed by many to be the dilapidated dwellings and fortifications of a race now extinct. These ancient relics arrest the attention of the new settlers, and become objects of research for the curious. Numerous implements were found, and other articles evincing great skill in the arts. Mr. Spaulding being an educated man, and passionately fond of history, took a lively in- terest in these developments of antiquity ; and in order to beguile the hours of retirement, and furnish employment for his lively im- agination, he conceived the idea of giving an historical sketch of this long lost race. Their extreme antiquity led him to write in the most ancient style, and as the Old Testament is the most ancient book in the world, he imitated its style as nearly as possible. His sole object in writing this imaginary history was to amuse himself and his neighbors. This was about the year 1812. Hull's surren- der at Detroit occurred near the same time, and I recollect the date well from that circumstance. As he progressed in his narrative, niE BOOK OF MORMON, 43 the neighbors would come in from time to time to hear portions read, and a great interest in the work was excited among them. It claim- ed to have been written by one of the lost nation, and to have been recovered from the earth, and assumed the title of ' Manuscript found.' The neighbors would often inquire how Mr. Spaulding progressed in deciphering the manuscript ; and when he had a suf- ficient portion prepared, he would inform them, and they would as- semble to hear it read. He was enabled, from his acquaintance with the classics and ancient history, to introduce many singular names, which were particularly noticed by the people, and could be easily recognized by them. Blr. Solomon Spaulding had a brother, Mr. John Spaulding, residing in the place at the time, who was perfect- ly familiar with the work, and repeatedly heard the whole of it read. From New Salem we removed to Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania. Here Mr. Spaulding found a friend and acquaintance, in the person of Mr. Patterson, an editor of a newspaper. He exhibited his manuscript to Mr. Patterson, who was very much pleased with it, and borrowed it for perusal. He retained it for a long time, and informed Mr. Spaulding that if he would make out a title-page and preface, he would publish it, and it might be a source of profit. This Mr. Spaulding refused to do. Sidney Rigdon, who has figured so largely in the history of the Mormons, was at that tune connected with the print- ing-office of Mr. Patterson, as is well known in that region, and as Rigdon himself has frequently stated, became acquainted with Mr. Spaulding's manuscript, and copied it. It was a matter of notoriety and interest to all connected with the printing establishment. At length the manuscript was returned to its author, and soon after wo removed to x\mity, Washington county, &c., where Mr. Spaulding deceased in 1816. The manuscript then fell into my hands, and was carefully preserved. It has frequently been examined by my daughter Mrs. IM'Kenstry, of Monson, Massachusetts, with whom I now reside, and by other friends. " After the book of Mormon came out, a copy of it was taken to New Salem, the place of Mr. Spaulding's former residence, and the very place where the manuscript found was written. A woman- preacher appointed a meeting there ; and in the meeting read and repeated copious extracts from the book of Mormon. The historical part was immediately recognized by all the older inhabitants, as the 44 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. identical work of Mr. Spaulding, in which they had all been so deep- ly interested years before. Mr. John Spauldlng was present and recognized perfectly the work of his brother. He was amazed and afflicted that it should have been perverted to so wicked a purpose. His grief found vent in a flood of tears, and he arose on the spot, and expressed to the meeting his sorrow and regret that the writings of his deceased brother should be used for a purpose so vile and shocking. The excitement in New Salem became so great, that t'..e inhabitants had a meeting, and deputed Dr. Philastus Hurlbut, one of their number, to repair to this place, and to obtain from me the original manuscript of Mr. Spaulding, for the purpose of com- paring it with the Mormon Bible, to satisfy their own minds, and to prevent their friends from embracing an error so delusive. This was in the year 1834. Dr. Hurlbut brought with him an introduc- tion and request for the manuscript, which was signed by Messrs. Henry Lake, Aaron Wright, and others, with all of whom I was acquainted, as they were my neighbors when I resided at New Sa- lem. I am sure that nothing would grieve my husband more, \^re he living, than the use which has been made of his work. The air of antiquity which was thrown about the composition, doubtless sug- gested the idea of converting it to the purposes of delusion. Thus, an historical romance, with the addition of a few pious expressions, and extracts from the sacred Scriptures, has been construed into a new Bible, and palmed off upon a company of poor deluded fanatics as Divine. I have given the previous brief narration, that this work of deep deception and wickedness may be searched to the foundation, and the authors exposed to the contempt and execration they so justly deser\'e. " Matilda Davison.'* The Dr. Hurlbut mentioned in Mrs. Davison's statement was once a believer in Joseph Smith, and a member of tho church. According to his own account, he seceded, because his eyes were opened to the imposture and delusion of which he had been the victim. According to the Mormon account, he was expelled for adultery and other immorality. With this preface, the following coarse denial of Mrs. Davison's THE BOOK OF MORMON. 45 statement, and fierce denunciation of Dr. Hurlbut, will be in- telligible. The denial was made by Sidney Rigdon, who was himself accused of being the principal agent of the fraud, and was addressed, on the 27tli of May, 1839, to the editors of the Bosto7i Journal. It will be seen from the tone and spirit, no less than from the grammatical construction of the letter, that Sidney Rigdon, although a compositor, was by no means so well educated as the bulk of his fellow- workmen in that intellectual branch of mechanical industry, and that his lit- erary abilities were of the meanest order : — " Commerce, May 27, 1839. "Messrs. Bartlett and Sullivan, — In your paper of the 18th instant, I see a letter signed by somebody calling herself Matilda Davison, pretending to give the origin of Mormonism, as she is pleased to call it, by relating a moonshine story about a certain Solomor Spaulding, a creature with the knowledge of whose earthly existence I am entirely indebted to this production ; for surely, until Dr. J?hi- lastus Hurlbut informed me that such a being lived, at some former period, I had not the most distant knowledge of his exis-tence ; and all I now know about his character is, the opinion I form from what is attributed to his wife, in obtruding my name upon the public in the manner in which she is said to have done, by trying to make the public believe that I had knowledge of the ignorant, and, according to her own testimony, the lying scribblings of her deceased husband ; for if her testimony is to be credited, her pious husband, in his life- time, wrotet a bundle of lies for the righteous purpose of getting money. How many lies he had told for the same purpose, while he was preaching, she has not so kindly informed us ; but we are ai liberty to draw our own conclusions, for he that would write lies to get money, would also preach lies for the same object. This being the only information which I have, or ever had, of the said Rev. Sol- omon Spaulding, I, of necessity, have but a very light opinion of him as a gentleman, a scholar, or a man of piety ; for had he been either, he certainly would have taught his pious wife not to lie, nor unite herself with adulterers, liars, and the basest of mankind. " It is only necessary to say, in relation to the whole story about 46 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. Spaulding's writings being in the hands of Mr. Patterson, who was in Pittsburgh, and who is said to have kept a printing-office, and my saying that I was concerned in the said office, &.C., &c., is the most base of lies, without even the shadow of truth. There was no man by the name of Patterson, during my residence at Pittsburgh, who had a printing-office ; what might have been before ] lived there 1 know not. Mr. Robert Patterson, I was told, had owned a printing- office before I lived in that city, but had been unfortunate in busi- ness, and failed before my residence there. This Mr. Patterson, who was a Presbyterian preacher, I had a very slight acquaintance with during my residence in Pittsburgh. He was then acting under an agency, in the book and stationery business, and was the owner of no property of any kind, printing-office or anything else, during the time I resided in the city. " If I were to say that I ever heard of the Rev. Solomon Spauld- ing and his hopeful wife, until Dr. P. Hurlbut wrote his lie about me, I should be a liar like unto themselves. Why was not the tes- timony of Mr. Patterson obtained to give force to this shameful tale of lies ? The only reason is, that he was not a fit tool for them to ^ork with ; he would not lie for them, for if he were called on he would testify to what I have here said. " Let me here, Gentlemen, give a history of this Dr. P. Hurlbut and his associates, who aided in getting up and propagating this oatch of lies. " I have seen and heard, at one time and another, by the persecu- tors and haters of the truth, a great deal about the eminent phy- sician, Dr. Hurlbut. I never thought the matter worthy of notice, nor probably ever should, had it not made its appearance in your paper, or some one of equal respectability. And I believe, Gen- Wemen, had you known the whole history of this budget of lies, i would never have found a place in your paper. But to my history. " This said Doctor was never a physician at any time, nor any- thing else but a base ruffian. He was the seventh son, and his parents called him Doctor ; it was his name, and not the title of his profession. '• He once belonged to the Methodist church, and was exclud?d for immoralities. He afterwards imposed himself on the church of Ijatter-Day Saints, nnd was excluded for using obscene lanrruage to THE BOOK OF MORMON. 47 a young lady, a member of the said church, who resented his in- sult with indignation, which became both her character and profes- sion. " After his exclusion he swore — for he was vilely profane — that he would have revenge, and commenced his work. He soon found assistance ; a pious old deacon of the Campbellite church, by the name of Onis Clapp, and his two sons, Thomas J. Clapp and Mat- thew S. Clapp, both Campbellite preachers, abetted and assisted by another Campbellite preacher by the name of Adamson Bentley. Hurlbut went to work, catering lies for the company. Before Hurl- but got through, his conduct became so scandalous that the company utterly refused to let his name go out with the lies he had collected, and which he and his associates had made, they therefore substituted the name of E. D. Howe. The change, however, was not much better. There were scandalous immoralities about the Howe family of so black a character, that they had nothing to Jose, and became good tools for this holy company to work with. A man of character would never have put his name to a work which Hurlbut was con- cerned in. But while Hurlbut was busily employed in the service of the company, old Deacon Clapp was employed in taking care of his wife. How many others of the company aided in this business must be left to futurity to disclose. At a certain time, Hurlbut being out till a late hour in the night, returned to his house, and in going to his bed-room where his wife was, behold, and lo ! there was the pious old deacon, either in bed with his wife or at the side of it. He had a five-dollar bank note in his hand, and his dress was rather light to suit the doctor's taste, for he was not quite as well off as was Aaron when he offered sacrifice, not even having on a pair of 'linen breeches.' Hurlbut laid hold of him and called for help, which soon came to his assistance. The pious old deacon was ar- raigned before a justice of the peace, and was on the eve of being bound over for his appearance to the county court, when, to put an end to the evils which might result from his pious care of Mrs. Hurlbut, he kindly offered a yoke of oxen and a hundred dollars. This was accepted. Hurlbut took his wife, and left the country forthwith ; and the pious old deacon and his sons, and the good Mr. Bentley, are left to wear out the shame of their great effort to de- stroy the character of innocent men whom thev never dared to meet 48 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. in argument. The tale in your paper is one hatched up by tlr.s gang before the time of their explosion. "It has always been a source of no ordinary satisfaction to me, to know that my enemies have no better weapon to use against me, or the cause in which I am engaged, than lies ; for if they had any bet- ter they would certainly use them. I must confess, however, that there is some consistency in our persecutors, for as truth can never destroy truth, it would be in vain for our persecutors to use truth against us, for this would only build us up ; this they seem to know, and lay hold of the only available means they have, which are lies ; and this indeed is the only weapon which can be, or ever has been, used against the truth. As our persecutors are endeavoring to stop the progress of truth, I must confess that they act with a degree of consistency in the choice of means, namely, lies ; but if truth would do it, they would surely not have recourse to lies. " In order to give character to their lies, they dress them up with a great deal of piety : for a pious lie, you know, has a great deal more influence with an ignorant people, than a profane on£. Hence their lies came signed by the pious wife of a pious deceased priest. However, his last act of piety seems to have been to write a bundle of lies, themselves being witnesses ; but then his great piety sanc- tifies them, and lies become holy things in the hands of such exces- sive piety, particularly when they are graced with a few Reverends ; but the days have gone by when people are to be deceived by these false glossings of Reverend's sanctions ; the intelligent part of the communities of all parts of the country, know that Reverends are not more notorious for truth than their neighbors. " The only reason why I am assailed by lies is, that my opposera dare not venture on argument, knowing that if they do they fall. They try, therefore, to keep the public from investigating, by pub- lishing and circulating falsehoods. This I consider a high encomium on both myself and the cause I defend. Respectfully, « S. RiGDON." We believe that upon this evidence, the question of the au- thorship of the original romance on which the Book of Mor- mon was founded, will be decided by the reader in favor of Solomon Spaulding. As regards the Book of Mormon itsell, THE BOOK OP MORMON". 49 Joseph Smith and the vulgar and abusive Sidney Rigdon seem to have acted in concert in its concoction from materials thus provided for them. The religious matter derived from the Old and New Testaments is engrafted upon the original romance in a manner that shows the ignorant and the illiter- ate workman. Such phrases as the following are of frequent occurrence: — "Ye are like unto they" — "Do as ye hath hitherto done" — " I — the Lord delighteth in the chastity of women" — "I saith unto them" — "I who ye call your King" — " These things had not ought to be" — " Ye saith unto him" — " For a more history part are written upon my other plates." Anachronisms are also frequent ; but all errors of grammar, all anachronisms, all contradictions, are admitted by the Mor- mons. They allege that the Old and New Testaments contain ungrammatical passages, and yet are holy, and the undoubted word of God ; and that anachronisms and contradictions do not militate against the plenary inspiration either of the Bible or of the Book of Mormon. They acknowledge all possible faults and objections which mere critics may start ; but treat them as of no account. Joseph Smith, they say, was the chosen vessel of grace, and it was not necessary, in the inscru- table purposes of the Lord, that he should write or speak cor- rect English ; or that he should not make a few human mis- takes in his rendering of the divine word. All such objections they laugh to scorn. Joseph Smith, who, on all occasions of doubt, silenced the uninformed, and amazed the educated, by the boldness of his own self-sufficiency, and the boundless resources of his impu- dence, was often asked, both by friends and foes, the meaning of the word " Mormon." The following reply, as published in a letter to the editor of the Times and Seasons, is highly characteristic : — " Sir, — Through the medium of your paper, I wish to correct an error among men that profess to be learned, liberal, and wise; and aO HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. I do it the more cheerfully, because I hope sober-thinking and sound reasoning i^eople will sooner listen to the voice of truth, than be led astray by the vain pretensions of the self-wise. The error I speak of is the definition of the word ' Mormon.' It has been stated that this word was derived from the Greek word mormo. This is not the case. There was no Greek or Latin upon the plates from which I, through the grace of God, translated the Book of Mormon. Let the language of that book speak for itself. On the 523rd page of the fourth edition, it reads : — ' And now behold we have written the record according to our knowledge in the characters, which are called among us the Reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us according to our manner of speech ; and if our plates were sufficiently large, we should have written in Hebrew. Behold ye would have had no imperfections in our record, but the Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and also, that none other people knoweth our language ;" therefore he hath prepared means for the interpretation thereof.' " Here, then, the subject is put to silence, for ' none other people knoweth our language ;' therefore the Lord, and not man, hath to interpret, after the people were all d^ad. And, as Paul said, ' the world by wisdom know not God,' and the world by speculation are destitute of revelation ; and as God, in his superior wisdom, has al- ways given his saints, wherever he had any on the earth, the same spirit, and that spirit (as John says) is the true spirit of prophecy, which is the testimony of Jesus, I may safely say that the word Mormon stands independent of the learning and wisdom of this gene- ration. Before I give a definition, however, to the word, let me say that the Bible, in its widest sense, means good ; for the Saviour says, according to the Gospel of St. John, ' I am the good shepherd ;' and it will not be beyond the common use of terms to say, that good is amongst the most important in use, and though known by various names in different languages, still its meaning is the same, and is ever in opposition to bad. We say from the Saxon, good ; the Dano, god; the Golh, goda; the German, g-wi; the Dutch, goed; the Latin, bonus; the Greek, kalos ; the Hebrew, tob; and the Egyptian, mon. Hence, with the addition of more, or the contraction mor, we have the word IMormon, which means, literally, more good. Yours, " Joseph Smith." CHAPTER II. The Book of Dooteesies axd Covenants ; , oe, the " Ekvela- TiONs" OF Joseph Smith — Moemon Hymns and Poems — Ma- terialism — The Aaronic and Melohizedek Priesthood — Con- fession OF Faith — Scenes in Leamington and "Wales, In addition to the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith origi- nated and partly composed a book of Doctrines and Cove- nants, purporting to be direct revelations from heaven upon the temporal government of their church, the support of the poor, the tithing or taxation of th^ members, the establishment of cities and temples, the allotment of lands, the emigration of the "saints," the education of the people, the gathering of moneys, and other matters. This book abounds in grammati- cal inaccuracies, even to a greater extent than the Book of Mormon : — " God, that knowest thy thoughts" — " a literal descendant of Aaron" — " an hair of his head shall not fall" — "your Father who art in heaven knoweth" — " and the spirit and the body is the soul of man" — " the stars also giveth their light as they roll upon their wings in glory" — " her who sit- teth upon many waters" — "thou shalt not covet thine own property, but impart it freely to the printing of the Book of Mormon'' — form but a sample of hundreds of similar phrases that might be culled, were it worth while. A few specimens of the kind of " Revelations," and of the style in which Joseph Smith represented the Almighty as speaking to him in his early revelations, will show what men will assert and believe under the influence of fanaticism. The following is part of a 52 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. revelation purporting to have been given by Jesus Christ, in February, 1831. In these revelations God the Father and God the Son are invariably represented as giving Joseph his proper designation of Smith, junior, that he might not be mistaken for his father, Joseph Smith, se?iio7' : — " Hearken, oh, ye elders of my church, who have assembled your- selves together in my name, even Jesus Christ, the son of the living God, the Saviour of the world. Behold, verily I say unto you, I give unto you this first commandment, that you shall go forth in my name, every one ot you, except my servants, Joseph Smith, jun., and Sid- ney Rigdon. ... If there shall be properties in the hands of the church, or any individuals of it, more than is necessary for their support, it shall be kept to administer to those who have not." The ibllowing is part of a revelation given to Joseph Smith in March, 1829, when Martin Harris desired to see the golden plates, and before he was deluded with the paper transcript, which he showed to Professor Anthon. It will be seen that Joseph was not at a loss to parry the inconvenient curiosity of his then doubting, but afrerwards faithful dis- ciple : — " Behold, I say unto you, that as my servant Martin Harris has desired a witness at my hand, that you my servant, Joseph Smith, jun., have got the plates of which you have testified and borne rec- ord that you have received of me ; and now, behold, this shall you say unto him — ' He who spake unto you said unto you, I the Lord am God, and have given those things unto you, my servant, Joseph Smith, jun., and have commanded you that you should stand as a witness of these things ; and I have caused you that you should enter into a covenant tcilh me that you should not shoiv them except to those persons that I commanded you ; and you have no power over them ex- cept I grant it you' . . . And now, again I speak unto you my servant Joseph, concerning the man that denies the witness. Be- hold, I say unto him, he exalts himself, and does not sufficiently humble himself before me. But if he will bow down before me, and JOSEPH'S "revelations." 53 humble himself in mighty prayer and faith, in the sincerity of his heart, then will I grant unto him a view of the things which he de- sires to see." Poor Maftin Harris never got the promised glimpse of the plates. He did nut behave himself properly ; and Joseph found an op; orlunity to reprimand and quarrel with him. But, in fact, Joseph and his principal assistant, Sidney Rig- don, appear to have quarrelled with the " witnesses." The first witness to the truth of this Book of Mormo7i was de- clared by Smith himse4f, in a revelation given in November, 1831, to be unfit to be trusted with " moneys :" — " Hearken unto me, saith the Lord your God, for my servant Oliver Cowdery's sake. It is not wisdom in me that he should be entrusted with the commandments, and the moneys which he shall carry into the land of Zion, except one go wiih him who shall be true and faithful.'''' In a paper drawn up by Sidney Rigdon in June, 1838, when the great schism took place in the church, which led to the secession of Dr. Hurlbut, and the exposure made by Mrs. Davison, it is stated that Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and another, were united with a gang of " counterfeiters, thieves, liars, and blacklegs of the deepest dye, to deceive, cheat, and defraud the saints." Martin Harris, the last of the three, is spoken of, at the time of the schism, by Josepli himself, in the following terms, in a paper called the Elder's Journal :■ — " There are negroes who wear white skins, as well as black ones. Grames Parish and others who acted as lackies, such as M^^rtin Harris, &c., but they are so far be- neath contempt that a notice of them would be too great a sacrifice for a gentleman to make." While, by means of " revelations," those who were not longer to be trusted were pointed out to the notice and con- demnation of true believers, Joseph Smith took care to have 64 IlIgTORY OF THE MORMONS special " revelations" upon matters relating to his own com- fort. " It is meet," says a 'revelation' of the Lord in Feb- ruary, 1831, "that my servant Joseph Smith, jun., should have a house built, in vv^hich to live and translate." A sec- ond " revelation" of the same month says : " If ye desire the mysteries of my kingdom, provide for him (Joseph Smith, jun.) food and raiment, and whatsoever thing he needeth." Nor was Joseph, according to the " Revelations," to labor for his living. " In temporal labors," says another " revelation" of July, 1830, " thou shalt not have strength ; for that is not thy calling. Attend to thy calling, and thou shalt have wherewith to magnify thine office, and to expound all scrip- tures." In a revelation given to Joseph Smith and Sidney Higdon, in December, 1830, when the scheme wsls yet in its first in- fancy, the Lord is represented as saying : — " Behold, verily, verily, I say unto my servant Sidney, I have looked upon thee and thy works. I have heard thy prayers, and pre- pared thee for a great work. Thou art blessed, for thou shalt do great things. Behold thou wast sent forth, even as John, to prepare the way before me, and before Elijah, which should come, and thou knew it not. Thou didst baptize by water unto repentance, but thou receivedst not the Holy Ghost ; but now I give unto thee a com- mandment, that thou shalt baptize by water, and they shall receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, even as the apostles of old. " And it shall come to pass, that there shall be a great work in the land, even among the Gentiles : for their folly and abominations shall be made manifest in the eyes of all people ; for I am God, and mine arm is not shortened, and I will show miracles, signs, and won- ders, unto all those who believe in my name. And whoso shall ask in my name, in faith, they shall cast out devils, they shall heal the sick, they shall cause the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak, and the lame to walk; and the time speedily cometh, that great things are to be shown forth unto the JOSEPH'S " REVELATIONS." 65 children of men ; but without faith shall not anything be shown forth, except desolations upon Babylon — the same which has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And there are none that doeth good, except those who are ready to receive the fulness of my Gospel, which I have sent forth to this generation. " Wherefore, I have called upon the weak things of the world — those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit : and their arms shall be my arm, and I will be their shield and their buckler, and I will gird up their loins, and they shall fight manfully for me, and their enemies shall be under their feet; and I will let fall the sword in their behalf, and by the fire of mine indignation will I preserve them. And the poor and the meek shall have the Gospel preached unto them, and they shall be looking forth for the time of my coming, for it is nigh at hand : and they shall learn the parable of the fig-tree : for even now already sum- mer is nigh, and I have sent forth the fulness of the Gospel by the hand of my servant Joseph : and in weakness have I blessed him, and I have given unto him the keys of the mystery of those things which have been sealed, even things which were from the founda- tion of the world, and the things which shall come from this time until the time of my coming, if he abide in me ; and if not, another will I plant in his stead. " Wherefore, watch over him, that his faith fail not ; and it shall be given by the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, that knoweth all things : and a commandment I give unto thee, that thou shalt write for him : and the Scriptures shall be given, even as they are in mine own bosom, to the salvation of mine own elect ; for they will hear my voice, and shall see me, and shall not be asleep, and shall abide the day of my coming, for they shall be purified, even as I am pure And now I say unto thee, tarry with him, j'.nd he shall journey with you ; — forsake him not, and surely these things shall be fulfilled. And inasmuch as ye do not write, behold it shall be given unto him to prophesy : and thou shalt preach my Gospel, and call upon the holy prophets to prove his words, as they shall be given him. Keep all the commandments and covenants by which ye are bound, and I will cause the heavens to shake for your good: and Satan. shall tremble, and Zion shall rejoice upon the hills and flourish ; and Israel shall be saved in mine own due time. And by the keys which 56 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. 1 have given, shall they be led, and no more be confounded at all Lift up your heads and be glad : your redemption draweth nigh. Fear not, little flock— the kingdom is yours until I come. Behold, ! come quickly : even so. Amen." In another revelation, also given in December, 1830, the voice of the Lord to Edward Partridge was : — " Thus saith the Lord God, the mighty one of Israel, Behold, I say unto you, my servant Edward, that you are blessed, and your sins are forgiven you, and you are called to preach my Gospel as with the voice of a trumpet ; and I will lay my hand upon you by :ne hand of my servant Sidney Rigdon, and you shall receive my Spirit, the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which shall teach you the peaceable things of the kingdom : and you shall declare it with a loud voice, saying, Hosannah, blessed be the name of the most high God. " And now this calling and commandment give I unto you con- cerning all men, that as many as shall come before my servants Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith jun., embracing this calling and commandment, shall be ordained and sent forth to preach the ever- lasting Gospel among the nations, crying. Repentance : saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation, and come forth out of the fire, hating even the garments spotted with the flesh. " And this commandment shall be given unto the elders of my church, that every man which will embrace it with singleness of heart, may be ordained and sent forth, even as I have spoken. I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God : wherefore gird up your loins, and I will suddenly come to my temple : even so. Amen." An extract from one more "revelation" will suffice for the present. It purports to have been given, in July, 1830, to Emma Smith, the wife of Joseph, through Joseph himself: — " The office of thy calling shall be for a comfort unto my servarif Joseph Smith, jun., thy husband. And thou shalt go with him at the time of his going, and be unto him for a scribe, while there is no one to be a scribe for him, that I may send my servant Oliver Cow- MORMON HYMNS. SV deiy whithersoever I will. And it shall be given to thee also to make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me to be had in my church." The hymn-book of Emma Smith does not appear to have been published ; but a little hymn-book, containing hymns selected by Brigham Young, the present head of the church, and successor of Joseph Smith, has gone through eight edi- tions. The eighth was published in Liverpool, in 1849. A few extracts will not be out of place. The following hymn, which is sometimes sung on shipboard in Liverpool prior to the departure of Mormon emigrants, is, in point of literary merit, among the best in the volume : — " Yes, my native land, I love thee ; All thy scenes, I love them well ; Friends, connections, happy country. Can I bid you all farewell ? Can I leave thee, Far in distant lands to dwell ? " Home ! thy joys are passing lovely, Joys no stranger heart can tell ; Happy home ! 'tis sure I love thee. Can I — can I — say ' Farewell ?' Can I leave thee, Far in distant lands to dwell ? " Holy scenes of joy and gladness Every fond emotion swell ; Can I banish heartfelt sadness. While I bid my home farewell ? ^ ' Can I leave thee. Far in distant lands to dwell ? " Yes ! I hasten from you gladly, From the scenes I love so well ; 4 59 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. Far away, ye billows, bear me, Lovely native land, farewell ! Pleased I leave thee, Far in distant lands to dwell. " In the deserts let me labor, Ou the mountains let me tell How he died — the blessed Saviour, To redeem a world from hell ! Let me hasten, Far in distant lands to dwell ! " Bear me on, thou restless ocean. Let the winds my canvas swell ; Heaves my heart with warm emotion, While I go far hence to dwell ! Glad I bid thee. Native land, farewell ! farewell !" The next is a hymn for the Twelve Apostles, who have been sent to different parts of Europe, to " gather" the Saints to the Salt Lake Valley in Deseret : — " Ye chosen twelve, to ye are given The keys of this last ministry — To every nation under heaven. From land to land, from sea to sea. " First to the Gentiles sound the news, Throughout Columbia's happy land ; And then before it reach the Jews, Prepare on Europe's shores to stand. " Let Europe's towns and cities hear The Gospel tidings angels bring ; The Gentile nations far and near, * Prepare their hearts His praise to sing. " India and Afric's sultry plains Must hear the tidings as they roll — MORMON HYMNS. 59 Where darkness, death, and sorrow reign, And tyranny has held control. " Listen ! ye islands of the sea, For every isle shall hear the sound ; Nations and tongues before unknown, Though long since lost, shall soon be found. " And then again shall Asia hear. Where angels first the news proclaimed ; Eternity shall record bear. And earth repeat the loud Amen. " The nations catch the pleasing sound, And Jew and Gentile swell the strain, Hosannah o'er the earth resound, Messiah then will come to reign." Many of their fugitive hymns and songs, not included in their hymn-book, are adapted to popular tunes, such as " The sea, the sea, the open sea ;" " Away, away to the mountain's brow," &c. One to the first-mentioned tune is inserted in the Times and Seasons, page 895, and commences : — " The sky, the sky, the clear blue sky, Oh, how I love to gaze upon it ! The upper realms of deep on high, I wonder when the Lord begun it !" The following additional specimens of Mormon devotional poetry appear in their authorized organ, the Times and Sea- sons. The first is sung to the tune of a pirate song by Mr Henry Russell, called, " I'm afloat, I'm afloat," and written by Miss Eliza Cook : — " I'm a Saint, I'm a Saint, on the rough world wide, The earth is my home, and my God is my guide ! Up, up with the truth, let its power bend the knee I am sent, I am sent, and salvation is free. CO HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. I fear not old priestcraft, its dogmas can't awe : I've a chart for to steer by, that tells me the law, — And ne'er as a coward to falsehood I'll kneel, While Mormon tells truth, or God's prophets reveal ! Up, up with the truth, let its power touch the mind. And I'll warrant we'll soon leave the selfish behind. Up, up with "the truth, let its power bend the knee, I am sent ! I am sent ! dying Bab'lon, to thee, I am sent ! I am sent ! take this warning and flee. " The arm of the tyrant, fell terror may spread, Yet, tho' they oppose us, their strongholds we'll tread ; What to us is the scorn of the selfish and vain ? We have borne it before, and we'll bear it again. The fire-gleaming bolts of oppression may fall, And kill off the body, death can't us appal ! With Heaven above us, and all Hell below. Through the wide field of error, right onward we'll go ! Come on ! my brave comrades, now's the time you should speak, The storm-fiend is roused from his long dreamy sleep. Our watchword, for safety in Zion, shall be, I am sent ! I am sent ! dying Bab'lon, to thee, — I am sent ! I am sent ! take this warning and flee." But the following, to the tune of " The rose that all are praising," is, perhaps, the most characteristic ; and with it we may conclude the specimens of Mormon devotional poetry : — " The God that others worship is not the God for me ; He has no parts nor body, and cannot hear nor see ; But I've a God that lives above — A God of Power and of Love — A God of Revelation — oh, that's the God for me ; Oh, that's the God for me ; oh, that's the God for me ! " A church without apostles is not the church for me ; It's like a ship dismasted, afloat upon the sea ; But I've a church that's always led By the twelve stars around its head ; FAITH OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 61 A church with good foundations — oh, that's the church for me ; Oh, that's the church for me ; oh, that's the church for me ! " A church without a prophet is not the church for me ; It has no head to lead it, in it I would not be ; But I've a church not built by man, Cut from the mountain without hands ; A church with gifts and blessings — oh, that's the church for me ; Oh, that's the church for me ; oh, that's the church for me ! " The hope that Gentiles cherish is not the hope for me ; It has no hope for knowledge, far from it I would be ; But I've an hope that will not fail, That reaches safe within the veil ; Which hope is like an anchor — oh, that's the hope for me ; Oh, that's the hope for me ; oh, that's the hope for me ! " The heaven of sectarians is not the heaven for me ; So doubtful its location, neither on land nor sea ; But I've an heaven on the earth, The land and home that gave me birth ; A heaven of light and knowledge-;— oh, that's the heaven for me ; Oh, that's the heaven for me ; oh, that's the heaven for me I " A church without a gathering is not the church for me ; The Saviours would not order it, whatever it might be ; But I've a church that's called out. From false traditions, fear, and doubt, A gathering dispensation — oh, that's the church for me ; Oh, that's the church for me ; oh, that's the church for me !" The following summary of the Mormon creed is given in their own periodicals, as the recognized • Faith of the LATTER-DAY SAINTS." " We believe in God the eternal Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. • " We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgressions. 62 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. " We believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. " We believe that these ordinances are : — 1st, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 2d, Repentance. 3d, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. 4th, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit. 5th, The Lord's Supper. " We believe that men must be called of God by inspiration, and by laying on of hands by those who are duly commissioned to preach the Gospel, and administer in the ordinances thereof. " We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, viz., apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, &c. "We believe in the powers and gifts of the everlasting Gospel, viz., the gift of faith, discerning of spirits, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, tongues and the interpretation of tongues, wisdom, charity, brotherly love, &c. " We believe in the Word of God recorded in the Bible ; we also believe the Word of God recorded in the Book of Mormon, and in all other good books. " We believe all that God has revealed ; all that he does now re- veal ; and we believe that he will yet reveal many more great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God, and Messiah's second coming. " We believe in the literal gathering of Israel, and in the restora- tion of the ten tribes ; that Zion will be established upon the west- ern continent ; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth a thousand years ; and that the earth will be renewed, and receive its paradisaical glory. "We believe in the literal resurrection of the body, and that the dead in Christ will rise first, and that the rest of the dead live not again until the thousand years are expired. " We claim luc nrivilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our conscience unmolested, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how or where they may. " We believe in being subject to kings, queens, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. " We believe in being honest, true, chaste, temperate, benevolent, virtuous, and upright, and in doing good to all men ; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul, we ' believe all things. FAITH OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 63 we ' hope all things,' we have endured very many things, and hope to be able to ' endure all things.' Everything virtuous, lovely, praise- worthy, and of good report, we seek after, looking forward to the ' recompense of reward.' " The Mormons recognize two orders of priesthood, the " Aaronic" and the " Melchizedek." They are governed by a prophet or president, tw^elve apostles, the " seventies," and a number of bishops, high-priests, deacons, elders, and teachers ; they assert, as will be seen from the last hymn, and their Con- fession of Faith, that the gifts of prophecy and the power of working miracles have not ceased ; that Joseph Smith and many other Mormons wrought miracles and cast out devils ; that the end of the world is close at end ; and that they are the " saints" spoken of in the Apocalypse, who will reign with Christ in a temporal kingdom in this world. They assert also, in more precise terms than they employ in their printed " Confession of Faith," that the seat of this kingdom is to be either Missouri — the place originally intended — or their pres- ent location of the Great Salt Lake Yalley of Deseret. They allege that their Book of Mormon and the "Doctrine" and " Covenants" form the fulness of the Gospel ; that they take nothing from the Old or the New Testament, both of which they complete. They seem, however, not to have formed the same ideas of God which are promulgated in the Gospel, but to acknowledge a material deity. This idea appears in the song or hymn to the tune of " The rose that all are praising," already quoted ; but is stated more broadly in the Times and Seasons, and other works. The following extract from the authorized document, signed by Orson Spencer, one of the apostles of the church, gives the views of the sect upon this and other subjects : — " In some, and indeed in many respects, do we difi'er from some sectarian denominations. We believe that God is a boing who hath both body and parts, and also 64 HISTORr OF THE MORMONS. passions. Also of the existence of the gifts, in the true church, spoken of in Paul's letter to the Corinthians. I do not believe that the career of Sacred Scripture was closed with the Reve- lation of John, but that wherever God has a true church, there he makes frequent revelations of his will ; and as God takes cognizance of all things, both temporal and spiritual, his revelations will pertain to all things whereby his glory- may be promoted." Joseph Smith is more explicit. The following passage oc- curs in the Millennial Star, vol. vi., under the "prophet's" authority, and signed with his name : — " What is God ? He is a material organized intelligence, possess- ing both body and parts. He is in the form of a man, and is, in fact, of the same species, and is a model or standard of perfection, to which man is destined to attain, he being the Great Father and Head of the whole family. This being cannot occupy two distinct places at once, therefore he cannot be everywhere present. " What are angels ? They are intelligences of the human spe- cies. Many of them are the offspring of Adam and Eve — of men, it is said, ' being Gods, or sons of God, endowed with the same pow- ers, attributes, and capacities, that their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ possess.' " The weakest child of God, which now exists upon the earth, will possess more dominion, more property, more subjects, and more power and glory, than is possessed by Jesus Christ or by his Father ; while, at the same time, Jesus Christ and his Father v/ill have their dominion, kingdom, and subjects, increased in proportion."* * The following extracts from The Latter-Day Saints' Catechism, or Child's Ladder, by Elder David Moffat, explain still more fully the ideas of the Mormons on this subject . — "28. What is God? He is a material intelligent personage, possessing both body and parts. 29. Could lie be a being without body and parts ? No. Verily, no. 30. What form is he of 7 FAITH OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS. 65 He is in the form of man, or rather man is in the form of God SI. Where do you find these proofs 7 in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. 32. Ca}h you prove, then, that man is in the form of God? Yes. Genesis v. 1, In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him. 33. Can you mention the parts of his body from the Scriptures 7 Yes. Exodus xxxiii. 22, 23. And I will cover thee with my hand ; and I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back parts, but my face shall not be seen. 34. Can you mention any more parts of his body 7 Yes. Exodus xxiv. 10. And they saw the God of Israel, and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone. 35. Did ever any man speak face to face with God? Yes. 36. To whom did he speak 7 To Moses. 37. Can you repeat it 7 Yes. Exodus xxxiii. 11. And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh to his friend. 38. As the God of Heaven possesses body and parts, does he also possess passions 7 Yes. He eats, he drinks, he loves, he hates. 39. Where have yo^o an account of his eating 7 When he appeared to his servant Abraham on the plains of Mamre. Genesis xviii. 39. Did Abraham know that the Lord desired to eat when he appeared unto him. Yes. Gen. xviii. 5. And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts, for therefore are ye come to your servant. 40. Can you point out the object of his love 7 Yes, Malachi i, 2. Was not Esau Jacob's brother, saith the Lord, yet I love Jacob. 41. What were the things of his haired? The palaces of Jacob. 42. Can you prove it 7 Yes. Amos vi. 8. The Lord hath sworn by himself, saith the Lord of Hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces. 43. Can this Being ( God^ occupy two distinct places at once 7 No. 66 HISTORY OP THE MORMONS. 44. Can he Ttiovefrom planet to planet with facility and ease 7 Yes, Genesis xi, 5. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the children of men builded. 45. With whom did the Lord converse 7 With his servant Abraham. 46. Upon what things did they converse 7 About the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. 47. Doth tlie Lord also reason with man 7 Yes. Isaiah i. 18. Come let us reason together, saith the Lord." CHAPTER III. First Persecutions of the Sect — Exploratory Journey to THE Far West — Establishment in Missouri — The Prophet " Lynched" by the Populace — Quarrels with the " Gen • tiles" — The New Zion — Persecutions in Missouri. The truth that no absurdity of fanaticism is too outrageous to attract believers, finds continual corroboration. The learned and the unlearned, the rich and the poor, the gentle and the simple, alike break tlfrough the trammels of reason, and be- come the dupes of religious impostors, or of persons who are still more dangerous — the religious maniacs, who strengthen their cause by their own conscientious belief in it. To which ever of these two classes Joseph Smith is most properly con- signable, it is certain that bis doctrine was no sooner preached than he began to make converts of the people around him. The idea of the " Latter Days," or days immediately prior to the second coming of Christ to establish the Millennium, is one that has a great hold upon the imagination of large classes of persons. Joseph Smith worked upon this idea, and every earthquake recorded in the newspapers, every new comet dis- covered, every falling meteor that was observed, every war and rumor of a war in Europe or America, every monstrous birth among inferior animals, every great public calamity, tempest, fire, or explosion, was skilfully and pertinaciously adduced as a proof and a warning of the " Latter Days." He had two great elements of success in his favor, sufficient novelty and unconquerable perseverance. His doctrine was both old and 68 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. new. It had sufficient of the old to attract those who would have been repelled by a creed entirely new, and it had suffi- cient of the new to rivet the attention and inflame the ima- gination of those on whose minds an old creed, however ably preached, Avould have fallen and taken no root. Basing his doctrine upon isolated passages of the Bible ; claiming direct inspiration from the Almighty ; promising possession of the earth, all temporal power and glory, and the blessing of Heaven upon true believers ; and being gifted with a courage and audacity that despised difficulty and danger ; Joseph Smith soon found himself the recognized head of a small but increasing body of ardent disciples. On the 1st of June, 1830, the first conference of the sect, as an organized church, was held at Fayette, which place was for some time the " prophet's" residence, and the head-quarters of the sect. The numbers of the believers, including the whole family of the Smiths, was thirty. Even at this early period in the his- tory of the sect, they met considerable opposition from the people. Joseph ordered the construction of a dam across a stream of water, for the purpose of baptizing his disciples. A mob collected, and broke it down, and used language towards Joseph that was anything but flattering to him or his follow- ers, threatening him with violence and assassination, and ac- cusing him of robbery and swindling. He was nothing daunt- ed, however. With a rare tact, as well as courage, he broke the keen edge of detraction, by confessing boldly that he had once led an improper and immoral life ; but, unworthy as he was, " the Lord had chosen him — had forgiven him all his sins, and intended, in his own inscrutable purposes, to make him — weak and erring as he might have been — the instru- ment of his glory." Unlettered and comparatively ignorant he acknowledged himself to be ; but then — was not St. Peter illiterate ? Were not St. John, and the other apostles of Christ, men of low birth and mean position, before they were EXPEDITION TO MISSOURI. 69 called to the ministry ? And what had been done before, might it not be done again, if God willed it ? By arguments like these, he strengthened the faith of those inclined to be- lieve in the divinity of his mission, and foiled the logic of his opponents. But the more difficult that it became for the preachers of rival sects to meet him on Scriptural grounds, and to disprove his pretensions, either by his unworthiness as a man — which he owned, or his incompetency as a scholar — which he as freely admitted, the more virulent became their animosity ; until, at last, the family of the Smiths, father and brothers, who all joined in the scheme of Joseph for founding a new religion, removed from Palmyra and Fayetteville to Kirtland, in Ohio. The attention of the little band was di- rected, from the commencement of their organization, to the policy and expediency of fixing their head-quarters in the Far West, in the thinly settled and but partially explored territo- ries belonging to the United States, where they might squat upon, or purchase good lands at a cheap rate, and clear the primeval wilderness. They required " elbow room," and rightly judged that a rural population would be more favor- able than an urban one to the reception of their doctrine. Oliver Cowdery having been sent on an exploratory expe- dition, reported so favorably of the beauty, fertility, and cheap- ness of the land in Jackson County, Missouri, that Joseph Smith, after remaining but a few weeks in Kirtland, deter- mined to visit this land of promise himself Leaving his family and principal connections in Kirtland, he proceeded with Sidney Rigdon and some others upon a long and arduous journey to the wilderness, to fix upon a site for the " New Jerusalem;" the future city of Christ, where the Lord was to reign over the Saints as a temporal king in " power and great glory." They started about the middle of June, travelling by wagons or canal boats, and sometimes on foot, as far as Cin- cinnati. From this place they proceeded by steamer to Louis- YO HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. ville and St. Louis. At the last-mentioned village all furthei means of transport failed them, and they walked a distance of three hundred miles to Independence, in Jackson County, Missouri, the seat of the promised inheritance of the Saints. They arrived at their destination foot-sore and weary, in the middle of July. Joseph was in raptures with the beauty of the country, and his delight broke out into the following de- scription, which occurs in his Autobiography, published in the Times and Seascnis : — " Unlike the timbered states in the east, except upon the rivers and water-courses, which were verdantly dotted with trees from one to three miles wide, as far as the eye can glance, the beautiful rolling prairies lay spread around like a sea of meadows. The timber is a mixture of oak, hickory, black walnut, elm, cherry, honey locust, mulberry, coffee bean, hackberry, box, elder, and bass wood, together with the addi- tion of cotton wood, button wood, pecon — soft and hard maples upon the bottoms. The shrubbery was beautiful, and consisted in part of plums, grapes, crab apples, and parsimmons. The prairies were decorated with a growth of flowers that seemed as gorgeous and grand as the brilliancy of the stars in the heavens, and exceed description. The soil is rich and fertile, from three to ten feet deep, and generally composed of a rich, black mould, intermingled with clay and sand. It produces, in abundance, wheat, corn, and many other commodities, to- gether with sweet potatoes and cotton. Horses, cattle, and hogs, though of an inferior breed, are tolerably plenty, and seem nearly to raise themselves by grazing in the vast prairie range in summer, and feeding upon the bottoms in winter. The wild game is less plenty where man has commenced the cultivation of the soil, than it is a little distance further in the wild prairies. Buffalo, elk, deer, bears, wolves, beaver, and many lesser animals, roam at pleasure. Turkeys, geese, swans, duck — yea, a variety of the feathered race, are among the FIRST ESTABLISHMENT IN MISSOURI. 7l rich abundance that graces the delightful regions of this goodly land of the heritage of the children of God. Nothing is more fruitful, or a richer stockholder in the blooming prairies, than the honey bee ; honey is but twenty-five cents per gallon. "The season is mild and delightful nearly three quarters of the year, and as the land of Zion is situated at about equal distances from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as from the Alleghany and Rocky Mountains, in the thirty-ninth de- gree of north latitude, and between the tenth and twentieth degrees of west longitude, it bids fair to become one of the most blessed places on the globe." The longer he stayed in Missouri, the more delighted he was with the " location" fixed upon for the Saints ; and that there might be no difTerence of opinion upon the subject in the church, he had a direct ** revelation" from the Almighty upon the subject ; establishing it as the future Zion, and setting forth his views relative to the organization of the church, the building of a temple, the allotment of lands, and the means of living of the people. So early in his career did this re raarkable man begin to exercise authority over his followers, so bold and daring were his designs, and so confident was he in himself. This extraordinary document ran as follows : — " Hearken, O ye elders of my church, saith the Lord your God, who have assembled yourselves together, according to my command- ments, in this land which I have appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the Saints ; wherefore this is the land of promise, and the place for the city of Zion. And thus saith the Lord your God, if you will receive wisdom, here is wisdom. Behold, the place which is now called Independence, is the centre place, and a spot for the temple is lying westward, upon a lot which is not far from the court-house : wherefore it is wisdom that the land should be pur- chased by the Saints ; and also every tract lying westward, even unto the line running directly between Jew and Gentile. And also "72 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. every tract bordering by the prairies, inasmuch as my disciples are enabled to buy lands. Behold, this is wisdom, that they may obtain it for an everlasting inheritance. " And let my servant, Sidney Gilbert, stand in the office which I have appointed him, to receive moneys, to be an agent unto the church, to buy land in all the regions round about, inasmuch as can be in righteousness, and as wisdom shall direct. " And let my servant, Edward Partridge, stand in the office which I have appointed him, to divide the Saints their inheritance, even as 1 have commanded ; and also those whom he has appointed to assist him. " And, again, verily I say unto you, let my servant, Sidney Gil- bert, plant himself in this place, and establish a store, that he may sell goods without fraud ; that he may obtain money to buy lands for the good of the Saints, and that he may obtain whatsoever things the disciples may need to plant them in inheritance. And also let my servant, Sidney Gilbert, obtain a license that he may send goods also unto the people, even by whom he will, as clerks employed in nis service, and thus provide for my Saints, that my Gospel may be preached unto those who sit in darkness, and in the region and shadow of death. " And, again, verily I say unto you, let my servant, William W. Phelps, be planted in this place, and be established as a printer unto the church ; and lo, if the world receiveth his writings, let him ob- tain whatsoever he can obtain in righteousness, for the good of the Saints. And let my servant, Oliver Cowdery, assist him, even as I have commanded, in whatsoever place I shall appoint unto him, to copy, and to correct, and select, that all things may be right before me, as it shall be proved by the Spirit through him. And thus let those of whom I have spoken to be planted in the land of Zion, and speedily as can be, with their families, to do those things even as I Iiave spoken. " And now, concerning the gathering. Let the bishop and the agent make preparations for those families which have been com- manded to come to this land, as soon as possible, and plant them in their inheritance. And unto the residue of both elders and mem- bers, further directions shall be given hereafter. Even so. Amen." JOSEPH SMITH PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS. % RETURN TO OHIO. 75 On the first Sunday after their arrival Joseph preached in the wilderness to a crowd of Indians, squatters, and, as him- self records, "to quite a respectable company of negroes." He made a few converts, and had another revelation from the Lord, to the effect that an angel should he appointed to re- ceive money, and that Martin Harris should "be an example to the church in laying his moneys before the bishops of the church. I ask that lands should be purchased for the place of the storehouse, and also for the house of the printhig." On the 3d of August, after a sojourn of less than three weeks, the spot for the temple was solemnly laid out, and dedicated to the Lord ; and Joseph in a day or two afterwards, having completed all his arrangements, established a bishop, and ac- quired, as he thought, a firm footing for hi-s sect in this remote but lovely and fertile spot, prepared to return into Ohio, to look after his business in Kirtland. He was accompanied by ten elders of the church. " We started down the river," says Joseph in his Autobiography, " in sixteen canoes, and went the first day as far as Fort Osage, where we had a wild turkey for supper. Nothirfg very important occurred until the third day, when many of the dangers so common upon the western waters manifested themselves ; and, after we had encamped upon the bank of the river, Brother Phelps, in open vision by daylight, saw the destroyer (the Devil) ride upon the waters. Others," he adds, " heard the noise, but saw not the vision." They arrived safely at Kirtland, after a journey of twenty- four days. Some dispute, of which the nature is not clearly known, appears to have arisen between Joseph and his friend Sidney Rigdon before their return. It is probable, from the course of subsequent events, that Sidney, even at this time, aspired to greater power in the church than suited the pur- poses of the " prophet ;" but, whatever the disagreement was, Joseph thought fit to rebuke his chief disciple by a revelation from heaven, in which he accused him of " being exalted in 4 76 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. his heart, and despising the counsel of the Lord." They af- terwards became reconciled, and in partnership or conjunction of some kind, and by the aid of other members and elders of the church, they established a mill and store in Kirtland, and set up a bank. Joseph appointed himself its president, and entrusted Sidney Rigdon with the office of cashier. To Kirt- land, they gave the name of a "stake," or support of Zion, intending to remain there for at least five years, " and make money," until the wilderness was cleared and the temple built in Zion. From this time until January, 1832, Joseph continued preaching in various parts of the United States, making con- verts with great rapidity. He found it necessary, however, to check the presumption of some new and indiscreet converts who also had revelations from the Lord, which they endeav- ored to palm off upon the public, asserting that they were quite as good as those of the prophe-t. Among others, one Mr. E. Maclellan was rebuked. " This Maclellan," says Joseph, " as a wise man in his own estimation, and having more learning than sense, endeavored to write a command- ment like unto one of the least of the Lord's, but failed. It was an awful responsibility, to write in the name of the Lord. The elders and all present, who witnessed the vain attempt of this man to imitate the language of the Lord Jesus Christ, renewed their faith in the revelation which the Lord had given through my instrumentality." Joseph, at the same time, was obliged to combat some charges which were brought against his character by one Ezra Booth, formerly in his coun- cil, and whom he denounced as an apostate, and as a man who, by the exposure of his own wickedness and folly, had left himself " a monument of shame for the whole world to woiuler at." His strange doctrines, and these charges against his character, brought forward by men who had once been in his confidence, united to the hatred with which other fanatics OUTRAGE ON THE " PROPHET." 77 more violent than himself regarded his preaching, created much ill-feeling against him. On the 25th of January, being then resident at a village called " Hiram," he was dragged out of his bed at midnight, from the side of his wife, " by a mob of Methodists, Baptists, Campbellites," and miscellaneous ruffians, who stripped him naked, and tarred and feathered him. Sidney E-igdon was similarly treated by the same law- less and cowardly assemblage. The following account of this outrage, the first of a long series, was given by Joseph some years afterwards : — " According to previous calculations, we now began to make preparations to visit the brethren, who had removed to the land of Missouri. Before going to Hiram to live with Father Johnson, my wife had taken two children (twins) of John Murdock to bring up. She received them when only nine days old, and they were now nearly eleven months. I would remark that nothing important had occurred since I came to reside in Father Johnson's house in Hiram. I had held meet- ings on the Sabbaths and evenings, and baptized a number. Father Johnson's son, Olmsted Johnson, came home on a visit, during which I told him that if he did not obey the Gospel, the spirit he was of would lead him to destruction ; and then he went away. He would never return to see his father again. He went to the Southern States and Mexico ; on his return, took sick, and died in Virginia. In addition to the apostate Booth, Simmonds Rider, Eli Johnson, Edward Johnson, and John Johnson, junior, had apostatized. " On the 25th of March, the twins before-mentioned, whicK had been sick of the measles for some time, caused us to be broke of our rest in taking care of them, especially my wife. In the evening, I told her she had better retire to rest with one of the children, and I would watch with the sickest child In the night, she told me I had better lay down on the trun die-bed, and I did so, and was soon after awoke by her scream 78 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. ing murder ! when I found myself going out of the door in the hands of about a dozen men ; some of whose hands were in ray hair, and some had hold of my shirt, drawers, and limbs. The foot of the trundle bed was towards the door, leaving only room enough for the door to swing. My wife heard a gentle tapping on the windows, which she then took no particular notice of (but which was unquestionably de- signed to ascertain whether we were all asleep), and soon af- ter the mob burst open the door, and surrounded the bed in an instant, and, as I said, the first I knew, I was going out of the door in the hands of an infuriated mob. I made a des- perate struggle, as I was forced out, to extricate myself, but only cleared one leg, with which I made a pass at one man, and he fell on the door-steps. I was immediately confined again ; and they swore they would kill me if I did not be still, which quieted me. As they passed around the house with me, the fellow that I kicked came to me, and thrust his hand into my face all covered with blood (for I hit him on the nose), and with an exulting horse laugh muttered : ' Ge, Gee, Til fix ye.' " They then seized my throat, and held on till I lost my breath. After I came to, as they passed along with me, about thirty rods from the house, I saw Elder Rigdon stretched out on the ground, whither they had dragged him by the heels. I supposed he was dead. " I began to plead with them, saying, * You will have mer- cy, and spare my life, I hope !' To v/hich they replied with oaths and imprecations, which they were in the constant habit of using when greatly excited, * Call on your God for help, we'll show you no mercy ;' and the people began to show themselves in every direction : one coming from the orchard had a plank, and I expected they would kill me, and carry me off on the plank. They then turned to the right, and went on about thirty rods further, about sixty rods from the > = THE MOB TARKING JOSEPH SMITH. -t/ ORR. Sc •*! OUTRAGE ON THE " PROPHET." 81 house, and thirty from where I saw Elder Rigdon, into the meadow, where they stopped ; and one said, ' Simmonds, Sim- monds' (meaning, I suppose, Simmonds Rider), * pull up his drawers, pull up his drawers, he will take cold.' Another replied, ' A!nt ye going to kill him ? a'nt ye going to kill him V when a group of mobbers collected a little way off, and said, 'Simmonds, Simmonds, come here;' and Simmonds charged those who had hold of me to keep me from touching the ground (as they had done all the time), lest I should get a spring upon them. They went and held a council, and as I could occasionally overhear a word, I supposed it was to know whether it was best to kill me. They returned after a while, when I learned that they had concluded not to kill me, but pound and scratch me well, tear off my shirt and drawers, and leave me naked. One cried, ' Simmonds, Simmonds, where'?, the tar bucket?' ' I don't know,' answered one, * where 'tis, Eli's left it.' They ran back, and fetched the bucket of tar, when one exclaimed, ' Let us tar up his mouth ;' and they tried to force the tar-paddle into my mouth ; I twisted my head around, so that they could not : and they cried out : ' Hold up your head, and let us give ye some tar.' They then tried to force a phial into my mouth, and broke it in my teeth. All my clothes were torn off me except my shirt collar ; and one man fell on me and scratched my body with his nails like a mad cat. " They then left me and I attempted to rise, but fell again ; I pulled the tar away from my lips, &c., so that I could breathe more freely, and after a while I began to recover, and raised myself up, when I saw two lights. I made my way towards one of them, and found it was Father Johnson's. When I had come to the door I was naked, and the tar made me look as though I had been covered with blood ; and when my wife saw me, she thought I was all smashed to pieces, and fainted. During the affray abroad, the sisters of the neighborhood had 6 82 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. collected at my room. I called for a blanket ; they threw me one, and shut the door ; I wrapped it around me and went in. " In the meantime, Brother John Poorman heard an outcry across the cornfield, and running that way met Father John- son, who had been fastened in his house at the commencement of the assault, by having his door barred by the mob ; but, on calling to his wife to bring his gun, saying he would blow a hole through the door, the mob fled, and Father Johnson seizing a club ran after the party that had Elder Rigdon, and knocked one man down, and raised his club to level an- other, exclaiming, ' What are you doing here V They then left Elder Rigdon and turned upon Father Johnson, who, turning to run towards his own house, met Brother Poorman coming out of the cornfield ; each supposing the other to be a mobber, an encounter ensued, and Poorman gave Johnson a severe blow on the left shoulder with a stick or stone, which brought him to the ground Poorman ran immediately to- wards Father Johnson's and arriving while I was waiting for the blanket, exclaimed, ' I'm afraid I've killed him.' * Killed who?' asked one ; when Poorman hastily related the circum- stances of the rencounter near the cornfield, and went into the shed and hid himself Father Johnson soon recovered so as to come to the house, when the whole mystery was quickly solved concerning the difficulty between him and Poorman, who, on learning the facts, joyfully came from his hiding- place. " My friends spent the night in scraping and removing the tar, and washing and cleansing my body ; so that by morning I was ready to be clothed again . This being Sabbath morn- ing, the people assembled for meeting at the usual hour of worship, and among those came also the mobbers ; viz., Sim- monds Rider, a Campbellite preacher, and leader of the mob ; one McClentic, son of a Campbellite minister ; and Pelatiah DEPARTURE FOR MISSOURI. 83 Allen, Esq,, who gave the mob a barrel of whiskey to raise their spirits ; and many others. With my flesh all scarified and defaced, I preached to the congregation as usual, and in the afternoon of the same day baptized three individuals. " The next morning I went to see Elder Rigdon, and found him crazy, and his head highly inflamed, for they had dragged him by his heels, and those, too, so high from the earth he could not raise his head from the rough frozen surface, which lacerated it exceedingly ; and when he saw me he called to his wife to bring him his razor. She asked him what he want- ed of it ? and he replied to kill me. Sister Rigdon left the room, and he asked me to bring his razor ; I asked him what he wanted of it ? and he replied he wanted to kill his wife ; and he continued delirious some days. The feathers which were used with the tar on this occasion, the mob took out of Elder Rigdon's house. After they had seized him and dragged him out, one of the banditti returned to get some pillows ; when the women shut him in, and kept him some time." Joseph, after this cruel treatment, thought it high time tc absent himself for a little, and on the 2d of April he started, in company with some of his adherents, for Missouri, "to ful- fil the revelation." Although he left secretly, his inhuman persecutors received notice of his design, and tracked him for several hundred miles, until he arrived at Louisville, where he was sheltered and protected from his assailants by the cap- tain of a steamboat. He arrived at " Zion," or Independence, on. the 26th, where he was enthusiastically received by a large congregation of thriving " Saints," and solemnly acknowledged as prophet and seer, and president of the high priesthood of the church. He found that in his absence, but in obedience to a revelation which he had given, a printing-press had been procured, and a monthly newspaper or magazine established by W. W. Phelps, the "printer to the church," under the title of the Evening and Morning Star. A weekly paper 84 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. was also planned and established, called the Upper Missouri Advertiser. Both of these journals were exclusively devoted to the interests of Mormonism, which by this time numbered between 2,000 and 3,000 disciples, principally in Missouri. The number of the Saints in Kirtland, including women and children, was but one hundred and fifty. Joseph, however, nad his mill, his store, and his farm to look after at Kirtland ; and although, while in that town, he lived among enemies, it was necessary that he should return to it. He therefore left Zion, with the full confidence that all was going on prosper- ously. In January, 1833, while attending to his worldly business, a schism broke out in "Zion" itself, which threat- ened, and, in combination with other circumstances, ultimate- ly produced, the greatest calamities, and led to the violent expulsion of the Mormons from the whole State of Missouri. The manner in which the Mormons behaved in their " Zion" was not calculated to make friends. The superiority they assumed gave offence, and the rumors that were spread by their opponents, as well as by some false friends, who had been turned out of the church for misconduct, excited against them an intense feeling of alarm and hatred. They were ac- cused of Communism, and not simply of a community of goods and chattels, but of wives. Both these charges were utterly unfounded ; but they were renewed from day to day, and found constant believers, in spite of denials and refutations on the part of the Mormons. Joined to the odium unjustly cast upon them for these reasons, they talked so imprudently of their determination to possess the whole State of Missouri, and to suffer no one to live in it who would not conform to their faith, that a party was secretly formed against them, of which the object was nothing less than their total and immediate expulsion from their promised " Zion." In a letter to Mr. Phelps, the editor of the Mormon paper — the Mor?2ing a?id Evenitig Star, dated from Kirtland Mill, Joseph threatened KEW REVELATIONS. 85 the vengeance of God upon all the schismatics of " Zion." " I say to you (and what I say to you I say to all), hear the warning voice of God, lest Zion fall, and the Lord swear in his wrath the inhabitants of Zion shall not enter into my rest. The brethren in Kirtland pray for you unceasingly ; for, know- ing the terrors of the Lord, they greatly fear for you." Some of the Missouri Saints, it appeared, had accused Joseph Smith of aiming at " monarchical power and authority ;" and two of the high priests, in a letter written at the time in support of the rebuke of the prophet to these " rebels," speak of " low, dark, and blind insinuations against Joseph's character and intentions." Whatever Joseph's views in this respect may have been, he found it necessary to take the sting out of this accusation, by associating with him in the supreme government of the church his old colleague, Sidney Rigdon, and another Saint named Williams. As usual, when any great movement was to be made, he had a "revelation." Under the date of the 8th of March, 1833, the Lord is represented as declaring that the sins of Sidney E,igdon and Frederick G. Williams were forgiven, and " that they were henceforth to be accounted as equal with Joseph Smith, jun., in holding the keys of His last kingdom." As it appears that Sidney E-igdon was too am- bitious of power to be safely trusted among the Saints of Mis- souri, he was commanded by this revelation to remain in Kirtland. The bishop was also ordered by the same authori- ty to ** search diligently for an agent," who was to be a " man who had got riches in store — a man of God, and of strong faith, that thereby he might be enabled to discharge every debt, that the storehouse of the Lord might not be brouofht into disrepute before the people." Joseph also condescended to forgive the rebellious of Zion. " Behold, I say unto you," said the revelation, " your brethren in Zion begin to repent, and the angels rejoice over them. Nevertheless, I am not 86 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. well pleased with many things, and I am not well pleased with my servant William E. Maclellan, neither with my ser- vant Sidney Gilbert, and the bishop also ; and others have many things to repent of. But verily, I say unto you. that I the Lord will contend with Zion, and plead with her strong ones, and chasten her, until she overcomes and is clean before me, for she shall not be removed out of her place. I the Lord have spoken it. Amen." On the same day Joseph " laid his hands on Brothers Sidney and Frederick, and ordained them to take part with him in holding the keys of the last kingdom, and to assist in the presidency of the high priesthood as his councillors. After which he exhorted the brethren to faith- fulness and diligence in keeping the commandments of God ; and gave much instruction for the benefit of the Saints, with a promise that the pure in heart should see a heavenly vision, and after remaining a short time in secret prayer, the promise was verified. He then blessed the bread and wine, and dis- tributed a portion to each, after which many of the brethren saw a heavenly vision of the Saviour and concourses of angels, and many other things." But although the dissensions in the church were apparent- ly healed by the judicious step thus taken, the old settlers of Missouri caused Joseph much alarm by the daily increasing h6stility they expressed against the whole sect. " In the month of April," says Joseph in his Autobiography, '•the first regular mob rushed together, in Independence (Zion), to consult upon a plan for the removal, or immediate destruction, of the church in Jackson County. The number of the mob was about three hundred. A few of the first elders met in secret, and prayed to Him who said to the wind ' Be fitill,' to frustrate them in their wicked design. They there- fore, after spending the day in a fruitless endeavor, to unite upon a general scheme for ' moving the Mormons out of their diggings,' as they asserted, and becoming a little the worse for TROUBLES IN MISSOURI. 8T liquor, broke up in a regular Missouri ' row,' showing a deter- mined resolution that every man would ' carry his own head.' " The Mormon paper of June, 1833, published an article en- titled " Free people of color," which roused against the sect the hostility of the whole pro-slavery party — then, as now, peculiarly sensitive upon the question of Abolition. The anti- Mormon press contained at the same time an article entitled "Beware of false prophets," written by a person whom Jo- seph called " a black rod in the hand of Satan." This article was distributed from house to house in Independence and its neighborhood, and contained many false charges against Smith and his associates, reiterating the calumny about the community of goods and wives. The Mormons were insulted and sometimes beaten in the streets and highways, and quar- rels and fights were of frequent occurrence. In the begin- ning of April, a meeting of three hundred people, enemies of the Mormons, was held in Independence, or " Zion," itself, at which the resolution referred to by Joseph, " that the Mor- mons should be removed out of their diggings," was unani- mously passed. After the publication of these two articles, other meetings were held in various parts of Jackson County, at which still more violent resolutions were agreed to. A general meeting of the citizens of Jackson County, expressly convened, as the requisition stated, '-for the purpose of adopt- ing measures to rid themselves of the sect of fanatics called Mormons,'' was held on the 20th of July. Between four and five hundred people attended from every part of the county, and an address to the public was agreed upon. The address stated that little more than two years previousl}^ " some two or three of these people made their appearance in Missouri ; that they now numbered upwards of 1,200 ; that each suc- cessive autumn and spring poured forth a new swarm of them into the country, as if the places from which they came were hooding Missouri with the very dregs of their composition ; 88 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. that they were but little above the condition of the blacks in regard to property and education ; and that, in addition to other causes of scandal and offence, they exercised a corrupt- ing influence over the slaves." The sanguine boast and sin- cere belief of the Mormons, that the'whole country of Missouri was their destined inheritance, and that all the " Gentiles," or unbelievers in Joseph Smith, were to "be cut oft" in the Lord's good time, was not forgotten. The address concluded — " Of their pretended revelations from heaven — their personal in- tercourse with God and his angels — the maladies they pretend to heal by the laying on of hands — and the contemptible gibberish with which they habitually profane the Sabbath, and which they dignify with the appellation of unknov/n tongues, we have nothing to say : vengeance belongs to God alone. But as to the other matters set forth in this paper, we feel called on, by every consideration of self- preservation, good society, public morals, and the fair prospects that, if they are not blasted in the germ, await this young and beautiful country, at once to declare, and we do hereby most solemnly de- clare — " That no Mormon shall in future move and settle in this country. " That those now here, who shall give a definite pledge of their intention within a reasonable time to remove out of the country, shall be allowed to remain unmolested until they have sufficient time to sell their property and close their business without any material sacrifice. " That the editor of the Star be required forthwith to close his office, and discontinue the business of printing in this country ; and, as to all other stores and shops belonging to the sect, their owners must in every case comply with the terms of the second article of this dec- laration, and upon failure, prompt and efficient measures will be taken to close the same. " That the Mormon leaders here, are required to use their infl:u- ence in preventing any further emigration of their distant brethren to this country, and to counsel and advise their brethren here to com- ply with the above requisitions. " That those who fail to comply with these requisitions be referred TROUBLES IN MISSOURI. 89 to those of their brethren who have the gifts of divination and of un- known tongues, to inform them of the lot that awaits them." This sarcastic, but very earnest and emphatic address, was unanimously adopted. The meeting adjourned for two hours, and a deputation waited upon Mr. Phelps, the Mormon edi- tor, upon Mr. Partridge, the bishop, and upon the keeper of the Mormon store, and urged upon them the expediency of complying with these terms. The deputation reported to the meeting that they could not procure any direct answer, and that the Mormons wished an unreasonable time for consulta- tion upon the matter, not only among themselves in Inde- pendence, but with Joseph Smith, their prophet, in Kirtland. It was therefore resolved, nem. con., that the Star printing- office should be immediately razed to the ground, and the types and presses secured. "This resolution," said the anti- Mormons, in an account of the occurrence published under their authority, " was, with the utmost order, and the least noise and disturbance possible, forthwith carried into execu- tion, as also some other steps of a similar tendency, but no blood was spilled, nor any blows inflicted. The meeting then adjourned for three days, to give the Mormons an opportunity of considering what their fate was likely to be in case they should ultimately refuse to leave the country. The " other steps of a similar tendency," alluded to in this extract, appear to have been the tarring and feathering of two Mormons. Phelps, the editor, managed to escape from the mob, but Partridge, the Mormon bishop, and another Saint named Allen, were not so fortunate. These two were seized, according to the established back-wood or Lynch fashion, strij^ed naked, tarred and feathered, and set loose. The Lieutenant-Governor of the State of Missouri, Lilburn W. Boggs — a man who from thenceforward appears to have pursued the Mormons with unrelenting hostility — was in the 90 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. immediate neighborhood of the riot, but declined to take any part in preserving the peace. Joseph Smith afterwards stated that he actually looked on, and aided the movement, saying to the Mormons, "You know what we Jackson boys can do. You must all leave the country." A Presbyterian preacher IS also reported to have declared from the pulpit that " the Mormons were the common enemies of mankind, and ought to be destroyed." On the morning of the 23d of July, the meeting again assembled. It was composed of several hun- dred persons, well armed, and bearing the red flag in sign of vengeance. They declared their intention of driving the whole sect forcibly out of Missouri, if they would not depart peaceably. The Mormons saw that it was useless to resist, and their leaders agreed, if time were given, that the people should remove westward into the wilderness. It was ar- ranged, and an agreement was duly signed to that effect, that one half of the Mormons, with their wives and families, should depart by the 1st of January, and the other half by the 1st of April next ensuing ; that the paper should be discontinued ; and that no more Mormons should be allowed to come into the country in the interval. The opposite party pledged themselves that no violence should be done to any Mormon, provided these conditions were complied with. In these distressing and perilous circumstances, Oliver Cowdery was despatched to Kirtland with a message to the " Prophet." On his arrival, it was resolved, in solemn con- clave, Joseph himself presiding, that the Morning and Evening Star should be published in Kirtland, aud that a new paper, to be called the Latter-Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate, should be forthwith started. It was also re- solved to appeal for protection to Mr. Dunklin, the Governor of the State of Missouri, and to demand justice for the out- rages inflicted upon the sect. Joseph himself did not venture into " Zion," in the dangerous circumstances of his people, TROUBLES IN MISSOURI. 91 but undertook a journey to Canada with Sidney Rigdon and another, where they made some converts. In the meantime, Governor DunkHn wrote a sensible and conciliatory letter in reply to the Mormon petition, in which he stated that the at- tack upon them was illegal and unjustifiable, and recom- mended them to remain where they were, and to apply for redress to the ordinary tribunals of the country. This letter was widely circulated, and the Mormons, upon the strength of it, resolved to remain in Missouri, and " proceed with the building up of Zion." They commenced actions against the ringleaders of the mob, and engaged, for a fee of 1,000 dol- lars, the best legal assistance they could procure to support their case. But on the 30th of October, the mob was once again in arms to expel them. Ten houses of the "Saints" were unroofed and partially demolished, at a place called Big Blue ; and on the following day several houses were sacked at Independence. The Mormons, in some instances, defended their property, and a regular battle ultimately ensued be- tween thirty of the Saints, armed with rifles, and a large company of their opponents, also well armed. In this encoun- ter two of the anti-Mormons were killed. Things at last assumed so alarming an aspect, that the militia, under the command of Lieutenant-Governor Boggs, was called out. The militia, however, was anti-Mormon to a man, and the unhap- py Saints sav/ that they had no alternative but in flight. The blood that had been shed had caused such an exasperation against them, that it was unsafe for a solitary Mormon to show himself in the towns or villages. The women first took the alarm, and fled, with their children, across the Missouri river. " On Thursday, Nov. 7th," says the account in the Times and Seasons, " the shore began to be lined on both sides of the ferry with men, women, and children, goods, wagons boxes, chests, provisions ; while the ferrymen were busily en 92 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. engaged in crossing them over ; and when night again closed upon the Saints, the wilderness had much the appearance of a camp-meeting. Hundreds of people were seen in every direction, some in tents, and some in the open air, around their fires, while the rain descended in torrents. Husbands were inquiring for their wives, and women for their husbands ; parents for children, and children for parents. Some had the good fortune to escape with their family, household goods, and some provisions; while others knew not the fate of their friends, and had lost all their goods. The scene was inde- scribable, and would have melted the hearts of any people upon earth except the blind oppressor, and prejudiced and ig- norant bigot. Next day the company incre9,sed, and they were chiefly engaged in felling small cotton-trees, and erect- ing them into temporary cabins, so that when night came on, they had the appearance of a village of wigwams, and the night being clear, the occupants began to enjoy some degree of comfort. The Saints who fled took refuge in the neigh- boring counties, mostly in Clay County, which received them with some degree of kindness. Those who fled to the county of Van Buren were again driven and compelled to flee, and those who fled to Lafayette County were soon expelled, or the most of them, and had to move wherever they could find protection." CHAPTER IV. JOTTBNET OF THE PeOPHET INTO MlSSOTJEI — ThE LaMANITE SkELE- TOTS' — The Showee of Meteoes — Festal Removal of Joseph FEOM KlETLAXD, OhIO PeESECUTIOXS IN MlSSOUEI ^MaSSACEE AT Hatin's Mill — The Daxite Band — ^Expulsion feom Mis- SOTJEI. The public authorities of the State of Missouri, and, indeed, all the principal people, except those of Jackson County, were scandalized at these lawless proceedings, and sympathized with the efforts made by the Mormon leaders to obtain redress. The Attorney-General of the State wrote to say that if the Mormons desired to be re-established in their possessions, an adequate public force would be sent for their protection. He also advised that the Mormons should remain in the State, and organize themselves into a regular company of militia, in which case they should be supplied with public arms. The " Prophet," having by this time returned to Kirtland, wrote to his people in their distress, though he did not take the bold step of personally appearing among them. He reiterated that " Independence," or " Zion," was the place divinely appointed by God for the inheritance of the Saints ; that, therefore, they should not sell any land to which they had a legal title within its boundaries, but hold on, "until the Lord in his wisdom should open a way for their return." He also advised that they should, if possible, purchase a tract of land in Clay County, for present emergencies. He also had a revelation in which the Lord was represented as saying that these calara- 94 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. ities were a punishment on the Saints for their " jarrings, con- tentions, and envying, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires." Zion, however, was the appointed place, and thither, in due time, the Saints should return " with songs of everlasting joy." The revelation, which was of unusual length, and contained a long parable, commanded the Saints to " importune at the feet of the judge ; and if he did not heed, to importune at the feet of the Governor ; and if the Governor did not heed, to importune at the feet of the Presi- dent of the United States ; and if the President did not heed, then the Lord God Himself would arise and come forth out of His hiding-place, and in His fury vex the nation." The Saints, however, did not succeed in their object. They never returned to their " Zion," but remained for upwards of fonr years in Clay County. It was mostly uncleared laud where they settled or squatted, but being a most industrious and persevering people, they laid out farms, erected mills and stores, and carried on their business successfully. They also laid the foundation of the towns of Far West and Adam-On- Bidhman ; but their fanaticism here, as well as in their for- mer location, soon proved the cause of their expulsion from the whole State of Missouri. The slavery question, the cal- umny about their open adulteries and community of WMves, their loud vaunts of their supreme holiness, their continually repeated declarations that Missouri was to be theirs by Divine command, and the quarrels that were the constant result, led to the same ill-feeling in Clay County, as had been exhibited elsewhere. But before the final consummation, when, as one of their hymns says — " Missouri, Like a whirlwind in its fury, And without a judge or jury, Drove the Saints and spilled their blood" — various interesting events in their history took place. On tha THE " prophet" starts FOR MISSOURI. 96 5th May, 1834, Joseph resolved to proceed to Clay County, and put the affairs of the scattered and dispirited church into order. Having organized a company of one hundred persons, mostly young men, and nearly all elders, priests, deacons, and teachers, he started at their head for Missouri. They travelled on foot ; several wagons vt^ith their baggage and provisions, ind relief to the destitute Saints in Clay County, following he- hind. They were well provided with " fire-arms and all sorts of munitions of war of the most portable kind for self-defence." They were joined in two days by fifty more " Saints," simi- larly armed. Their baggage wagons now amounted to twenty. Joseph divided his band into companies of twelve, consisting of two cooks, two firemen, two tent-makers, two watermen, one runner or scout, one commissary, and two wag- oners. Every night " at the sound of the trumpet, they bowed down before the Lord in their several tents ; and at the sound of the morning trumpet, every man was again on his knees before the Lord." They passed through extensive wilds, and forded many streams and rivers ; and though, as Joseph says, " their enemies were continually breathing threats of violence, the Saints did not fear, neither did they hesitate to prosecute their journey, for God was with them, and his an- gels were before them, and the faith of the little band was unwavering. We knew," he added, " that the angels were our companions, for we saw them." On their arrival in June at the Illinois river, the people were very anxious to know who and what they were. Many questions were asked, but the Mormons evaded them all, and gave no information as to their names, profession, business, or destination. Joseph himself travelled incognito, and though the settlers in Illinois vehemently suspected the band to be Mormons, they did not think it prudent to molest them. Having been safely ferried over the river, with all their bag- gage, they encamped Iwo days afterwards amid some mounds, 96 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. or ancient burial-places of the Indians. Here Joseph played the "prophet," and gave his followers an additional proof of the authenticity of the Book of Mormon, and of the history of the Lamanites, the descendants of the Jews, therein recorded. This was a master-stroke of policy. '* The contemplation of the scenery," says Joseph, "produced peculiar sensations in our bosoms. The brethren procured a shovel and a hoe, and removing the earth of one of the mounds, to the depth of about a foot, discovered the skeleton of a man almost entire, and between his ribs was a Lamanitish arrow. The visions of the past being opened to my understanding, by the spirit of the Almighty, I discovered that the person whose skeleton was before us, was a white Lamanite, a large thick-set man, and a man of God. He was a warrior and chieftain under the great prophet Omandagus, who was known from the hill Cumorah, or Easter Sea, to the Rocky Mountains. His name was Zelph. He was killed in battle by the arrow found among his ribs, during the last great struggle of the Lama- nites and Nephites." On the next day, refreshed by this in- cident, and marvellously confirmed in the faith by the wis- dom and knowledge of their Prophet, they moved onwards, and crossed the Mississippi river, into the limits of the State of Missouri. The following extracts from the journal or diary of one of the elders who accompanied the Prophet, will show the in- fluence he exercised, and the manner in which his singular journey was conducted : — " This day, June 3d, while we were refreshing ourselves and teams, about the middle.of the day, Brother Joseph got up in a wagon and said that he would deliver a prophecy. After giving the brethren much good advice, exhorting them to faithfulness and humility, he said ' the Lord had told him that there would be a scourge come upon the camp, in conse- quence of the fractious and unruly spirits that appeared among JOURNEY OF THE SAINTS. 97 them, and they should die like sheep with the rot ; still, if they would repent and humble themselves before the Lord, the scourge, in a great measure, might be turned away : but, as the Lord lived, the camp would suffer for giving way to their unruly temper,' which afterwards actually did take place, to the sorrow of the brethren. *' The same day, when we had got within one mile of the Snye, we came to a very beautiful little town called Atlas. Here we found honey for the first time on our journey, that we could buy ; we purchased about two thirds of a barrel. We went down to the Snye and crossed over that night in a ferry-boat. We encamped for the night on the bank of the Snye. There was a great excitement in the country through which we had passed, and also a-head of us ; the mob threat- ened to stop us. Guns were fired in almost all directions through the night. Brother Joseph did not sleep much, if any, but was through the camp pretty much during the night. " We pursued our journey on the 4th, and encamped on the bank of the Mississippi river. Here we were somewhat afflicted, and the enemy threatened much that we should not cross over the river out of Illinois into Missouri. It took us two days to cross the river, as we had but one ferry-boat, and the river was one mile and a half wide. While some were crossing, many others spent their time in hunting and fishing, &c. When we had all got over, we encamped about one mile back from the little town of Louisiana, in a beautiful oak grove, which is immediately on the bank of the river At this place there were some feelings of hostility manifested by Sylvester Smith, in consequence of a dog growling at him while he was marching his company up to the camp, he being the last that came over the river. The next morning Brother Joseph said that he would descend to the spirit that was man ifested by some of the brethren, to let them see the folly of 98 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. their wickedness. He rose up, and commenced speaking by saying, ' If any man insults me, or abuses me, I will stand in my own defence at the expense of my life ; and if a dog growl at me, I will let him know that I am his master.' At this moment Sylvester Smith, who had just returned from where he had turned out his horses to feed, came up, and hearing Brother Joseph make these remarks, said, * If that dog bites me, I'll kill him.' Brother Joseph turned to Sylvester and said, • If you kill that dog, I'll whip you,' and then went on to show the brethren how wicked and unchristian-like such con- duct appeared before the eyes of truth and justice. " On Friday, the 6th, we resumed our journey. On Satur- day, the 7th, at night we camped among our brethren at Salt River, in the AUred settlement, in a piece of Wvoods by a beau- tiful spring of water, and prepared for the Sabbath. On the Sabbath we had preaching. Here we remained several days, washing our clothes, and preparing to pursue our journey. Here we were joined by Hyrum Smith and Lyman Wight, with another company. The camp now numbered two hun- dred and five men, all armed and equipped as the law directs. It was delightful to see the company, for they were all young men, with one or two exceptions, and in good spirits." Another entry in the same diary will be interesting to those who wish to trace the slight incidents upon which strong fa- naticism supports itself. The meteors of the 13th of jSfovem- ber, which are annually looked for by the observers of the heavens, were to the Mormons then, as they are now, con- vincing proofs of the truth of Mormonism, and signs of the Latter Days : — " November V6th. — About 4 o'clock a.m. I was awakened by Brother Davis knocking at my door, and calling on me to arise and behold the signs in the heavens. I arose, and, to my great joy, beheld the stars fall from heaven like a shower of hailstones ; a literal fulfilment of the word of God, as re- SIGNS OF THE LATTER DAYS. 99 corded in the Holy Scriptures, as a sure sign that the coming of Christ is close at hand. In the midst of this shower of fire, I was led to exclaim : How marvellous are thy works, Lord ! I thank thee for thy mercy unto thy servant ; save me in thy kingdom, for Christ's sake. Amen. " The appearance of these signs varied in different sections of the country : in Zion, all heaven seemed enwrapped in splendid fire- works, as if every star in the broad expanse had been suddenly hurled from its course, and sent lawless through the wilds of ether ; some at times appeared like bright shoot- ing meteors with long trains of light following in their course, and in numbers resembled large drops of rain in sunshine. Some of the long trains of light following the meteoric stars were visible for some seconds ; these streaks would curl and twist up like serpents writhing. The appearance was beau- tiful, grand, and sublime beyond description ; as though all the artillery and fire- works of eternity were set in motion to en- chant and entertain the Saints, and terrify and awe the sin- ners on the earth. Beautiful and terrific as was the scenery, which might be compared to the falling figs or fruit when the tree is shaken by a mighty wind ; yet, it will not fully com- pare with the time when the sun shall become black like sack-cloth of hair, the moon like blood (Rev. vi. 13) ; and the stars fall to the earth, as these appeared to vanish when they fell behind the trees, or came near the ground." Joseph was now on a dangerous territory, and chose twenty men for his body-guard, appointing his brother Hyrum Smith as their captain, and another brother, George Smith, as his armor- bearer. He also appointed a "general," who daily inspected the little army, examined their fire-locks, and drilled them on the prairies. The people of Jackson County, by this time, were informed of Joseph Smith's arrival with his army. A deputation of them, who were in Clay County, to submit a proposal for the purchase of all the Mormon lands in Inde- 100 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. pendence, no sooner heard that the Prophet was m the field in person, than they returned towards their own county to raise a force with which to meet and chastise him. One of their leaders, named Campbell, swore, as he adjusted his pis- tols in his holsters, "that the eagles and turkey buzzards should eat his flesh if he did not, before two days, fix Joe Smith and his army, so that their skins should not hold shucks." Joseph, who relates this story, adds, that Campbell and his men "went to the ferry and undertook to cross the Missouri river after dusk ; but the angel of God saw fit to sink the boat about the middle of the river, and seven out of the twelve that attempted to cross were drowned. Thus sud- denly and justly," he adds, with great complacency, " they went to their own place by water. Campbell was among the missing. He floated down the river some four or five miles, and lodged upon a pile of drift wood, where the eagles, buz- zards, ravens, crows, and wild animals, ate his flesh from his bones, to fulfil his own words, and left him a horrible-looking skeleton of God's vengeance, which was discovered- about three weeks afterwards by one Mr. Purtle." Joseph, much delighted at the death of Campbell and his men, and at the discovery of the fleshless bones of his enemy by " Mr. Purtle," continued his march, and had a new " rev- elation" from the Lord, to comfort and excite his people. The cholera, however, broke out in his camp on the 24th of June, and Joseph attempted to cure it by " laying on of his hands and prayer." He failed, however, to do any good, and ac- counted for his faflure by stating that " he quickly learned by painful experience that when the Great Jehovah decrees de- struction, man must not attempt to stay his hand." Though he could not cure the cholera, he endeavored to maintain his influence over the minds of his followers, and impress them more forcibly with the miraculous nature of his mission, by stating that the enemies of the Mormons would suffer more JOSEPH SMITH IN MISSOURI. 101 severely from the visitation than the Mormons themselves. He laid particular stress upon the case of a woman who re- fused a Saint some water to drink. " Before a week," said t'ne prophet, '* the cholera entered that house, and that woman and three others of the family were dead." Joseph lost thir- teen of his baud by the ravages of the disease. On the 1st of July he crossed into Jackson County, with a few friends, " to set his feet once more on that goodly land ;" and, after re- maining one day, proceeded with the remainder of his com- pany to Clay County. He did not remain long with the Saints, for we find that he arrived on the 2d, and started back for Kirtland on the 9th. It was not prudent, it appears, that he should make himself too familiar with his believers. The great man was not to be seen too closely with impunity, for some of his travelling companions began to accuse him of '* prophesying lies in the name of the Lord," and also of ap- propriating " moneys" to which he had no right. But Joseph Smith was not a man to be daunted by domestic treason or enemies in his own camp ; and short as was the time he stayed, he did not depart without organizing and encouraging the main body of the fugitives from Jackson County, and es- tablishing the community in Clay County on a better footing than when he arrived. On his return to Kirtland, his first step was to bring to trial before his church the brother who accused him of " prophesying lies," and of appropriating moneys. The brother confessed his error, retracted his charge, and was forgiven. The history of the sect for the next three years is one of strife and contention with their unrelenting and vindictive en- mies in Missouri. The numbers of Mormons increased with the numbers of their opponents ; and the warfare raged so bitterly that thjc whole people of Missouri were ranged either on one side or the other. In the autumn of 1837, Joseph's bank at Kirtland stopped payment ; the district was flooded with its 102 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. worthless paper, and Joseph had a "revelation" commanding him to depart finally for Missouri, and live araongr the Saints in the land of their inheritance. Joseph obeyed the " revela- tion" by departing secretly in the night. His enemies assert that he went "between two days," as it is called in America, and that he left his creditors to their remedy. He found the affairs of his church in considerable confusion on his arrival. The Saints formed a numerous and powerful body, but they did not agree among themselves ; and occasional seceders and deserters from their camp-^many of them consisting of men who were ashamed of their previous delusions, and of others who were actuated by vindictive motives or disappointed am- bition — spread abroad all sorts of rumors and stories to the disadvantage of the sect. The great schism, already alluded to, broke out in 1838, when Joseph Smith found it necessary to denounce some of his oldest confederates, among others " Oliver Cowdery," one of the three witnesses to the authen- ticity of the Book of Mormon, and the existence of the gold plates ; Martin Harris, another witness ; Sidney Rigdon, his co-equal in the government of the church, and various disci- ples and apostles. Sidney Higdon was afterwards forgiven, being too important a personage to be converted into an enemy. In the midst of these squabbles, the people of Jackson County, joined by the people of Clay County, Caldwell County, and other districts, made a series of pertinacious efforts to expel them finally from Missouri. A very clear narrative of these events w^as given in evidence upon oath by Hyrum, the brother of Joseph Smith, at one of the numerous criminal trials, which were instituted against the members of the sect. It appears from this statement that at a popular election in 1838, at Gallatin, in Davis County, the old ill-feeling having arisen with more than its usual viru- lence, the mob would not allow any Mormons to exercise their privilege of voting ; and that a desperate fight, in which two AGGRESSIONS UPON THE MORMONS. 103 men were killed, and as many persons seriously hurt, was the result. Both parties armed to defend themselves, and cariied on a guerilla warfare for several weeks. The cry was raised by the anti-Mormons, that there would be no peace in the country as long as a single Mormon was allowed to re- main within it. Early in the September of that year, the mob assembled at a place called Millport, near Adam-On- Diahman — " and," to use the words of Hyrum Smith, " com- menced making aggressions upon the Mormons, taking away their hogs and cattle, and threatening them with extermina- tion, or utter extinction ; saying that they had a cannon, and there should be no compromise only at its mouth : frequently taking men, women, and children prisoners, whipping them and lacerating their bodies with hickory withes, and tying them to trees and depriving them of food until they were compelled to gnaw the bark from the trees to which they were bound, in order to sustain life ; treating them in the most cruel manner they could invent or think of, and doing every- thing they could to excite the indignation of the Mormon peo- ple to rescue them, in order that they might make that a pretext of an accusation for the breach of the law, and that they might the better excite the prejudice of the populace, and thereby get aid and assistance to carry out their hellish purposes of extermination." We continue the narra- tive as given in Hyrum Smith's evidence : — " Immediately on the authentication of these facts, messengers were despatched from Far West to Austin A. King, Judge of the district, and to Major-General Atchison, Commander-in-Chief of that di- vision, and Brigadier-General Doniphan, demanding immediate assistance. General Atchison returned with the messengers, and went immediately to Diahman, and from thence to Mill- port, and he found the facts were true as reported to him ; — that the citizens of that county were assembled together in a hostile attitude to the amount of two or three hundred men. 104 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. threatening the utter extermination of the Mormons, he im- mediately returned to Clay County, and ordered out a suffi- cient military force to quell the mob. Immediately after they .were dispersed, and the army returned, the mob commenced collecting again soon after. We again applied for military aid, when General Doniphan came out with a force of sixty armed men to Far AVest ; but they were in such a state of insubordination that he said he could not control them. " After witnessing the distressed situation of the people in Diahman, my brother Joseph Smith, Senior, and myself, re- turned back to the city of Far West, and immediately de- spatched a messenger, with written documents, to General Atchison, stating the facts as they did then exist, praying for assistance if possible, and requesting the editor of The Far West to insert the same in his newspaper ; but he utterly re- fused to do so. We still believed that we should get assist- ance from the Governor, and again petitioned him, praying for assistance, setting forth our distressed situation ; and in the meantime the presiding Judge of the County Court issued orders — upon affidavits made to him by the citizens — to the sheriff of the county, to order out the militia of the county to stand in constant readiness, night and day, to prevent the cit- izens from being massacred, which fearful situation they were exposed to every moment. " It was on the evening of the 30th of October, according to the best of my recollection, that the army arrived at Far West, the sun about half an hour high. In a few moments afterwards, Cornelius Gillum arrived with his army, and formed a junction. This Gillum had been stationed at Hunter's Mills for about two months previous to that time — committing depre- dations upon the inhabitants — capturing men, women, and chil- dren, and cairying them off as prisoners, lacerating their bodies with hickory withes The army of ' Gillum' were painted like Indians, some of them were more conspicuous than others, and MASSACEE OF MORMONS AT HAUn's MILL. MASSACRE AT HAUN'S MILL. 107 were designated the red spots ; he, also, was painted in a sim- ilar manner, with red spots marked on his face, and styled himself the 'Delaware Chief They would whoop, and hol- low, and yell as near like Indians as they could, and continued to do so all that night. In the morning early, the Colonel of Militia sent a messenger into the camp with a white flag, to have another interview with General Doniphan. On his re- turn he informed us that the Governor's orders had arrived. General Doniphan said that ' the order of the Governor was, to exterminate the Mormons ; but he would not obey that order, but General Lucas might do what he pleased.' We immediately learned from General Doniphan that 'the Governor's order that had arrived was only a copy of the ori ginal, and that the original order was in the hands of Major- General Clark, who was on his way to Far West, with an additional army of six thousand men,' Immediately after this, there came into the city a messenger from Haun's Mill, bringing the intelligence of an awful massacre of the people who were residing in that place, and that a force of two or three hundred, detached from the main body of the army, un- der the superior command of Colonel Ashley, but under the immediate command of Captain Nehemiah Compstock, who, the day previous, had promised them peace and protection, but on receiving a copy of the Governor's order, ' to extermi- nate or to expeV from the hands of Colonel Ashley, he re- turned upon them the following day, and surprised and mas- sacred the whole population, and then came on to the town of Far West, and entered into conjunction with the main body of the army. The messenger informed us that he him- self with a few others fled into the thickets, which preserved them from the massacre, and on the followinjr mornino; re- turned and collected the dead bodies of the people, and cast them into a well. There were upwards of twenty who were dead or mortally wounded. One, of the name of Yocum, has 108 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. lately had his leg amputated, in consequence of wounds he then received. He had a ball shot through his head, which entered near his eye, and came out at the back part of his head, and another ball passed through one of his arms. " The army, during all the while they had been encamped in Far West, continued to lay waste fields of corn, making hogs, sheep, and cattle common plunder, and shooting them down for sport. One man shot a cow, and took a strip of her skin, the width of his hand, from her head to her tail, and tied it around a tree, to slip his halter into, to tie his horse to. The city was surrounded with a strong guard, and no man, woman, or child was permitted to go out or come in, under the penalty of death. Many of the citizens were shot in at- tempting to go out to obtain sustenance for themselves and families." It was not to be expected that the Mormons, exposed to a series of persecutions and outrages like these, and in a country so utterly lawless, should not take measures to defend them- selves. As it was unsafe for a Mormon to stir abroad, a body of them, instituted expressly for the defence of the sect, and possibly on the recommendation of the Governor of Missouri given to them some years before, was organized under the name of the " Danite Band," or, as they were sometimes called, the "Destroying Angels." An affidavit made before a justice of the peace in E.ay County, Missouri, on the 24th of October, 1838, and sworn by a man named Marsh, who had held office in the Mormon church, and another affidavit, signed by Orson Hyde, an ex- apostle of the church, alleged the following facts with reference to the " Danites," and their proceedings : — " They have among them a company, consisting of all that are considered true Mormons, called the Danites, who have taken an oath to support the heads of the church in all things that they say or do, whether riglit or wrong. Many, however, of this band are THE DANITE BAND. 109 much dissatisfied with this oath, as being against moral and religious principles. On Saturday last, I am informed by the Mormons that they had a meeting at Far West, at which they appointed a company of twelve, by the name of the Destruction Company, for the purpose of burning and destroying ; and that if the people of Buncombe came to do mischief upon the people of Caldwell, and committed depredations upon the Mormons, they were to burn Buncombe ; and if the people of Clay and Ray made any movement against them, this destroying company were to burn Liberty and Richmond. The plan of said Smith, the prophet, is to take this State ; and he pro- fesses to his people to intend taking the United States, and ultimate- ly the whole world. This is the belief of the church, and my own opinion of the prophet's plans and intentions. The prophet incul- cates the notion, and it is believed by every true Mormon, that Smith's prophecies are superior to the law of the land. I have heard the prophet say that he would yet tread down his enemies, and walk over their dead bodies : that if he was not let alone, he would be a second Mahomet to this generation, and that he would make it one gore of blood from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean ; that, like Mahomet, whose motto, in treating for peace, was ' the Alcoran or the sword,' so should it be eventually with us, ' Joseph Smith or the sword.' These last statements were made during the last summer. The number of armed men at Adam-On-Diahman was between three and four hundred. Thomas B. March. " S\yorn to and subscribed before me, the day herein written. " Henry Jacobs, J.P., Ray County, Missouri. ''Richmond, Missouri, October 24, 1838." "affidavit of ORSON HYDE.* " The most of the statements in the foregoing disclosure of T. B. March I know to be true ; the remainder I believe to be true. "Orson Hyde, Richmond, Oct. 24, 1838. " Sworn to and subscribed before me on the day above written. " Henry Jacobs, J.P." * This Orson Hyde appears to have rejoined the Mormons, and to have been present at the trial of Sidney Rigdon, after the death of Joseph Smith. 110 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. *' CERTIFICATE OF THOMAS B. CHURCH AND OTHERS. " The undersigned committee, on the part of the citizens of Ray County, have no doubt but Thomas B. March and Orson Hyde, whose names are signed to the foregoing certificates, have been members of the Mormon church in full fellowship until very recent- ly, when they voluntarily abandoned the Mormon church and faith, and that said March was, at the time of his dissenting, the president of the Twelve Apostles, and president of the church at Far West ; and that said Hyde was at that time one of the Twelve Apostles, and that they left church, and abandoned the faith of the Mormons, from a conviction of their immorality and impiety. " Thomas C. Burch. William Hudgins. Henry Jacobs. Georg.i: Woodward. J. R. Hendley. C. R. Morehead. "Richmond, October 24, 1838." O. H. Searcy." These and other statements of a similar kind, many of which were doubtless highly exaggerated, were daily incul- cated, and produced the effect of still further exasperating the people against Joseph and his disciples. The Mormons, seeing the law broken by their opponents, refused obedience to the law themselves. They fortified their farms and towris, and treated with contempt the legal processes which it was at- tempted, to serve upon them. The militia of the State was again called out, under the command of General Doniphan. His measures were so vigorous, and the fury of the people against Joseph was so great, that the Mormons, dreading the general massacre of their sect, so long threatened, laid down their arms, and finally resolved to leave the State of Missouri and take refuge in Illinois, then very partially cleared and settled. The following address, which is of itself sufficient evidence of the cruelty and injustice with which the sect was treated, PERSECUTIONS IN MISSOURI. Ill was delivered at Far West, by Major-General Clark, to the Mormons, after they had surrendered their arms, and declared themselves prisoners of war : — " Gentlemen, — You whose names are not attached to this list of James, will now have the privilege of going to your fields to obtain corn for your families, wood, &c. Those that are now taken will go from thence to prison, be tried, and receive the due demerit of their crimes ; but you are now at liberty, all but such as charges may be hereafter preferred against. It now devolves upon you to fulfil the treaty that you have entered into, the leading items of which I now lay before you. The first of these you have already complied with, which is, that you deliver up your leading men to be tried according to law. Second, that you deliver up your arms — this has been at- tended to. The third is, that you sign over your properties to de- fray the expenses of the war — this you have also done. Another thing yet remains for you to comply with — that is, that you leave the State forthwith ; and whatever your feelings concerning this affair, whatever your innocence, it is nothing to me. General Lucas, who is equal in authority with me, has made this treaty with you. I am determined to see it executed. The orders of the Governor to me were, that you should be exterminated, and not allowed to con- tinue in the State ; and had your leader not been given up, and the treaty complied with, before this, you and your families would have been destroyed, and your houses in ashes. There is a discretionary power vested in my hands, which I shall try to exercise for a season. I did not say that you shall go now; but you must not think of staying here another season, or of putting in crops ; for the moment you do, the citizens will be upon you. I am determined to see the Governor's Message fulfilled, but shall not come upon you immediately — do not think that I shall act as I have done any more — but if I have to come again, because the treaty which you have made here shall be broken, you need not expect any mercy, but extermination ; for I am determined the Governor's or- der shall be executed. As for your leaders, do not once think — do not imagine for a moment — do not let it enter your mind — that they will be delivered, or that you will see their faces again ; for their fate is fixed, their die is cast, their doom is sealed. 112 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. " I am sorry, gentlemen, to see so great a number of apparently intelligent men found in the situation that you are ; — and, oh ! that I could invoke the spirit of the unknown God to rest upon you, and deliver you from that awful chain of superstition, and liberate you from those fetters of fanaticism with which you are bound. I would advise you to scatter abroad, and never again organize with bishops, presidents, &.C., lest you excite the jealousies of the people, and sub- ject yourselves to the same calamities that have now come upon you. You have always been the aggressors, you have brought upon yourselves these difficulties by being disaffected, and not being sub- ject to rule — and my advice is, that you become as other citizens, lest by a recurrence of these events, you bring upon yourselves ir- retrievable ruin." While the great body of the Mormons were thus barbar- ously dealt with, and while General Clark so coolly spoke of their "extermination" as a result which they might expect, the Prophet himself was betrayed into the hands of his ene- mies, and taken into custody, to answer the various charges of treason, murder, and felony, which were brought against him. His brother Hyrum, and three other leaders of the sect, were apprehended at the same time. The " treason" was for making war against the State of Missouri, the " murder" was the death of the two men in the afiray at Gallatin, and the " felony" was the destruction and robbery of property com- mitted by the Danite band. Though Joseph at first antici- pated an acquittal upon the whole of these charges, the mob breathed such vengeance against him that he made an at- tempt to escape after he had been a few weeks in prison. His attempt, however, was discovered and foiled, partly by the breaking of an auger with which he was at work, and partly by the indiscretion of his friends outside. Hyrum Smith, in a " Communication to the Saints scat- tered abroad," published in the first volume of the Times and Seasons, a year after the events described, gave a painfully interesting account of the sufferings and persecutions which PERSECUTIONS IN MISSOURI. ll'd he and other members of the sect underwent at this time, in which he recapitulated the main portion of the evidence from which we have quoted, and added many other facts, which are necessary to the proper understanding of the narrative. " It would be unnecessary for me," he said, " to enter into the particulars prior to my settlement in Missouri, or give an account of my journey to that State ; suffice it to say, that after having en- dured almost all manner of abuse, which poured out upon the Church of Latter-Day Saints, from its commencement, by wicked and ungodly men. I left Kirtland, Ohio, the beginning of March, 1838, with a family consisting of ten individuals, and with means only sufficient to take us one half the way. The weather was very unpropitious, and the roads were worse than I had ever seen them before. However, after enduring many privations and much fatigue, through the kind providence of God, I arrived with my family in Far West, the latter part of May, where I found many of my friends who had borne the heat and burthen of the day, and whose priva- tions and sufferings for Christ's sake had been great, with whom I fondly hoped and anticipated the- pleasure of spending a season in peace, and having a cessation from the troubles and persecutions to which we had been subject for a number of years. The prospect was truly flattering ; we were the owners of almost the entire coun- ty ; many of the brethren had already opened very extensive farms ; nature was propitious, and the comforts of life would have soon been realized by every industrious person. But notwithstanding these favorable auspices, a storm arose, before whose withering blast our fair and reasonable prospects were blasted and ruined : anarchy and dismay were spread through that county, as well as the adjoining ones, in which our brethren had found a resting-place. " The inhabitants of the upper counties, jealous of the increasing number of the Saints, thinking, like some in ancient times, that if they w^ere to let us alone, we should take away their place and na- tion, soon began to circulate reports prejudicial to us, and after threatening us with mobs for some time, at last put their threats into execution, and proceeded to drive off our cattle, and burn down our houses, while helpless females with their tender offspnng, had to 114 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. flee into the wilderness, and wander to a considerable disrance for shelter. This state of things continued imtil, from false representa- tions, and a wicked desire to overthrow the Saints, the Governor called out the militia, and gave orders for our extermination. " Soon after the arrival of the militia at Far West, my brother Joseph, with several others, who were considered leading characters in the church, were betrayed into their hands, and the day after Colonel George Hinckle, who had always been a professed friend, but who had now turned traitor, came with a company of the enemy to my house, and told them I was the person whom they sought. They told me I must go with them to the camp. I inquired when I could return, my family being in a situation that I knew not how to leave them ; but could get no answer. Remonstrance was in vain, so I was obliged to go with them. I was aware of the hostile feelings of our enemies, and their hatred to all those who professed the faith of the Church of Latter-Day Saints ; and I can assure my brethren that I would as soon have gone into a den of lions, as into that host, who had orders from the executive of State to put us to death, and who had every disposition to do so. However, I was enabled to put my trust in the Lord, knowing that he who delivered Daniel out of the den of lions, could deliver me from cruel and wick- ed men. When I arrived at the camp, I was put under the same guard with my brother Joseph, and my other friends, who had been taken the day previous. " That evening a court-martial was held, to consult what steps should be taken with the prisoners, when it was decided that we were to be shot the next morning, as an ensample to the rest of the church. Knowing that I had done nothing worthy of ' death or of bonds,' and feeling an assurance that all things would work togeth- er for our good, I remained quite calm, and felt altogether unmoved. When I heard of their unjust and cruel sentence, 'my heart was fixed, trusting in the Lord.' " The next morning came on, when (according to the sentence of the court) we were to be shot. It was an important time ; thousands were anticipating the event with fiendish joy, and seemed to long for ^ the hour of execution, while our friends and brethren were beseech- ing a throne of grace on our behalf, and praying for our deliverance. The time at length arrived when their sentence was to be carried PERSECUTIONS IN MISSOURI. 115 nto effect; but in consequence of General Doniphan protesting against the unlawfulness of the proceedings, and, at the same time, threatening to withdraw his troops, if they should offer to carry into effect their murderous sentence, the court rescinded their resolution; and thus their purposes were frustrated, and our bitterest enemies were disappointed. The prayers of our friends were answered, and our lives spared. Notwithstanding the discomfiture of their plans, yet our destruction was determined upon by a vast majority, who, thinking they could better carry into effect their purposes, ordered us to be conveyed to Jackson County, where they were well aware our most cruel persecutors resided. Before starting, I got permission to visit my family, but had only time to get a change of clothes, and rhen was hurried away from them, while they clung to my gar- ments, they supposing it would be the last time they would see me in this world. While getting into the wagon wliich was to convey us to our destination, four men rushed upon us, and levelled theii rifles at us, seemingly with a determination to shoot us. But thi& was not permitted them to do. No ! their arms were unnerved, and they dropped their pieces and slunk away. While thus exposed, ] felt no tremor or alarm ; I knew I was in the hands of God, whose power was unlimited. " While on our way to Jackson County we excited great curiosity. At our stopping-places, people would flock to see us from all quar- ters, a great number of whom would rail upon us, and give us abu- sive language, while a few would pity us, knowing that we were an injured people. When we arrived at Independence, the county-seat of Jackson County, the citizens flocked from all parts of the county to see us. They were generally very abusive : some of the most fgnorant gnashed their teeth upon us ; but all their threats and abuse did not move me, for I felt the spirit of the Lord to rest down upon me, and I felt great liberty in speaking to those who would listen to the truth. Notwithstanding the determination of our enemies, they were not suffered to carry out their designs in that county ; for, after enduring considerable hardships, we were removed back as for as Richmond, in Ray County, where, for the first time in my life, I was put into prison. My feet were hurt with the fetters ; and I re- mained in this situation for fourteen days. I endeavored to bear up under my sufferings and wrongs, but at the same time could not 116 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. help but feel indignant at those who treated us with such cruelty, and who pretended to do it under the sanction of the laws. After many attempts to destroy us by the military, in all of which they were unsuccessful, we were at length delivered up to the civil law, soon after which, a court of inquiry was held. A great deal of false testimony was given prejudicial to my brethren ; but all the testi- mony they could produce against me was, that I was one of the presidency of the church, and a firm friend to my brother Joseph. This the court deemed sufficient to authorize my committal to pris- on. I was then, with my brethren, removed to Liberty, in Clay County, where I was confined for more than four months, and suf- fered much for want of proper food, and from the nauseous cell in which I was confined, but still more so on account of my anxiety for my family, whom I had left without any protector, and who were unable to help themselves. My wife was confined while I was away from home, and had to suffer more than tongue can tell. She was not able to sit up for several weeks, and to heighten my affliction, and the sufferings of my helpless family, my goods were unlawfully seized upon and carried off, until my family had to suffer in conse- quence thereof. Nor were the Missourians my only oppressors ; but those witli whom I had been acquainted from my youth, and who had ever pretended the greatest friendship towards me, came to my house while I was in prison, and ransacked and carried off many of my valuables ; this they did under the cloak of friendship. Amongst those who treated me thus, I cannot help making particular mention of Lyman Cowdery, who, in connection with his brother Oliver, took from me a great many things ; and, to cap the climax of his iniquity, compelled my aged father, by threatening to bring a mob upon him, to deed over to him, or his brother Oliver, about 160 acres of land, to pay a note, which he said I had given to Oliver, for 165 dollars. Such a note I confess I was, and still am entirely ignorant of; and after mature consideration, I have to say, that I believe it must be a forgery. " These circumstances, with the afliicting situation of my family, served greatly to heighten my grief; indeed, it was almost more than I could bear up under. I traversed my prison-house for hours, thinking of their cruelty to my family, and the afllictions they brought upon the Saints of the Most High, They forcibly remind- PERSECUTIONS IN MISSOURI. 11 "7 ed me of the children of Edom, when the Jews were destroyed by their enemies ; and the language of the prophet Obadiah to Edom is, I think, so very much in point, that I cannot refrain from insert- ing it :— " ' For thy violence against thy brother Jacob, shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off forever. " ' In the day thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them. " ' But thou shouldst not have looked on the day of thy brother, in the day that he became a 'stranger ; neither shouldst thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction ; neither shouldst thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress. " ' Thou shouldst not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity ; yea, thou shouldst not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity. Neither shouldst thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape ; neither shouldst thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the city of distress.' " After being in the hands of our enemies for about six months, the time of our deliverance at length arrived. You may judge what my feelings were when I escaped from those whose feet were fast to shed blood, and when I was again privileged to see my beloved family, who had suffered so many privations and afflictions, not only while in Far West, but likewise in moving away in that inclement season of the year. " Thus, I have endeavored to give you a short account of my suf- ferings while in the State of Missouri ; but how inadequate is lan- guage to express the feelings of my mind while under them, know- ing that I was innocent of crime, and that I had been dragged from my family at a time when my assistance was most needed ; that I had been abused and thrust into a dungeon, and confined for months on account of my faith, and the testimony of Jesus Christ.' How- ever, I thank God that I felt a determination to die rather than deny the things which my eyes had seen, which my hands had handled, and which I had borne testimony to, wherever my lot had been cast ; 118 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. and I can assure my beloved brethren, that I was enabled to bear as strong a testimony when nothing but death presented itself as ever I did in my life. My confidence in God was likewise unshaken. I knew that He who suffered me, along with my brethren, to be thus tried, could, and would, deliver us out of the hands of our enemies ; and in His own due time He did so, for which I desire to bless and praise His iioly name. " From my close and long confinement, as well as from the suffer- ings of my mind, I feel my body greatly broken down and debili- tated, my frame has received a shock from which it will take a long time to recover. Yet, I am happy to say that my zeal for the cause of God, and my courage in defence of the truth, are as great as ever. ' My heart is fixed ;' and I yet feel a determination to do the will of God, in spite of persecutions, imprisonments, or death. I can say with Paul, ' None of these things move me, so that I may finish my course with joy.' " Your brother in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, " Hyrum Smith." "Dec. 1839." A document of still more interest was issued by the two brothers while in prison, and signed by them and three other members of the church. The unflinching courage of Joseph while surrounded with difficulties and perils of no ordinary kind, and his firm reliance upon the ultimate triumph of his doctrine, compel admiration, and would almost jiistify the supposition, that he had taught his imposture so long, and lived so thoroughly in it, by it, and with it, as to have ended by believing it. The document ran as follows : — ^'■Liberty Jail, Clay Co., Missouri. " To Bishop Partridge, and to the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat- ter-Day Saints, in Quincy, Illinois, and to those scattered abroad, throughout all regions round about. " Your humble servant Joseph Smith, jr., prisoner for Christ's sake, and the Saints, taken and held by the power of mobocracy under the exterminating reign of hia excellency Governor Lilburn W. Boggs PERSECUTIONS IN MISSOURI. 119 in company with his fellow-prisoners and beloved brethren, Caleb Baldwin, Lyman Wight, Hyrum Smith, and Alexander McRea, send unto you greeting : May the grace of God the Father, and the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, rest upon you all, and abide with you forever ; and may faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly-kindness, and charity, dwell in you and abound, so that you may not be barren and unfruitful. " We know, that the greater part of you are acquainted with the wrongs, high-toned injustice, and cruelty which are practised upon us ; we have been taken prisoners, charged falsely with all kind of crimes, and thrown into a prison enclosed with strong walls, and are surrounded with a strong guard who are as indefatigable in watching us, as their master is in laying snares for the people of God. Therefore, under these circumstances, dearly beloved breth- ren, we are the more ready to claim your fellowship and love. Our situation is calculated to awaken our minds to a sacred remem- brance of your affection and kindness ; and we think that your situation will have the same effect ; therefore, we believe, that noth- ing can separate us from the love of God, and our fellowship one with another ; and that every species of wickedness and cruelty practised upon us, will only tend to bind our hearts and seal them together in love. " It is probably as unnecessary for us to say, that we are thus treated and held in bonds without cause, as it would be for you to say, that you were smitten and driven from your homes without any provocation ; we mutually understand and verily know, that if the citizens of the State of Missouri had not abused the Saints, and had been as desirous of peace as we were, there would have been noth- ing but peace and quietude to this day, and we should not have been in this wretched place, and burthened with the society of demons in human form, and compelled to hear nothing but oaths and curses, and witness scenes of drunkenness and debaucheries of every de- scription ; neither would the cries of orphans and widows have as- cended to God, or the blood of the Saints have stained the soil, and cried for vengeance against them. But ' we dwell with those who hate peace ;' and who delight in war ; and surely their unrelenting hearts — their inhuman and murderous disposition — and their cruel practices, shock humanity, and defy description ! It is truly a ^'^'e 120 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. of sorrow, lamenialion, and ivoe, too much for humanity to contem- plate. Such a transaction cannot be found where kings and tyrants reign, or among the savages of the wilderness, or even among the ferocious beasts of the forest. To think that men should be man- gled for sport, after being cruelly put to death, and that women should have their last morsel stolen from them, while their helpless children were clinging around them and crying for food — and then, to gratify the hellish desires of their more than inhuman oppres- sors, be violated, is horrid in the extreme. " They practise these things upon the Saints, Vv^ho have done them no wrong, have committed no crime, and who are an innocent and virtuous people ; and who have proved themselves lovers of God by forsaking and enduring all things for His sake. ' It must needs be that offences come, but woe to those by whom they come.' " O God ! where art thou ? and where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding-place ? how long shall thy hand be stayed, and thy pure eyes behold from the heavens the wrongs and sufferings of thy peo- ple, and of thy servants ; and thine ears be penetrated with their cries ? How long, O Lord ! shall they thus suffer, before thine heart shall be softened towards them, and thy bowels be moved with com- passion towards them ? O Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them is, and who controlleth and subjecteth the devil and the dark and benighted dominions of Satan, stretch forth thy hand, let thine eye pierce, let thy pavilion be taken up, let thy hiding-place no longer be uncovered, let thine ear be inclined, let thine heart be softened, and, thy bowels moved with compassion towards thy people ; and let thine anger be kindled against our enemies, and in thy fury let fall the sword of thine indignation, and avenge us of our wrongs. Remember thy suffering Saints, O our God ! and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever. " Dearly beloved brethren, we realize that perilous times have come, as have been testified of in ancient days, and we may look with certainty and the most perfect assurance for the rolling in of all those things which have been spoken of by all the holy prophets : lift up your eyes to the bright luminary of day, and you can say, Soon thou shalt veil thy blushing face, for at the behest of Him who said, ' Let there be light, and there was light,' thou shalt withdraw thy shining. Thou moon, thou dimmer light, and luminary of night, PERSECUTIONS IN MISSOURI. 121 shalt turn to blood. We see that the prophecies concerning the last days are fulfilling, and the time shall soon come when the ' Son of man shall descend in the clouds of heaven, in power and great glory.' " We do not shrink, nor are our hearts and spirits broken at the grievous yoke which is put upon us. We know that God will have our oppressors in derision, that he will laugh at their calamity, and mock when their fear cometh. We think we should have got out of our prison house, at the time Elder Rigdon got a writ of habeas corpus, had not our own lawyers interpreted the law contrary to what it reads, and against us, which prevented us from introducing our witnesses before the mock court ; they have done us much harm from the beginning; they have lately acknowledged that the law was misconstrued, and then tantalized our feelings with it, and have now entirely forsaken us, have forfeited both their oatlis and their bonds, and are co-workers with the mob. From the information we received, the public mind has been for some time turning in our fa- vor, and the majority is now friendly, and the lawyers can no longer browbeat us by saying, that this or that is a matter of public opinion, for public opinion is not willing to brook all their proceedings, but is beginning to look with feelings of indignation upon our oppressors. We think that truth, honor, virtue, and innocence, will eventually come out triumphant. " We should have taken out a writ of habeas corpus, and escaped the mob in a summary way, but unfortunately for us, the timber of the wall being very hard, our auger handles gave out, wiiich hin- dered us longer than we expected. We applied to a friend for as- sistance, and a very slight uncautious act gave rise to suspicion, and before we could fully succeed, our plan was discovered. We should have made our escape, and succeeded admirably well, had it hot been for a little imprudence, or over anxiety on the part of our friend. "The sheriff and the jailor did not blame us for our attempt; it was a fine breach, and cost the county a round sum ; public opinion says we ought to have been permitted to have made our escape, but then the disgrace would have been on us, but now it must come on the State. We know that there cannot be any charge sustained against us, and that the conduct of the mob — the murders at Haun's Mill, the exterminating order "of Governor Boggs, and the one-sided. 122 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. rascally proceedings of the Legislature, have damned the Slate of Missouri to all eternity. General Atchison has proved himself to be as contemptible as any of our enemies. We have tried a long time to get our lawyers to draw us some petitions to the supreme judges of this State, but they have utterly refused ; we have examined the laws, and drawn the petitions ourselves, and have obtained abundance of proof to counteract all the testimony that is against us, so that if the judges do not grant us our liberty they have got to act con- trary to honor, evidence, law, or justice, merely to please the mob ; but we hope better things, and trust that before many days, God will so order our case, that we shall be set at liberty, and again enjoy the society of the Saints. We received some letters from our friends, last evening, one from Emma, one from D. C. Smith, and one from Bishop Partridge, all breathing a kind and consoling spirit ; we had been a long time without information from our friends, and when we read those letters they were refreshing to our souls, as the gentle air and refreshing breeze ; but our feelings of joy were mingled with feelings of pain and sorrow on account of the sufferings of the poor and much injured Saints, and we need not say unto you that the flood-gates of our hearts were open, and our eyes were a fountain of tears. Those who have not been inclosed in the walls of a prison, without cause or provocation, can have but little idea how sweet the voice of a friend or one token of friendship is, from any source whatever, and awakens and calls into action every sympathetic feel- ing of the human heart ; it brings to review everything that has passed, it seizes the present with the velocity of lightning, and grasps after the future with fond anticipation ; it fills the mind with tender- ness and love, until all enmity, malice, hatred, past differences, mis- understandings, and mismanagements, are entirely forgotten, or are slain victims at the feet of love. When the heart is sufficiently con- trite, then the voice of inspiration steals along and whispers, My son, peace be unto thy soul ; — thine adversity and thy afflictions shall be but for a moment ; and then, if thou art faithful and endure, God shall exalt thee on high, thou shalt triumph over all thy foes, thy friends shall stand by thee, and shall hail thee again with warm hearts : thou art not yet as Job, thy friends do not contend against thee, neither do they charge thee with transgression ; and those who do charge thee with transgression, their hope shall be blasted, and PERSECUTIONS IN MISSOURI. 123 fheir prospects melt away, as tlie hoar frost melteth before the rays of the rising sun. It likewise informs us that God has set his hand to change the times and the seasons, and to blind the minds of the wicked, that they may not understand his marvellous workings, that he may take them in their own craftiness, because their hearts are corrupt, and the distress and sorrow which they seek to bring upon the saints, shall return upon them double ; and, not many years hence, they and their posterity shall be destroyed from under heaven. Cursed are all those that shall lift up the heel against mine anointed, saith the Lord, for they have not sinned before me, saith the Lord, but have done that which was meet in mine eyes, and which I com- manded them, saith the Lord. Those who cry transgression do it because they are the servants of sin, and are the children of disobe- dience themselves, and swear falsely against my servants, that they may bring them into bondage and death. Woe unto them, because they have offended my little ones ; they shall be severed from the ordinances of mine house, their basket shall not be full, their houses and their lands shall be empty, and they themselves shall be despised by those who have flattered them. They shall not have right to the priesthood, nor their posterity after them, from generation to genera- tion ; and it would have been better for them that a mill -stone had been hung about their necks, and they drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe unto all those who drive, and murder, and testify against my people, saith the Lord of hosts, for they shall not escape the damnation of hell : behold mine eye seeth, and I know all their works, and I have in reserve a swift judgment in the season thereof, and they shall be rewarded according to their works. " God has said he would have a tried people, and that he would purify them as gold is purified ; now, we think he has chosen his own crucible to try us, and if we should be so happy as to endure and keep the faith, it will be a sign to this generation, sufficient to leave them without excuse ; and that it will be a trial of our faith equal to that of Abraham or any of the ancients, and that they will not have such cause to boast over us, in the persecutions and trials they endured. After passing through so much suflfering and sor- row, we trust that before long a ram may be caught in the thicket, so that the sons and daughters of Abraham may be relieved from their fears and anxiety, and that their faces may once more be lighted 124 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. Up with joy and salvation, and be enabled to hold out unto everlast- ing life. " Now, concerning the places for the location of the Saints, we would say that we cannot counsel you in tliis thing as well as if we were with you ; and as to the things written to you before, we did not consider them binding ; we would advise, that while we remain in prison and in bondage, that the affairs of the church be conducted by a general conference of the most faithful and respectable of the authorities of the church, and that the proceedings of the same be forwarded to your humble servants ; and if there be any corrections by the word of the Lord, they shall be freely transmitted, and we will cheerfully approve all things which are acceptable to God. If anything should have been suggested by us, or any names mentioned except by commandment, or ' thus saith the Lord,' we do not con- sider it binding ; therefore we shall not feel grieved if you shoula deem it wisdom to make different arrangements. We would re- spectfully advise the brethren to be aware of an aspiring spirit, which has frequently urged men forward to make foul speeches, and beget an undue influence in the minds of the Saints, and bring much sorrow and distress in the church. We would likewise say, be aware of pride ; for truly hath the wise man said, ' Pride goeth be- fore destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.' Outward ap- pearance is not always a criterion for us to judge our fellow-man by ; but the lips frequently betray the haughty and overbearing mind. Flattery also is a deadly poison; a frank and open rebuke provoketh a good man to emulation, and in the hour of trouble he will be your best friend ; but rebuke a wicked man, and you will soon see man- ifest all the corruption of a wicked heart — the poison of asps is un- der their tongue, and they cast the Saints in prison, that their deeds be not reproved. A fanciful, flowery, and heated imagination be uware of; for the things of God are of vast importance, and require lime and experience, as well as deep and solemn thought, to find them out ; and if we would bring souls to salvation, it requires that our minds should rise to the highest heavens, search into and con- template the lowest abyss, expand wide as eternity, and hold com- munion with Deity. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God than the vain imaginations of the human heart! How vain and trifling have been our spirits in our conferences and PERSECUTIONS IN MISSOURI. 125 council-meetings, as well as in our public and private conversations ! Too low and condescending for the dignified characters of the called and chosen of God, who have been set apart in the mind of God be- fore the foundation of the world, to hold the keys of the mysteries of those things which have been kept hid for ages and generations, which have been revealed to babes, yea, to the weak, obscure, and despisable ones of the earth. We would beseech you to bear with the infirmities of the weak, and at the same time exhort one another to a reformation, both teachers and taught, male and female ; so that honesty, sobriety, candor, solemnity, plainness, meekness, and virtue^ may characterize us from henceforth ; and that we be like little chil- dren, without malice, guile, or hypocrisy. And now, brethren, after your tribulation, if you do these things, and exercise fervent prayer in the sight of God always, he shall give unto you knowledge, by his Holy Spirit ; yea, he shall pour out the Holy Ghost in such co- pious effusion as has not been since the creation until now ; yea, the fulness of that promise which our fathers have waited for with such anxious expectation, which was to be revealed in the last days, and held in reserve until a time when nothing shall be withheld ; when all the glories of earth and heaven, time and eternity, shall be mani- fest to all those who have endured valiantly for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If there be bounds set to the heavens, the seas, the dry land, they shall be manifest, as well as the various revolutions of the sun, moon, and planets ; and a full development of all the glorious laws by which they are governed shall be revealed in the ' dispensatioa of the fulness of times,' according to that which was ordained in the midst of the council of heaven in the presence of the eternal God, before this world was. " Ignorance, bigotry, and superstition are frequently in the way of the prosperity of this church, and are like the torrent of rain rush- ing down from the mountains, which floods the clear stream with mire and dirt ; but when the storm is over, and the rain has ceased, the mire and dirt are washed away, and the stream again is pure and clear as the fountain, so shall the church appear when ignorance, superstition and bigotry are washed away. What power can stay the heavens ? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the mighty Missouri river in its course, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring d^wn knowledge from heaven upon the hearts of the 126 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. Latter-Day Saints ! What are the governor and his murderous party, but willows on the shore to stop the waters in their progress ? As well might we argue that water is not water, because the mountain torrent sends down mire, and riles the crystal stream ; or that fire is not fire, because it is quenchable ; as to say that our cause is down, because renegadoes, liars, priests, and murderers, who are alike tena- cious of their crafts and creeds, have poured down upon us a flood of dirt and mire from their strongholds. No, they may rage, with all the powers of hell, and pour forth their wrath, indignation, and cru- elty, like the burning lava of Mount Vesuvius, yet shall Mormonism stand. Truth is Mormonism, and God is its author ; by him we re- ceived our birth, by him we were called to a dispensation of his gos- pel, in the beginning of the fulness of times ; it was by him we re- ceived the Book of Mormon, by him we remain unto this day, and shall continue to remain, if it be to his glory ; we are determined to endure tribulation, as good soldiers, unto the end : when you read this, you will learn that prison walls, iron doors, screeching hinges, guards and jailors, have not destroyed our confidence, but we say, and that from experience, that they are calculated in their very nature to make the soul of an honest man feel stronger than the powers of hell. But we must bring our epistle to a close, and send our respects to fathers, mothers, wives, and children, brothers, and sisters, and be assured we hold them in sacred remembrance. " We should be glad to hear from Elder Rigdon, George W. Rob- inson and Elder Gaboon. We remember them, and would like to jog their memory a little on the fable of the bear and the two friends, who mutually agreed to stand by each other. We could also men- tion Uncle John Smith and others. A word of consolation and a blessing would not come amiss from anybody, while we are so closely whispered by the bear. Our respects and love to all the virtuous saints. We are, dear brethren, your fellow-sufl^erers, and prisoners of Jesus Christ for the Gospel's sake, and for the hope of glory which is in us. Amen. " Joseph Smith, Jr. Htrum Smith. Lyman Wight. Caleb Baldwin Alexander McRae.'' EXPULSION FROM MISSOURI. 127 While Joseph and Hyrum remained in prison, and thus en- deavored to rouse the zeal of such men as Sidney Rigdon, men who knew too much to be thoroughly trusted, and who re- quired the goad to keep them faithful ; the Mormons, unable to cope with their enemies, were hunted out of Missouri, no opportunity being allowed them to sell their farms, or enter into arrangements for the disposal of their property. In the midst of an inclement winter, in December, 1838, and Janu- ary, 1839, men, women, and children — the sick and the aged as well as the young and strong — were turned out into the prairies or forests, without food or sufficient protection from the weather. In this miserable plight they arrived in Illinois in sjnall detachments, and were most kindly received by the settlers, as well as by the Indians. Subscriptions were en- tered into for their relief, and many of them procured situa- tions in farms, mills, and stores. After a time they began to hold up their heads again. Their numbers became formida- ble in their new settlements. Persecution did its ordinary work in making proselytes, and the congregations of the Saints were increased daily by new converts from among the people of Illinois. Early in the spring of 1839, the Prophet, more successful than in his first attempt, when his auger broke, escaped from prison, and made his appearance among his followers at a place called Q,uincy, His rude but touching eloquence, his confident appeals to Heaven, his magnificent promises, his tact and skill, and the joy of the true believers that he was once more among them, all combined to restore confidence. The great bulk of the Mormons speedily gathered about a village called " Commerce," just above the Desmoines Rapids, on the Mississippi river. Here they soon made ar- rangements for settling down. The Saints joined them from various parts of the United States, many of them bringing con- siderable sums of money. Their surprising fortunes in their new home will be more fully detailed in the next chapter. CHAPTER V. Establishment of the Sect in Illinois — Building of the City AND Temple of IsTauyoo — Joseph a Lieutenant-Geneeal — The Peophet's Eight-hand Man — The Moemons in England — ^Peospeeity of Nauvoo. In the course of a few months after their expulsion from Missouri, the number of Mormons that found refuge in Illinois amounted to fifteen thousand souls, including men, women, and children. Many of these had never resided in Missouri, but flocked to the new location of the sect from all parts of the Union, and even from England, to make a last stand against oppression, and to support their prophet against his enemies. The organization of the sect began to be more fully and admirably developed ; and the Mormons were even at this early period of their career, a pre-eminently industrious, frugal, and pains-taking people. They felt the advantages of co-operation. Though robbed and plundered, they did not lose their time in vain repinings, but set themselves to repair the calamities they had suffered. The needy were aided by the more affluent in the purchase of land, and in the plenish- ing of their farms ; and the inducements which they held out to skilled mechanics and others to join them, were not merely of a religious and spiritual, but of a social and worldly char- acter. The Mormons as a body understood the dignity and the holiness of hard work, and they practised to the fullest extent the duty of self-reliance. They soon found themselves so numerous in the vicinity of the village of " Commerce," that their leaders conceived the project of converting it first jniaMMgiffljl^^ THE TEMPLE AT NAUVOO ESTABLISHMENT IN ILLINOIS. 131 into a town, and afterwards into a city. They gave it the name of " Nauvoo," or the " Beautiful," a word that occurs in the Book of Mormon. In the course of a year and a half they erected about 2,000 houses, besides schools and other public buildings, and called the place the " Holy City." Joseph Smith was appointed its Mayor, and for a brief period in his troubled career enjoyed the supremacy, which was the great object of his existence, and the darling dream of his ambition. His word was law. He was both the temporal and spiritual head of his people, and enjoyed, besides the titles of " Prophet," " President," and " Mayor," the military title of " General" Smith, in right of his command over a body of militia, which he organized under the name of the Nauvoo Legion. It was shortly previous to this time that the sect first began to be heard of in England. In a short sketch of the rise, progress, and faith of the Mormons, inserted in the fifth volume of the Times and Seasons, it is stated that in 1837 the first mission to England was undertaken, under the direc- tion of Elders 0. Hyde, the same whose signature appears to the disparaging affidavit relative to the Danite Band already quoted, and H. C. Kimball. These two baptized two thou- sand people into the Mormon faith, chiefly in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow, and South Wales. In 1843, the number of the sect in England had increased to upwards of 1 0,000. In 1844, Elder Lorenzo Snow, being then in England, forwarded, by desire of the " Prophet," a copy of the Book of Mormon to Q,ueen Victoria, and another to his Royal Highness Prince Albert, a circumstance at which the Saints in Nauvoo seemed greatly to rejoice. A Mormon poet exclaimed, in reference to it — " Oh ! would she now her influence lend — The influence of royalty — Messiah's kingdom to extend, And Zion's nursing mother be, 132 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS, " Then with the glory of her name Inscribed on Zion's lofty spire, She'd win a wreath of endless fame, To last when other wreaths expire." Joseph became rather chary of giving forth " revelations" after he finally left Kirtland, but it was necessary to have a revelation with reference to the Holy City. It was published accordingly in the month of January, 1841, and directed the building of a magnificent temple, to which all the Saints were to contribute a tithe of their possessions, or of their time and labor. " Let all my Saints come from afar," said this revelation, the last that the prophet appears to have issued, "and send ye swift messengers, yea, chosen messengers, and say unto them, ' Come ye with all your gold, and your silver, and your precious stones, and with all your antiquities, and with all who have knowledge of antiquities, that will come, may come ; and bring the box-tree, and the fir-tree, and the pine-tree, together with all the precious trees of the earth, and with iron, and with copper, and with brass, and with zinc, and with all your precious things of the earth, and build a house to my name for the Most High to dwell there- in.' " The Saints were also commanded to build " a board- ing-house" for the boarding of strangers. " Let it be built in my name, and let my name be named upon it, and let my servant Joseph Smith and his house have place therein from generation to generation, forever and ever, saith the Lord ; and let the name of the house be called the Nauvoo House, and let it be a delightful habitation for man, and a resting- place for the weary traveller, that he may contemplate the glory of Zion, and the glory of this, the corner-stone there- of." This " revelation" was the most elaborate of all the compositions issued under this name. It was divided into forty-six heads or paragraphs, and entered minutely THE TEMPLE OF NAUVOO. 133 into directions for raising the funds for these undertakings^ and also for governing the church in all its various depart- ments. The building of the temple was immediately commenced. The site chosen was exceedingly fine, being on a hill com- manding a magnificent view on every side. It was built of a polished white lime-stone, almost as hard as marble, and is described as having been 138 feet in length by 88 in breadth. It was surmounted by a pyramidal tower, ascending by steps 170 feet from the ground, and the internal decorations were very costly. The Mormons having grown rich and powerful under persecution, expended nearly a million of dollars upon this edifice. The foundation-stone was laid with much pomp on the 6th of April, 1841, within less than two years and a half after the expulsion of the sect from Missouri. A writer in the Mormon paper, the Ti7nes mid Seasons, described the ceremony as one of the most magnificent that had ever been witnessed in America. At an early hour on the appointed day, the prophet, who then enjoyed the title of Lieut. -Gen- eral Smith, " was informed that the legion was ready for re- view, and accompanied by his staff, consisting of four aides- de-camp and twelve guards, nearly all in splendid uniforms, took his march- to the parade ground. On their approach they were met by the band, beautifully equipped, who re- ceived them with a flourish of trumpets, and a regular salute, and then struck up a lively air, marching in front to the stand of the Lieut. -General. On his approach to the parade ground the artillery were again fired, and the legion gave an appropriate salute. This," said the Mormon reporter, " was indeed a glorious sight, such as we never saw, nor did we ever expect to see such a one in the west. The several companies presented a beautiful and interesting spectacle, several of them being uniformed and equipped, while the 134 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. rich and costly dresses of the officers would have become a Bonaparte or a Washington. " After the arrival of Lieut. -General Smith, the ladies, who had made a beautiful silk flag, drove up in a carriage to present it to the legion. Major-General Bennett very politely attended on them, and conducted them in front of Lieut.-General Smith, who immediately alighted from his charger, and walked up to the ladies, who presented the flag, making an appropriate address. Lieut.-General Smith acknowledged the honor conferred upon the legion, and stated that as long as he^ad the command it should never be disgraced, and then politely bowing to the ladies, gave it into the hands of Major-General Bennett, who placed it in the possession of Cornet Robinson, and it was soon seen gracefully waving in front of the legion. During the time of presentation the band struck up a lively air, and another salute was fired from the artillery. " After the presentation of the flag, Lieut.-General Smith, accompanied by his suit, reviewed the legion, which pre- sented a very imposing appearance, the different offices salut- ing as he passed. Lieut.-General Smith then took his former stand, and the whole legion passed before him in review." A procession M^as then formed with Joseph at its head, fol- lowed by Aides-de-Camp — Brigadiers — a military band — a body of infantry — and of cavalry — and a troop of young ladies eight a-breast. On its arrival at the temple block, the generals with their staffs, and the strangers present, took their position inside the foundation ; the ladies formed on the outside, immediately next the walls, the gentlemen and in- fantry behind, and the cavalry in the rear. The assembly being stationed, the choristers sung an ap- propriate hymn. Sidney Uigdon then ascended a platform, which had been prepared for the purpose, and delivered an oration, which lasted for an hour ; in which he passed in re THE TEMPLE OF NAUVOO. 135 view " the scenes of tribulation and anguish through which the Saints had passed, the barbarous cruelties inflicted upon them for their faith and attachment to the cause of their God, and for the testimony of Jesus, which they endured with patience, knowing that they had in heaven a more enduring substance — a crown of eternal glory. In obedience to the commandments of their Heavenly Father, and because thai Jesus had again spoken from the heavens, were they engaged in laying the foundation of the Temple, that the Most High might have an habitation, and where the Saints might as- semble to pay their devotions to his holy name. He re- joiced at the glorious prospect which presented itself of soon completing the edifice, as there were no mobs to hinder their labors, consequently their circumstances were very different than before." After the address the choir sung a hymn. Sidney Rigdon then invoked the blessings of Almighty God upon the assem- bly, and upon those who should labor upon the building. This done the Prophet went through the principal ceremony of the day, and said that the first corner-stone of the Temple of Almighty God was laid. He prayed with much solemnity that the building might soon be completed, that the Saints might have an habitation to worship the God of their fathers. " It was a gladsome sight," said the Times and Seasojis, " and extremely affecting, to see the old revolutionary patriots, who had been driven from their homes in Missouri, strike hands and rejoice together in a land where they knew they would be protected from mobs, and where they could again enjoy the liberty for which they had fought many a hard battle. " The day was indeed propitious — heaven and earth com- bined to make the scene as glorious as possible." Shortly before the foundation-stone of the temple was laid, Joseph attracted the attention of a personage, whom he ap- 136 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. pointed to a military command in Nauvoo, and who figures as Major-General Bennett in the Mormon report of that cere- monial which has just been quoted. This Bennett, being am- bitious, unscrupulous, and unprincipled, seems to have had an idea that by means of Mormonism he might become of im- portance in America ; and, without mincing the matter by fine words, he wrote to the Prophet to propose himself as his " right-hand man." " You know," said he to Joseph, " that Mahomet had his right-hand man ;" and why, he suggested, should not the new Mahomet of Moses have his right-hand man also ? This curious letter ran as follows : — Arlington House, Oct. 24:tTi, 1843. " Dear General, — I am happy to know that you have taken pos- session of your new establishment, and presume you will be emi- nently successful and happy in it, together with your good lady and family. You are no doubt already aware that I have had a most in- teresting visit from your most excellent and worthy friend, President B, Young, with whom I have had a glorious frolic in the clear, blue ocean ; for most assuredly a frolic it was, without a moment's reflec- tion or consideration. Nothing of this kind would in the least attach me to your person or cause. I am capable of being a most undevi- nting friend, without being governed by the smallest religious in- fluence. " As you have proved yourself to be a philosophical divine, you will excuse me when I say that we must leave their influence to the mass. The boldness of your plans and measures, together with their unparalleled success so far, are calculated to throw a charm over your whole being, and to point you out as the most extraordinary man of the present age. But my mind is of so" mathematical and philosophical a cast, that the divinity of Moses makes no impression on me ; and you will not be offended when I say that I rate you higher as a legislator than I do Moses, because we have you present with us for examination, whereas Moses derives his chief authority from prescription and the lapse of time. I cannot, however, say but you are both right, it being out of the power of man to prove you wrong. It is no mathematical problem, and can therefore get no THE PROPHET'S " RIGHT-HAND MAN."" 137 mathematical solution. I say, therefore, go a-head — you have my good wishes. You know Mahomet had his ' righi-hand man.' " The celebrated Thomas Brown, of New York, is now engaged in cutting your head on a beautiful cornelian stone, as your private seal, which will be set in gold to your order, and sent to you. It will be a gem, and just what you want. His sister is a member of your church. The expense of the seal set in gold will be about forty dollars, and Mr. Brown assures me that if he were not so poor a man, he would present it to you free. You can, however, accept it or not, as he can apply it to another use. I am myself short for cash ; for although I had some time since 2,000 dollars paid me by the Harpers, publishers, as the first instalment on the purchase of my copyright, yet I had got so much behind during the hard times, that it all went to clear up old scores. I expect 38,000 dollars more, however, in semi-annual payments, from those gentlemen, within the limits of ten years, a large portion of which I intend to use in the State of Illinois, in the purchase and conduct of a large tract of land ; and, therefore, should I be compelled to announce in this quar- ter that I have no connection with the Nauvoo Legion, you will of course remain silent, as I shall do it in such a way as will make all things right. " I may yet run for a high office in your State, when you would be sure of my best services in your behalf ; therefore, a known con- nection with you would be against our mutual interest. It can be shown that a commission in the legion was a Herald hoax, coined for the fun of it, by me, as it is not believed even now by the pub- lic. In short, I expect to be yet, through your influence, Gover- nor of the State of Illinois. " My respects to Brothers Young, Richards, Mrs. Emma, and all friends. " Yours, most respectfully, " Jas. Arlington Bennett. " Lieut.-General Smith." " P. S. As the office of Inspector-General confers no command on me, being a mere honorary title, if, therefore, there is any gentle- man in Nauvoo who would like to fill it in a practical way, I shall with great pleasure and good- will resign it to him, by receiving ad- vice from you to that effect. It is an office that should be filled by some scientific officer. J, A. B." '9 138 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. Joseph's reply to this singular and too candid epistle was quite as singular, and infinitely more amusing. Joseph was too cunning a man to accept, in plain terms, the rude but ser- viceable ofier ; and he rebuked the vanity and presumption of Mr. Bennett, while dexterously retaining him for future use. He was not at all angry, though he endeavored to appear so. '' Nauvoo, Illinois, Nov. 13tli, 1843. " Dear Sir, — Your letter of the 24th ult. has been regularly re- ceived ; its contents duly appreciated, and its whole tenor candidly considered ; and, according to my manner of judging all things in righteousness, I proceed to answer you ; and shall leave you to medi- tate whether mathematical problems, founded upon the truth of reve- lation, or religion as promulgated by me, or Moses, can be solved by rules and principles existing in the systems of common knowledge. " How far you are capable of being ' a most undeviating friend, without being governed by the smallest religious influence,' will best oe decided by your survivors, as all past experience most assuredly proves. Without controversy, that friendship, which intelligent beings would accept as sincere, must arise from love, and that love grow out of virtue, which is as much a part of religion as light is a part of Jehovah. Hence the saying of Jesus : — ' Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for a friend.' " You observed, ' as I have proven myself to be a pliilosophical en- vine, I must excuse you when you say that we must leave these in- fluences to the mass.' The meaning of ' philosophical divine' may be taken in various ways. If, as the learned world apply the term you infer that I have achieved a victory, and been strengthened by a scientific religion, as practised by the popular sects of the age, through the aid of colleges, seminaries, Bible-societies, missionary boards, financial organizations, and gospel-money schemes, then you are wrong ; such a combination of men and means shows the form of godliness without the power ; for is it not written, ' I will destroy the wisdom of the wise ; beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the rudiments of the world, and not after the doctrines of Christ.' But if the inference is, that by more love, more light, more virtu % and more truth from the Lord, I have THE PROPHET'S " RIGHT-HAND MAN." 139 succeeded as a man of God, then you reason truly, though the weight of the sentiment is lost, when the ' influence is left to the mass,^ Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles ? " Of course, you follow out the figure, and say, ' the boldness of my plans and measures, together with their unparalleled success so far, are calculated to throw a charm over my whole being, and to point me out as the most extraordinary man of the present age.' The boldness of my plans and measures can readily be tested by the touch-stone of all schemes, systems, projects, and adventures — truth, for truth is a matter of fact ; and the fact is, that by the power of God I translated the Book of Mormon from hieroglyphics, the knowl- edge of which was lost to the world : in which wonderful event, I stood alone, an unlearned youth, to combat the worldly wisdom and multi- plied ignorance of eighteen centuries with a new revelation, which (if they would receive the everlasting Gospel) would open the eyes of more than eight hundred millions of people, and make ' plain the old paths,' wherein if a man walk in all the ordinances of God blame- less, he shall inherit eternal life ; and Jesus Christ, who was, and is, and is to come, has borne me safely over every snare and plan, laid in secret or openly, through priestly hypocrisy, sectarian prejudice, popular philosophy, executive power, or law-defying mobocracy, to •destroy me. " If, then, the hand of God,»in all these things that I have accom- plished, towards the salvation of a priest-ridden generation, in the short space of twelve years, through the boldness of the plan of preaching the Gospel, and the boldness of the means of declaring re- pentance and baptism for the remission of sins, and a reception of the Holy Ghost, by laying on of the hands, agreeably to the authority of the priesthood, and the still more bold measures of receiving direct revelation from God, through the Comforter, as promised, and by which means all holy men, from ancient times till now, have spoken and revealed the will of God to men, with the consequent ' success' of the gathering of the Saints, throws any ' charm' around my being, and ' points me out as the most extraordinary man of the age,' it demonstrates the fact, that truth is mighty, and must prevail ; and that one man empowered from Jehovah has more influence with the children of the kingdom than eight hundred millions led by the pre- cepts of men. God exalts the humble, and debases the haughty. But 140 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. let me assure you in the name of Jesus, who spake as never man spake, that the ' holdness of the plans and measures,' as you term them, but which should be denominated the righteousness of the cause, the truth of the system, and power of God, which, ' so far,' has borne me and the church (in which I glory in having the privi- lege of being a member) successfully through the storm of reproach, folly, ignorance, malice, persecution, falsehood, sacerdotal wrath, newspaper satire, pamphlet libels, and the combined influence of the powers of earth and hell, I say these powers of righteousness and truth are not the decrees or rules of an ambitious and aspiring Nim- rod, Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander, Mahomet, Buonaparte, or other great sounding heroes, that dazzled forth with a trail of pomp and circumstances for a little season, like a comet, and then disappeared, leaving a wide waste where such an existence once was, with only a name ; nor were the glorious results of what you term ' boldness of plans and measures,' with the attendant ' success,' ma- tured by the self-aggrandizing wisdom of the Priests of Baal, the Scribes and Pharisees of the Jews, Popes and Bishops of Christen- dom, or Pagans of Juggernaut ; were they extended by the divisions and sub-divisions of a Luther, a Calvin, a Wesley, or even a Camp- bell, supported by a galaxy of clergymen and churchmen, of what- ever name or nature, bound apart by cast-iron creeds, and fastened to set stakes by chain-cable opinions, without revelation ; nor are they the lions of the land, nor the leviathans of the sea, moving among the elements, as distant chimeras to fatten the fancy of the infidel ; but they are as the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, and will become a great mountain, and fill the whole earth. Were I an Egyptian, I would exclaim, Jali-oh-eli, Enish-go-on-dosh, Flo-ees, Flos-is-is. [O the earth ! the power of attraction, and the moon passing between her and the sun.] A Hebrew, Haueloheem yerau ; a Greek, O iheos jihos esi ; a Roman, Dominus regit me ; a German, Gott gehe uns das licht ; a Portugee, Senhor Jesu CTiristo libordade ; a Frenchman, Dieu defend le droit ; but as I am, I give God the glory, and say, in the beautiful figure of the poet — " ' Could we with ink tlie ocean fill, Was the whole eartli of i)archment made, And every single stick a quill, And every man a scribe by trade, THE PROPHET'S *' RIGHT-HAND MAN." 14] To write the love of God above "Would drain the ocean dry, Nor could the Avhole upon a scroll Be spread from sky to sky.' " It seems that your mind is of such ' a mathematical and philo- sophical cast, that the divinity of Moses makes no impression upon you, and that I will not be offended when you say, that you rate me higher as a legislator than you do Moses, because you have me present with you for examination ;' that ' Moses derives his chief au- thority from prescription and the lapse of time ; you cannot, however, say but we are both right, it being out of the power of man to prove us wrong. It is no mathematical problem, and can therefore get no mathematical solution.' " Now, Sir, to cut the matter short, and not dally with your learned ideas for fashion's sake, you have here given your opinion, without reserve, that revelation, the knowledge of God, prophetic vision, the truth of eternity, cannot be solved as a mathematical problem. The first question, then, is, what is a mathematical problem ? And the natural answer is, a statement, proposition, or question, that can be solved, ascertained, unfolded, or demonstrated, by knowledge, facts or figures ; for ' mathematical' is an adjective derived from Mathesis (Gr.), meaning in English, learning or knowledge. ' Problem' is derived from probleme (French), or probleme (Latin, Italian, or Spanish), and in each language means a question or proposition, whether true or false. ' Solve' is derived from the Latin verb solvo, to explain or answer. One thing more, in order to prove the work as we proceed ; it is necessary to have witnesses, two or three of whose testimonies, according to the laws or rules of God and man, are sufficient to establish any one point. '• Now for the question. How much are one and one ? Two. How much is one from two? One. Very well, one question or problem is solved by figures. Now let me ask one for facts : Was there ever such a place on the earth as Egypt ? Geography says Yes ; ancient history says Yes ; and the Bible says Yes. So three wit- nesses have solved that question. Again, Lived there ever such a man as Moses in Egypt? The same witnesses reply Certainly. And was he a prophet ? The same witnesses, or a part, have left 142 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. on record that Moses predicted in Leviticus that if Israel broke the covenant they had made, the Lord would scatter them among the nations, till the land enjoyed her Sabbaths ; and subsequently these witnesses have testified of the captivity in Babylon, and other places, in fulfilment. But, to make assurance doubly sure, Moses prays that the ground might open, and swallow up Korah and his company for transgression, and it was so : and he endorses the prophecy of Balaam, which said, Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have do- minion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city ; amd Jesus Christ, as him that ' had dominion,' about fifteen hundred years after, in accordance with this and the prediction of Moses, David, Isaiah, and many others, came, saying : Moses wrote of me, declaring the dispersion of the Jews, and the utter destruction of the ' city ;' and the apostles were his witnesses, unimpeached, especially Jude, who not only endorses the facts of Moses' ' divinity,' but also the events of Balaam, and Korah, with many others, as true. Besides these tangible facts, so easily proven and demonstrated by simple rules and testimony unimpeached, the art (now lost) of embalming human bodies, and preserving them in the catacombs of Egypt, whereby men, women, and children, as mummies, after a lapse of near three thousand five hundred years, come forth among the living, and al- though dead, the papyrus which has lived in their bosoms unharmed, speaks for them, in language like the sound of an earthquake : Ecce Veritas ! Ecce cadaveros ! Behold the truth ! Behold the mummies ! Oh, my dear Sir, the sunken Tyre and Sidon, the melancholy dust where ' the city' of Jerusalem once was, and the mourning of the Jews among the nations, together with such a ' cloud of witnesses,' if you had been as well acquainted with your God and Bible as with your purse and pence table, the ' divinity' of Moses would have dis- pelled the fog of five thousand years, and filled you with light ; for facts, like diamonds, not only cut glass, but they are the most pre- cious jewels on earth. The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. " The world at large is ever ready to credit the writings of Homer, Hesiod, Plutarch, Socrates, Pythagoras, Virgil, Josephus, Mahomet, and a hundred others ; but where, tell me where, have they left a line, a simple method of solving the truth of the plan of eternal life ? Says the S?.viour, 'If any man will do his (the Father's) will, ho THE prophet's " RIGHT-HAND MAN." 143 shall know the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.' Here then is a method of solving the ' divinity' of men by the divinity within yourself, that as far exceeds the calculation of numbers, as the sun exceeds a candle. Would to God that all men understood it, and were willing to be governed by it, that when one had filled the measure of his days, he could exclaim like Jesus, ' Veni mori, el reviviscere /' " Your good wishes to ' go a-head,' coupled with Mahomet and a ' right-hand man,' are rather more vain than virtuous. Why, Sir, Csesar had his right-hand Brutus, who was his ' left-hand' assassin ; not, however, applying the allusion to you. " As to the private seal you mention, if sent to me, I shall receive it with the gratitude of a servant of God, and pray that the donor may receive a reward in the resurrection of the just. " The summit of your future fame seems to be hid in the political policy of a ' mathematical problem' for the chief magistracy of this State, which, I suppose, might be solved by ' double position,' where the errors of the supposition are used to produce a true answer. " But, Sir, when I leave the dignity and honor I received from heaven to hoist a man into power, through the aid of my friends, where the evil and designing, after the object has been accomplished, can lock up the clemenc^ intended as a reciprocation for such fa- vors, and where the wicked and unprincipled, as a matter of course, would seize the opportunity to flintify the hearts of the nation against me for dabbling at a sly game in politics ; verily, I say, when I leave t^e dignity and honor of heaven to gratify the ambition and vanity of man or men, may my power cease, like the strength of Samson, when he was shorn of his locks, while asleep in the lap of Delilah ! Truly said the Saviour, Cast not your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. " Shall I who have witnessed the visions of eternity, and beheld the glories of the mansions of bhss, and the regions and the misery of the damned, shall I turn to be a Judas ? Shall I, who have heard the voice of God, and communed with angels, and spake, as moved by the Holy Ghost, for the renewal of the everlasting covenant, and for the gathering of Israel in the last days, shall I worm myself intb a political hypocrite ? Shall I, who hold the keys of the last king- dom, in which is the dispensation of the fulness of all things spoken 144 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. by the mouths of all holy prophets, since the world began, under the sealing power of the Melchizedek priesthood — shall I stoop from the sublime authority of Almighty God to be handled as a monkey's catspaw, and pettify myself into a clown to act the farce of political demagoguery ? N'o, verily no ! The whole earth shall bear me witness that I, like the towering rock in the midst of the ocean, which has withstood the mighty surges of the warring waves for centuries, am impregnable, and am a faithful friend to virtue, and a fearless foe to vice ; no odds, whether the former was sold as a pearl in Asia, or hid as a gem in America, and the latter dazzles in pala- ces, or glimmers among the tombs. " I combat the errors of ages ; I meet the violence of mobs ; I cope with illegal proceedings from executive authority ; I cut the Gordian knot of powers ; and I solve mathematical problems of Universities : WITH TRUTH, diamond iruih, and God is my ' right-hand man.'' " And to close, let me say in the name of Jesus Christ to you, and to Presidents, Emperors, Kings, Queens, Governors, Rulers, Nobles, and Men in Authority everywhere, do the works of righteousness, execute justice and judgment in the earth, that God may bless you, and her inhabitants ; and " ' The laurel that grows on the top of the monntain Shall green for your fame while the sun sheds a ray ; And the lily, that blows by the side of the fountain, "Will bloom for your virtue till earth melts away.' " With due consideration and respect, " I have the honor to be your most ob't. servant, "Joseph Smith." Gen. J. A. Bennett, Arlington House, N. Y." "P.S. The Court Martial will attend to your case in the Nauvoc Legion. j. s." A letter signed Veritas, published in the New York Herald, described not only the general appearance, but gave some particulars of the physical as well as moral weight of the leading Mormons at this time : — " It may not be uninteresting to you to have a few lines from your BOANERGES OF NAUVOO. 145 correspondent in Zion — the city of the Saints — the ' nucleus of a western empire.' In this communication I purpose giving you a description of the first presidency of the Mormon liierarchy, which consists of four dignitaries, to wit, a principal prophet, a patriarch, and two councillors. " Joseph Smith, the president of the church, prophet, seer, and revelator, is thirty-six years of age, six feet high in his pumps, weighing two hundred and twelve pounds. He is a man of the highest talent and great independence of character, firm in his in- tegrity, and devoted to his religion ; in one word he is a 'per se, as President Tyler would say ; as a public speaker, he is bold, power- ful, and convincing, possessing both the sitaviter in modo and the fortiter in re; as a leader, wise and prudent, yet fearless ; as a mili- tary commander, brave and determined ; as a citizen, worthy, affable, and kind ; bland in his manners, and of noble bearing. His amiable lady, too, the EltMa Cyria, is a woman of superior intellect and ex- emplary piety; in every respect suited to her situation in society, as the wife of one of the most accomplished and powerful chiefs of the age. " Hyrum Smith, the patriarch of the church and brother of Joseph, is forty-two years of age, five feet eleven and a half inches high, weighing one hundred and ninety-thre» pounds. He, too, is a pro- phet, seer, and revelator, and is one of the most pious and devout Christians in the world. He is a man of great wisdom and superior excellence, possessing great energy of character, and originahty of thought. " Sidney Rigdon, one of the councillors, prophet, seer, and reve- lator, is forty-two years of age, five feet nine and a half inches high, weighing one hundred and sixty-five pounds ; his former weight, until reduced by sickness, produced by the Missouri persecution, was two hundred and twelve pounds. He is a mighty man in Israel, of varied learning, and extensive and laborious research. There is no divine in the West more deeply learned in biblical literature, and the history of the world, than he ; an eloquent orator, chaste in his language, and conclusive in his reasoning; any city wc«uld be proud of such a man. By his proclamation, thousands on thousands have heard the glad tidings and obeyed the word of God ; but iie is now 10 146 HISTORY OF THE MOIUIONS. in the ' sear and yellow leaf,' and his silvery locks fast ripening for the grave. " William Law, the other councillor, is thirty-two years of age, five feet eight and a half inches high, weighing one hundred and seventy-five pounds. He is a great logician and profound reasoner ; of correct business habits, and great devotion to the service of God. No man could be better fitted to his station — wise, discreet, just, prudent — a man of great suavity of manners and amiability of character. " All these men are Boanerges of the church, thundering in the western forests, and hurling arguments and reasons against the sec- taries of the age, like the thunderbolts of Jupiter. Their wives and children present, likewise, a pleasing spectacle of intellect, good- ness, hospitality, and kindness seldom witnessed." It is necessary to append to this rather flattering statement, that with the exception of Hyrum Smith, every other " Boa- nerges" of the Church here mentioned was afterwards expelled or withdrew from it, and that the adventurer, General Ben- nett, did not long remain among the Saints. The "right- hand man" was made useful for a time ; but not being trusted to the extent he desired, iie probably lost interest in the for- tunes of Joseph Smith, and transferred his patronage else- where. A letter from an officer of the United States' Artillerj% who was travelling westward in September, 1842, described a grand review of the Mormon legion at Nauvoo, of which he was an eye-witness, and ventured on a prediction which sub- sequent events very singularly verified : — " Yesterday," he says, " was a great day among tie Mormons. Their legion, to the number of two thousand men, was paraded by Generals Smith, Bennett, and others, and certainly made a very no- ble and imposing appearance. The evolutions of the troops directed by Major-General Bennett, would do honor to any body of armed militia in any of the States, and approximates very closely to our regular forces. What does all this mean ? Why this exact disci- pline of the Mormon corps ? Do they intend to conauer Missouri, THE NAUVOO LEGION. 147 Illinois, Mexico ? It is true they are part of the militia of the State of Illinois, by the charter of their legion ; but then there are no troops in the States hke them in point of enthusiasm and warlike aspect, yea, warlilie character. Before many years this legion will be twenty, and perhaps fifty, thousand strong, and still augmenting. A fearful host, filled with religious enthusiasm and led on by am- bitious and talented officers, what may not be effected by them ? Perhaps the subversion of the constitution of the United States ; and if this should be considered too great a task, foreign conquests will most certainly follow. Mexico will fall into their hands, even if Texas should first take it. " These Mormons are accumulating like a snowball rolling down an inclined plane, which in the end becomes an avalanche. They are enrolling among their officers some of the first talent in the country, by titles or bribes, it don't matter which. They have appoint- ed your namesake, Captain Bennett, late of the army of the United States, Inspector-General of their legion, and he is commissioned as such by Governor Carlin. This gentleman is known to be wel] skilled in fortification, gunnery, ordnance, castrametation, and military en- gineering generally, and I am assured that he is now under pay, derived from the tithings of this warlike people. I have seen his plans for fortifying Nauvoo, which are equal to any of Vauban's. " Only a part of their officers, regents, and professors, however, are Mormons, but they are all united by a common interest, and will act together, on main points, to a man. Those who are not Mor- mons, when they come here, very soon become so, either from inter- est or conviction. " The Smiths are not without talent, and are said to be as brave as lions. Joseph, the chief, is a noble-looking fellow, a Mahomet every inch of him. The postmaster, Sidney Rigdon, is a lawyer, philosopher, and saint. Their other generals are also men of talent, and some of them men of learning. I have no doubt that they are all brave, as they are most unquestionably ambitious, and the ten- dency of their religious creed is to annihilate all other sects ; you may, therefore, see that the time will come when this gatherinsf host of ' Do religious fanatics will make this country shake to its centre. A western empire is certain. Ecclesiastical history presents no par- allel to this people, inasmuch as they are establishing their religion J 48 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. on a learned footinof. All the sciences are tauoht, and to be taught in their colleges, with Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Italian, Span- ish, &c. The mathematical sciences, pure and mixed, are now in successful operation, under an extremely able professor of the name of Pratt, and a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, is president of their University. " Now, Sir, what do you think of Joseph, the modern Mahomet ? " I arrived here incog., on the 1st instant, and from the great prep- aration for the military parade, was induced to stay to see the turn- out, which I confess has astonished and filled me with fears for fu- ture consequences. The Mormons, it is true, are now peaceable, but the lion is asleep. Take care and don't rouse him. " The city of Nauvoo contains about ten thousand souls, and is rapidly increasing. It is well laid out, and the municipal affairs appear to be well conducted. The adjoining country is a beautiful prairie. Who will say that the Mormon Prophet is not among the great spirits of the age ? " The Mormons number in Europe and America about one hun- dred and fifty thousand, and are constantly pouring into Nauvoo and the neighboring country. There are probably in and about this city and adjacent territories, not far from thirty thousand of these warlike fanatics, this place having been settled by them only three years ago." A public lecturer of the name of Newhall, published, in the Salem (Massachusetts) Advertiser , an account of a visit made to Nauvoo, in 1843 He described the Temple as a very " magnificent structure, different from anything in an- cient or modern history," and "General" Smith's legion as a very fine body of men. He was present at a grand review of the corps by Joseph himself, accompanied by " six ladies on horseback — who were dressed in black velvet, and wore waving ]dumes of white feathers, and rode up and down in front of the regiment." He described Joseph as " very socia" ble, easy, cheerful, obliging, and kind, and very hospitable — in a w^ord a jolly fellow — and one of the last persons whom he would have supposed God would have raised up as a GENERAL JOSEPH SMITH REVIEWING THE NAUVOO LKGtOX. THE "prophet" in THE PULPIT. 161 prophet or a priest." Another account of Joseph was pub- lished about the same time by a Methodist preacher of the name of Prior. " I will not attempt," said this writer, " to describe the various feelings of my bosom as I took my seat in a conspicu- Qus place in the congregation, who were waiting in breathless silence for his appearance. While he tamed, I had plenty of time to revolve in my mind the character and common, re- port of that truly singular personage. I fancied that I should behold a countenance sad and sorrowful, yet containing the fiery marks of rage and exasperation. I supposed that I should be enabled to discover in hira some of those thoughtful and reserved features, those mystic and sarcastic glances, which I had fancied the ancient sages to possess. I expected to see that fearful, faltering look of conscious shame which, from what I had heard of him, he might be expected to evince. He appeared at last ; but how was I disappointed when in- stead of the heads and horns of the beast and false prophet, I beheld only the appearance of a common man, of tolerably large proportions. I was sadly disappointed, and thought that, although his appearance could not be wrested to indi- cate anything against him, yet he would manifest all I had heard of hira when he began to preach. I sat uneasily, and watched him closely. He commenced preaching, not from the Book of Mormon, however, but from the Bible ; the first chapter of the first of Peter was his text. He commenced calmly, and continued dispassionately to pursue his subjec-t, while I sat in breathless silence, waiting to hear that foul as* persion of the other sects, that diabolical disposition of revenge, and to hear that rancorous denunciation of every individual but a Mormon. I waited in vain ; I listened with surprise ; I sat uneasy in my seat, and could hardly persuade myself but that he had been apprized of my presence, and so ordered his discourse on my account, that I might not be able to find 152 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. fault with it ; for instead of a jumbled jargon of half-connect ed sentences, and a volley of imprecations, and diabolical and malignant denunciations, heaped upon the heads of all who differed from him, and the dreadful twisting and wresting of the Scriptures to suit his own peculiar views, and attempts to weave a web of dark and mystic sophistry around the Gos- pel truths, which I had anticipated, he glided along through a very interesting and elaborate discourse with all the care and happy facility of one who was well aware of his import- ant station, and his duty to God and man." The same writer thus describes Nauvoo : — " At length the city burst upon my sight. Instead of see- ing a few miserable log cabins and mud hovels, which I had expected to find, I was surprised to see one of the most ro- mantic places that I had visited in the west. The buildings, though many of them were small, and of wood, yet bore the marks of neatness which I have not seen equalled in this country. The far-spread plain at the bottom of the hill was dotted over with the habitations of men, with such majestic profusion, that I was almost willing to believe myself mis- taken, and instead of being in Nauvoo of Illinois, among Mor- mons, that I was in Italy at the city of Leghorn, which the location of Nauvoo resembles very much. I gazed for some time with fond admiration upon the plain below. Here and there arose a tall majestic brick house, speaking loudly of the genius and untiring labor of the inhabitants, who have snatch- ed the place from the clutches of obscurity, and wrested it from the bonds of disease ; and in two or three short years, rescued it from a dreary waste to transform it into one of the first cities in the west. The hill upon which I stood was cov- ered over with the dwellings of men, and amid them was seen to rise the hewn stone and already accomplished work of the Temple, which was now raised fifteen or twenty feet above the ground. The few trees that were permitted to 10 JOSEPH SMITH rREACIIINQ. DESCRIPTION OF NAUVOO. 155 Stand are now in full foliage, and are scattered with a sort of fantastic irregularity over the slope of the hill. " But there was one object which was far more noble to be- hold, and far more majestic than any other yet presented to my sight, and that was the wide-spread and unrivalled father of waters, the Mississippi river, whose mirror-bedded waters lay in majestic extension before the city, and in one general curve, seemed to sweep gallantly by the beautiful place. On the farther side was seen the dark green woodland, bendinrr under its deep foliage, with here and there an interstice bear- ing the marks of cultivation. A few houses could be seen through the trees on the other side of the river, directly oppo- site to which is spread a fairy isle, covered with beautiful timber. The isle and the romantic swell of the river soon brought my mind back to days of yore, and to the bright em- erald isles of the far-famed fairy land. The bold and promi> nent rise of the hill, fitting to the plain with exact regularity, and the plain pushing itself into the river, forcing it to bend around its obstacle with becoming grandeur, and fondly to cling around it to add to the heightened and refined lustre of this sequestered land. " I passed on into the more active parts of the city, looking into every street and lane to observe all that was passing. I found all the people engaged in some useful and healthy em- ployment. The place was alive with business — much more so than any place I have visited since the hard times com- menced. I sought in vain for anything that bore the marks of immorality, but was both astonished and highly pleased at my ill success. I could see no loungers about the streets nor any drunkards about the taverns. I did not meet with those distorted features of ruffians, or with the ill-bred and impu- dent. I heard not an oath in the place, I saw not a gloomy countenance ; all were cheerful, polite, and industrious." The following ^etter, purporting to be written by an " Eng- 156 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. lishman," was published about the same time by most of the American newspapers, and gave some further particulars of this extraordinary people, and the beautiful city which, they founded. It is doubtful, however, whether the writer were quite such a stranger among the Mormons as he was willing to make the world believe. " Having, whilst in my native land, heard a great deal said respecting the people called Mormons, I thought it would be well, in the course of my rambles (or tour) to visit their city, hold converse with them, investigate their principles, and judge for myself I had heard, previous to my leaving Eng- land, some of their missionaries, among whom were Elders Woodruff, E-ichards, and Young. I thought they were set- ters forth of strange doctrine, yet it had an influence on my mind, so that I felt determined, as soon as opportunity served, to hear both sides of the question, as well from the Missourians as from any other source, with an unprejudiced mind. I had, previous to this time, been a member of the Methodist church ; but having observed that there existed in the breasts of those people a very strong prejudice with respect to the Mormons, I could not give full credence to their statements, neither could I rest satisfied with the statement of the Mormons ; I thought it was possible that they might dissemble in England, but, as a people, they could not do so at home, their actions would appear ungarnished ; they would there act out their princi- ples, and their moral and religious influence w^ould there be seen as clear as the sun at noon-day ; but, above all, I wanted to know something concerning the Missouri an persecution ; so, after having overcome all opposition (some of my friends being greatly alarmed lest I should become a follower of Joe, as they termed it), I took ship and arrived in safety at New Or- leans. I then sailed up the Mississippi, and landed at St. Louis. As soon as I had taken lodgings, I commenced my in- quiries respecting the Mormons. What think you of the Mor- DESCRIPTION OF NAUVC 0. 167 raons ? I asked, I had scarcely spoken before my ears were saluted from all quarters, from high and low, rich and poor. The Mormons ! The mean Mormons ! The deluded Mor- mons, &CC. I heard them calumniated and vilified — nay, abused beyond belief They informed me that their crimes were of the deepest dye, that polygamy was not only tol- erated, but practised among them ; that they would rob and plunder, and that blood and murder was to be found in their skirts ; that after they had stripped the poor stranger of his all, they confined him in a kind of dungeon, underneath the Temple, where he was fed upon bread and water, until death put a period to his sufferings — left to die alone without a kind friend by him to perform the last sad offices, or to see him consigned to the silent tomb ; but like a dog he was left to die, and like a dog he was buried. Well, one would have thought that after having heard all this my courage must have failed, and that I would at once have given up the search ; but I called to mind the old adage — ' Nothing ven- ture, nothing have.' History also informed me of the won- derful exploits performed in days of yore by. the chivalrous and noble knights of England, and so I felt determined to see and behold the wonderful place, with the history of which I had become acquainted. I had, however, determined within myself to sell my liberty and life as dearly as 3 could, in case the reports I had heard should prove true ; but the fact was, I did not place much confidence in their Jack-the-Giant-Kil- ler's tales, looking upon them as being too marvellous to be true. •• I landed at Nauvoo on a beautiful morning in the sum- mer season. I felt a degree of superstitious dread creep over me as I set my foot upon the shore. Presently I discovered some armed men advancing towards where I was, but imme- diately perceived that they were peaceable citizens of the place, engaged in a pleasure party. As I walked onward, I 158 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. felt myself comparatively at home, as I now and again met with an Englishman that I once had gazed upon in my native land. I directed my course towards the Temple, and after having gazed upon and thoroughly examined every part of it, I was soon led to the conclusion that there was not much danger to be apprehended from being confined in its subter- ranean vaults or dungeons ; I took up my abode as convenient to the edifice as I could, in order that I might be the better enabled to take cognizance of every circumstance which might come under my observation ; I had resolved to keep upon a strict look-out, and to keep my head and understanding from being confused, in order that I might be enabled to judge correctly, and have a true and correct report to send to my native land, should I be permitted to reach its shores in safety. " The city is of great dimensions, laid out in beautiful or- der ; the streets are wide, and cross each other at right angles, which will add greatly to its order and magnificence when finished. The city rises on a gentle incline from the rolling Mississippi, and as you stand near the temple, you may gaze on the picturesque scenery around ; at your side is the temple, the wonder of the world ; round about, and beneath, you may behold handsome stores, large mansions, and fine cottages, in- terspersed with varied scenery ; at the foot of the town rolls the noble Mississippi, bearing upon its bosom the numerous steam-ships which are conveying the Mormons from all parts of the world to their home. I have seen them landed, and I have beheld them welcomed to their homes with the tear of joy and the gladdening smile, to share the embrace of all around. I have heard them exclaim, How happy to live here I hew happy to die here I and then how happy to rise here in the resurrection ! It is their happiness ; then why disturb the Mormons so long as they are happy and peaceable, and are willing to live so with all men ? I would say, ' Let them live.' THE NAUVOO "MANSION HOUfeE." 169 " The inhabitants seem to be wonderfully enterprising peo- ple. The walls of the temple have been raised considerably this summer ; it is calculated, when finished, to be the glory of Illinois. They are endeavoring to establish manufactories in the city. They have enclosed large farms on the prairie ground, on which they have raised corn, wheat, hemp, &c. ; and all this they have accomplished within the short space of four years. I do not believe that there is another people in existence who could have made such improvements in the same length of time, under the same circumstances. And here allow me to remark, that there are some here who have lately emigrated to this place, who have built themselves large and convenient houses in the town ; others on their farms on the prairie, who, if they had remained at home, might have continued to live in rented houses all their days, and never once have entertained the idea of building one for themselves at their own expense. "Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, is a singular char- acter ; he lives at the * Nauvoo Mansion House,' which is, I understand, intended to become a home for the stranger and traveller ; and I think, from my own personal observation, that it will be deserving of the name. The Prophet is a kind, cheerful, sociable companion. I believe that he has the good-will of the community at large, and that he is ever ready to stand by and defend them in any e'xtremity ; and as I saw the Prophet and his brother Hyrum conversing together one day, I thought I beheld two of the greatest men of the nineteenth century. I have witnessed the Mormons in their assemblies on a Sunday, and I know not where a similar scene could be effected or produced. With respect to the teachings of the Prophet, I must say that there are some things hard to be understood ; but he invariably supports himself from our good old Bible, Peace and harmony reigns in the city. The drunkard is scarcely ever seen, as in other \Q0 HISTORY Or THE MORMONS. cities, neither does the awful imprecation or profane oath strike upon your ear ; but, while all is storm, and tempest, and confusion abroad respecting the Mormons, all is peace and harmony at home." CHAPTER VI. Gtjowth of Nauvoo^oseph Smith a Candidate foe the Peesidenct of the United States — Coeeespondexce with Messe8. Clay and Calhoun— New Teoubles and Persecu- tions OF THE Sect— The "Spiritual Wife" Doctrine- A Schism among the Moemons — The Nauvoo Expositoe Disturbances in the City—" Abatement" of the Nuisance OF AN unfeiendly Newspapee — ^Legal Peoceedings against the Peophet— His Sueeendee to take his Trial— Murder of Joseph and Hyeum Smith by the Mob in Carthage Gaol. For a time after the establishment of the Mormons at Nauvoo, the " Prophet" and his followers were warned by sad experience, and were less haughty, less overbearing, and less presumptuous, in their intercourse with the " Gentiles." But the prosperity which attended them in Illinois, and the rapid growth of Nauvoo, soon filled them again with inso- lence and spiritual pride. The dissensions, which had sub- sided in adversity, were renewed in prosperity. The power and influence of Joseph were too great not to excite envy, and Sidney Rigdon did great mischief by introducing a novelty called the "spiritual wife" doctrine. This caused great scandal, both among the Mormons and among their enemies. Joseph himself appears, unless he has been griev- ously maligned, and unless the affidavits published by his op- ponents were forgeries, to have had as great a 2->e7ichant for a plurality of wives as Mahomet himself Sidney Rigdon, ac- cording to the same authority, outdid him in this respect, and 11 162 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. had " revelations" of his own, which he made subservient to the gratification of his passions. There was possibly some exaggeration in these stories, but they do not appear to have been wholly unfounded, as far as Rigdon, and some others, were concerned. Joseph was now at the climax of his earthly glory, and might have been comparatively happy even amid the persecu- tions of his neighbors the " Gentiles," had it not been for secessions from his church, and the annoyances springing out of the " spiritual wife" doctrine of his indiscreet friend Rig- don. The population of Nauvoo was almost wholly com- posed of Mormons. The corporation over which he presided as mayor, assumed a jurisdiction independent of, and some- times hostile to, that of the State of Illinois. They denied validity to the legal documents of the State, unless counter- signed by Joseph, as mayor of Nauvoo, and they passed a law to punish any stranger in the city who should use dis- respectful language in speaking of the Prophet. As time wore on, hostility against the sect increased. They waged a constant warfare with the nine counties that adjoin Han- cock county, in which Nauvoo is situated, and their old feud with Missouri was kept up by legal proceedings, which, in a somewhat vexatious manner, were instituted against Smith. Lieutenant-Governor Boggs, of Missouri, was fired at through a window and narrowly escaped assassination. He swore that, to the best of his belief, Joseph Smith was a party to this attempt to murder him. The legal proceedings conse- quent upon this charge, tended to excite and maintain the bitterest animosity between the " Saints" and the " Gentiles." But the " spiritual wife" doctrine of Sidney Rigdon was the cause of the greatest scandal, and ultimately produced an unlooked-for catastrophe. Nevertheless, the wealth and power of the sect continued to increase, theii lumbers being augmented from time to time JOSEPH NOMINATED FOIL PRESIDENT. 163 by the English immigration from Liverpool. The Times and Seaso?is of the 15th of May in that year, announced to the Saints " that Nauvoo was becoming a large city, that a number of splendid houses were erected, and that three ships' companies had arrived in the spring from England, and the Prophet was in good health and spirits." In 1844, they carried their heads so high that they put Joseph forward as a candidate for the Presidentship of the United States, and his still faithful Sidney Rigdon as a candidate for the Vice- Presidentship. The Times and Seasons declared for Joseph Smith as President in the following address : — " The question arises, whom shall the Mormons support ? — Gen- eral Joseph Smith. A man of sterling worth and integrity, and of enlarged views ; a man who has raised himself from the humblest walks in life to stand at the head of a large, intelligent, respectable, and increasing society, that has spread, not only in this land, but in distant nations ; a man whose talents and genius are of an exalted nature, and whose experience has rendered him every way adequate to the onerous duty. Honorable, fearless, and energetic, he would administer justice with an impartial hand, and magnify and dignify the office of chief magistrate of this land ; and we feel assured that there is not a man in the United States more competent for the task. " One great reason that we have for pursuing our present course is, that at every election we have been made a political target for the filthy demagogues in the country to shoot their loathsome arrows at. And every story has been put in requisition to blast our fame, from the old fabrication of ' walk on the water,' down to ' the mur- der of ex-Governor Boggs.' The journals have teemed with this filthy trash, and even men wlio ought to have more respect for them- selves, men contending for the gubernatorial chair, have made use of terms so degrading, so mean, so humiliating, that a Billingsgate fisherwoman would have considered herself disgraced with. We refuse any longer to be thus bedaubed for either party ; we tell all such, to let their filth flow in its own legitimate channel, for we are sick of the loathsome smell. 164 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. " Gentlemen, we are not going either to ' murder ex-Governor Boggs,' nor a Mormon in this State ' for not giving us his money ;' nor are we going to ' walk on the water ;' nor ^ drown a woman ;' nor ' defraud the poor of their property ;' nor send ' destroying angels after General Bennett to kill him; nor ' marry spiritual wives;' nor commit any other outrageous act this election, to help any party with : you must get some other persons to perform these kind offices for you for the future. We withdraw. " Under existing circumstances we have no other alternative, and if we can accomplish our object, well ; if not, we shall have the satisfaction of knowing that we have acted conscientiously, and have used our best judgment ; and if we have to throw away our votes, we had better do so upon a worthy rather than an unworthy individual, who might make use of the weapon we put in his hand to destroy us with. " Whatever may be the opinions of men in general in regard to Mr. Smith, we know that he need only to be known to be admired, and that it is the principles of honor, integrity, patriotism, and philan- thropy, that has elevated him in the minds of his friends, and the same principles, if seen and known, would beget the esteem and confidence of all the patriotic and virtuous throughout the Union. " Whatever, therefore, be the opinions of other men, our course is marked out, and our motto from henceforth will be General Joseph Smith." Joseph allowed his name lo be put forward without any hope of his success, but was evidently proud of occupying so prominent a position ; especially as, to use his own expression, it "riled" his enemies in general, and his old Missourian per- secutors in particular. He thought it incumbent upon him, under the circumstances, to imitate the example of other great political characters, and he accordingly issued an address to the American people, in which he declared his views on various weighty matters. Joseph was of course aware that his candidature was an act which had no other meaning than to please his disciples ; and he therefore wrote to Mr. Clay, who was supposed to have a LETTER OF MR. CLAY. 165 good chance of being elected to the Presidency, to know what course he would pursue towards the Mormons if he were suc- cessful. The correspondence was characteristic of both parties. The letter of the " Prophet" was to the following effect : — " Nauvoo, Illinois, Nov. Ath, 1843. " Hon. H. Clay, — Dear Sir, — As we understand you are a can- didate for the Presidency at the next election, and as the Latter-Day Saints (sometimes called Mormons, who now constitute a numerous class in the school politic of this vast republic) have been robbed of an immense amount of property, and endured nameless sufferings by the State of Missouri, and from her borders have been driven by force of arms, contrary to our national covenants, and as in vain we have sought redress by all constitutional, legal, and honorable means, in her courts, her executive councils, and her legislative halls, and as we have petitioned Congress to take cognizance of our sufferings without effect, we have judged it wisdom to address you this com- munication, and solicit an immediate, specific, and candid reply to What will be your rule of action relative to us as a people should for- tune favor your ascension to the chief magistracy ? " Most respectfully. Sir, your friend, and the friend of peace, good order, and constitutional rights. " Joseph Smith, " In behalf of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. " Hon. H. Clay, Ashland, Kentucky." The reply of Mr. Clay was guarded and studiously cour- teous : — " Ashland, Nov. 15th, 1843. " Dear Sir, — I have received your letter in behalf of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, stating that you understand that I am a candidate for the Presidency, and inquiring what would be my rule of action relative to you as a people, should I be elected. " I am profoundly grateful for the numerous and strong expres- sions of the people in my behalf, as a candidate for President of the United States ; but I do not so consider myself. That much depends upon future events, and upon my sense of duty. loo HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. " Should I be a candidate, I can enter into no engagements, make no promises, give no pledges, to any particular portion of the people of the United States. If I ever enter into that high office, I must go into it free and unfettered, with no guarantees but such as are to be drawn from my whole life, character, and conduct. " It is not inconsistent with this declaration to say, that I have viewed with a lively interest the progress of the Latter-Day Saints ; that I have sympathized in their sufferings under injustice, as it ap- peared to me, which has been inflicted upon them ; and that I think, in common with all other religious communities, they ought to enjoy the security and the protection of the constitution and the laws. " I am, with great respect, " Your Friend and obedient Servant, « H. Clay." " Joseph Smith, Esq." Joseph was by no means satisfied with Mr. Clay's reply ; and after taking nearly six months to reflect, he wrote a long and angry rejoinder, in which he insinuated that Mr. Clay was a blackleg in politics, and used many other phrases by no means complimentary. Joseph, in order to know the opinions of both candidates, sent to Mr. Calhoun a letter precisely similar to that which he had addressed to Mr. Clay. He received the following reply : — " Fort Hill, December 2d, 1843. " Sir, — You ask me what would be my rule of action relative to the Mormons, or Latter-Day Saints, should I be elected President ; to which I answer, that if I should be elected, I would strive to ad- minister the government according to the constitution and the laws of the Union ; and that, as they make no distinction between citizens of different religious creeds, I should make none. As far as it de- pends on the executive department, all should have the full benefit <»^ *30th, and none should be exempt from their operation. " But, as you refer to the case of Missouri, candor compels me to »peat what I said to you at Washington, that, according to my ARREST OF THE " PROPHET." 16*7 views, the case does not come within the jurisdiction of the federal government, which is one of hmited and specific powers. " With respect, I am, &c. ' " J. C. Calhoun." « Mr. Joseph Smith." But his correspondence with these and other persons formed only a small portion of the multifarious business that occupied the Prophet's attention at this period of his life. His history during the first five months of the year 1 844 — powerful as he was, and absolute lord, spiritual and temporal, of the little community of Nauvoo, a state within a state, and governed by its own peculiar laws — had its dark as well as its bright side. There was a drop of gall and bitterness in the cup of his prosperity. The persecution of his old enemies in Mis- souri, and of new enemies quite as bitter and unrelenting in his new home in Illinois, never for a moment relaxed. Shortly prior to the announcem.ent of his name as a candi- date for the Presidency, he was on a visit with his family at a place called Dixon in Illinois. An action had previously been brought against him by some of the people of Jackson County, in Missouri, who had suffered a loss of property in the disturbances that preceded the expulsion of the Mormons from that State. As Dixon was on the frontier between Missouri and Illinois, two sherifT's officers of Missouri, named Reynolds and Wilson, resolved to seize the Prophet, and carry him for trial before the Missouri courts. They disguised themselves for that purpose, and knocking at night at the farm-house where he was residing, stated that they were Mormon elders from Nauvoo, desirous of an interview with the Prophet. They were incautiously admitted to the passage, when they immediately rushed upon Joseph, each with a loaded pistol in his hand, and swore " to shoot him dead" if he offered the slightest resistance. On his asking for their authority to arrest him, they showed their pistols, and said " those were their 168 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. authorities." They refused to let him go into the room to bid farewell to his family, or even to get his hat, and forced him into a wagon. Thejj struck him over the head and back with the butt ends of their pistols, and, as he alleged, " otherwise abused, insulted, and threatened him in the cruellest manner." He was retained in custody by these men for several weeks, but ultimately obtained his release on a writ of habeas corpus, and was sent back to Illinois. He thereupon commenced an action against them for false imprisonment, and for using un- necessary force and violence towards him. Though the case was clearly proved, he only obtained the small damages of forty dollars ; and from first to last had to pay upwards of three thousand five hundred dollars for legal expenses. The unfounded and vindictive accusation brought against him by ex-Governor Boggs was productive of still greater an- noyance, and the authorities, legal and military, of Missouri, instigated by the people of Jackson County, demanded that the State of Illinois should deliver him up to take his trial on this charge before a Missouri jury ! A requisition was actually drawn up to this effect. A letter from J. Arlington Bennett, counsellor-at-law, and who appears to be no other than our old friend " General" Bennett, the " right-hand man," was published in the New York papers at this time. It strongly advised the authorities of Missouri to leave Joseph Smith alone ; and predicted, in a remarkable manner, the conse- quences that would follow the continued persecution of the Prophet and his people — the death of Joseph — the increase of the sect — and their establishment in a free and powerful State of their own beyond the Rocky Mountains. Said the writer : " I do not believe that Joseph Smith has done anything to injure ex-Governor Boggs of Missouri. The Governor, no doubt under strong feelings, may have thought and believed that Smith had pre- concerted the plan for his assassination ; but there is no legal evi- A PREDICTION. ] 69 dence whatever of that fact. None by which an unprejudiced jury would convict any man ; — yet to send this man into Missouri, under the present requisition, would be an act of great injustice, and his ruin would be certain. How could any man, against whom there is a bitter religious prejudice, escape ruin, being in the circumstan- ces of Smith ? Look at the history of past ages — see the force of fanaticism and bigotry in bringing to the stake some of the best of men; and in all these cases the persecutors had their pretexts, as well as in the case of the Mormon chief. Nothing follows its vic- tim with such deadly aim as religious zeal, and therefore nothing should be so much guarded against by the civil power. " Smith, I conceive, has just as good a right to establish a church, if he can do it, as Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Fox, or even King Henry the Eighth. All these chiefs in religion had their opponents, and their people their persecutors. Henry the Eighth was excommuni- cated, body and bones, soul and all, by his holiness the Pope ; still the Church of England has lived as well as all the other sects. Just so will it be with the Mormons : they may kill one prophet, and con- fine in chains half his followers, but another will take his place, and the Mormons will still go a-head. " One of their elders said to me, when conversing on this subject, that they were like a mustard plant, ' If you don't disturb, the seed will fall and multiply ; and if you kick it about, you only give the seed more soil, and it will multiply the more.' Undertake to con- vince them that they are wrong, and that Smith is an impostor, and the answer is, laying the hand on the heart, ' I know in mine own soul that it is true, and want no better evidence. I feel happy in my faith, and why should I be disturbed ?' Now, I cannot see but what this is the sentiment that governs all religiously-disposed persons, their object being heaven and happiness, no matter what their church or their creed. They, therefore, cannot be put down while the Con- stitution of the United States offers them protection in common with all other sects, and while they believe that their eternal salvation is at stake. From what I know of the people, I fully believe that all the really sincere Mormons would die, sooner than abandon their faith and religion. " General J. A. Bennett has stated that, to conquer the Mormon legion, it would require five to one against them, all things taker 170 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. into consideration, and that they will die to a man sooner than give up their Prophet. " Now, is the arrest of this man worth sucli a sacrifice of life as must necessarily follow an open war with his people ? The loss of from one to three thousand lives will no doubt follow in an attempt to accomplish an object not, in the end, worth a button. " Persecute them, and you are sure to multiply them. This is fully proved since the Missouri persecution, as, since that affair, they have increased one hundred fold. " It is the best policy, both of Missouri and Illinois, to let them alone ; for if they are driven farther west they may set up an inde- pendent government, under which they can worship the Almighty as may suit their taste. Indeed, I would recommend to the Prophet to pull up stakes, and take possession of the Oregon territory in his own right, and establish an independent empire. In one hundred years from this time, no nation on eartlj could conquer such a people. Let not the history of David be forgotten. If the Prophet Joseph would do this, millions would flock to his standard and join his cause. He could then make his own laws by the voice of reve- lation, and have them executed like the act of one man." In addition to the troubles and difficulties springing from the persecution of his Missourian enemies, Joseph was exposed to vexations and dangers of a kind even more exasperating. He might, from the secure fortress of Nauvoo, and in firm reli- ance upon the legally constituted tribunals of the United States, have set at defiance the malice of those who perse- cuted him upon religious grounds, or found a sufficient an- swer to those who, having suffered loss, desired to make him generally responsible for all the acts committed by his follow- ers at a time which was actually one of civil warfare ; but when, in addition to these troubles, he had to defend himself against false friends and domestic traitors in his own church and city, the accumulation of perplexity and sorrow was great indeed. Joseph, at this time, appears to have been quit a,s convinced of the divinity of his mission as the most THE "spiritual WIFe" DOCTRINE. l7l credulous of his disciples. He dreamed dreams, and he saw visions ; he imagined that what he spoke was spoken by the Almighty, and that in him was all authority in matters of re- ligion. But there were men in the church who despised Joseph Smith as an impostor while pretending to believe in him, knaves who used Mormonism for their own purposes — either of sensuality or ambition — and who led him by their extravagant licentiousness into continual difficulty. Many of these persons pretended to have " revelations" quite as valid as those of Joseph, by which they were permitted to have as many wives as the patriarchs of old, provided they could afford to maintain them. Joseph would not tolerate this scan- dal, and every offender was forthwith excommunicated, and publicly declared to be cut off from the church. One man of this kind, named Higbee, gave him more trouble than all the rest, and involved him in vexatious law proceedings, which lasted for upwards of two years, and were only brought to a close in May, 1844. Higbee, it appears, had been pub- licly accused by Joseph of having seduced several women, and was cut off from the Mormon church in consequence. Whether the charge were or were not true, is now difficult, and perhaps not important, to discover ; but Higbee sued Joseph before the Municipal Court of Nauvoo for slander and defamation, and laid his damages at five thousand dollars. At his suit, Joseph was arrested, and the case came before the Municipal Court, on a writ of habeas corpus, on the 6th of May. The aldermen of the city, all of them Mormons, sat on the bench to hear the case, and Sidney Rigdon acted as counsel for the Prophet. At this trial, several disclosures were made, which went to prove a most deplorable laxity of morals on the part of men who had once been members and office-bearers of the church, and who had been " cut off for their adulteries, and handed over to Satan," by the Prophet and the other heads of the sect. The court, after hearing the 1V2 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. evidence of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and others, decreed, first, that Joseph Smith should be discharged from arrest on the ground of the illegality of the writ, and secondly, that Higbee's conduct having been fully shown to be infamous, and the suit to have been instituted through malice, private pique, and corruption, he was not entitled to his costs. But Higbee was not the only person who had been expelled from the church who was concerned in these proceedings. The libertines and seducers of Nauvoo, foiled before the Mu- nicipal Court — of which Joseph himself as mayor of Nauvoo, and the leading " Saints" as aldermen of the city, were sever- ally members ex officio — tried other means to excite a schism, and adopted the bold course of accusing Joseph himself of the very crimes with which he had charged Higbee. Among other stories which were circulated by this party was one which obtained great currency, and led to important and un- foreseen results. It was asserted that one Dr. Foster, a Mormon, and member of the Danite band, or society of the "Destroying Angels," organized in Missouri for the defence of the " Saints," having been absent from home, had suddenly Returned without giving notice to his wife, and found the car- riage of the Prophet at the door. Having been cut off from the church, and having, it is alleged, had previous suspicions of an improper intercourse between Joseph and his wife, he questioned Mrs. Foster as soon as Smith took his departure, when the lady confessed that Joseph had been endeavoring to persuade her to become his " spiritual wife." The Mormons then, and ever since, have indignantly denied the truth of this particular charge ; and of all the charges brought against Joseph as regards a plurality of wives — and in especial refer- ence to the " spiritual wife" doctrine — they allege what ap- pears from his whole career to be most probable, that he was at all times most anxious to preserve the church free from taint, and to exclude adulterers, seducers, and persons of im- THE "spiritual WIFe" DOCTRINE. lY3 moral lives. But as the consequences of this charge against Joseph were so momentous to him and to the whole Mormon people, and as Dr. Foster probably believed that there was some foundation for his suspicions, it is necessary that the statements of both sides should be given. An affidavit was put in upon the trial of Higbee's case, by a person of the name of Eaton, to the effect, that Dr. Foster had stated " that during his absence from home, a carriage drove up to his door ; that a person alighted ; that the carriage then drove off again ; that this person went into the house and told Mrs. Foster a great many things to prejudice her mind against her husband ; that he finally introduced and preached the ' spirit- ual wife' doctrine to her ; that he made an attempt to seduce her ; that he then sat down to dine with Mrs. Foster, and blessed the victuals ; that while so doing. Dr. Foster suddenly returned ; that this person rose up and said, ' How d'ye do ?' in a very polite manner ; that he soon afterwards went away ; that Dr. Foster then questioned his wife as to what passed, but she refused to tell ; that he then drew a pistol and threatened to shoot her, but that she still refused ; that he then gave her a double-barrelled pistol, and told her to defend herself; that she then fainted away through fear and excite- ment, and that when she came to herself again, she had con- fessed that the person alluded to had endeavored to convert her to the ' spiritual wife' doctrine, and to seduce her." It was evident that Joseph Smith was the person signified, but not named in this document. It was treated by the Muni- cipal Court as false and scandalous. Higbee described to the same witness his own ideas of the " spiritual wife" system. He said that " some of the elders had ten or twelve spiritual wives a-piece ; that they entered the names of the women in a large book which was kept sealed at Hyrum Smith's ; and that when an elder or other Mormon wanted to seduce a woman, he led her to see this book opened, where, if hei IY4 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. name was found entered, she was told that it was the will of heaven that she should submit, and she submitted accord- ingly." It is utterly incredible that Joseph Smith, who, great impostor as he was, never missed an opportunity to de- nounce seducers and adulterers as unfit to enter into his church, should have been concerned directly or indirectly in proceedings like these, though it is scarcely surprising that when such stories had been circulated by men whom the " Prophet" had thwarted or reprimanded, there should have been found some persons willing to credit them. Dr. Foster, who may or who may not have fancied he had real grounds of suspicion against Joseph, lent himself to the designs of the excommunicated party, and, in conjunction with a person named Law, commenced the publication, in the city of Nauvoo itself, of a newspaper called the Expositor. In the first number they printed the affidavits of sixteen women, to the effect that Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and others, had endeavored to convert them to the " spiritual wife" doc- trine, and to seduce them under the plea of having had espe- cial permission from Heaven. This was somewhat too daring, and Joseph Smith, in his capacity of Mayor of Nauvoo, im- mediately summoned the aldermen, councillors, and other members of the corporation to consider the publication. They unanimously declared it to be a public nuisance, and ordered the city marshal to " abate it forthwith." A body of the prophet's adherents, to the number of two hundred and up- wards, sallied forth in obedience to this order, and proceeding to the office of the Expositor, speedily razed it to the ground. They then destroyed the presses, and made a bonfire of the papers and furniture. Foster and Law fled for their lives, and took refuge in Carthage, where they applied for a war- rant against Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and sixteen other persons known to have aided and abetted in putting down the Expositor office. The warrant was granted and served upon THE "prophet" in PRISON. lYo the Mayor of Nauvoo. He refused to acknowledge its valid- ity, and the constable who served it was marched out of Nau- voo by the city marshal. The authorities of the county could not suffer this affront to the law ; and the militia were order- ed out to support the county officer in arresting the two Smiths and their sixteen confederates. The Mormons in Nauvoo fortified the city, and determined to fight to the last extrem- ity in support of the " Prophet." The brethren from all parts of the country hastened to give assistance. Illinois, like Mis- souri, divided itself into two great camps, the Mormons and the anti-Mormons, and the circumstances were so menacing that Mr. Ford, the Governor, took the field in person. In a proclamation to the people of Illinois, he stated that he had discovered that nothing but the utter destruction of the city of Nauvoo would satisfy the militia and troops under his com- mand, and that if he marched into the city pretexts would not be wanting on their part for the commencement of slaughter. Anxious to spare the effusion of blood, he called upon the two Smiths to surrender peaceably, pledging his word and the honor of the State, that they should be protect- ed. He also called upon the Mormons to surrender their public arms, and upon the Nauvoo legion to submit to the command of a State officer. The Mormons agreed to the terms, and Joseph and his brother surrendered to take their trial for the riot, and for the destruction of the office of the Expositor. The " Prophet" had a presentiment of evil, and said, as he surrendered, " I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am calm as a summer's morning ; I have a conscience void of offence, and shall die innocent." While in prison at Carthage, another writ was served upon him and Hyrum for high treason against the State of Illinois, on an in- formation in which the principal witness was the Higbee al- ready mentioned, and whose hostility to Joseph had not ended at the trial before the Court of Nauvoo. As the mob breathed 176 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. vengeance against both prisoners, and as the militia very in- decently sided with the people, and were not to be depended on in case of any violence being offered to the two Smiths, the Governor was requested by the citizens of Nauvoo and other Mormons to set a guard over the gaol. On the morning of the 26th of June, 1844, the Governor visited the prisoners, and pledged his word to protect them against the threatened violence. It now began to be rumored among the mob that there would be no case against the Smiths on either of the charges brought against them, and that the Governor was anxious they should escape. A band of ruffians accordingly resolved that as *' law could not reach them, powder and shot should." About six o'clock in the evening of the 27th, the small guard stationed at the gaol was overpowered by a band of nearly two hundred men, with blackened faces, who rushed into the prison where the unfortunate men were confined. They were at the time in consultation with two of their friends. The mob fired upon the whole four. Hyrum was shot first, and fell immediately, exclaiming, " I am a dead man." Joseph endeavored to leap from the window, and was shot in the attempt, exclaiming, " Lord, my God." They were both shot after they were dead, each receiving four balls. John Taylor, one of the two Mormons in the room, was seri- ously wounded, but afterwards recovered. The following account of this cruel murder was given by Mr. Willard Richards, the second of the two Mormons who were present with Joseph and Hyrum in the prison, when the mob broke in upon them. It appeared in the Tiines and Seasons of the following month, under the title of " Two min- utes in Gaol." " Possibly the following events occupied near three minutes, but 1 think only about tv^^o, and have penned them for the gratification of many friends : ASSASSINATION OF JOSEPH AND HVRUM SMITH. 177 " Carthage, June 21 ih, 1844. " A shower of musket-balls were thrown up the stairway against the door of the prison in the second story, followed by many rapid footsteps. While General Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Mr. Taylor, and myself, who were in the front chamber, closed the door of cur room against the entry at the head of the stairs, and placed ourselves against it, there being no lock on the door, and no ketch that was useable ; the door is a common panel — and as soon as we heard the feet at the stairs' head, a ball was sent through the door, which passed between us, and showed that our enemies were desperadoes, and we must change our position. General Joseph Smith, Mr. Tay- lor, and myself, sprang back to the front part of the room, and Gen- eral Hyrum Smith retreated two thirds across the chamber, and di- rectly in front of and facing the door. A ball was sent through the door, which hit Hyrum on the side of the nose, when he fell back- wards, extended at length, without moving his feet. From the holes in his vest (the day was warm, and no one had a coat on but my- self), pantaloons, drawers, and shirt, it appears evident that a ball must have been thrown from without, through the window, which entered his back on the right side, and passing through, lodged against his watch, which was in his right vest pocket, completely pulverizing the crystal and face, tearing off the hands, and mashing the whole body of the watch, at the same instant the ball from the door en- tered his nose. As he struck the floor he exclaimed emphatically, ' rm a dead man.'' Joseph looked towards him, and responded, ' O dear Brother Hyrum /' and opening the door two or three inches with his left hand, discharged one barrel of a six shooter (pistol) at ran- dom in the entry from whence a ball grazed Hyrum's breast, and en- tering his throat, passed into his head, while other muskets were aimed at him, and some balls hit him. Joseph continued snapping his revolver, round the casing of the door into the space as before, three barrels of which missed fire, while Mr. Taylor, with a walking- stick, stood by his side and knocked down the bayonets and muskets which were constantly discharging through the doorway, while I stood by him, ready to lend any assistance, with another stick, but could not come within striking distance without going directly before the muzzles of the guns. When the revolver failed we had no more fire-arms, and expecting an immediate rush of the mob, and the door- 12 1*78 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. way full of muskets — half-way in the room, and no hope but instant death from within, Mr. Taylor rushed into the window, which is some fifteen or twenty feet from the ground. When his body was nearly on a balance, a ball from the door within entered his leg, and a ball from without struck his watch, a patent lever, in his vest pocket, near the left breast, and smashed it in ' pie,' leaving the hands stand- ing at 5 o'clock, 16 minutes, and 26 seconds — the force of which ball threw him back on the floor, and he rolled under the bed which stood by his side, where he lay motionless, the mob from the door continuing to fire upon him, cutting away a piece of flesh from his left hip as large as a man's hand, and were hindered only by my knocking down their muzzles with a stick ; while they continued to reach their guns into the room, probably left-handed, and aimed their discharge so far around as almost to reach us in the corner of the room to where we retreated and dodged, and then I re-commenced the attack with my stick again. Joseph attempted, as the last resort, to leap the same window from whence Mr. Taylor fell, when two balls pierced him from the door, and one entered his right breast from without, and he fell outward exclaiming, ' O Lord, my GodP As his feet went out of the window my head went in, the balls whistling all around. He fell on his left side a dead man. At this instant the cry was raised, ' He's leaped the window,^ and the mob on the stairs and in the entry ran out. I withdrew from the window, thinking it of no use to leap out on a hundred bayonets, then around General Smith's body. Not satisfied with this, I again reached my head out of the window, and watched some seconds, to see if there were any signs of life, regardless of my own, determined to see the end of him I loved. Being fully satisfied that he was dead, with a hundred men near the body, and more coming round the corner of the gaol, and expecting a return to our room, I rushed towards the prison- door, at the head of the stairs, and through tne entry from whence the firing had proceeded, to learn if the doors into the prison were open. When near the entry, Mr. Taylor called out, ' Take me.'' I pressed my way until I found all doors unbarred ; returning instantly, caught Mr. Taylor under my arm, and rushed by the stairs into the dungeon, or inner prison, stretched him on the floor, and covered him with a bed, in such a manner as not likely to be perceived, ex- pecting an immediate return of the mob. I said to Mr. Taylor, ASSASSINATION OF JOSEPH AND HTRUM SMITH. 179 ' This is a hard case to lay you on the floor ; but if your wounds are not fatal I want you to live to tell the story.' I expected to be shot the next moment, and stood before the door awaiting the onset. " WiLLARD Richards." An eye-witness of the murder, named Daniels, who was connected with neither the Mormons nor the mob, gave some additional particulars of the outrage in a small work publish- ed by himself, in the State of Illinois, in 1844. Daniels, it seems, was overtaken on the prairies on the afternoon of the mur- der by a band of settlers, all more or less disguised with black- ened faces, &c., who communicated to him the object of their gathering, which was, to force the gaol at Carthage, and to assassinate Smith and his fellow-prisoners. They appealed to him to join the expedition ; and on his refusal, compelled him, by threats, to accompany them to the scene, that he might not, by giving an alarm, betray their object to the authorities. His impression was, that when Smith fell from the window he was not dead, but merely stunned by the fall, and he states that one of the gang raised him up and placed him against a wall, and that, while in this position, four others among the mob advanced to the front rank with loaded muskets, and fired at the " Prophet." From the circumstance that four bullets were afterwards found in his body, there would appear to be some ground for believing this to be the correct account of Smith's death, as each of these four men stood at so short a distance from him as to make it quite certain that every shot fired took efTect. Thus died this extraordinary personage. " In the short space of twenty years," says the account of his " Martyrdom" appended to the Booh of Doctrines and Covenants, " he brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and was the means of publishing in two continents. He sent the fulness of the everlastinir Gospel which it contained to the four quarters of the earth. ISO HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. He brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose the Book of Doctrines and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instruction's for the benefit of the children of men. He gathered many thousands of the Latter- Day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and a name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and died great in the eyes of God and his people ; and like most of the Lord's anointed in ancient times, sealed his mission and his works with his own blood, and so did his own brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated." The Christian Rejiector, a less friendly critic of his char- acter and actions, thus spoke of his life and death : — " It is but a few weeks since the death of Joe Smith was an- nounced. His body now sleeps, and his spirit has gone to its re- ward. Various are the opinions of men concerning this singular personage ; but whatever may be the views of any in reference to his principles, objects, or moral character, all agree that he was one of the most remarkable men of the age. Not fifteen years have elapsed since a band, composed of six persons, was formed in Pal- myra, New York, of which Joseph Smith, jun., was the presiding genius. Most of these were connected with the family of Smith the senior. They were notorious for breach of contracts, and the repudiation of their honest debts. All of them were addicted to vice. They obtained their living not by honorable labor, but by de- ceiving their neighbors with their marvellous tales of money-digging. Notwithstanding the low origin, poverty, and profligacy of the mem- bers of that band of mountebanks, they have augmented their num- bers till more than 100,000 persons are now numbered among the followers of the Mormon Prophet, and never were increasing so rapidly as at the time of his death. Born in the very lowest walks of life, reared in poverty, educated in vice, having no claims to even common intelligence, coarse and vulgar in deportment, the Prophet Smith succeeded in establishing a religious creed, the tenets of which have been taught throughout the length and breadth of America. The Prophet's virtues have been rehearsed and ad- mired in Europe ; the ministers of Nauvoo have even found a wel- ASSASSINATION OF JOSEPH AND HYRUM SMITH. 181 come in Asia ; and Africa has listened to the grave sayings of the seer of Palmyra. The standard of the Latter-Day Saints has been reared on the banks of the Nile, and even the Holy Land has been entered by the emissaries of this wicked impostor. " He founded a city in one of the most beautiful situations in the world, in a beautiful curve of the ' father of waters,' of no mean pretensions, and in it he has collected a population of twenty-five thousand, from every part of the world. He planned the archi- tecture of a magnificent temple, and reared its walls nearly fifty feet high, which, if completed, will be the most beautiful, most costly, and the most noble building in America. " The acts of his life exhibit a character as incongruous as it is remarkable. If we can credit his own words, and the testimony of eye-witnesses, he was at the same time the vicegerent of God, and a tavern-keeper — a prophet of Jehovah, and a base libertine — a minister of the religion of peace, and a lieutenant-general — a ruler of tens of thousands, and a slave to all his own base, unbridled passions — a preacher of righteousness, and a profane swearer — a worshipper of Bacchus, mayor of a city, and a miserable bar-room fiddler — a judge upon the judicial bench, and an invader of the civil, social, and moral relations of men ; and, notwithstanding these inconsistencies of character, there are not wanting thousands who are willing to stake their souls' eternal salvation upon his veracity. For aught we know, time and distance will embellish his life with some new and rare virtues, which his most intimate friends failed to discover while living with him. " Reasoning from effect to cause, we must conclude that the Mor- mon Prophet was of no common genius : few are able to commence and carry oat an imposition like this, so long, and to such an ex- tent. And we see, in the history of his success, most striking proofs of the gullibility of a large portion of the human family. What may not men be induced to believe ?" Joseph Smith was indeed a remarkable man ; and, in summing up his character, it is extremely difficult to decide, whether he were indeed the vulgar impostor which it has become the fashion to consider him, or whether he were a sincere fanatic who believed what he taught. But whether 1&2 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. an impostor, who, for the purposes of his ambition, concocted the fraud of the Book of Mormon, or a fanatic who beheved and promulgated a fraud originally concocted by some other person, it must be admitted that he displayed no little zeal and courage ; that his tact was great, that his talents for governing men were of no mean order, and that, however glaring his deficiencies in early life may have been, he mani- fested, as he grew older, an ability both as an orator and a writer, which showed that he possessed strong natural gifts, only requiring cultivation to have raised^im to a high reputa- tion among better erlucated men. There are many incidents in his life which favor the supposition that he was guilty of a deliberate fraud in pretending to have revelations from heaven, and in palming off upon the world his new Bible ; but, at the same time, there is much in his later career which seems to prove that he really believed what he asserted — that he imagined himself to be in reality what he pretended — the chosen medium to convey a new Gospel to the world — the inspired of heaven, the dreamer of divine dreams, and the companion of angels. If he were an impostor, deliber- ately and coolly inventing, and pertinaciously propagating a falsehood, there is this much to be said, that never was an impostor more cruelly punished than he was, from the first moment of his appearance as a prophet to the last. Joseph Smith, in consequence of his pretensions to be a seer and prophet of God, lived a life of continual misery and persecu- tion. He endured every kind of hardship, contumely, and suffering. He was derided, assaulted, and imprisoned. His life was one long scene of peril and distress, scarcely bright- ened by the brief beam of comparative repose which he en- joyed in his own city of JNTauvoo. In the contempt showered upon his head his whole family shared. Father and mother, and brothers, wife, and friends, were alike involved in the ignominy of his pretensions, and the suflerings that resulted. ASSASSINATION OF JOSEPH AND HYRUM SMITH. 183 He lived for fourteen years amid vindictive enemies, who never missed an opportunity to vilify, to harass, and to de- stroy him ; and he died at last an untimely and miserable death, involving in his fate a brother to whom he was ten- derly attached. If anything can tend to encourage the sup- position that Joseph Smith was a sincere enthusiast, mad- dened with religious frenzies, as many have been before and will be after him — and that he had strong and invincible faith in his own high pretensions and divine mission, it is the probability that unless supported by such feelings, he would have renounced the unprofitable and ungrateful task, and sought refuge from persecution and misery in private life and honorable industry. But whether knave or lunatic, whethei a liar or a true man, it cannot be denied that he was one of the most extraordinary persons of his time, a man of rude genius, who accomplished a much greater work than he knew ; and whose name, whatever he may have been whilst living, will take its place among the notabilities of the world. The perpetrators of the shameful murder of the two brothers were never discovered. Several persons were arrested on sus- picion, but there was not sufficient proof to convict them, and possibly no real efforts were made to bring them to justice. The event was greatly deplored. The sincerest opponents of Mormonism were those who were most grieved at it. Joseph Smith murdered was a greater prophet than Joseph Smith alive ; and it was predicted, both by friends and foes, that, however rapid the progress of the sect might have been in past times, it would be still more rapid when fanaticism might point to the martyrs of the faith — when the faults of the Prophet would be buried in the oblivion of the tomb, and when his virtues would be enhanced by the remembrance of his unhappy fate. The prediction was verified ; but not, however, until the Mormons had passed through another long period of persecution and suffering. CHAPTER YII. The PeOPHEt's FtJNEEAL — AdDEESSES and PEOCLAMATIOiSrS TO THE Saints — Appointment of Beigham Young as Sijcoessoe TO Joseph Smith — Teial and Expulsion of Sidney Eigdon — Teansient Peospeeity of Nauyoo — New Teoubles and Hos- tilities — Siege of Nauvoo — ^Final Expulsion of the Moe- MONS FEOM Illinois. The news of the death of Joseph, and of his brother, was announced to the Prophet's widow, in a letter signed by John Taylor and Willard Richards, the two " Saints" who were present in the prison at the time of the catastrophe, and by Samuel H. Smith, ^ a younger brother of the murdered men. This letter, written in great haste, implored the citizens of Nauvoo "to be still — and to know that God still reigned over the world." It entreated them not to rush out of the city to attack Carthage, " but to stay at home, and be prepared foi an onslaught of the Missouri mobbers." It added that the people of Hancock County were greatly excited, fearing that the Mormons would come and take vengeance, but that the writers had pledged their words that no reprisals should be made. To this letter were appended two short postscripts. The first bore the signature of Thomas Ford, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Illinois, and recommended the Mor- mons to defend themselves until protection could be furnished. * Samuel H. Smith died in less than five weeks after the assassina- tion of his brothers : the Mormons say of a broken heart. He is also claimed as one of the martyrs of the faith. THE "prophet's" FUNERAL. 185 The second postscript bore the signature of M. K. Deming, Brigadier-General of the army of Illinois, acting under the Governor, and was addressed to Mr. Orson Spencer, one of the twelve apostles of the Mormons, and urged him and the citi- zens of Nauvoo to deliberate earnestly, " as prudence might obviate material destruction." It added that the writer was at " his private residence when the horrible crime was com- mitted, and that it would be condemned by three fourths of the people of Missouri." Early on the following morning the Nauvoo Legion was called out and addressed by Mr. Phelps, the editor of the Mormon paper, and other leading members of the community, who severally urged the legion and citizens to be peaceable. The legion remained under arms from ten in the morning un- til three in the afternoon, awaiting the arrival of the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum. "About three o'clock," says the Times and Seasons, published in Nauvoo three days after- wards, " the bodies were met by a great assemblage of people, east of the Temple, under the direction of the City Marshal, Samuel H. Smith, the brother of the deceased. Dr. Richards, and Mr. Hamilton of Carthage. The wagons in which the bodies were conveyed were guarded by three men. A pro- cession was formed behind them, consisting of the City Coun cil, the staff of the Lieutenant-General, the Major-General, and the Brigadier-General, of the Nauvoo Legion, the com- manders, officers, and men, and the citizens of Nauvoo, to the number of from eight to ten thousand." These followed the bodies to the Mansion House, " amid the most solemn lamen- tations and wailings that ever ascended unto the ears of the Lord God of Hosts to be revenged of their enemies !" An oration was pronounced over the bodies by Dr. Richards, and addresses were also delivered by four other Mormons, in which the multitude were strongly urged to remain peaceable. •'That vast assemblage, with one united voice," said the 12 186 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. Times and Seasons, " resolved to trust to the law for justice for such a high-handed assassinafion, and if that failed, to call upon God to avenge them of their vi^rongs. Oh, widows and orphans !" it concluded, " oh, Americans, weep ! The glory of freedom has departed !" As the conduct of the governor was much impugned in this melancholy transaction, Mr. Ford deemed it necessary to issue the following address to the people of Illinois in explanation of his conduct : — " I desire to make a brief but true statement of the recent disgrace- ful affair at Carthage, in regard to the Smiths, so far as circumstances have come to my knowledge. The Smiths, Joseph and Hyrum, have been assassinated in gaol, by whom it is not known, but will be as- certained. I pledged myself for their safety ; and upon the assu- rance of that pledge, they surrendered as prisoners. The Mormons surrendered the public arms in their possession ; and the Nauvoo Legion submitted to the command of Captain Singleton, of Brown County, deputed for that purpose by me. All these things were re- quired to satisfy the old citizens of Hancock that the Mormons were peaceably disposed, and to allay jealousy and excitement in their minds. It appears, however, that the compliance of the Mormons with every requisition made upon them, failed of that purpose. The pledge of security to the Smiths was not given upon my individual responsibility. Before I gave it, I obtained a pledge of honor by a unanimous vote from the officers and men under my command, to sustain me in performing it. If the assassination of the Smiths was committed by any portion of these, they have added treachery to murder, and have done all they could to disgrace the State and sully the public honor. " On the morning of the day the deed was committed, we had proposed to march the army under my command into Nauvoo. I had, however, discovered on the evening before, that nothing but the utter destruction of the city would satisfy a portion of the troops ; and that, if we marched into the city, pretexts would not be wanting for commencing hostilities. The Mormons had done everything re- quired, or which ought to have been required of them. Offensive ADDRESS OF THE GOVERNOR TO THE PEOPLE. 187 operations on our part would have been as unjust and disgraceful as they would have been impolitic in the present critical season of the year, the harvest, and the crops. For these reasons, I decided, in a council of officers, to disband the army, except three companies, two of whicii were reserved as a guard for the gaol. With the other company I marched into Nauvoo, to address the inhabitants there, and tell them what they might expect in case they designedly or im- prudently provoked a war. I performed this duty, as I think, plain- ly and emphatically, and then set out to return to Carthage. When I had marched about three miles, a messenger informed me of the occurrences at Carthage. I hastened on to that place. The guard, it is saii^, did their duty, but were overpowered. Many of the inhab- itants of Carthage had fled with their families. Others were prepar- ing to go. I apprehended danger to the settlements from the sudden fury and passion of the Mormons, and sanctioned their movements m this respect. " General Deming volunteered to remain with a few troops to ob- serve the progress of events, to defend property against small num- bers, and with orders to retreat if menaced by a superior force. I decided to proceed immediately to Quincy, to prepare a force suffi- cient to suppress disorders, in case it should ensue from the fore- going transactions or from any other cause. I have hopes that the Mormons will make no further difficulties. In this I may be mista- ken. The other party may not be satisfied. They may recommence aggression. I have determined to preserve the peace against all breakers of the same, at all hazards. I think present circumstances warrant the precaution of having competent force at my disposal in readiness to march at a moment's warning. My position at Quincy will enable me to get the earliest intelligence, and to communicate orders with greater celerity, " I have decided to issue the following general orders : — " Head Quarters^ Quincy, June 29, 1844. " It is ordered that the commandants of regiments in the counties of Adams, Marquette, Pike, Brown, Schuyler, Morgan, Scott, Cass, Fulton, and M'Donough, and the regiments composing General Stapp's brigade, will call their respective regiments and battalions together immediately upon the receipt of this ordei, arid proceed by 188 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. voluntary -Chlistment to enrol as many men as can be armed in theii respective regiments. They will make arrangements for a cam- paign of twelve days, and will provide themselves with arms, ammu- nition, and provisions accordingly, and hold themselves in readiness immediately to march upon the receipt of further orders. " The independent companies of riflemen, infantry, cavalry, and artillery, in the above-named counties, and in the county of Sanga- mon, will hold themselves in readiness in like manner. " Thomas Ford, " Governor and Commander-in-Chief." Governor Ford, who appears to have been greatly appre- hensive that the Mormons would rise, eii masse, to revenge the death of Joseph, despatched, on the third day after the murder, two officers of the army of Illinois to Nauvoo, to as- certain the disposition of the citizens, " and whether any of them proposed in any manner to revenge themselves, and to report what threats had been used.'' They were also directed to proceed to the town of Warsaw, where the anti-Mormon militia had mustered in great strength, and to ascertain whether they meditated any attack upon Nauvoo — whether any of the people from the neighboring States of Missouri and Iowa were among them — and to forbid any interference in the name of the State of Illinois, under the highest penalties of the law. These officers, on their arrival at Nauvoo, com- municated to the members of the municipality a copy of the instructions they had received. A meeting of the City Coun- cil was immediately summoned to consider the matter. A string of resolutions was unanimously passed, to the effect that the Mormons as a body would endeavor to promote the peace and welfare of the County of Hancock, and the State of Illinois generally, by rigidly sustaining the laws, as long as the Governor would support them in the exercise of their con- stitutional rights. That as thay had surrendered the public arms with which they had been entrusted, they solicited the ADDRESSES TO THE " SAINTS." 189 Governor to disarm their opponents in like manner ; that the Saints would reprobate the taking of private vengeance on the murderers of General Joseph Smith and General Hyrum Smith ; that the City Council pledged itself on behalf of the whole body of citizens, that no aggressions should be made by them on the people of the adjoining country ; and furthermore, that it highly approved of the pacific course taken by the Governor to allay excitement, and restore peace among the people of Illinois. A public meeting was then held on the great square, at which the Governor's emissaries attended, and addressed the people in the same conciliatory spirit, the mul- titude responding by one loud " Amen." On the same afternoon, an address to the Mormons in Nau- voo was issued by a committee of the " Saints :" — " TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. "Deeply impressed for the welfare of all, while mourning the great loss of President Joseph Smith, our ' prophet and seer,' and President Hyrum Smith, our ' patriarch,' we have considered the oc- casion demanded of us a word of consolation. As has been the case in all ages, these saints have fallen martyrs for the truth's sake, and their escape from the persecution of a wicked world, in blood to bliss, only strengthens our faith, and confirms our religion as pure and holy. We, therefore, as servants of the Most High God, having the Bible, Book of Mormon, and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, together with thousands of witnesses for Jesus Christ, would beseech the Latter-Day Saints in Nauvso, and elsewhere, to hold fast to the faith that has been delivered to them in the last days, abiding in the perfect law of the Gospel. Be peaceable, quiet citizens, doing the works of righteousness, and as soon as the ' Twelve' and other au- thorities can assemble, or a majority of them, the onward course to the great gathering of Israel, and the final consummation of the dis- pensation of the fulness of times, will be pointed out, so that the mur- der of Abel, the assassination of hundreds, the righteous blood of all the holy prophets, from Abel to Joseph, sprinkled with the best blood of the Son of God, as the crimson sign of remission, only carries con- 190 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. , viction to the business and bosoms of all flesh, that the cause is jus,^ and will continue. And blessed are they that hold out faithful to the end, while apostates, consenting to the shedding of innocent blood, have no forgiveness in this world, nor in the world to come. Union is peace, brethren, and eternal life is the greatest gift of God. Re- joice, then, that you are found worthy to live and die for God. Men may kill the body, but they cannot hurt the soul, and wisdom shall be justified of her children. Amen. « W. W. Phelps. W. Richards. John Taylor." 'July 1, 1844." A second address to the " Saints" in all parts of the world was issued a fortnight afterwards : — " TO the saints abroad. " Dear Brethren, — On hearing of the martyrdom of our beloved Prophet and patriarch, you will doubtless need a word of advice and comfort, and look for it from our hands. We would say, therefore, first of all, be still, and know that the Lord is God, and that he will fulfil all things in his own due time, and not one jot or tittle of all nis purposes and promises shall fail. Remember, remember that the priesthood, and the keys of power, are held in eternity as well as in time ; and therefore the servants of God who pass the veil of death, are prepared to enter upon a greater and more effectual work, in the speedy accomplishment of ttie restoration of all things spoken of by his holy prophets. " Remember that all the prophets and saints who have existed since the world began, are engaged in this holy work, and are yet in the vineyard, as well as the laborers of the eleventh hour, and are all pledged to establish the kingdom of God on the earth, and to give judgment unto the saints. Therefore, none can hinder the rolling on of the eternal purposes of the Great Jehovah. And we have now every reason to believe that the fulfilment of His great purposes is much nearer than we had supposed, and that not many years hence we shall see the kingdom of God coming with power and great glory to our deliverance. ADDRESSES TO THE " SAINTS." 191 " As to our country and nation, we have more reason to weep for them than for those they have murdered ; for they are destroying themselves and their institutions, and there is no remedy ; and as to feehngs of revenge, let them not have place for one moment in our bosoms, for God's vengeance will speedily consume to that degree that we would fain be hid away, and not endure the sight. " Let us, then, humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and endeavor to put away all our sins and imperfections as a people, and as individuals, and to call upon the Lord with the spirit of grace and supplication, and wait patiently on him, until he shall direct our way. " Let no vain or foolish plans, or imaginations, scatter us abroad, and divide us asunder as a people, to seek to save our lives at the expense of truth and principle, but rather let us live or die together, and in the enjoyment of society and union. Therefore, we say, let us haste to fulfil the commandments which God has already given us. Yea, let us haste to build the temple of our God, and to gather together thereunto, our silver and our gold with us, unto the name of the Lord ; and then we may expect that he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. " We would further say, that in consequence of the great rains which have deluged the western country, and also in consequence of persecution and excitement, there has been but little done here, either in farming or building this season ; therefore there is but little employment, and but little means of subsistence at the command of the Saints in this region — therefore let the Saints abroad, and others who feel for our calamities and wish to sustain us, come on with their money and means without delay, and purchase lots and farms, and build buildings, and employ hands, as well as to pay their tithings into the Temple, and their donations to the poor. " We wish it distinctly understood abroad, that we greatly need the assistance of every lover of humanity, whether members of the church or otherwise, both in influence and in contributions for our aid, succor, and support. Therefore, if they feel for us, now is the time to show their liberality and patriotism, towards a poor and per- secuted, but honest and industrious people. " Let the elders who remain abroad, continue to preach the Gospel 192 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. in its purity and fulness, and to bear testimony of the truth of these things which have been revealed for the salvation of this genera* tion., "P. P. Pratt. WiLLARD Richards. John Taylor. W. W. Phelps." " Nauvoo, July 16, 1844." To re-assure the Mormon people, many of whom began to be apprehensive that the whole organization of the sect had fallen to pieces since the death of the Prophet, a more solemn address was issued in the name of the Twelve Apostles. This document urged the " Saints" to come from all parts of the Union, and of the world, to Nauvoo, to build up the Temple of the Lord ; reminded them that the " Prophet Joseph,' though removed from this world, " still held the keys of this last dispensation," and always would, in time and in eternity, and recommended them to abstain from all politics, voting, or president-making, and direct their whole attention to the af- fairs, social and religious, of the Mormon body. This docu- ment v^s signed by Brigham Young, President of the Twelve Apostles, a man who was destined to play a most important part in the future history of Mormonism. It ran as fol- lows : — "AN EPISTLE OF THE TWELVE, " To the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in Nauvoo and all the loorld, GREETING. " Beloved Brethren — Forasmuch as the Saints have been called to suffer deep affliction and persecution, and also to mourn the loss of our beloved Prophet and also our Patriarch, who have suffered a cruel martyrdom for the testimony of Jesus, having voluntarily yielded themselves to cruel murderers who had sworn to take their lives, and thus, like good shepherds, have laid down their lives for the sheep, therefore it becomes necessary for us to address you at this time on several important subjects. THE EPISTLE OP " THE TWELVE." 193 " You are now without a Prophet present with you in the flesh to guide you ; but you are not without Apostles, who hold the keys of power to seal on earth that which shall be sealed in heaven, and to preside over all the affairs of the church in all the world ; being still under the direction of the same God, and being dictated by the same Spirit, having the same manifestations of the Holy Ghost to dictate all the affairs of the church in all the world, to build up the king- dom upon the foundation that the Prophet Joseph has laid, who still holds the keys of this last dispensation, and will hold them to all eter- nity, as a king and priest unto the Most High God, ministering in heaven, on earth, or among the spirits of the departed dead, as seem- eth good to Him who sent him. " Let no man presume for a moment that his place will be filled by another ; for, remember he stands in his own place, and always will • and the Twelve Apostles of this dispensation stand in their own place, and always will, both in time and eternity, to minister, pre- side, and regulate the affairs of the whole church. " How vain are the imaginations of the children of men, to pre- sume for a moment that the slaughter of one, two, or a hundred of the leaders of this church could destroy an organization so perfect in itself and so harmoniously arranged, that it will stand while one member of it is left alive upon the earth. Brethren, be not alarmed, for if the Twelve should be taken away, still there are powers and offices in existence which will bear the kingdom of God triumphantly victorious in all the world. This church may have prophets many, and apostles many, but they are all to st^d in due time in theii proper organization, under the direction of those who hold the keys. " On the subject of the gathering, let it be distinctly understood that the City of Nauvoo and the Temple of our Lord are to continue to be built up according to the pattern which has been commenced, And which has progressed with such rapidity thus far. " The city must be built up and supported by the gathering of those who have capital, and are willing to lay it out for the erection of every branch of industry and manufacture, which is necessary for the employment and support of the poor, or of those who depend wholly on their labor ; while farmers who have capital must come on and purchase farms in +hp adjoining country, and improve and 194 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. cultivate the same. In this way all may enjoy plenty, and our in- fant city may grow and flourish, and be strengthened an hundred fold ; and unless this is done, it is impossible for the gathering to progress, because those who have no other dependence cannot live together without industry and employment. " Therefore, let capitalists hasten here ; and they may be assured we have nerves, sinews, fingers, skill, and ingenuity, sufficient in our midst to carry on all the necessary branches of industry. " The Temple must be completed by a regular system of tithing, according to the commandments of the Lord, which he has given as a law unto this church, by the mouth of his servant Joseph. •' Therefore as soon as the Twelve have proceeded to a full and complete organization of the branches abroad, let every member proceed immediately to tithe himself, or herself, a tenth of all their property and money, and pay it into the hands of the Twelve ; or into the hands of such bishops as have been, or shall be, appointed by them to receive the same, for the building of the Temple or the support of the priesthood, according to the Scriptures, and the revelations of God. And then let them continue to pay in a tenth of their income from that time forth, for this is a law unto this church as much binding on their conscience as any other law or "ordinance. And let this law or ordinance be henceforth taught to all who present themselves for admission into this church, that they may know the sacrifice and tithing which the Lord requires, and perform it ; or else not curse the church with a mock member- ship, as many have done^^ieretofore. This will furnish a steady pub- lic fund for all sacred purposes, and save the leaders from constant debt and embarrassment, and the members can then employ the re- mainder of their capital in every branch of enterprise, industry, and chai:ity, as seemeth them good ; only holding themselves in readiness to be advised in such a manner as shall be for the good of themselves and the whole society ; and thus all things can move in harmony, and for the general benefit and satisfaction of all concerned. " The United States and adjoining provinces will be immediately organized by the Twelve into proper districts, in a similar manner as they have already done in England, and Scotland, and high priests will be appointed over each district, to preside over the same, and to call quarterly conferences for the regulation and representation of THE EPISTLE OF " THE TWELVE." 195 the branches included in the same, and for the furtherance of the Gospel ; and also to take measures for a yearly representation in a general conference. This will save the trouble and confusion of the running to and fro of elders ; detect false doctrine and false teach- ers, and make every elder abroad accountable to the conference in which he may happen to labor. Bishops will also be appointed in he larger branches, to attend to the management of the temporal funds, such as tithings, and funds for the poor, according to the revelations of God, and to be judges in Israel. "The Gospel, in its fulness and purity, must now roll forth through every neighborhood of this wide-spread country, and. to all the world ; and millions will awake to its truth and obey its pre- cepts ; and the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. " As rulers and people have taken counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed, and have murdered him who would have reformed and saved the nation, it is not wisdom for the Saints to have anything to do with politics, voting, or president-making, at present. None of the candidates who are now before the public for that high office have manifested any disposition or intention to re- dress wrong or restore right, liberty, or law; and, therefore, woe unto him who gives countenance to corruption, or partakes of mur- der, robbery, or other cruel deeds. Let us, then, stand aloof from all their corrupt men and measures, and wait, at least, till a man is found, who, if elected, will carry out the enlarged principles, univer- sal freedom, and equal rights and protection, expressed in the views of our beloved prophet and martyr, General Joseph Smith. " We do not, however, offer this political advice as binding on the consciences of others. We are perfectly willing that every member of this church should use their own freedom in all political matters ; but we give it as our own rule of action, and for the benefit of those who may choose to profit by it. "Now, dear brethren, to conclude our present communication, we would exhort you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to be hum- ble and faithful before God and before all the people, and give no occasion for any man to speak evil of you ; but preach the Gospel in its simplicity and purity, and practise righteousness, and seek to establish the influence of truth, peace, and love, among mankind, 196 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. and in sc doing, the Lord will bless you, and make you a blessing to all people. " You may expect to hear from us again. " Brigham Young, " President of the Twelve." " Nauvoo, August Ibth, 1844." No sooner had the Smiths been removed from the way of his long-concealed but violent ambition, than Sidney Rigdon strove to vault into the vacant place of the deceased " Prophet." Sidney, however, miscalculated his power and influence. Jo- seph had long been mistrustful of him. Sidney knew too much, and Joseph, without quarrelling with him, had kept him at arm's length. The mistrust of the Prophet was shared by the principal Mormons, and his *' spiritual wife" doctrine had alienated from him the confidence of many who had onco looked upon him as a founder of the faith, and a pillar of the church. After the death of Joseph, Sidney Rig- don had a " revelation," commanding the Saints to withdraw from their enemies, and leave Nauvoo, and establish them- selves in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. This " revelation" con- tradicted the " revelations" of Joseph, which asserted posi- tively that Jackson County was to be the final home of the people ; and the " Saints," under the guidance of Brigham Young, who had his own views to serve, treated Sidney's "revelations" as the unwarrairtable innovations of a man who '"lied before the Lord," and sought the destruction of his Saints. He was summoned to answer for his misdeeds before the high quorum of the priesthood. The trial commenced before the " Twelve Apostles,"* and the High Council of the * The Twelve Apostles are thus described in a letter from W. W. Phelps, addressed to the editor of the Nevj York Prophet, a small jour- nal established at this time to promulgate the views of the sect in the commercial metropolis of the Union : — " I know the Twelve, and they know me. Their names are Brigham Young, the Lion of the Lord ; TRIAL OF SIDNEY RIGDON. 197 Church, on the 15th of September, about ten weeks after the death of Joseph. Rigdon refused to appear ; but evidence against him was given in his absence, some of which was not a little curious and suggestive. The business of the day be- gan by the singing of a hymn by the choir, and the delivery of a prayer by Orson Hyde. Brigham Young then delivered a long address to the apostles and council, in which he bold- ly spoke of the dissensions that had arisen, and called upon those who had anytiiing to say, to declare themselves openly. " Those who wish," said he, " to tarry in Nauvoo, to build up the city and the temple, and carry out the message and reve- lation of our martyred Prophet, let them speak. We wish to know who they are. Those who are for Joseph and Hyrum, for the Book of Mormon, for the Book of Doctrines and Cove- nants, for the temple and Joseph's measures, and for the Twelve Apostles, all these being one party, let them manifest their principles openly and boldly. If they are of the opposite party, let them speak with the same freedom. If they are for Sidney Rigdon, and believe he is the man to be the First President and leader of this people, let them manifest it bold- ly I Those who decline going either way, but secretly slander the character of Joseph and the Twelve, we withdraw our fellowship from them. If there be not more than ten men who hang on to the truth, to Joseph, and to the Temple, and who are willing to do right in all things, let me be one of the number. If there be but ten left, to have their lives threat- Heber C. Kimball, the Herald of Grace ; Parley P. Pratt, the Archer of Paradise; Orson Hyde, the Olive Branch of Israel ; Willard Richards, the Keeper of the Rolls; John Taylor, the Champion of Right; Wil- liam Smith, the Patriarchal Staff of Jacob ; Wilfred Woodruff; the Banner of the Gospel ; George A. Smith, the Entablature of Truth ; Orson Pratt, the Gauge of Philosophy ; John E. Page, the Sun Dial ; and Lyman Wight, the Wild Ram of the Mountains. They are good men ; the best the Lord can find. They will do the will of God, and the Saints know it." I'^S ■ HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. ened by mobs, because they will do right ; — and build up the Temple, let me be one to be martyred for the truth I I have travelled for years in the midst of poverty and tribulation, and that, too, with blood in my shoes, month after month, year after year, to sustain and preach this Gospel, and to build up this kingdom, and God forbid that I should now turn round, and seek to destroy that which I have been building up." After this eloquent exordium, Brigham Young proceeded to give evidence against K-igdon, stating that he refused to ap- pear, thinking it would be better for him ; that he pretended to be sick, but was no more sick than he, Brigham Young, was at that moment ; that Rigdon, without authority, was acting as if he were the legal successor of Joseph Smith, and ordaining men "to be prophets, priests, and kings ;" that when accused of doing this, he equivocated and denied. " I saw," said Brigham, " the disposition of Elder Rigdon to equivocate, and I determined to know the whole secret. 1 said to him again, * Elder Rigdon, did you not ordain these men at a meeting last night ?' He replied, ' Yes, I suppose I did.' I then asked Brother Rigdon by what authority he or- dained prophets, priests, and kings V To which, with a very significant air, he replied — 'Oh, I know all about that!'" Elder Orson Hyde, another of the Twelve, gave similar evi- dence, to the efiect that Rigdon had admitted " that he was going to feel the minds of the branches, and then of the peo- ple of Nauvoo, until he got strong enough to make a party ; and that if he found he could raise influence to divide the Church, he would do so. When we (Hyde and others) de- manded his license for ordaining men to be prophets, priests, and kings, he said, ' I did not receive it from you, and shall m^t give it up to you.' " He also threatened " to turn traitor, saying, * Inasmuch as you have demanded my license, I shall feel it my duty to publish all your secret meetings, and all the secret works of this Church in the public journals,' — TRIAL OF SIDNEY RIGDON. 199 intimating that this would bring the mob upon us." Amasa Lyman, another apostle, was the third of Rigdon's accusers. He said, " that it was plain Elder Sidney Rigdon had had a spirit as corrupt as hell, for the last four or five years." He added, " We have never heard of Sidney getting a revelation from heaven, but as soon as Brother Joseph has been re- moved, he can manufacture one, to allure the people and de- stroy them. After having given his testimony to the world (in support of the divine authority of the Book of Mormon, and its miraculous translation by Joseph), he finds fault with God because he happened to get into gaol in Missouri, and because he was poor. This is the man," continued Amasa Lyman, " who can get such wonderful revelations !" John Taylor corroborated all this evidence, and strengthened all these assertions against R-igdon, adding his belief " that this man's mind was enveloped in darkness ; that he was ignorant and blinded by the Devil, and incompetent to fulfil the work which he had undertaken ;" and concluding, that in his opinion, " the men who had murdered Joseph and Hyrum, wicked as they were, were not one hundredth part so wicked and so guilty as the men who sowed dissensions in the Church — the Fosters, the Laws, the Higbees, and- others, who were the instigators, the aiders, and the abettors, of murder." Elder Heber Kimball explained that the martyred Joseph had for many years been aware that Rigdon was unsafe, and not to be trusted ; and reminded the assembly, that a year previously, Joseph had said, at the annual conference, that *' he should carry Rigdon no more : if the Church wanted to carry him, it might, but he should not;" and that he had formally deprived him of all power and authority, appointing Elder Amasa Lyman in his stead. On the second day of these proceedings, Brigham Young again rose, and inveighed against Rigdon in the following terms, which are curious as tending to prove Rigdon's cou>- 200 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. plicity in the original fraud by which the Book of Mormon ' was palmed ofT upon the credulous as a divine revelation : " Brother Sidney says he will tell all our secrets,-' exclaimed Brigham Young ; " but I would say, Oh, don't. Brother Sid ney I don't tell our secrets — oh, don't ! But if he tells our secrets, we will tell his. Tit for tat. He has had long visions in Pittsburgh, revealing to him wonderful iniquity among the Saints. Now, if he knows of so much iniquity, and has got such wonderful power, why don't he purge it out ? He jorofesses to have the keys of David. Wonderful power ! and wonderful revelation ! And so he will publish our iniquity ! Oh, dear Brother Sidney, don't publish our iniquity ! Pray don't I If Sidney Rigdon undertakes to pub- lish all our secrets, as he says, he will lie the first jump he takes ! If he knew of all our iniquity, why did he not pub- lish it sooner ? If there is so much iniquity in the Church, Elder Rigdon, and you have known of it so long, you are a black-hearted wretch not to have published it sooner. If there is not this iniquity, you are a black-hearted wretch for endeavoring to bring a mob upon us, to murder innocent men, women, and children ! Any man that says the Twelve are ' bogus makers,' adulterers, or wicked men, is a liar ; and all who say such things shall have the fate of liars, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Who is there that has seen us do such things? Neman. The spirit that I am of tramples such slanderous wickedness under my feet." He concluded by expressing his firm conviction, that Rigdon was the prime cause of all the troubles of the Saints in Mis- souri and in Illinois, and that to suffer him to remain in the Church was to court destruction. A few voices were raised in favor of Rigdon, but they had little to say. The feeling of the Mormons generally was against him ; for it was felt that if he had done nothing else tp injure the sect, the " spiritual wife" doctrine was alone TRIAL OF SIDNEY RIGDON. 201 sufficient to make him a dangerous ally. The evidence hav- ing been concluded, Mr. Phelps, the editor of the Times and Seasons, moved that " Sidney Rigdon be cut off from the Church, and handed over to the buffetings of Satan until he should repent." About ten hands out of several hundreds were held up in favor of Rigdon ; upon which he was formal- ly excommunicated by Brigham Young, " who," says the re- port, " delivered him over to the buffetings of Satan in the name of the Lord ; and all the people said, ' Amen !' " It was then moved, seconded, and unanimously carried, that the ten persons who had held up their hands for Sidney Rigdon should be suspended from their fellowship with the Church, until brought to trial before the High Council. To this an amend- ment was immediately added, that all who should hereafter advocate Rigdon's principles should also be suspended. This, like the original resolution, was carried by acclamation, and thus terminated these very curious proceedings. Brigham Young succeeded to the Presidency of the Church. Sidney Rigdon, unlike Orson Hyde, Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and some others originally connected with Joseph Smith, who either seceded, proved traitors, or were excom- municated and cut off from the Church, has never been re- admitted, or sought re-admittance into the Mormon body. He has stood aloof, and founded a small church of his own ; and, what is probably of more importance to the MormonS; he has held his tongue. As regards the polity of the Mormons, it has been fortunate for them that in a time of peril and per- plexity, they were not induced to entrust themselves to his guidance. Under Brigham Young, and his able manage- ment, they speedily assumed a high position, not simply as religionists, but as citizens of the United States. Under Sid- ney Rigdon, it is probable the sect would have gone to pieces altogether. The Missourians and anti-Mormons slightly relaxed in their 13 ^02 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. hostility after the death of the Prophet and his brother, and for a twelve-month affairs went on more quietly in the city of Nauvoo. Brigham Young, having relieved himself of the rivalry of Sidney Rigdon, carried on with vigor the building of the Temple and the Nauvoo House ; in order to fulfil the " revelation," and prove to the Gentiles, not only the divinity of Joseph Smith's mission, but the power, wealth, and perse- verance of his disciples. The " Saints" were in great spirits. Persecution had made converts for them in many quarters ; and those who had farms in New York and Pennsylvania, sold them and came to Nauvoo, or exchanged their land in those States for land in Illinois. Mr. Phelps, in a letter to the New York journal — The Pro2Dhet, gave a description of the city of Nauvoo, and the state of the Church at this time, which is almost the only record that has been preserved of the fortunes of the sect at this period of their history : — " I shall not," he said, " describe the localities of Nauvoo now, because I shall not have room ; but as to the facilities, tranquillities, and virtues of the city, they are not equalled on the globe. The Saints, since Sidney, the great ' anti-Christ' of the last days, and his ' sons of Seeva,' have left Nauvoo, together with some other Simon Maguses, or foolish virgins, and wicked men who had crept in to revel on the bliss of Jehovah, have gone also, have enjoyed peace, union, and harmony. " I speak advisedly when I say that Nauvoo is the best place in the world. No vice is meant to be tolerated ; no grog-shops allow- ed ; nor would we have any trouble, if it were not for our lenity in suffering the world, as I shall call them, to come in, and trade, and enjoy our society, as they say : which thing has made us the only trouble of late. These pretended friends too frequently, like old Ba- laam's girls when let in among the young men of Israel, find ad- mirers, and break the ordinances of the city, and then ' Phineas's javelin' touches the heart. " The Temple is up as high as the caps of the pilasters, and it COMPLETION OF THE NAUVOO TEMPLE. 203 looks majestic, and especially to me, when I know that the tithing, ' the mites of the poor,' thus speaks of the glory of God. All the description that is necessary to give you now is, that this splendid model of Mormon grandeur exhibits thirty hewn stone pilasters, which cost about three thousand dollars a-piece. The base is a crescent new moon ; the capitols, near fifty feet high ; the sun, with a human face in bold relief, about two and a half feet broad, orna- mented with rays of light and waves, surmounted by two hands holding two trumpets. It is always too much trouble to describe an unfinished building. The inside work is now going forward as fast as possible. When the whole structure is completed, it will cost some five or six hundred thousand dollars ; and, as Captain Brown of Tobosco, near the ruins of Palenque, said, ' It will look the near- est like the splendid remains of antiquity in Central America of any- thing he had seen, though not half so large.' " The temple is erected from white limestone, wrought in a supe- rior style ; is one hundred and twenty-eight feet by eighty-three feet square ; near sixty feet high ; two stories in the clear, and two half stories in the recesses over the arches ; four tiers of windows, two Gothic and two round. The two great stories will each have two pulpits, one at each end, to accommodate the Melchizedek and Aaronic priesthoods, graded into four rising seats — the first for tlie president of the elders and his two counsellors, the second for the president of the high priesthood and his two counsellors, the third for the Mel- chizedek president and his two counsellors, and the fourth for the president of the whole church and his two counsellors. This highest seat is where the Scribes and Pharisees used to crowd in ' to Moses' seat.' The Aaronic pulpit at the other end is the same. " The fount in the basement story is for the baptism of the living, for health, for remission of sin, and for the salvation of the dead, as was the case in Solomon's temple, and all temples that God com- mands to be built. You know I am no Gentile, and, of course, do not believe that a monastery, cathedral, chapel, or meeting-house, erected by the notions and calculations of men, has any more sanc- tion from God than any common house in Babylon. " The steeple of our temple will be high enough to answer for a tower — between one hundred and two hundred feet high. But I have said enough about the Temple ; when finished it will show 204 HJSTORY OF THE MORMONS. more wealth, more art, more science, more revelation, more splen- dor, and more God, than all the rest of the world, and that will make it a Mormon temple : — ' God and liberty,' patterned somewhat after the order of our forefathers, which were after the order of eternity. " The other public buildings in Nauvoo, besides the Temple, are the Seventies' Hall, the Masonic Hall, and Concert Hall, all spacious, and well calculated for their designated purposes. " There is no licensed grocery to sell or give away liquors of any kind in the city ; drunkards are scarce ; the probable number of in- habitants is 14,000, of whom nine tenths are Mormons." Among the more zealous Mormons, it became tlie fashion at this time to disuse the word Nauvoo, and to call the place the Holy City, or the City of Joseph. "When the "capstone" of the Temple was laid in its place, their joy broke out in a manner which highly exasperated the people of the neighbor- ing counties The first low rumblings of a new and violent persecution began to be heard. The old sores had never thoroughly healed ; and the joy of the Mormons on the com pletion of their temple, which vented itself in vain-glorious boasts of the partial fulfilment of prophecies. — which would not be thoroughly fulfilled until the whole land was theirs, and none but a Mormon permitted to remain within it, from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic, — were not of a nature to allay any previously existing jealousy or ill-feeling. Q,uar- rels occasionally took place between the Saints and theii neighbors in Hancock County. The Mormons, when insulted, had not always the patience to forbear from retaliation ; and among men who habitually bore arms to protect themselves, it is not surprising that the conflicts should not in all cases have been confined to words. Skirmish succeeded skirmish, until it became once more necessary to call out the militia for the preservation of the peace. E-egular battles ensued, blood was ghed, lives were lost, and the exasperation of both parties was raised even beyond its former height. RENEWED TROUBLES IN ILLINOIS. 205 The Times and Seasons of the 15th of January, 1845, announced to the Saints in all parts of the world that the in- habitants of various parts of Illinois as well as of Missouri, were accumulating charges of every kind against the Mor- mons with the view of sweeping them into irretrievable ruin. Dr. Foster, in his newspaper, the Expositor, continued with the usual virulence of a friend converted into an enemy, to spread abroad defamatory reports against the " Apostles" and the leading Saints, which were copied, commented upon, and exaggerated by all the anti-Mormon press throughout the Union, and especially by the journals in the more immediate vicinity. The old cry of expulsion was raised, as the only means of restoring peace. A meeting of the Town Council of Nauvoo was held on the 13th of January, to consider these reports and the threatened expulsion of the Saints ; and a meeting of the citizens in general was held on the day fol- lowing with the same object. A few extracts from the reso- lutions passed at these assemblies will show the extent of the charges brought against the Mormon people, and the manner in which their leaders resolved to meet them. An address is- sued by D. Spencer, the successor of Joseph Smith in the inayoralty of Nauvoo, and countersigned by Willard Richards, the Recorder, one of the Twelve Apostles, stated " that while fhe Mormons were peaceable and loyal to the constitution and laws of their country, and were ever willing to join hands, with their honest virtues and patriotism, in the repressing of crime and the punishment of real criminals, they left their enemies to judge whether it would not be better to make Nauvoo one universal burial-ground, rather than suffer them- selves to be driven from their lawful homes by such high- handed oppression. And it might yet become a question," they added, " to be decided by the community whether the Mormons, after having seen their best men murdered without redress, would quietly allow their enemies to wrench from 206 HISTORY OF THE xMORMONS. them the last shreds of their constitutional liberties ; oi whether they would not make their city a vast sepulchre, and be buried under its ruins in the defence of their rights." From the string of resolutions appended to this document, it appears that the crimes laid to the charge of the Mormons were, that they had organized a regular system of horse and cattle stealing, and other plunder throughout the State ; that Nauvoo had become a grand receptacle of stolen goods ; that every coiner, forger, robber, and even murderer found a safe refuge from justice within its walls ; and that the Town Council allowed no legal process of any kind to be served within the limits of their jurisdiction. The resolutions admit- ted that many criminals had fled for refuge to Nauvoo under the mistaken notion that they would be screened from justice by the Mormons ; but alleged that these criminals were not and never had been Mormons ; that they had been induced to take this course by the false reports of the anti-Mormon press ; and that in every case they had been delivered up to justice when demanded. The Town Council also pledged itself to use every means in its power to root such characters out of the city, and deputed fifty delegates to proceed to all the principal towns and districts in the neighborhood, to in- form the people of the falsehood of the accusations brought against the Saints, and to demand the aid of all the well-dis- posed to rid the country of the thieves and blackguards that swarmed into it. A conciliatory message from Governor Ford, published shortly afterwards, expressed his belief that the charges against the Mormons as a body were utterly un- founded ; and that there was no more crime in the City of Nauvoo than in any other of a corresponding- size and amount of population ; and called upon the inhabitants, whether Mor- mons or anti-Mormons, to preserve the peace and strictly re- spect the laws. From January to October, 1845, the Mor- mons " lived a life of sturt and strife." Every man's hand RENEWED TROUBLES IN ILLINOIS. 20*7 was against them ; and not only riots, but regular pitched battles took place. The Governor was called upon to inter- fere actively ; and a meeting of delegates from the nine coun- ties surrounding Nauvoo was convened ; at which it was as- serted by all the speakers that there would be no peace for Illinois as long as the Mormons remained within its bounda- ries. The delegates pledged themselves to support each other to the last extremity in expelling them forcibly, if they could not otherwise be induced to go. The painful circumstances in which the Saints at Nauvoo found themselves, and the his- tory of the persecution which they suffered, and which no doubt they brought upon themselves by their assumption of superior holiness, and by their boasts, daily and hourly re- peated, that they would, by Divine permission and aid, drive out all who were not of their Church, were detailed in an Official Letter to the Saints, under the date of the 1st of No- vember, 1845. This document ran as follows : — " After we had begun to realize the abundance of one of the most fruitful seasons known for a long time, and while many hundreds of Saints were laborinor with excessive and unwearied diligence to finish the Temple, and rear the Nauvoo House, suddenly, in the forepart of September, the mob commenced burning the houses and grain of the Saints in the south part of Hancock County. Though efforts were made by the Sheriff to stay the torch of the incendiary, and parry off the deluge of arson, still a ' fire and sword' party continued the work of destruction for about a week, laying in ashes nearly two hundred buildings, and much grain. ■ Nor is this all ; as, it was in the sickly season, many feeble persons, thrown out into the scorching rays of the sun, or wet with the dampening dews of the evening, died, being persecuted to death in a Christian land of law and order ; and while they were fleeing and dying, the mob, embracing doctors, lawyers, statesmen, Christians of various de- nominations, with the military from colonels down, were busily en- gaged in filching or plundering, taking furniture, cattle, and grain. In the midst of this horrid revelry, having failed to procure aid 208 HISTORY OF THE MOxHMONS. among the ' old citizens,' the Sheriff summoned a sufficient posse to stay the ' fire-shower of ruin,' but not until some of the offenders had paid for the aggression with their lives. " This, however, was not the end of the matter. Satan sits in the hearts of the people to rule for evil, and the surrounding coun- ties began to fear that law, religion, and equal rights, in the hands of the Latter-Day Saints, would feel after iniquity, or terrify their neighbors to larger acts of ' reserved rights,' and so they began to open a larger field of woe. To cut this matter short, they urged the necessity (to stop the effusion of blood) to expel the Church, or, as they call them, the Mormons, from the United States, ' peaceably, if they could, and forcibly if they must,' unless they would transport themselves by next spring. Taking into consideration the great value of life, and the blessings of peace, a proposition, upon certain specified conditions, was made to a committee of Quincy, and which it was supposed, from the actions of conventions, was accepted. But we are sorry to say that the continued depredations of the mob, and the acts of a few individuals, have greatly lessened the confi- dence of every friend of law, honor, and humanity, in everything promised by the committees and conventions, though we have already made great advances towards fitting for a move next spring. " A few troops stationed in the county have not entirely kept the mob at bay, several buildings having been burnt in the month of October. " We shall, however, make every exertion on our part, as we have always done, to preserve the law and our engagements sacred, and leave the event with God, for he is sure. " It may not be amiss to say, that the continued abuses, persecu- tions, murders, and robberies, practised upon us, by a horde of land- pirates, with impunity in a Christian republic, and land of liberty (while the institutions of justice have either been too weak to afford us protection or redress, or else they too have been a little remiss), have brought us to the solemn conclusion that our exit from the United States is the only alternative by which we can enjoy our share of the elements which our Heavenly Father created free for all. " We then can shake the dust from our garments, suffering wrong rather than do wrong, leaving this nation alone in her glory, while RENEWED TROUBLES IN ILLINOIS. 209 the residue of the world points the finger of scorn, till the indigna- tion and consumption decreed makes a full end. " In our patience we will possess our souls, and work out a more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, preparing, by withdrawing the power and priesthood from the Gentiles, for the great consola- tion of Israel, when the wilderness shall blossom as the rose, and Babylon fall like a millstone cast into the sea. The just shall live by faith ; but the folly of fools will perish with their bodies of cor- ruption : then shall the righteous shine. Amen." After a series of struggles and negotiations, and a regular siege of the city of Nauvoo by the anti-Mormons, of which no authentic account yet appears to have been published, with the exception of the short and interesting summary by Colonel Kane, to be referred to hereafter, tlie Saints agreed to leave Illinois in the spring of 1846, or as "soon as grass grew and water ran ;" provided that, in the interval, they should not be molested, and that they should be allowed time and opportunity to sell their farms and properties, and remove beyond the limits of civilization. A circular of the High Council to the members of the Church throughout the world, which was published on 20th of January, 1846, announced that the Mormons of Nauvoo had resolved to seek a home beyond the Rocky Mountains. The document is too curious in itself, and too remarkable in the history of the sect, to be omitted : — " Beloved Brethren and Friends, — We, the members of the High Council of the Church, by the voice of all her authorities have unitedly and unanimously agreed, and embrace this opportu- nity to inform you, that we intend to set out into the Western coun- try from this place, some time in the early part of the month of March, a company of pioneers, consisting mostly of young, hardy men, with some families. These are destined to be furnished with an ample outfit ; taking with them a printing-press, farming utensils of all kinds, with mill-irons and bolting cloths, seeds of all kinds, grain, &c. 14 210 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. " The object of this early move is, to put in a spring crop, to build houses, and to prepare for the reception of families who will start so soon as grass shall be sufficiently grown to sustain teams and stock. Our pioneers are instructed to proceed West till they find a good place to make a crop, in some good valley in the neigh- borhood of the Rocky IMountains, where they will infringe upon no one, and be not likely to be infringed upon. Here we will make a resting-place, until we can determine a place for a permanent location. In the event of the President's recommendation to build block- houses and stockade forts on the route to Oregon becoming a law, we have encouragements of having that work to do ; and under our peculiar circumstances, we can do it with less expense to the Gov- ernment than any other people. We also further declare, for the satisfaction of some who have concluded that our grievances have alienated us from our country, that our patriotism has not been over- come by fire — by sword — by daylight nor by midnight assassina- tions, which we have endured, neither have they alienated us from the institutions of our country. Should hostilities arise between the Government of the United States and any other power, in rela- tion to the right of possessing the territory of Oregon, we are on hand to sustain the claim of the United States Government to that country. It is geographically ours ; and of right, no foreign power should hold dominion there ; and if our services are required to pre- vent it, those services will be cheerfully rendered according to our ability. We feel the injuries that we have sustained, and arejiot insensible of the wrongs we have suffered. Still we are Ameri- cans ; and should our country be invaded, we hope to do, at least, as much as did the conscientious Quaker who took his passage on board a merchant ship, and was attacked by pirates. The pirate boarded the merchantman, and one of the enemies' men fell into the water between the two vessels, but seized a rope that was hung over, and was pulling himself up on board the merchantman. The conscientious Quaker saw this, and though he did not like to fight, he took his jack-knife, and quickly moved to the scene, saying to the pirate, 'If thee wants that piece of rope I will help thee to it.' He cut the rope asunder — the pirate fell — and a watery grave was his resting-place. " Much of our property will be left in the hands of competent EXPULSION OF THE MORMONS FROM NAUVOO. 211 agents for sale at a low rate, for teams, for goods, and for cash. The funds arising from the sale of property will be applied to the removal of families trom time to time as fast as consistent, and it now remains to be proven whether those of our families and friends who are necessarily left behind for a season to obtain an outfit, through the sale of property, shall be mobbed, burnt, and driven away by force. Does any American want the honor of doing it ? or will Americans suffer such acts to be done, and the disgrace of them to rest on their character under existing circumstances ? If they will, let the world know it. But we do not believe they will. " We agreed to leave the country for tlie sake of peace, upon the condition that no more vexatious prosecutions be instituted against us. In good faith have we labored to fulfil this engagement. Gov- ernor Ford has also done his duty to further our wishes in this re- spect. But there are some who are unwilling that we should have an existence anywhere. But our destinies are in the hands of God, and so also is theirs. " We venture to say that our brethren have made no counterfeit money ; and if any miller has received fifteen hundred dollars base coin in a week from us, let him testify. If any land-agent of the General Government has received wagon-loads of base coin from us in payment for lands, let him say so ; or if he has received any at all from us, let him tell it. Those witnesses against us have spun a long yarn ; but if our brethren had never used an influence against them to break them up, and to cause them to leave our city, after having satisfied themselves that they were engaged in the very business of which they accuse us, their revenge might never have been roused to father upon us their own illegitimate and bogus pro- ductions. " We have never tied a black strap round any person's neck, neither have we cut their bowels out, nor fed any to the ' Cat-fish.' The systematic order of stealing, of which these grave witnesses speak, must certainly be original with them. Such a plan could never originate with any person, except some one who wished to fan the flames of death or destruction around us. The very dregs of malice and revenge are nu'ngled in the statements of those witnesses alluded to by the Sangamo Journal. We should think that every 212 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. man of sense might see this. In fact, many editors do see it, and they have our thanks for speaking of it. " We have now stated our feelings, our wishes, and our inten- tions ; and by them we are willing to abide ; and such editors as are willing that we should live, and not die. and have a being on the earth while Heaven is pleased to lengthen out our days, are respect- fully requested to publish this article. And men who wish to buy property very cheap, to benefit themselves, and are willing to benefit us, are invited to call and look ; and our prayer shall ever be, that justice and judgment, mercy and truth, may be exalted, not only in our own land, but throughout the world, and the will of God be done on earth as it is done in heaven. " Done in Council at the City of Nauvoo, on the 20th day of Jan- uary, 1846. " Samuel Bent. " Newel Knight. James Allred. Lewis D. Wilson. George W. Harris. Ezra T. Benson. William Huntington. David Fullmer. Henry G. Sherwood. Thomas Grover. Alpheus Cutler. Aaron Johnson." The first companies of the Mormons commenced crossing the Mississippi on the 3d of February, 1846, They amounted to 1,600 men, women, and children, and passed the river on the ice. They continued to leave in detachments, or compa- nies of similar magnitude, until July and August, travelling by ox-teams towards California, then almost unknown, and quite unpeopled by the Anglo-Saxon race. The anti-Mormons asserted that the intention of the Saints was to excite the Indians against the commonwealth, and that they would return at the head of a multitude of the Red Skins to take vengeance upon the white people for the indig- nities they had suffered . Nothing appears to have been further from the intentions of the Mormons. Their sole object was to plant their Church in some fertile and hitherto undiscovered spot, where they might worship God in their own fashion, un- ^, EXPULSION" OF THE MORMONS FROM XACVOO. EXPULSION OF THE MORMONS FROM NAUVOO. 215 molested by any other sect of Christians. The war against Mexico was then raging, and to test the loyalty of the Mor- mons, it was suggested by their foes that a demand should be made upon them to raise five hundred men for the service of the country. The Mormons obeyed, and five hundred of their best men enrolled themselves under the command of General Kearney, and marched 2,400 miles with the armies of the United States, At the conclusion of the Mexican war, they were disbanded in Upper California, The Mormons al- lege that it was one of this band who, in working at a mill, first discovered the golden treasures of California ; and the " Saints" are said to have succeeded in amassing large quan- tities of the precious metal before the secret was made gen- erally known to the " Gentiles." But faith was not kept with the Mormons who remained in Nauvoo. Although they had agreed to leave in detach- ments, they were not allowed the necessary time to dispose of their property ; and, in September, 1846, the city was be- sieged by their enemies, upon the pretence, that they did not intend to fulfil the stipulations made with the people and au- thorities of Illinois. After a three days' bombardment, the last remnant was finally driven out by fire and sword. The details will be found in the following chapter. CHAPTER VIII. Depaetijee of the Moemons foe the Geeat Salt Lake Val- ley — Colonel Kane's Desceiption of Natjyoo aftee the Siege — The Exodus of the People — Incidents of Teayel — Aeeival in Lowee Califoenia — The Geeat Salt Lake. The "Great Salt Lake Valley" was ultimately fixed upon as the halting-place and future home of the sect ; and thither the successive detachments of Mormons had directed their steps. Whilst one party went overland to Upper California, another party chartered the ship Brooklyn, at New York, and sailed round to the Pacific, by Cape Horn. This party was amongst the earliest of the arrivals in California, and its members were exceedingly fortunate at the " diggings," and amassed large quantities of gold. But the great bulk of the Mormons proceeded overland to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake; a remarkable pilgrimage, which has not been paralleled in the history of mankind since Moses led the Israelites from Egypt. The distance to be traversed was enormous — the perils of the way were great — the whole circumstances were highly interesting and pecuhar, and the zeal and courage of the sect were as remarkable as their faith. It is fortunate that a record of these events ot the Mormon exodus was kept by a person who knew how to use his eyes, his understanding, and his pen ; and that he has been induced to give it to the world. The following narra- tive of Colonel Kane, who accompanied the Mormons from Nauvoo to the Salt Lake, has all the interest of a romance NAUVOO AFTER THE SIEGE. 21 7 It was originally delivered as a lecture before the HistoricaJ Society of Pennsylvania, and is here reproduced from the American edition : — A few years ago (said Colonel Kane), ascending the TJppei Mississippi in the autumn when its waters were low, 1 was compelled to travel by land past the region of the Rapids. My road lay through the Half-Breed Tract, a fine section of Iowa, which the unsettled state of its land-titles had appro- priated as a sanctuary for coiners, horse-thieves, and other outlaws. I had left my steamer at Keokuk, at the foot of the Lower Fall, to hire a carriage, and to contend for some frag- ments of a dirty meal with the swarming flies, the only scav- engers of the locality. From this place to where the deep water of the river returns, my eye wearied to see everywhere sordid, vagabond, and idle settlers ; and a country marred, without being improved, by their careless hands. I was descending the last hill-side upon my journey, when a landscape in delightful contrast broke upon my view. Half encircled by a bend of the river, a beautiful city lay glitter- ing in the fresh morning sun ; its bright, new dwellings, set in cool, green gardens, ranging up around a stately dome- shaped hill, which was crowned by a noble marble edifice, whose high, tapering spire was radiant with white and gold. The city appeared to cover several miles ; and beyond it, in the background, there rolled off a fair country, chqeuered by the careful lines of fruitful husbandry. The unmistaka- ble marks of industry, enterprise, and educated wealth every- where, made the scene one of singular and most striking beauty. It was a natural impulse to visit this inviting region. I procured a skiff, and rowing across the river, landed at the chief wharf of the city. No one met me there. I looked, and saw no one. I could hear no one move ; though the quiet everywhere was such that I heard the flies Jjuzz, and 14 218 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. the water-ripples break against the shallow of the beach. I walked through the solitary streets. The town lay as in a dream, under some deadening spell of loneliness, from which I almost feared to wake it ; for plainly it had not slept long. There was no grass growing up in the paved ways ; rains had not entirely washed away the prints of dusty footsteps. Yet I went about unchecked. I went into empty work- shops, rope-walks, and smithies. The spinner's wheel was idle ; the carpenter had gone from his work-bench and shav- ings, his unfinished sash and casing. Fresh bark was in. the tanner's vat, and the fresh-chopped lightwood stood piled against the baker's oven. The blacksmith's shop was cold ; but his coal heap, and ladling pool, and crooked water horn, were all there, as if he had just gone off for a holiday. No work-people anywhere looked to know my errand. If I went into the gardens, clinking the wicket-latch loudly after me, to pull the marygolds, heart's-ease, and lady-slippers, and draw a drink with the water-sodden well-bucket and its noisy chain ; or, knocking off with my stick the tall heavy-headed daliahs and sun-flowers, hunted over the beds for cucumbers and love- apples — no one called out to me from any opened window, or dog sprang forward to bark and alarm. I could have sup- posed the people hidden in the houses, but the doors were un- fastened ; and when at last I timidly entered them, I found iead ashes white upon the hearths, and had to tread a-tiptoe, IS if walking down the aisle of a country church, to avoid rousing irreverent echoes from the naked floors. On the outskirts of the town was the city graveyard ; but there was no record of plague there, nor did it in anywise dif- fer much from other Protestant American cemeteries. Some of the mounds were not long sodded ; some of the stones were newly set, their dates recent, and their black inscriptions o-lossy in the mason's hardly dried lettering ink. Beyond the graveyard, out in the fields, I saw, in one spot hard by where NAUVOO AFTER THE SIEGE, 219 the fruited boughs of a young orchard had been roughly torn down, the still smouldering remains of a barbecue fire, that had been constructed of rails from the fencing round it. It was the latest sign of life there. Fields upon fields of heavy- headed yellow grain lay rotting ungathered upon the ground. No one was at hand to take in their rich harvest. As far as the eye could reach, they stretched away — they sleeping too in the hazy air of autumn. Only two portions of the city seemed to suggest the import of this mysterious solitude. On the southern suburb, the houses looking out upon the country showed, by their splin- tered wood-work, and walls battered to the foundation, that they had lately been the mark of a destructive cannonade. And in and around the splendid Temple, which had been the chief object of my admiration, armed men were barracked, surrounded by their stacks of musketry and pieces of heavy ordnance. These challenged me to render an account of my- self, and why I had had the temerity to cross the water with- out a written permit from a leader of their band. Though these men were generally more or less under the influence of ardent spirits, after I had explained myself as a passing stranger, they seemed anxious to gain my good opin- ion. They told the story of the Dead City : that it had been a notable manufacturing and commercial mart, sheltering over 20,000 persons; that they had waged war with its in- habitants for several years, and had been finally successful only a few days before my visit, in an action fought in font of the ruined suburb ; after which, they had driven them forth at the point of the sword. The defence, they said, had been obstinate, but gave way on the third day's bombard- ment. They boasted greatly of their prowess, especially in this battle, as they called it ; but I discovered they were not of one mind as to certain of the exploits that had distinguished it ; one of which, as I remember, was, that they had slain a 220 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. father and his son, a boy of fifteen, not long residents of the fated city, whom they admitted to have borne a character without reproach. They also conducted me inside the massive sculptured walls of the curious Temple, in which they said the banished in- habitants were accustomed to celebrate the mystic rites of an unhallowed worship They particularly pointed out to me certain features of the building, which, having been the pe- culiar objects of a former superstitious regard, they had, as matter of duty, sedulously defiled and defaced. The reputed sites of certain shrines they had thus particularly noticed ; and various sheltered chambers, in one of which was a deep well, constructed, they believed, with a dreadful design. Be- side these, they led me to see a large and deep chiselled mar^ ble vase or basin, supported upon twelve oxen, also of marble, and of the size of life, of which they told some romantic stories. They said the deluded persons, most of whom were emigrants from a great distance, believed their Deity counte- nanced their reception here of a baptism of regeneration, as proxies for whomsoever they held in warm afiection in the countries from which they had come. That here parents '* went into the water" for their lost children, children for their parents, widows for their spouses, and young persons for their lovers ; that thus the Great Vase came to be for them associated with all dear and distant memories, aud was there- fore the object, of all others in the building, to which they at- tached the greatest degree of idolatrous affection. On this account, the victors had so diligently desecrated it, as to ren- der the apartment in which it was contained too noisome to abide in. They permitted me also to ascend into the steeple, to see where it had been lightning-struck on the Sabbath before ; and to look out, east and south, on wasted farms like those I had seen near the city, extending till they were lost in the NAUVOO AFTER THE SIEGE. 221 distance. Here, in the face of the pure day, close to the scai of the D.viue wrath left by the thunderbolt, were fragments of food, cruises of liquor, and broken drinking vessels, with a brass drum and a steam-boat signal bell, of which I afterwards learned the use with pain. It was after nightfall, -when I was ready to cross the river on my return. The wind had freshened since the sunset, and the water beating roughly into my little boat, I hedged higher up the stream than the point I had left in the morn- ing, and landed where a faint glimmering light invited me to steer. Here, among the dock and rushes, sheltered only by the darkness, without roof between them and sky, I came upon a crowd of several hundred human creatures, whom my move- ments roused from uneasy slumber upon the ground. Passing these on my way to the light, I foiuid it came from a tallow candle in a paper funnel shade, such as is used by street venders of apples and pea-nuts, and which, flaming and guttering away in the bleak air ofi" the water, shone flicker- ingly on the emaciated features of a man in the last stage of a bilious remittent fever. They had done their best for him. Over his head was something like a tent, made of a sheet or two, and he rested on a but partially ripped open old straw mattress, with a hair sofa-cushion under his head for a pillow. His gaping jaw and glazing eye told how short a time he would monopolize these luxuries ; though a seemingly bewil- dered and excited person, who might have been his wife, seemed to find hope in occasionally forcing him to swallow awkwardly, sips of the tepid river water, from a burned and nattered bitter-smelling tin coffee-pot. Those who knew bet- ter had furnished the apothecaiy he needed ; a toothless old bald-head, whose manner had the repulsive dulness of a man familiar with death scenes. He, so long as I remained, mumbled in his patient's ear a monotonous and melancholy 222 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. prayer, between the pauses of which I heard the hiccup and sobbing of two little girls, who were sitting up on a piece of drift-wood outside. Dreadful, indeed, was the suffering of these forsaken beings ; bowed and cramped by cold and sunburn, alternating as each weary day and night dragged on, they were, almost all of them, the crippled victims of disease. They were there be- cause they had no homes, nor hospital, nor poor-house, nor friends to offer them any. They could not satisfy the feeble cravings of their sick : they had not bread to quiet the frac- tious hunger-cries of their children. Mothers and babes, daughters and grand-parents, all of them alike, were bivou- acked in tatters, wanting even covering to comfort those whom the sick shiver of fever was searching to the marrow. These were Mormons, in Lee County, Iowa, in the fourth week of the month of September, in the year of our Lord 1846. The city — it was Nauvoo, Illinois. The Mormons were the owners of that city, and the smiling country around. And those who had stopped their ploughs, who had silenced their hammers, their axes, their shuttles, and their workshop wheels ; those who had put out their fires, who had eaten their food, spoiled their orchards, and trampled under foot their thou- sands of acres of unharvested bread ; these were the keepers of their dwellings, the carousers in their temple, whose drunk- en riot insulted the ears of the dying. I think it was as I turned from the wretched night watch of which I have spoken, that I first listened to the sounds of revel of a party of the guard within the city. Above the dis- tant hum of the voices of many, occasionally rose distinct the loud oath-tainted exclamation, and the falsely intonated scrap of vulgar song : but lest this requiem should go unheeded, every now and then, when their boisterous orgies strove to at- tain a sort of ecstatic climax, a cruel spirit of insulting frolic carried some of them up into the high belfry of the Temple THE EXODUS OF THE MOllMONS. 223 steeple, and there, vHh the wicked childishness of inebriates, they whooped, and shrieked, and beat the drum that I had seen, and rang in charivaric imison their loud-tongued steam- boat bell. They were, all told, not more than six hundred and forty persons who were thus lying on the river flats. But the Mormons in Nauvoo and its dependencies had been numbered the year before at over twenty thousand. Where were they? They had last been seen, carrying in mournful train their sick and wounded, halt and blind, to disappear behind the western horizon, pursuing the phantom of another home. Hardly anything else was known of them : and people asked with curiosity, ' What had been their fate — what their for- tunes?* Since the expulsion of the Mormons to the present date, I have been intimately conversant with the details of their his- tory. But I shall invite your attention most particularly to an account of what happened to them during their first year in the wilderness ; because at this time more than any other, being lost to public view, they were the subjects of fable and misconception. Happily it was during this period I myself moved with them ; and earned, at dear price, as some among you are aware, my right to speak with authority of them and their character, their trials, achievements, and intentions. The party encountered by me at the river shore Avere the last of the Mormons that left th-e city. They had all of them engaged, the year before, that they would vacate their homes, and seek some other place of refuge. It had been the condi- tion of a truce between them and their assailants ; and as an earnest of their good faith, the chief elders, and some others ot obnoxious standing, with their families, were to set out for the West in the spring of 1846. It had been stipulated in return, that the rest of the Mormons might remain behind in the peaceful enjoyment of the Illinois abode, until their leaders, 224 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. with their exploring party, could, with all diligence, select for them a new place of settlement beyond the Rocky Moun- tains, in California, or elsewhere, and until they had oppor- tunity to dispose, to the best advantage, of the property which they were then to leave. , Some renewed symptoms of hostile feeling had, however, determined the pioneer party to begin their work before the spring. It was, of course, anticipated that this would be a perilous service ; but it was regarded as a matter of self-de- nying duty. The ardor and emulation of many, particularly the devout and the young, were stimulated by the difficulties it involved ; and the ranks of the party were therefore filled up with volunteers from among the most effective and re- sponsible members of the sect. They began their march in. mid- winter ; and by the beginning of February, nearly all of them were on the road, many of the wagons having crossed the Mississippi on the ice. Under the most favoring circumstances, an expedition of this sort, undertaken at such a season of the year, could scarcely fail to be disastrous. But the pioneer company had set out in haste, and were very imperfectly supplied with ne- cessaries. The cold was intense. They moved in the teeth of keen-edged north-west winds, such as sweep down the Iowa Peninsula from the ice-bound regions of the timber-shaded Slave Lake and Lake of the Woods ; on the Bald Prairie there, nothing above the dead grass breaks their free course over the hard-rolled hills. Even along the scattered water- courses, where they broke the thick ice to give their cattle drink, the annual autumn fires had left little wood of value. The party, therefore, often wanted for good camp fires, the first luxury of all travellers ; but, to men insufficiently fur- nished with tents and other appliances of shelter, almost an essential to life. After days of fatigue, their nights were often past in restless efforts to save themselves from freezing. Their THE EXODUS OF THE MORMONS. 225 stock of food, also proved inadequate ; and as their systems became impoverished, their suffering from cold increased. Sickened with catarrhal affections, manacled by the fetters of dreadfully acute rheumatisms, some contrived for a while to get over the shortening day's march, and drag along some others. But the sign of an impaired circulation soon began to show itself in the liability of all to be dreadfully frost-bitten. The hardiest and strongest became helplessly crippled. About the same time, the strength of their beasts of draught began to fail. The small supply of provender they could carry with them had given out. The winter-bleached prairie straw proved devoid of nourishment ; and they could only keep them from starving by seeking for the browse, as it is called, a green "bark, and tender buds, and branches of the cotton- wood, and other stipted growths of the hollows. To return to Nauvoo was apparently the only escape ; but this would have been to give occasion for fresh mistrust, and so to bring new trouble to those they had left there behind them. They resolved at least to hold their ground, and to advance as they might, were it only by limping through the deep snows a few slow miles a day. They found a sort of comfort in comparing themselves to the exiles of Siberia, and sought cheerfulness in earnest prayers for the spring — longed for as morning by the tossing sick. The spring came at last. It overtook them in the Sac aijd Fox country, still on the naked prairie, not yet half-way over the trail they were following between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. But it brought its own share of troubles with it. The months with which it opened proved nearly as try- ing as the worst of winter. The snow and sleet and rain which fell, as it appeared t% them, without intermission, made the road over the rich prairie soil as impassable as one vast bog of heavy black mud. Some- times they would fasten the horses and oxen of four or five 15 226 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. wagons to one, and attempt to get a-head in this way, taking turns ; but at the close of a day of hard toil for themselves and their cattle, they would find themselves a quarter or half a rajle from the place they left in the morning. The heavy rains raised all the water-courses : the most trifling streams were impassable. Wood fit for bridging was often not to be had, and in such cases the only resource was to halt for the freshets to subside — a matter in the case of the headwaters of the Clariton, for instance, of over three weeks' delay. These were dreary waitings upon Providence. The most spirited and sturdy murmured most at their forced inactivity. And even the women, whose heroic spirits had been proof against the lowest thermometric fall, confessed their tempers fluctuated with the ceaseless variations of the barometer. They complained, too, that the health of their children suf- fered more. It was the fact, that the open winds of March and April brought with them more mortal sickness than the sharpest freezing weather. The frequent burials made the hardiest sicken. On the soldier's march it is matter of discipline, that after the rattle of musketry over his comrade's grave, he shall tramp it to the music of some careless tune in a lively quick-step. But, in the Mormon camp, the companion who lay ill and gave np the ghost within view of all, all saw as he stretched a corpse, and all attended to his last resting-place. It was a sorrow, too, of itself to simple-hearted people, the deficient pomps of their imperfect style of funeral. The general hopefulness of human — including Mormon — nature, was well illustrated by the fact, that the most provident were found unfurnished with undertaker's articles ; so that bereaved affection was driven to the most melancholy makeshifts. The best expedient generally was to cut down a log of some eight or nine feet long, and slitting it longitudinally, strip ofT its dark bark in two half cylinders. These, placed THE EXODUS OF THE MORMONS. 227 around the body of the deceased and bound firmly together with withes made of the alburnum, formed a rough sort of tubular coffin which surviving relations and friends, with a little show of black crape, could follow with its enclosure to the hole, a bit of ditch, dug to receive it in the wet ground of the prairie. They grieved to lower it down so poorly clad, and in such an unheeded grave. It was hard — was it right, thus hurriedly to plunge it in one of the undistinguishable waves of the great land-sea, and leave it behind them there, under the cold north rain, abandoned to be forgotten ? They had no tombstones ; nor could they find rocks to pile the monumental cairn. So, when they had filled up the grave, and over it prayed a miserei'e prayer, and tried to sing a hope- ful psalm, their last oflSice was to seek out landmarks, or call in the surveyor to help them to determine the bearings of valley bends, headlands, or forks and angles of constant streams, by which its position should in the future, be remem- bered and recognized. The name of the beloved person, his age, the date of his death, and these marks were all registered with care. This party was then ready to move on. Such graves mark all the line of the first year of the Mormon travel — dispiriting milestones to failing stragglers in the rear. It is an error to estimate largely the number of Mormons dead of starvation, strictly speaking. Want developed disease, and made them sick under fatigue, and maladies that would otherwise have proved trifling. But only those died of it out- right who fell in out-of-the-way places, that the hand of brotherhood could not reach. Among the rest no such thing as plenty was known, while any went an hungered. If but a part of a group was supplied with provision, the only result was, that the whole went on the half or quarter ration, ac- cording to the sufliciency that there was among them ; and this so ungrudgingly and contentedly, that, till some crisis of trial to their strength, they were themselves unaware that 228 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. their health was sinking, and their vital force impaired. Hale young men gave up their own provided food and shelter to the old and helpless, and walked their way back to parts of the frontier States, chiefly Missouri and Iowa, where they were not recognized, and hired themselves out for wages, to purchase more. Others were sent there to exchange for meal and flour, or wheat and corn, the table and bed furniture, and other last resources of personal property which a few had still retained. In a kindred spirit of paternal forecast, others laid out great farms in. the wilds, and planted in them the grain saved for their own bread, that there might be harvests for those who should follow them. Two of these, in the Sac and Fox country, and beyond it, Garden Grove and Mount Pisgah, in- cluded within their fences above two miles of land a-piece, carefully planted in grain, with a hamlet of comfortable log- cabins in the neighborhood of each. Through all this, the pioneers found redeeming comfort in the thought, that their own suffering was the price of hu- manity to their friends at home. But the arrival of spring proved this a delusion. Before the warm weather had made the earth dry enough for easy travel, messengers came in from Nauvoo to overtake the party, with fear-exaggerated tales of outrage, and to urge the chief men to hurry back to the city, that they might give counsel and assistance there. The enemy had only waited till the emigrants were supposed to be gone on their road too far to return to interfere with them, and then renewed their aggressions. The Mormons outside Nauvoo were indeed hard pressed ; but inside the city they maintained themselves very well for three or four months longer. Strange to say, the chief part of this respite was devoted to completing the structure of their quaintly devised but beauti- ful, Temple. Since the dispersion of Jewry, probably, history CONSECRATION OF THE NAUVOO TEMPLE. 229 affords us no parallel to the attachment of the Mormons for this edifice. Every architectural element, every most fantas- tic emblem it embodied, vi^as associated for them with some cherished feature of their religion. Its erection had been en- joined upon them as a most sacred duty : they were proud of the honor upon their city, when it grew up in its splendor to become the chief object of the admiration of strangers upon the Upper Mississippi. Besides, they had built it as a labor of love : they could count up to half a million the value of their tithings and free-will offerings laid upon it. Hardly a Mormon woman who had not given up to it some trinket or pin-money ; the lowest Mormon man had at least served the tenth of his year upon its walls ; and the coarsest artisan could turn to it with something of the ennobling attachment of an artist for his fair creation. Therefore, though their ene- mies drove on them ruthlessly, they succeeded in parrying the last sword thrust till they had completed even the gilding of the angel and trumpet on the summit of its lofty spire. As a closing work, they placed on the entablature of the front, like a baptismal mark on the forehead — THE HOUSE OF THE LORD I BUILT BY THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. HOLINESS TO THE LORD ! Then, at high noon, under the bright sunshine of May, the next only after its completion, they consecrated it to divine service. There was a carefully studied ceremonial for the occasion. It was said the high elders of the sect travelled furtively from the Camp of Israel in the Wilderness ; and throwing off ingenious disguises, appeared in their own robes of holy office, to give it splendor. For that one day the Temple stood resplendent in all its typical glories of sun, moon, and stars, and other abounding 230 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. figured and lettered signs, hieroglyphs, and symbols : but that day only. The sacred rites of consecration ended, the work of removing the sacrosancta proceeded with the rapidity of magic. It went on through the night ; and when the morn- ing of the next day dawned, all the ornaments and furniture, everything that could provoke a sneer, had been carried off; and, except some fixtures that would not bear removal, the building was dismantled to the bare walls.* * This building, so dear to the Mormons, is no longer in existence : " On Monday, the 19th November, 18f8," says the Nauvoo Patriot, " our citizens were awakened by the alarm of fire, which, when first discov- ered, was bursting out through the spire of the Temple, near the small door that opened from the east side to the roof, on the main building. The fire was seen first about three o'clock in the morning, and not un- til it had taken such hold of the timbers and roof as to make useless any effort to extinguish it. The materials of the inside were so dry, and the fire spread so rapidly, that a few minutes were sufficient to wrap this famed edifice in a sheet of flame. " It was evidently the work of an incendiary. There had been, on the evening previous, a meeting in the lower room ; but no person was in the upper part, where the fire was first discovered. Who it was, and what could have been his motives, we have now no idea. Some feeling, infinitely more enviable than that of the individual who put the torch to the beautiful Ephesian structure of old, must have pos- sessed him. To destroy a work of art, at once the most elegant in its construction and the most renowned in its celebrity of any in the whole West, would, we should think, require a mind of more than ordinary depravity ; and we feel assured that no one in this community could have been so lost to every sense of justice, and every considera- tion of interest, as to become the author of the deed. Admit that it was a monument of folly and of evil, yet it was, to say the least of it, a splendid and a harmless one. " Its loss, no doubt, will be more forcibly felt by the people of this place than any other ; because even the most dreamy will hardly think of soon seeing another such ornament, and because it was on the eve of changing hands, and being converted into a commodious building of useful education, such as the West greatly needs, and such as no one ought to be envious of" " In May, 1850, another calamity occurred to the devoted City of THE EXODUS OF THE MORMONS, 231 It was this day saw the departure of the last elders, and the largest band that moved in one company together. The peo- ple of Iowa have told me, that from morning to night they passed westward like an endless procesfeion. They did not seem greatly out of heart, they said ; but at the top of every hill, before they disappeared, they were seen to be looking back, like banished Moors, on their abandoned homes, and the far seen Temple and its glittering spire. After this consecration, which was construed to indicate an insincerity on the part of the Mormons as to their stipu- Nauvoo : at that time occupied by a colony of Icarians, who had emi- grated thither from Paris, under the superintendence of M, Cabet. "The dreadful tornado of May 27th," says the Hancock Patriot, "which invaded the City of Nauvoo and neighboring places, has been for us, Icarians (little accustomed to such revolutions in the atmos- phere), a spectacle of frightful sublimity, and also a source of mortal anguish, on account of the disasters and catastrophes which have re- sulted from it, to the inhabitants of this county, and to us. •' The Temple, which we were preparing so actively and resolutely to rebuild ; the Temple which we hoped to cover this year; and in which we were to settle our refectories, our halls of reunion, and our schools ; that gigantic monument has become the first victim of the tornado. " How many projects are buried under those heaps of rubbish ! How much outlay and days of hard labor has been lost to us ! It was for that magnificent edifice to again give a soul to that great body, that one of our agents in the north pineries has just bought all the great beams necessary for its rebuilding ; it is for it, that we were adding a saw-machine to the mill, and establishing a vast shed, to shelter our laborers ; in a word, it was for it that all our efforts and strength have been employed ; and now, one gale of the tempest brings to naught all our endeavors ; has violently ended what incendiary had begun in '.October, 1848, and what union fraternity tried to repair in 1850. We resign without murmuring to that catastrophe. " There now remains nothing of the gigantic work of the Mormons, except the west face, strongly united by its sides to another wall in the interior part, and surmounted by an arch ; between the two walls at tho north and south are the two towers or seat of the staircases." 2-32 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. lated departure, or at least a hope of return, their foes set upon them with renewed bitterness. As many fled as were at all prepared ; but by th^ very fact of their so decreasing the already diminished forces of the city's defenders, they en- couraged the enemy to greater boldness. It soon became ap- parent that nothing short of an immediate emigration could save the remnant. From this time onward the energies of those already on the road were engrossed by the duty of providing for the fugitives who came crowding in after them. At a last general meeting of the sect in Nauvoo, there had been passed a unanimous re- solve, that they would sustain one another, whatever their circumstances, upon the march ; and this, though made in view of no such appalling exigency, they now with one ac- cord set themselves together to carry out. Here begins the touching period of Mormon history ; on which, but that it is for me a hackneyed subject, I should be glad to dwell, were it only for the proof it has afforded of the strictly material value to communities of an active common faith, and its happy illustrations of the power of the spirit of Christian fraternity to relieve the deepest of human suffering. I may assume that it has already fully claimed the public sympathy. Delayed thus by their own wants, and by their exertions to provide for the wants of others, it was not till the month of June that the advance of the emigrant companies arrived at the Missouri. This body, I remember, I had to join there, ascending the river for the purpose from Fort Leavenworth, which was at that time our frontier post. The fort was the interesting ren- dezvous of the army of the West, and the head-quarters of its gallant chief, Stephen F. Kearney, whose guest and friend I account it my high honor to have been. Many as were the reports daily received at the garrison from all portions of the THE EXODUS OF THE MORMOKS. 233 Indian territory, it was a significant fact how little authentic intelligence was to be obtained concerning the Mormons. Even the region in which they were to be sought after, was a question not attempted to be designated with accuracy, ex- cept by what are very often called in the West, " Mormon stories," none of which bore any sifting. One of these averred, that a party of Mormons in spangled crimson robes of office, headed by one in black velvet and silver, had been teaching a Jewiish pow-wow to the medicine men of the Sauks and Foxes. Another averred that they were going about in buf- falo robe short frocks, imitative of the costume of Saint John, preaching baptism and the instance of the kingdom of heaven among the lovvays. To believe one report, ammunition and ^whiskey had been received by Indian braves at the hands of an elder with a flowing white beard, who spoke Indian, he alleged, because he had the gift of tongues, this, as far north as the country of the Yanketon Sioux. According to another, yet which professed to be derived officially from at least one Indian sub-agent, the Mormons had distributed the scarlet uniforms of H. B. M.'s servants among the Pottawatamies, and had carried into the country twelve pieces of brass can- non, which were counted by a traveller as they were rafted across the East Fork of Grand River, one of the northern tributaries of the Missouri. The narrators of these pleasant stories were at variance as to the position of the Mormons, by a couple of hundred leagues ; but they harmonized in the warning, that to seek certain of the leading camps would be to meet the treatment of a spy. Almost at the outset of my journey from Fort Leavenworth, while yet upon the edge of the Indian border, I had the good fortune to fall in with a couple of thin-necked sallow persons, in patchwork pantaloons, conducting northward wagon-loads of Indian corn, which they had obtained, according to their own account, in barter from a squatter for some silver spoons 15 234 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. and a feather bed. Their character was disclosed by their eager request of a bite from my wallet ; in default of which^ after a somewhat superfluous scriptural grace, they made an imperfect lunch before me off the softer of their corn-ears, eating the grains as horses do, from the cob. I took their ad- vice to follow up the Missouri ; somewhere not far from which, in the Pottawatamie country, they were sure I would encoun- ter one of their advancing companies. I had bad weather on the road. Excessive heats, varied only by repeated drenching thunder-squalls, knocked up my horse, my only travelling companion ; and otherwise added to the ordinary hardships of a kind of life to which I was as yet little accustomed, I suffered a sense of discomfort, therefore, amounting to physical nostalgia, and was, in fact, wearied to death of the staring silence of the prairie, before I came upon the objects of my search. They were collected a little distance above the Pottawatamie agency. The hills of the " High Prairie" crowding in upon the river at this point, and overhanging it, appear of an un- usual and commanding elevation. They are called the Coun- cil Bluffs, a name given them with another meaning, but well illustrated by the picturesque congress of their high and mighty summits. To the south of them, a rich alluvial flat of considerable width follows down the Missouri, some eight miles, to where it is lost from view at a turn, which forms the site of the Indian town of Point aux Poules. Across the river from this spot the hills recur again, but are skirted at their base by as much low ground as suffices for a landing. This landing, and the large flat or bottom on the east side of the river, were crowded with covered carts and wagons ; and each one of the Council Bluff hills opposite was crowned with its own great camp, gay with bright, white canvass, and alive with the busy stir of swarming occupants. In the clear blue morning air, the smoke streamed up from more than a THE EXODUS OF THE MORMONS. 235 thousand cooking-fires. Countless roads and by-paths check- ered all manner of geometric figures on the hill-sides. Herd- boys were dozing upon the slopes ; sheep and horses, cows and oxen, were feeding around them, and other herds in the lux- uriant meadow of the then swollen river. From a single point I counted four thousand head of cattle in view at one time. As I approached the camps, it seemed to me the children there yi^ere to prove still more numerous. Along a little creek I had to cross were women in greater force than Uanchisseiises upon the Seine, washing and rinsing all manner of white muslins, red flannels, and parti-colored calicoes, and hanging them to bleach upon a greater area of grass and bushes than we can display in all our Washington Square. Hastening by these, I saluted a group of noisy boys, whose purely vernacular cries had for me an invincible home-savor- ing attraction. It was one of them, a bright-faced lad, who, hurrying on his jacket and trowsers, fresh from bathing in the creek, first assured me I was at my right destination. He was a mere child ; but he told me of his own accord where I had best go seek my welcome, and took my horse's bridle to help me pass a morass, the bridge over which he alleged to be unsafe. There was something joyous for me in my free rambles about this vast body of pilgrims. I could range the wild country wherever I listed, under safeguard of their moving host. Not only in the main camps was all stir and life, but in every di- rection, it seemed to me, I could follow " Mormon Roads," and find them beaten hard, and even dusty, by the tread and wear of the cattle and vehicles of emigrants laboring over them. By day, I would overtake and pass, one after another, what amounted to an army train of them ; and at night, if 1 encamped at the places where the timber and running water were found together, I was almost sure to be within call of 6ome camp or other, or at least within sight of its watch-fires 236 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. Wherever I was compelled to tarry I was certain to find shel- ter and hospitality, scant, indeed, but never stinted, and always honest and kind. After a recent unavoidable asso- ciation with the border inhabitants of Western Missouri and Iowa, the vile scum which our own society, to apply the words of an admirable gentleman and eminent divine, " like the great ocean washes upon its frontier shores," I can scarcely describe the gratification I felt in associating again with persons who were almost all of Eastern American origin — persons of refined and cleanly habits and decent language — and in observing their peculiar and interesting mode of life ; while every day seemed to bring with it its own especial in- cidents, fruitful in the illustration of habits and character. It was during the period of which I have just spoken, that the Mormon battalion of five hundred and twenty men was recruited and marched for the Pacific coast. At the commencement of the Mexican war, the President considered it desirable to march a body of reliable infantry to California at as early a period as practicable, and the known hardihood and habits of discipline of the Mormons were sup- posed peculiarly to fit them for this service. As California was supposed also to be their ultimate destination, the long march might cost them less than other citizens. They were accordingly invited to furnish'a battalion of volunteers early in the month of July. The call could hardly have been more inconveniently timed. The young, and those who could best have been spared, were then away from the main body, either with pioneer companies in the van, or, their faith unannounced, seeking work and food about the north-western settlements, to support them till the return of the season for commencing emigration. The force was, therefore, to be recruited from among fathers of families, and others, whose presence it was most desirable to retain. THE EXODUS OF THE MORMONS. 237 There were some, too, who could not view the invitation without jealousy. They had twice been persuaded by (State) Government authorities in Illinois and Missouri, to give up their arms on some special appeal to their patriotic confidence, and had then been left to the malice of their enemies. And now they were asked, in the midst of the Indian country, to surrender over five hundred of their best men for a war march of thousands of miles to California, without the hope of return till after the conquest of that country. Could they view such a proposition with favor ? But the feeling of country triumphed. The Union had never wronged them : " You shall have your battalion at once, if it has to be a class of our elders," said one, himself a ruling elder. A central " mass meeting" for council, some harangues at the more remotely scattered camps, an American flag brought out from a storeiiouse of things rescued, and hoisted to the top of a tree mast, and in three days the force was re- ported, mustered, organized, and ready to march. There was no sentimental affectation at their leave-taking. The afternoon before was appropriated to a farewell ball ; and a more merry dancing rout I have never seen, though the company went without refreshments, and their ball-room was of the most primitive. It was the custom, whenever the larger camps rested for a few days together, to make great arbors, or boweries, as they called them, of poles and brush and wat- tling, as places of shelter for their meetings of devotion or con- ference. In one of these, where the ground had been trodden firm and hard by the worshippers of the popular Father Tay- lor's precinct, was gathered now the mirth and beauty of the Mormon Israel. If anything told the Mormons had been bred to other lives, it was the appearance of the women, as they assembled here. Before their flight, they had sold their watches and trinkets as the most available resource for raising ready money ; and 238 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. hence, like their partners, who wore waistcoats cut with use- less watch-pockets, they, although their ears were pierced and bore the loop-marks of rejected pendants, were without ear- rings, finger-rings, chains, or brooches. Except such orna- ments, however, they lacked nothing most becoming the at- tire of decorous maidens. The neatly darned white stocking, and clean bright petticoat, the artistically clear-starched collar and chemisette, the something faded, only because too well was^hed, lawn or gingham gown, that fitted modishly to the waist of its pretty wearer — these, if any of them spoke of poverty, spoke of a poverty that had known its better days. With the rest attended the Elders of the Church within call, including nearly all the chiefs of the High Council, with their wives and children. They, the gravest and most trouble-worn, seemed the most anxious of any to be first to throw off' the burden of heavy thougfhts. Their leading off the dancing in a great double cotillion was the signal bade the festivity commence. To the canto of debonnair violins, the cheer of horns, the jingle of sleigh-bells, and the jovial snoring of the tambourine, they did dance I None of your minuets or other mortuary processions of gentles in etiquette, tight shoes, and pinching gloves, but the spirited and scien- tific displays of our venerated and merry grandparents, who were not above following the fiddle to the Fox- Chase Inn or Gardens of Gray's Ferry. French fours, Copenhagen jigs, Virginia reels, and the like forgotten figures, executed with the spirit of people too happy to be slow, or bashful, or con- strained. Light hearts, lithe figures, and light feet, had it their own way from an early hour till after the sun had dipped behind the sharp sky-line of the Omaha hills. Silence was then called, a well-cultivated mezzo-soprano voice, be- longing to a young lady with fair face and dark eyes, gave, with quartette accompaniment, a little song, the notes of which I have been unsuccessful in repeated efforts to obtain INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 239 since, — a version of the text touching to all earthly wan- derers : — " By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept : We wept when we remember Zion." There was danger of some expression of feeling when the song was over, for it had begun to draw tears ; but breaking the quiet with his hard voice, an Elder asked the blessing of Heaven on all who, with purity of heart, and brotherhood of spirit, had mingled in that society, and then all dispersed, hastening to cover from the falling dews. All, I remember, but some splendid Indians, who, in cardinal scarlet blankets and feathered leggings, had been making foreground figures for the dancing rings, like those in Mr. West's picture of our Philadelphia Treaty, and staring their inabihty to comprehend the wonderful performances. These loitered to the last, as if unwilling to seek their abject homes. Well as I knew the peculiar fondness of the Mormons for music, their orchestra in service on this occasion astonished me by its numbers and fine drill. The story was, that an eloquent Mormon missionary had converted its members in a body at an English town, a stronghold of the sect, and that they took up their trumpets, trombones, drums, and hautboys together, and followed him to America. When the refugees from Nauvoo were hastening to part with their table-ware, jewellery, and almost every other fragment of metal wealth they possessed that was not iron, they had never a thought of giving up the instruments of this favorite band. And when the battalion was enlisted, though high inducements were offered some of the performers to accompany it, they all refused. Their fortunes went with the Camp of the Tabernacle. They had led the Farewell Service in the Nauvoo Temple. Their office now was to tniide the monster choruses and Sunday hymns ; and like the 240 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. trumpets of silver made of a whole piece " for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps," to knoll the people in to church. Some of their wind instruments, indeed, were uncommonly full and pure-toned, and in that clear dry air could be heard to a great distance. It had the strangest effect in the world, to listen to their sweet music winding over the uninhabited country. Something in the style of a Moravian death- tone blown at day-break, but altogether unique. It might be when you were hunting a ford over the Great Platte, the dreariest of all wild rivers, perplexed among the far-reaching sandbars and curlew shal- lows of its shifting bed : — the wind rising would bring you the first faint thought of a melody ; and, as you listened, borne down upon the gust that swept past you a cloud of the dry sifted sands, you recognized it — perhaps a home-loved theme of Henry Proch or Mendelssohn. Mendelssohn Bar- tholdy, away there in the Indian Marches ! The battalion gone, the host again moved on. The tents, which had gathered on the hill summits, like white birds hesitating to venture on the long flight over the river, were struck one after another, and the dwellers in them and their wagons, and their cattle, hastened down to cross it at a ferry in the valley, which they made ply night and day. A little beyond the landing, they formed their companies, and made their preparations for the last and longest stage of their journey. It was a more serious matter to cross the moun- tains then than now, that the thirst of our people for the gold of California has made the region between them and their desire such literally trodden ground. Thanks to this wonderful movement, I may dismiss an effort to describe the incidents of emigrant life upon the Plains, presuming that you have been made more than familiar with them already, by the many repeated descrip- tions of which they have been the subject. The deseW; EMIGRANT LIFE ON THE PRAIRIES. 241 march, the ford, the quicksand, the Indian battle, the oison chase, the prairie fire : — the adventures of the Mormons com prised every variety of these varieties ; but I could not hopa to invest them with the interest of novelty. The character of their every-day life, its routine and conduct, alone offered any exclusive or marked peculiarity. Their romantic de- votional observances, and their admirable concert of purpose and action, met the eye at once. After these, the stranger was most struck, perhaps, by the strict order of march, the unconfused closing up to meet attack, the skilful securing of the cattle upon the halt, the system with which the watches were set at night to guard them and the lines of corral — with other similar circumstances indicative of the mainte- nance of a high state of discipline. Every ten of their wagons was under the care of a captain. This captain of ten, as they termed him, obeyed a captain of fifty ; who, in turn, obeyed his captain of a hundred, or directly a member of what they call the High Council of the Church. All these were responsible and determined men, approved of by the people for their courage, discretion, and experience. So well recognized were the results of this organization, that bands of hostile Indians have passed by comparative small parties of Mormons, to attack much larger, but less compact bodies of other emigrants. The most striking feature, however, of the Mormon emi- gration, was undoubtedly their formation of the Tabernacle Camps, and temporary Stakes, or Settlements, which re- newed, in the sleeping solitudes everywhere along their road, the cheering signs of intelligent and hopeful life. I will make this remark plainer by describing to you one of these camps, with the daily routine of its inhabitants. I select at random, for my purpose, a large camp upon the delta between the Nebraska and Missouri, in the territory dis- puted between the Omaha and Otto and Missouri Indians. It 242 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. remained pitched here for nearly two months, during which period I resided in it. It was situated near the Petit Papillon, or Little Butterfly River, and upon some finely-rounded hills that encircle a fa- vorite cool spring. On each of these a square was marked out ; and the wagons, as they arrived, took their positions along its four sides in double rows, so as to leave a roomy street or passage-way between them. The tents were disposed also in rows, at intervals, between the wagons. The cattle were folded in high-fenced yards outside. The quadrangle inside was left vacant for the sake of ventilation, and the streets, covered in with leafy arbor work, and kept scrupu- lously clean, formed a shaded cloister walk. This was the place of exercise for slowly-recovering invalids, the day-home of the infants, and the evening promenade of all. From the first formation of the camp, all its inhabitants were constantly and laboriously occupied. Many of them were highly educated mechanics, and seemed only to need a day's anticipated rest to engage them at the forge, loom, or turning-lathe, upon some needed chore of work. A Mormon gunsmith is the inventor of the excellent repeating rifle, that loads by slides instead of cylinders ; and one of the neatest finished fire-arms I have ever seen was of this kind, wrought from scraps of old iron, and inlaid with the silver of a couple of half-dollars, under a hot July sun, in a spot where the average height of the grass was above the workman's shoul- ders. I have seen a cobbler, after the halt of his party on the march, hunting along the river bank for a lapstone, in the twilight, that he might finish a famous boot-sole by the camp fire : and I have had a piece of cloth, the wool of which was sheared, and died, and spun, and woven, during a progress over three hundred miles. Their more interesting occupations, however, were those growing out of their peculiar circumstances and position. The DISTRESS OF THE PEOPLE. 243 chiefs were seldom without some curious affair on hand to settle with the restless Indians ; while the immense labor and responsibility of the conduct of their unwieldy moving army, and the commissariat of its hundreds of famishing poor, also devolved upon them. They had good men they called bishops, whose special office it was to look up the cases of ex- tremest suffering, and their relief parties were out night and day to scour over every trail. At this time say two months before the final expulsion from Nauvoo, there were already, along three hundred miles of the road between that city and our Papillon Camp, over two thousand emigrating wagons, besides a large number of nondescript turn-outs, the motley make-shifts of poverty, from the unsuitably heavy-cart, that lumbered on mysteriously, with its sick driver hidden under its counterpane cover, to the crazy two-wheeled trundle, such as our own poor employ for the conveyance of their slop-barrels, this pulled along, it may be, by a little dry, dogged heifer, and rigged up only to drag some such light weight as a baby, a sack of meal, or a pack of clothes and bedding. Some of them were in distress from losses upon the way. A strong trait of the Mormons was their kindness to theii brute dependents, and particularly to their beasts of draught. They gave them the holiday of the Sabbath whenever it came round, I believe they would have washed them with old wine, after the example of the emigrant Carthaginians, had they had any. Still, in the Slave-coast heats, under which the animals had to move, they sometimes foundered. Sometimes, too, they strayed off in the night, or were mired in morasses, or oftener were stolen by Indians, who found market covert for such plunder among the horse-thief whites of the frontier. But the great mass of these pilgrims of the desert was made up of poor folks, who had fled in destitution 244 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. from Nauvoo, and been refused a resting-place by the people of Iowa. It is difficult fully to understand the state of helplessness in which some of these would arrive, after accomplishing a jour- ney of such extent, under circumstances of so much privation and peril. The fact was, they seemed to believe that all their trouble would be at an end if they could only come up with their comrades at the great camps. For this they cal- culated their resources, among which their power of endur- ance was by much the largest and most reliable item, and they w^ere not disappointed if they arrived with these utterly exhausted. I remember a signal instance of this at the Papillon Camp : It was that of a joyous-hearted clever fellow, whose songs and fiddle-tunes were the life and delight of Nauvoo in its merry days. I forget his story, and how exactly it fell about, that, after a Mormon's full peck of troubles, he started after us, with his wife and little ones, from some " lying-down place'.' in the Indian country, where he had contended with an attack of a serious malady. He was just convalescent, and the fatigue of marching on foot again, with a child on his back, speedily brought on a relapse. But his anxiety to reach a place where he could expect to meet friends with* shelter and food, was such that he only pressed on the harder. Proba- bly for more than a week of the dog-star weather he labored on under a high fever, walking every day until he was entire- ly exhausted. His limbs failed him then ; but his courage holding out, he got into his covered cart, on top of its freight of baggage, and made them drive him on while he lay down. They could hardly believe how ill he was, he talked on so cheerfully : •' I'm nothing on earth ailing but home-sick, I'm cured the very minute I get to camp and see the brethren." Not being able thus to watch his course, he lost his way, ADVENTURES IN THE INDIAN TERRITORY. 245 and had to regain it through a wretched track of low meadow- prairie, where there were no trees to break the noon, no water but what was ague-sweet or brackish. By the time he got back to the trail on the high prairie, he was, in his own phrase, pretty far gone. Yet he was resolute in his purpose as ever, and to a party he fell in with avowed his intention to be cured at the camp, " and nowhere else." He even jested with them, comparing his jolting couch to a summer cot in a white- washed cock-loft. " But I'll make them take me down," he said, " and give me a dip in the river when I get there. All I care for is to see the brethren." His determined bearing rallied the spirits of his travelling household, and they kept on their way till he was within a few hours' journey of the camp. He entered on his last day's journey with the energy of increased hope. I remember that day well, for in the evening I mounted a tired horse to go a short errand, and in mere pity, had to turn back before I had walked him a couple of hundred yards. Nothing seemed to draw life from the languid air but the clouds of gnats and stinging midges ; and long after sun- down, it was so hot that the sheep lay on their stomachs panting, and the cattle strove to lap wind like hard-fagged hunting-dogs. In camp, I had spent the day in watching the invalids, and the rest hunting the shade under the wagon- bodies, and veering about them like the shadows round the sun-dial. I know I thought myself wretched enough to be of their company. Poor Merry man had all that heat to bear, with the mere pretence of an awning to screen out the sun from his close muslin cock-loft. He did not fail till somewhere hard upon noon, He then began to grow restless, to know accurately the distance travel- led. He made them give him water, too, much more fre- quently ; and when they stopped for this purpose, asked a 246 HISTORY OF THE MORMOKS. number of obscure questions, A little after this he discover- ed himself that a film had come over his eyes. He confessed that this was discouraging, but said vi'ith stubborn resignation, that if denied to see the brethren, he still should hear the sound of their voices. After this, which was w^hen he was hardly three miles from our camp, he lay very quiet, as if husbanding his strength ; but when he had made, as is thought, a full mile further, be- ing interrogated by the vv^oman that was driving, whether she should stop, he answered her, as she avers, " No, no ; go on I" The anecdote ends badly. They brought him in dead, I think about five o'clock in the afternoon. He had on his clean clothes, as he had dressed himself in the morning, look- ing forward to his arrival. Besides the common duty of guiding and assisting these unfortunates, the companies in the van united in providing the highway for the entire body of emigrants. The Mor- mons have laid out for themselves a road through the Indian Territory, over four hundred leagues in length, with substan- tial, well-built bridges, fit for the passage of heavy artillery, over all the streams, except a few great rivers where they have established permanent ferries. The nearest unfinished bridging to the Papillon Camp was that of the Corne a Cerf, or Elk-horn, a tributary of the Platte, distant may be a cou- ple of hours' march. Here, in what seemed to be an incred- ibly short space of time, there rose the seven great piers and abutments of a bridge, such as might challenge honors for the entire public-spirited population of Lower Virginia. The party detailed to the task worked in the broiling sun, in water beyond depth, and up to their necks, as if engaged in the per- petration of some pointed and delightful practical joke. The chief sport lay in floating along with the logs, cut from the overhanging timber up the stream, guiding them till they reached their destination, and then plunging them undei FORDING THE MISSOURI. 24Y water in the precise spot where they were to be secured. This the laughing engineers would execute with the agility of happy, diving ducks. Our nearest ferry was that overt he Missouri, Nearly op- posite Pull Point, or Point aux Poules, a trading post of the American Fur Company, and village of the Pottawatamies, they had gained a favorable crossing by making a deep cut for the road through the steep right bank. And here, without intermission, their flat-bottomed scows plied, crowded with the wagons, and cows, and sheep, and children, and furniture of the emigrants, who, in waiting their turn, made the woods around smoke with their crowding camp-fires. But no such good fortune as a gratuitous passage awaited the heavy cattle, of whom, with the others, no less than thirty thousand were at this time on their way westward ; these were made to earn it by swimming. A heavy freshet had at this time swollen the river to a width, as I should judge, of something like a mile and a half, and dashed past its fierce current, rushing, gurgling, and ed- dying, as if' thrown from a mill-race, or scriptural fountain of the deep. Its aspect did not invite the oxen to their duty, and the labor was to force them to it. They were gathered in little troops upon the shore, and driven forward till they lost their footing. As they turned their heads to return, they encountered the combined opposition of a clamorous crowd of bystanders, vieing with each other in the pungent adminis- tration of inhospitable afTront. Then rose their hubbub ; their geeing and woing, and hawing ; their yelling, and yelping, and screaming ; their hooting, and hissing, and pelting. The rearmost steers would hesitate to brave such a rebufT; halting they would impede the return of the outermost ; they all would waver ; wavering for a moment, the current would sweep them together downward. At this jucture a fearless youngster, climbing upon some brave bi>il in the front rank. 248 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. would urge him boldly forth into the stream ; the rest then surely followed ; a few moments saw them struggling- in mid current ; a few more, and they were safely landed on the op- posite shore. The driver's was the sought after post of honor here ,* and sometimes, when repeated failures have urged them to emulation, I have seen the youths, in stepping from back to back of the struggling monsters, or swimming in among their battling hoofs, display feats of address and hardi- hood, that would have made Franconi's or the Madrid bull- ring vibrate with bravos of applause. But in the hours after hours that I have watched this sport at the ferry-side, I never heard an oath, or the language of quarrel, or knew it provoke the least sign of ill-feeling. After the sorrowful word was given out to halt, and make preparations for winter, a chief labor became the making hay ; and with everyday dawn brigades of mowers would take up the march to their positions in chosen meadows, a prettier sight than a charge of cavalry, as they laid their swarths, whole companies of scythes abreast. Before this time the manliest, as well as most general daily labor, was the herding of the cattle ; the only wealth of the Mormons, and more and more cherished by them, with the increasing pastoral char- acter of their lives. A camp could not be pitched in any spot without soon exhausting the freshness of the pasture around it ; and it became an ever recurring task to guide the cattle, in unbroken droves, to the nearest places where it was still fresh and fattening. Sometimes it was necessary to go farther, to distant ranges which were known as feeding-grounds of the buffalo. About these there were sure to prowl parties of thievish Indians ; and each drove therefore had its escort of mounted men and boys, who learned self-reliance and heroism, while on night-guard alone, among the silent hills. But gen- erally the cattle were driven from the camp at the dawn of morning, and brought back thousands together in the evening, HEROISM OF THE WOMEN. 249 to be picketed in the great corral or enclosure, where beeves, bulls, cows, and oxen, with the horses, mules, hogs, calves, sheep, and human beings, could all look together upon the red watch-fires, with the feeling of security, when aroused by the Indian stampede, or the bowlings of the prairie-wolves at moonrise. When they set about building their winter houses, too, the Mormons went into quite considerable timbering operations, and performed desperate feats of carpentry. They did not come ornamental gentlemen or raw apprentices, to extem- porize new versions of Robinson Crusoe. It was a comfort to notice the readiness with which they turned their hands to wood- craft ; some of them, though I believe these had gene- rally been bred carpenters, wheel- w rights, or more particularly boat-builders, quite outdoing the most notable voyageurs in the use of the axe. One of these would fell a tree, strip off its bark, cut and split up the trunk in piles of plank, scant- ling, or shingles ; make posts, and pins, and pales — every- thing wanted almost, of the branches ; and treat his toil from first to last with more sportive flourish than a school-boy whittling his shingle. Inside the camp, the chief labors were assigned to the women. From the moment, when after the halt, the lines had been laid, the spring-wells dug out, and the ovens and fire-places built, though the men still assumed to set the guards and enforce the regulations of police, the Empire of the Tented Town was with the better sex. They were the chief comforters of the severest sufferers, the kind nurses who gave them in their sickness those dear attentions with which pau- perism is hardly poor, and which the greatest wealth often fails to buy ; and they were a nation of most wonderful man- agers. They could hardly be called housewives in etymolo- gical strictness ; but it was plain that they had once been such and most distinguished ones. Their art availed them 16 250 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. in their changed affairs. With almost their entire culinary material, limited to the milk of their cows, some store of meal or flour, and a very few condiments, they brought their thou- sand and one receipts into play with a success that outdid for their families the miracle of the Hebrew widow's cruise They learned to make butter on a march by the dashing of the wagon, and so nicely to calculate the working of barm in the jolting heats, that as soon after the halt as an oven could be dug in the hill-side and heated, their well-kneaded loaf was ready for baking, and produced good leavened bread for supper. I have no doubt the appetizing zest, their humble lore succeeded in imparting to diet which was both simple and meagre, availed materially for the health as well as the comfort of the people. But the first duty of the Mormon women was, through all change of place and fortune, to keep alive the altar fire of home. Whatever their manifold labors for the day, it was their effort to complete them against the sacred hour of eve- ning fall ; for, by that time, all the out- workers, scouts, ferry- men, or bridgemen, road-makers, herdsmen, or hay-makers, had finished their tasks, and come into their rest ; and before the last smoke of the supper-fire curled up, reddening in the glow of sunset, a hundred chimes of cattle bells announced their looked-for approach across the open hills, and the women went out to meet them at the camp-gates, and with their children in their laps sat by them at the cherished family meal, and talked over the events of the well-spent day. But every day closed, as every day began, with an invoca- tion of the Divine favor ; without which, indeed, no Mormon seemed to dare to lay him down to rest. With the first shining of the stars, laughter and loud talking hushed, the neighbor went his way, you heard the last hymn sung, and then the thousand-voiced murmur of prayer was heard like bubbling water falling down the hills. INFLUENCE OF THE MORMON RELIGION. 251 There was no austerity, however, about the religion of Mor- monism. Their fasting and penance, it is no jest to say, was altogether involuntary ; they made no merit of that ; they kept the Sabbath with considerable strictness ; they were too close copyists of the wanderers of Israel in other respects not to have learned, like them, the value of this most admirable of the Egypto-Mosaic institutions. But the rest of the week their religion was independent of ritual observance. They had the sort of strong stomached faith that is still found em- balmed in sheltered spots of Catholic Italy and Spain, with the spirit of the believing or dark ages. It was altogether too strongly felt to be dependent on intellectual ingenuity or care- ful caution of the ridiculous. It mixed itself up fearlessly with the common transactions of their every-day life, and only to give them liveliness and color. If any passages of life bear better than others a double in- terpretation, they are the adventures of travel and of the field, What old persons call discomforts and discouraging mishaps, are the very elements to the young and sanguine, of what they are willing to term fun. The Mormons took the young and hopeful side. They could make sport and frolic of their trials, and often turn right sharp suffering into right round laughter against themselves. I certainly heard more jests and Joe Millers while in this Papillon Camp than I am likely to hear in all the remainder of my days. This, too, was at a time of serious affliction. Besides the ordinary suffering from insufficient food and shelter, distressing and mortal sickness, exacerbated, if not originated by these causes, was greatly prevalent. In the camp nearest us on the west, which was that of the bridging party near the Corne, the number of its inhabitants being small enough to invite computation, I found, as early as the 31st of July, that 37 per cent, of its inhabitants were down with the fever, and a sort of strange scorbutic disease, 252 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. frequently fatal, which they named the Black Canker. The camps to the east of us, which were all on the eastern side of the Missouri, were yet worse fated. The climate of the entire upper " Misery Bottom," as they term it, is, during a considerable part of summer and autumn, singularly pestiferous. Its rich soil, which is to a depth far beyond the reach of the plough as flat as the earth of kitchen garden, or compost heap, is annually the force-bed of a vege- tation as rank as that of the tropics. To render its fatal fer- tility the greater, it is everywhere freely watered by springs and creeks, and larger streams, that flow into it from both sides. In the season of drought, when the sun enters Virgo, these dry down till they run impure as open sewers, exposing to the day foul broad flats, mere quagmires of black dirt, stretching along for miles, unvaried, except by the limbs of half-buried carrion, tree trunks, or by occasional yellow pools of what the children call frog spawn ; all together steaming up thick vapors redolent of the savor of death. The same is the habit of the Great River. In the begin- ning of August, its shores hardly could contain the millions of forest logs, and tens of billions of gallons of turbid water that came rushing down together from its mountain head- gates. But before the month was out, the freshet had all passed by ; the river diminished one half, threaded feebly southward through the centre of the valley, and the mud of its channel, baked and creased, made a wide tile pavement between the choking crowd of reeds and sedgy grasses, and wet stalked weeds, and growths of marsh meadow flowers, the garden homes at this tainted season of venom, crazy snakes, and the fresher ooze by the water's edge, which stank in the Bun like a naked muscle shoal. Then the plague raged. I have no means of ascertaining the mortality of the Indians who inhabited the Bottom. In 1845, the year previous, which was not more unhealthy, they THE PLAGUE IN THE WILDERNESS. 253 lost one ninth of their number in about two months. The Mormons were scourged severely. The exceeding mortality among some of them was no doubt in the main attributable to the low state to which their systems had been brought by long-continued endurance of want and hardship. It is to be remembered also that they were the first turners up of the prairie sod, and that this of itself made them liable to the sickness of new countries. It was where their agricultural operations had been most considerable, and in situations on the left bank of the river, where the prevalent south-west winds wafted to them the miasmata of its shores, that disease was most rife. In some of these, the fever prevailed to such an extent that hardly any escaped it. They let their cows go unmilked ; they wanted for voices to raise the psalm of Sundays ; the few who were able to keep their feet, went about among the tents and wagons with food and water, like nurses through the wards of an infirmary. Here, at one time, the digging got behind hand ; burials were slow ; and you might see women sit in the open tents keeping the flies ofi' their dead children, some time after decomposition had set in. • In our own camp, for a part of August and September, things wore an unpleasant aspect enough. Its situation was one much praised for its comparative salubrity ; bat perhaps on this account the number of cases of fever among us was increased by the hurrying arrival from other localities of par- ties in whom the virus leaven of disease was fermented by forced travel. But I am excused sufficiently the attempt to get up for your entertainment here any circumstantial picture of horrors, by the fact, that at the most interesting season, I was inca- pacitated for nice observation by an attack of fever — mine was what they call the congestive — that it required the utmost use of all my faculties to recover from. I still kept my tent 254 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. in the camp line ; but, for as much as a month, had very small notion of what went on among my neighbors. I recol- lect overhearing a lamentation over some dear baby, that its mother no doubt thought the destroying angel should have been specially instructed to spare. I wish, too, for my own sake, I could forget how imperfect- ly, one day, I mourned the decease of a poor Saint, who, by clamor, rendered his vicinity troublesome. He no doubt en- dured great pain ; for he groaned shockingly till death came to his relief. He interfered with my own hard gained slum- bers, and I was glad when death did relieve him. Before my attack, I was fond of conversing with an amia- ble old man, I think English born, who, having then recently buried his only daughter and grandson, used to be seen sitting out before his tent, resting his sorrowful forehead on his hands, joined over a smooth white oak staff. I missed him when I got about again ; probably he had been my moaning neighbor. So, too, having been much exercised in my dreams at this time, by the vision of dismal processions, such as might have been formed by the union in line of all the forlornest and ugli- est of the struggling fugitives from Nauvoo, I happen to recall, as I write, that I had some knowledge somewhere of one of our new comers, for whom the nightmare revived, and repeat- ed without intermission, the torment of his trying journey. As he lay feeding life with long drawn breaths, be muttered, " Where's next water ? Team — give out ! Hot, hot — God, it's hot : Stop the wagon — stop the wagon — stop, stop the wagon I" They woke him ; — to his own content — but I be- lieve returning sleep ever renewed his distressing visions, till the sounder slumber came on from which no earthly hand or voice could rouse him : into which, I hope, he did not car- ry them. In a half dreamy way, I remember, or think I remember, ARRIVAL OF FUGITIVES FROM NAUVOO. 255 a crowd of phantoms like these. I recall but one fact, how ever, going far in proof of a considerable mortality. Earlier in the season, while going westward with the intention of passing the Rocky Mountains that summer, I had opened with the assistance of Mormon spades and shovels, a large mound on a commanding elevation, the tomb of a warrior of the ancient race ; and continuing on my way, had left a deep trench excavated entirely through it. Returning fever-struck to the Papillon Camp, I found it planted close by this spot. It was just forming as I arrived ; the first wagon, if I mistake not, having but a day or two halted into place. My first air- ing upon my convalescence took me to the mound, which, probably to save digging, had been re-adapted to its original purpose. In this brief interval, they had filled the trench with bodies, and furrowed the ground with graves around it, like the ploughing of a field. The lengthened sojourn of the Mormons in this insalubrious region, was imposed upon them by circumstances which I must now advert to. Though the season was late when they first crossed the Missouri, some of them moved forward with great hopefulness, full of the notion of viewing and choosing their new homes that year. But the van had only reached Grand Island and the Pawnee villages, when they were overtaken by more ill- news from Nauvoo. Before the summer closed, their ene- mies set upon the last remnant of those who were left behind in Illinois. They were a few lingerers, who could not be persuaded but there might yet be time for them to gather up their worldly goods before removing, some weakly mothers and their infants, a few delicate young girls, and many crip- ples and bereaved and sick people. These had remained un- der shelter, according to the Mormon statement at least, by virtue of an express covenant in their behalf If there was such a covenant, it was broken. A vindictive war was 256 HISTORY OP THE MORMONS. waged upon them, from which the weakest fled in scattered parties, leaving the rest to make a reluctant and almost lu- dicrously unavailing defence till the I7th day of September, when one thousand six hundred and twenty-five troops en- tered Nauvoo, and drove all forth who had not retreated be- fore that time. Like the wounded birds of a flock fired into toward niffht- fall, they came straggling on with faltering steps, many of them without bag or baggage, beast or barrow, all asking shelter or burial, and forcing a fresh repartition of the already divided rations of their friends. It was plain now that every energy must be taxed to prevent the entire expedition from perishing. Further emigration for the time was out of the question, and the whole people prepared themselves for en- countering another winter on the prairie. Happily for the main body, they found themselves at this juncture among Indians, who were amicably disposed. The lands on both sides of the Missouri in particular were owned by the Pottawatamies and Omahas, two tribes whom unjust treatment by our United States, had the effect of rendering most auspiciously hospitable to strangers whom they regarded as persecuted like themselves. The Pottawatamies, on the eastern side, are a nation from whom the United States bought some years ago a number of hundred thousand acres of the finest lands they have ever brought into market. Whatever the bargain was, the sellers were not content with it ; the people saying, their leaders were cheated, made drunk, bribed, and all manner of naughty things besides. No doubt this was quite as much of a libel on the fair fame of this particular Indian treaty, as such stories generally are ; for the land to which the tribe was re- moved in pursuance of it, was admirably adapted to enforce habits of civilized thrift. It was smooth prairie, wanting in timber, and of course in game ; and the humane and philan- THE POTTAWAT AMIES. 257 thropic might rejoice therefore that necessity would soon in- doctrinate its inhabitants into the practice of agriculture. An impracticable few, who may have thought these advanta- ges more than compensated by the insalubrity of their allotted resting-place, fled to the extreme wilds, where they could find deer and woods, and rocks, and running water, and where, I believe, they are roaming to this day. The remain- der, being what the political vocabulary designates on such occasions as Friendly Indians, were driven — marched is the word — galley-slaves are marched thus to Barcelona and Toulon — marched from the Mississippi to the Missouri, and planted there. Discontented and unhappy, they had hardly begun to form an attachment for this new soil, when they were persuaded to change it for their present Fever Patch, upon the Kaw or Kansas River. They were under this. second sentence of transportation when the Mormons arrived among them. They were pleased with the Mormons. They would have been pleased with any whites who would not cheat them, nor sell them whiskey, nor whip them for their poor gipsy habits, nor bear themselves indecently toward their women, many of whom., among the Pottawatamies, especially those of nearly unmixed French descent, are singularly comely, and some of them educated. But all Indians have something like a sen- timent of reverence for the insane, and admire those who sac- rifice, without apparent motive, their worldly welfare to the triumph of an idea. They understand the meaning of what they call a great vow, and think it the duty of the right- minded to lighten the votary's penance under it. To this feeling they united the sympathy of fellow-sufTerers for those who could talk to them of their own Illinois, and tell the story how from it they also had been ruthlessly expelled. Their hospitality was sincere, almost delicate. Fanny Le Cierc, the spoiled child of the great brave, Pied Riche, inter- 258 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. preter of the Nation, would have the pale-face, Miss Devine, loam duets with her to the guitar ; and the daughter of sub- stantial Joseph La Framboise, the interpreter of the United States, — she died of the fever that summer, — welcomed all the nicest young Mormon Kitties and Lizzies, and Jennies and Susans, to a coffee-feast at her father's house, which was probably the best cabin in the river village. They made the Mormons at home there and elsewhere. Upon all their lands they formally gave them leave to tarry just so long as should suit their own good pleasure. The affair, of course, furnished material for a solemn council. Under the auspices of an officer of the United States, their chiefs were summoned, in the form befitting great occasions, to meet in the dirty yard of one Mr. P. A. Sarpy's log trading house, at their village. They came in grand toilet, moving in their fantastic attire with so much aplomb and genteel measure, that the stranger found it diffi- cult not to believe them high-born gentlemen, attending a costumed ball. Their aristocratically thin legs, of which they displayed fully the usual Indian proportion, aided this illusion. There is something too, at all times, very mock- Indian in the theatrical French millinery tie of the Pottawa- tamie turban ; while it is next to impossible for a sober white man, at first sight, to believe that the red, green, black, blue and yellow cosmetics, with which he sees such grave person- ages so variously dotted, diapered, cancelled and arabesqued, are worn by them in any mood but one of the deepest and most desperate quizzing. From the time of their first squat upon the ground, to the final breaking up of the council circle, they sustained their characters with equal self-possession and address. • I will not take it upon myself to describe their order of ceremonies. Indeed, I ought not, since I have never been able to view the habits and customs of our Aborigines in any INTERVIEW WITH THE INDIANS. 259 other light than that of a reluctant and sorrowful subject of jest. Besides, in this instance, the displays of pow-wow and eloquence were both probably moderated by the conduct of the entire transaction on temperance principles. I therefore content myself with observing, generally, that the proceed- ings were such as every way became the grandeur of the parties interested, and the magnitude of the interests in- volved. When the E.ed Men had indulged to satiety in to- bacco smoke from their peace-pipes, and in what they love still better, their peculiar metaphoric rhodomontade, which, beginning with the celestial bodies, and coursing downwards over the grandest sublunary objects, always managed to alight at last on their Grand Father Polk, and the tenderness for him of his affectionate colored children. All the solemn funny fellows present, who played the part of chiefs, signed formal articles of convention with their unpronounceable names. The renowned chief, Pied Riche — he was surnamed Le Clerc on account of his remarkable scholarship, — then rose, and said : — " My Mormon Brethren, — The Pottawatamie came sad and tired into this unhealthy Missouri Bottom, not many years back, when he was taken from his beautiful country beyond the Missis- sippi, which had abundant game, and timber, and clear water every- where. Now you are driven away the same from your lodges and lands there, and the graves of your people. So we have both suf- fered. We must help one another, and the Great Spirit will help us both. You are now free to cut and use all the wood you may wish. You can make all your improvements, and live on any part of our actual land not occupied by us. Because one suffers, and does not deserve it, it is no reason he shall suffer always, I say. We may live to see all right yet. However, if we do not, our chil- dren will. — Bon jour" And thuB ended the pageant. I give this speech as at. 260 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. morsel of real Indian. It was recited to me after the treaty by the Pottawatamie orator in French, which language he spoke with elegance. Bon jour is the French, Indian, and English hail and farewell of the Pottawatamies. The other entertainers of the Mormons at this time, the Omahas, or Mahaws, are one of the union tribes of the Grand Prairie. Their Great Father, the United States, has found it inconvenient to protect so remote a dependency against the overpowering league of the Dahcotahs or Sioux, and has judged it dangerous, at the same time, to allow them to protect themselves, by entering into a confederation with others. Under the pressure of this paternal embarrassment and restraint, it has therefore happened most naturally, that this tribe, once a powerful and valued ally of ours, has been reduced to a band of little more than a hundred families ; and these, a few years more M'ill entirely extinguish. When I was among them, they were so ill-fed, that their protruding high cheek-bones gave them the air of a tribe of consump- tives. The buffalo had left them, and no good ranges lay within several hundred miles' reach. Hardly any other game found cover on their land. What little there was they were short of ammunition to kill. Their annuity from the United States was trifling. They made next to nothing at thieving. They had planted some corn in their awkward Indian fashion, but through fear of ambush dared not venture out to harvest it. A chief resource for them the winter previous had been the spoliation of their neighbors, the Prairie Field Mice. These interesting little people, more industrious and thrifty than the Mahaws, garner up in the neat little cellars of their underground homes, the small seeds or beans of the wood pea-vine, which are black and hard, but quite nutritious. Gathering them one by one, a single mouse will thus collect as much as half a pint, which before the cold weather sets in he piles away in a dry and frost-proof excavation, cleverly THE INDIAN TRIBES OF THE PRAIRIES. 261 thatched and covered in. The Omaha animal, who, like enough, may have idled during all the season the mouse was amassing his toilsome treasure, finds this subterranean gran- ary to give out a certain peculiar cavernous vibration, when briskly tapped upon above the ground. He wanders about, therefore, striking with a wand in hopeful spots ; and as soon as he hears the hollow sound he knows, unearths the little retired capitalist, along with his winter s hope. Mouse wakes up from his nap to starve, and Mahaw swallows several rel- ishing mouthfuls. But the mouse has his revenge in the powerful Sioux, who wages against his wretched red brother an almost bootless but exterminating warfare. He robs him of his poor human peltry. One of my friends was offered for sale a Sioux scalp of Omaha, " with gray hair nearly as long as a white horse's tail." The pauper Omahas were ready to solicit as a favor the residence of white protectors among them. The Mormons harvested and stored away for them their crops of maize ; with all their own poverty, they spared them food enough be- sides, from time to time, to save them from absolutely starv- ing ; and their entrenched camp, to the north of the Omaha villages, served as a sort of breakwater between them and the destroying rush of the Sioux. This was the Head (Quarters of the Mormon Camps of Is- rael. The miles of rich prairie enclosed and sown with the grain they could contrive to spare, and the houses, stacks, and cattle shelters, had the seeming of an entire county, with its people and improvements transplanted there unbroken. On a pretty plateau, overlooking the river, they built more than seven hundred houses in a single town, neatly laid out with highways and byways, and fortified with breast-work, stock- ade, and blockhouses. It had, too, its place of worship, " Tab- ernacle of the Congregation," and various large workshops, and mills and factories, provided with water-power. 262 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. They had no camp or settlement of equal size in the Potta watamie country. There was less to apprehend here from Indian invasion ; and the people scattered themselves, there- fore, along the rivers and streams, and in the timber-groves, wherever they found inviting localities for farming operations. In this way many of them acquired what have since proved to be valuable pre-emption rights. Upon the Pottawatamie lands, scattered through the border regions of Missouri and Iowa, in the Sauk and Fox country, a few among the loways, among the Poncahs in a great com- pany upon the banks of the L'Eau qui Coule, or Hunning Water Eiver, and at the Omaha winter- quarters ; — the Mor- mons sustained themselves through the heavy winter of 1846 -1847. It was the severest of their trials; and if I aimed at rhetorical effect, I would be bound to offer you a minute narrative of its progress, as a sort of climax to my history. But I have, I think, given you enough of the Mormons' sor- rows. We are all of us content to sympathize with a certain extent of suffering ; but very few can bear the recurring yet scarcely varied narrative of another's distress without some- thing of impatience. The world is full of griefs, and we can- not afford to extend too large a share of our charity, or even our commiseration in a single quarter. This winter was the turning-point of the Mormon fortunes : those who lived through it were spared to witness the gradual return of better times ; and they now liken it to the passing of a dreary night, since which they have watched the coming of a steadily brightening day. Before the grass-growth of 1847, a body of one hundred and forty-three picked men, with seventy wagons, drawn by their best horses, left the Omaha quarters under the command of the members of the High Council who had wintered there. They carried with them little but seed and farming imple- ments, their aim being to plant spring-crops at their ultimate ARRIVAL AT THE GREAT SALT LAKE VALLEY. 263 destination. They relied on their rifles to give them food, but rarely left their road in search of game. They made long daily marches, and moved with as much rapidity as possible. Against the season when ordinary emigration passes the Missouri, they were already through the South Pass ; and a couple of short days' travel beyond it, entered upon the more arduous portion of their journey. It lay, in earnest, through the E-ocky Mountains. They turned Fremont's Peak, Long's Peak, the Twins, and other King summits, but had to force their way over other mountains of the rugged Utah range, sometimes following the stony bed of torrents, the head- waters of some of the mightiest rivers of our continent, and sometimes literally cutting their road through heavy and ragged timber. They arrived at the grand basin of the Great Salt Lake much exhausted, but without losing a man, and in time to plant for a partial autumn harvest. Another party started after these pioneers, from the Omaha winter-quarters, in the summer. They had 566 wagons, and carried large quantities of grain, which they were able to put in the ground before it froze. The same season also, these were joined by a part of the Battalion, and other members of the Church, who came east- ward from California and the Sandwich Islands. Together, they fortified themselves strongly with sunbrick wall and blockhouses, and living safely through the winter, were able to tend crops that yielded ample provision for the ensuing year. In 1848, nearly all the remaining members of the Church left the Missouri country in a succession of powerful bands, invigorated and enriched by their abundant harvests there ; and that year so fully established their Commonwealth oj|the New Covenant, the future State of Deseret, I may not undertake to describe to you in a single lecture, the geography of Deseret, and its great basin. Were I to consider the face of the country, its military position, or its 264 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. climate, and its natural productions, each head, I am confi- dent, would claim more time than you have now to spare me ; for Deseret is emphatically a new country ; new in its own characteristic features, newer still in its bringing together within its limits the most inconsistent peculiarities of other countries. I cannot aptly compare it to any. Descend from the mountains, where you have the scenery and climate of Switzerland, to seek the sky of your choice among the many climates of Italy, and you may find welling out of the same hills the freezing springs of Mexico and the hot springs of Iceland, both together coursing their way to the Salt Sea of Palestine, in the plain below. The pages of Malte Brun pro- vide me with a less truthful parallel to it than those which describe the happy Valley of Uasselas, or the Continent of Balnibarbi. Let me, then, press on with my history, during the i few minutes that remain for me. Only two events have occurred to menace seriously the es- tablishment at Deseret : the first threatened to destroy its crops, the other to break it up altogether. The shores of the Salt Lake are infested by a sort of insect pest, which claims a vile resemblance to the locust of the Syrian Dead Sea. Wingless, dumpy, black, swollen-headed, with bulging eyes in cases like goggles, mounted upon legs of steel wire and clock spring, and with a general personal ap- pearance that justified the Mormons in comparing him to a cross of the spider and the bufialo, the Deseret cricket comes down from the mountains at a certain season of the year, in voracious and desolating myriads. It was just at this season that-^he first crops of the new settlers were in the full glory of their youthful green. The assailants could not be repulsed. The Mormons, after their fashion, prayed and fought, and fought and prayed, but to no purpose ; the " Black Philis- DISCOVERY OF GOLD. 265 tines" mowed their way even with the ground, leaving it as if touched with an acid, or burnt by fire. But an unlooked-for ally came to the rescue. Vast armies of bright birds, before strangers to the valley, hastened across the lake from some unknown quarter, and gorged themselves upon the well-fatted enemy. They were snow-white, with little heads, and clear, dark eyes, and little feet, and long wings, that arched in flight " like an angel's." At first the Mormons thought they were new enemies to plague them ; but when they found them hostile only to the locusts, they were careful not to molest them in their friendly office ; and to this end declared a heavy fine against all who should kill or annoy them with fire-arms. The gulls soon grew to be tame as the poultry, and the delighted little children learned to call them their pigeons. They disappeared every evening beyond the lake ; but, returning with sunrise, continued their welcome visitings till the crickets were all exterminated. This curious incident recurred the following year, with this variation, that, in 1849, the gulls came earlier, and saved the wheat crops from all harm whatever. A severer trial than the visit of the cricket locusts threat ened Deseret, in the discovery of the gold of California. It was due to a party of the Mormon Battalion recruited on the Missouri, who, on their way home, found employment at New Helvetia. They were digging a mill-race there, and threw up the gold dust with their shovels. You all know the crazy fever that broke out as soon as this was announced. It infected every one through California. Where the gold was discovered, at Sutter's and around, the standing grain was left uncut : whites, Indians, and mustees, all set them to gathering gold, every other labor forsaken, as if the first comers could rob the casket of all that it contained. The disbanded soldiers came to the valley ; they showed their poor companions pieces of the yellow treasure they had 17 266 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. gained ; and the cry was raised, " To California I To the Gold of Ophir, our brethren have discovered ! To California I" Some of you have, perhaps, come across the half-ironic in- structions of the heads of the Church to the faithful outside the Valley :— " The true use of gold is for paving streets, covering houses, and making culinary dishes ; and when the Saints shall have preached the Gospel, raised grain, and built up cities enough, the Lord will open up the way for a supply of gold, to the perfect satisfaction of his people. Until then, let them not be over-anxious, for the treasures of the earth are in the Lord's storehouse, and he will open the doors thereof when and where he pleases," The enlightened virtue of their rulers saved the people and the fortunes of Deseret. A few only went away — and they were asked in kindness never to return. The rest remained to be healthy and happy, to " raise grain and build up cities." The history of the Mormons has ever since been the un- broken record of the most wonderful prosperity. It has looked as though the elements of fortune, obedient to a law of natural re-action, were struggling to compensate to them their undue share of suffering. They may be pardoned for deeming it miraculous. But, in truth, the economist accounts for it all, who explains to us the speedy recuperation of cities, laid in ruin by flood, fire, and earthquake. During its years of trial, Mormon labor has subsisted on insufficient capital, and under many trials, but it has subsisted, and survives them now, as intelligent and powerful as ever it was at Nauvoo ; with this difference, that it has in the meantime been educa- ted to habits of unmatched thrift, energy, and endurance, and has been transplanted to a situation where it is in every re- spect more productive. Moreover, during all the period of their journey, while some have gained by practice in handi- MORMON PRUDENCE AND PROSPERITY. 267 craft, and the experience of repeated essays at their various halting-places, the minds of all have been busy framing de- signs and planning the improvements they have since found opportunity to execute. The territory of the Mormons is unequalled as a stock- raising country. The finest pastures of Lombardy are not more estimable than those on the east side of the Utah Lake and Jordan River. We find here that cereal anomaly, the Bunch grass. In May, vi^hen the other grasses push, this fine plant dries upon its stalk, and becomes a light yellow straw, full of flavor and nourishment. It continues thus, through what are the dry months of the climate, till January, and then starts with a vigorous growth, like that of our own win- ter wheat in April, which keep on till the return of another May. Whether as straw or grass, the cattle fatten on it the year round. The numerous little dells and sheltered spots that are found in the mountains, are excellent sheep-walks ; it is said that the wool which is grown upon them is of an unusually fine pile and soft texture. Hogs fatten on a suc- culent bulb or tuber, called the Seacoe, or Seegose Root, which I hope will soon be naturalized with us. It is highly esteemed as a table-vegetable by Mormons and Indians, and I remark that they are cultivating it with interest at the French Garden of Plants. The emigrant poultry have taken the best care of each other, only needing liberty to provide themselves with every other blessing. The Mormons have also been singularly happy in their In- dian relations. They have not made the common mistake of supposing savages insensible to courtesy of demeanor ; but, being taught by their religion to regard them all as decayed brethren, have always treated the silly, wicked souls with kind- hearted civility. Though their outlay for tobacco, wampum, and Vermillion has been of the very smallest, yet they have never failed to purchase what good- will they have wanted. 968 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. Hence it happens that in their Land of Promise they are ou the best of terms with all the Canaanites, and Hittites, and Hivites, and Amorites, and Gergashites, and Perizzites, and Jebusites, within its borders ; while they " maintain their cherished relations of amity with the rest of mankind," who, in their case, include a sort of latest remnant of the primeval primates, called the Root-Diggers. The Diggers, who in stature, strength, and general personal appearance, may be likened to a society of old negro women, are only to be dreaded for their exceeding ugliness. The tribes that rob and murder in war, and otherwise live more like white men, are however numerous all around them. Fortunately, upon the marauding expeditions, and in mat- ters that affect their freebooting relations generally, they all obey the great war-chief of the tribe called the Utahs, in the heart of whose proper territory the Mormon settlements are comprehended. If accounts are true, the Utahs are brave fellows. They differ obviously from the deceased nations, to whose estates we have taken it upon ourselves to administer. They ride strong, well-limbed Spanish horses, not ponies ; bear well-cut rifles, not shot-guns, across their saddle-bows, and are not without some idea of military discipline. They carry their forays far into the Mexican States, laying the inhabitants un- der contribution, and taking captive persons of condition, whom they hold to ransom. They are, as yet at least, little given to drink ; some of them manifest considerable desire to acquire useful knowledge ; and they are attached to their own infidel notions of religion, making long journeys to the ancient cities of the Colorado, to worship among the ruined temples there. The Soldan of these red Paynims, too, their great war- chief, is not without his knightly graces. According to som;.^ of the Mormons, he is the paragon of Indians. His name, translated to diminish its excellence as an exercise in Prosody, THE UTAH CHIEF. 269 is Walker. He is a fine figure of a man, in the prime of life. He excels in various manly exercises, is a crack shot, a rough rider, and a great judge of horse-fl.esh. He is besides very clever, in our sense of the word. He is a peculiarly eloquent master of the graceful alphabet of pan- tomime, which stranger tribes employ to communicate with one another. He has picked up some English, and is familiar with Spanish and several Indian tongues." He rather afiects the fine gentleman. When it is his pleasure to extend his riding excursions into Mexico, to inflict or threaten outrage, or to receive the instalments of his black mail salary, he will take offence if the poor people there fail to kill their fattest beeves, and adopt other measures to show him obsequious and distinguished attention. He has more than one black-eyed mistress there, according to his own account, to whom he makes love in her own language. His dress is a full suit of the richest broadcloth, generally brown, cut in European fashion, with a shining beaver hat, and fine cambric shirt. To these he adds his own gaudy Indian trimmings, and in this way contrives, they say, to look superbly, when he rides at the head of his troop, whose richly caparisoned horses, with their embroidered saddles and harness, shine and tinkle as they prance under the weight of gay metal ornaments. With all his wild-cat fierceness. Walker is perfectly velvet- pawed to the Mormons, There is a queer story about his being influenced in their favor by a dream. It is the fact, that from the first he has received the Mormon exiles into his kingdom with a generosity that, in its limited sphere, trans- cends that of the Grand Monarch to the English Jacobites. He rejoices to give them the information they want about the character of the country under his rule, advises with them as to the advantages of particular localities, and wherever they choose to make their settlements, guarantees them personal safety, and immunity from depredation- 270 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. From the first, therefore, the Mormons have had little or nothing to do in Deseret, but attend to their mechanical and strictly agricultural pursuits. They have made several suc- cessful settlements ; the farthest north, at what they term Brownsville, is above forty miles ; and the farthest south, in a valley called the Sanpeech, two hundred miles from that first formed. A duplicate of the Lake Tiberias, or Genesareth, empties its waters into the innocent Dead Sea of Deseret, by a fine river, to which the Mormons have given the name — it was impossible to give it any other — of the Western Jordan. It was on the right bank of the stream, at a choice spot upon a rich table land, traversed by a great company of ex- haustless streams falling from the highlands, that the Pioneer band of Mormons, coming out of the mountains in the night, pitched their first camp in the Valley, and consecrated the ground. Curiously enough, this very spot proved the most favorable site for their chief settlement, and after exploring the whole country, they have founded on it their city of the New Hierusalem. Its houses are spread to command as much as possible the farms, which are laid out in wards or cantons, with a common fence to each ward. The farms in wheat already cover a space greater than the district of Columbia, over all of which they have completed the canals, and other arrangements, for bountiful irrigation, after the manner of the cultivators of the East. The houses are distributed over an area nearly as great as the City of New York. They have little thought as yet of luxury in their public buildings ; but they will soon have nearly completed a large common public store-many house and granary, and a great sized public bath-house. One of the wonderful thermal springs of the valley, a white sulphur water, of the tempera- ture of 102^ Fahrenheit, with a head "the thickness of a man's body," they have already brought into the town for this purpose ; and all have learned the habit of indulging in CALIFORNIA EMIGRANTS. 271 it. They have besides a yallow brick meeting-house, one hundred feet by sixty, in which they gather on Sundays and in the week-day evenings ; but this is only a temporary struc- ture. They have reserved a summit level in the heart of the city, for the site of a Temple far superior to that of Nauvoo, Avhich, in the days of their future wealth and power, is to be the landmark of the Basin, and goal of future pilgrims. They mean to seek no other resting-place. After pitching camps enough to exhaust many times over the chapter of names in 33d Numbers, they have at last come to their Promised Land, and, " behold, it is a good land and large, and flowing with milk and honey ;" and here again for them, as at Nauvoo, the forge smokes and the anvil rings, and whirring wheels go round. Again has returned the merry sport of childhood, and the evening quiet of old age, and again dear house-pet flowers bloom in garden plots round happy homes. It is to these homes, in the heart of our American Alps, like the holy people of the Grand Saint Bernard, they hold out their welcome to the passing traveller. Some of you have probably seen, in the St. Louis papers, the repeated votes of thanks to them of companies of emigrants to Califor- nia. These are often reduced to great straits after passing Fort Laramie, and turn aside to seek the Salt Lake Colony in pitiable plights of fatigue and destitution. The road, after leaving the Oregon trace, is one of increasing difficulty ; and when the last mountain has been crossed, passes along the bottom of a deep Canon, whose scenery is of an almost terrific gloom. It is a defile that I trust no Mormon Martin Hofer of this Western Tyrol will be called to consecrate to liberty with blood. At every turn, the overhanging cliffs threaten to break down^upon the little torrent river that has worn its way at their base. Indeed, the narrow ravine is so serrated by this stream, that the road crosses it from one side to the 2*72 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. other, something like forty times in the last five miles. At the end of the ravine, the emigrant comes abruptly out of the dark pass into the lighted valley, on an even bench or terrace of its upper table land. No wonder if he loses his self-control here. A ravishing panoramic landscape opens out below him, blue, and green, and gold, and pearl ; a great sea with hilly islands, rivers, a lake, and broad sheets of grassy plain, all set, as in a silver chased cup, within mountains whose peaks of perpetual snow are burnished by a dazzling sun. It is less these, however, than the fore-ground of old country farms, with their stacks, and thatchings, and stock, and the central city, smoldng from its chimneys, and swarming with working inhabitants, that tries the men of fatigue-broken nerves. The " Californeys" scream, they sing, they give three cheers, and do not count them ; a few have prayed, more swear, some fall on their faces, and cry outright. News arrived a few days since from a poor townsman of ours, a journeyman sad- dler, that used to work up Market Street beyond Broad, by name Gillian, who sought the Valley, his cattle given out, and himself broke down and half heart-broken. The recluse Mor- mons fed and housed him and his party, and he made his way through to the gold diggings with restored health and strength. To Gillian's credit for manhood, should perhaps be cited his own allegation, that he first whistled through his fingers various popular, nocturnal, street, circus, and theatre calls ; but it is certain that, when my tidings speak of him, which was when he was afterwards hospitably entreated by a Mor- mon, whom he knew ten years ago as one of our Chester County farmers, he was completely dissolved into something not far from the hysterics, and wept on till the tears ran down his dusty beard. Several hundred emigrants, in more or les^distress, receiv- ed gratuitous assistance last year from the Mormons. Their community must go on thriving They are to be the CALIFORNIA EMIGRANTS. 273 chief workers and contractors upon " Whitney's Railroad," or whatever scheme is to unite the Atlantic and Pacific by way of the South Pass ; and their valley must be its central sta- tion. They have already raised a " Perpetual Fund" for "the final fulfilment of the covenant make by the Saints in the Temple at Nauvoo," which " is not to cease till all the poor are brought to the Valley." All the poor still lingering be- hind, will be brought there ; so at an early period, will the fifty thousand communicants, the Church already numbers in Great Britain, with all the other " increase among the Gen- tiles." Their place of rendezvous will be upon what were formerly the Pottawatamie lands. The interests of the state have been admirably cared for. It now comprises the thriv- ing counties of " Fremont" and " Pottawatamie," in which the^ Mormons still number a majority of the inhabitants. Their chief town is growing rapidly, already boasting over three thousand inhabitants, with nineteen large merchants' stores, the mail lines and five regular steam-packets running to it, and other western evidences of prosperity ; besides a fine Mu- sic Hall and public buildings, and the printing establishment of a very ably edited newspaper. The Frontier Guardian. It is probably the best station on the Missouri for commen- cing the overland journey to Oregon and California ; as travel- lers can follow directly from it the Mormon road, which, in addition to other advantages, proves to be more salubrious than those to the south of it. Large numbers are expected to arrive at this point from England during the present spring, on their way to the Salt Lake. They will repay their wel- come ; for every working person gained to the hive of their " Honey State" counts as added wealth. So far, the Mor- mons write in congratulation, that they have not among them " a single loafer, rich or poor, idle gentleman, or lazy vagabond." They are no communists ; but their experience has taught them the gain of joint-stock to capital, and com- 2*74 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. bination to labor, — perhaps something more; for I remark they have recently made arrangements " to classify their me- chanics," which is probably a step in the right direction. They will be successful manufacturers, for their vigorous land- locked industry cannot be tampered with by protection. They have no gold — they have not hunted for it ; but they have found wealth of other valuable minerals : rock-salt enough to do the curing of the world, — " We'll salt the Union for you," they write, *' if you can't preserve it in any other way ;" per- haps coal ; excellent ores of iron everywhere. They are near enough, however, to the Californian Sierra to be the chief quartermasters of its miners ; and they will dig their own gold in their unlimited fields of admirably fertile land. I should only invite your incredulity, and the disgust of the Horticultural Society, by giving you certain measurements- of mammoth beets, turnips, pumpkins, and garden vegetables, in my possession. In that country where stock thrives care-free, — where a poor man's thirty-two potatoes saved can return him eighteen bushels, and two and a half bushels of wheat sown yield three hundred and fifty bushels in a season, — or where an average crop of wheat on irrigated lands is fifty bushels to the acre ; the farmer's part is hardly to be despised. Certainly it will not be under a continuance of the present prices-current of the region, wheat at four dollars the bushel, and flour twelve dollars the cwt., with a ready market. The recent letters from Deseret interest me in one thing more. They are eloquent in describing the anniversary of the Pioneers' arrival in the Valley. It was on the 24th of July ; and they have ordained that that day shall be com- memorated in future, like our 21st of December, as their Forefathers' Day. The noble Walker attended as an invited guest, with two hundred of his best-dressed mounted cavaliers^ who stalked their guns, and took up their places at the cere- monies and banquet, with the quit precision of soldiers march- A FESTIVAL AT DESERET. 275 ed to mass. The Great Band was there, too, that had helped their humble hyrmis through all the wanderings of the wil- derness. Through the many trying marches of 1846, — through the fierce winter ordeal that followed, and the long journey after over plain and mountain, — it had gone unbroken, with- out the loss of any of its members. As they set out from England, and as they set out from Illinois, so they all came into the Valley together, and together sounded the first glad notes of triumph when the Salt Lake City was founded. It was their right to lead the psalm of praise. Anthem, song and dance, — all the innocent and thankful frolic of the day owed them its chief zest. " They never were in finer key." The people felt their sorrows ended. Far West, their old settlement in Missouri, and Nauvoo ; with their wealth and ease, like " Pithom and Ramses, treasure cities built for Pha- raoh," went awhile forgotten. Less than four years had re- stored them every comfort that they needed. Their enter- tainment, the contribution of all, I have no doubt was really sumptuous. It was spread on broad bufi^et tables, about four- teen hundred feet in length, at which they took their seats by turns, while they kept them heaped with ornamented delica- cies, " butter of kine, and milk, with fat of lambs, with the fat of kidneys of wheat ;" " and the cucumbers, and the mel- ons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic, and the remembered fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely," They seem unable to dilate with too much pride upon the show it made. " To behold the tables," says one that I quote from literal- ly, " to behold them filling the Bowery and all adjoining grounds, loaded with all luxuries of the fields and gardens, and nearly all the varieties that any vegetable market in the world could produce, and to see the seats around those tables filled and refilled by a people who had been deprived of those luxuries for years by the cruel hand of oppression, and freely 276 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. offering seats to every stranger within their borders, — and this, too, in the Valley of the Mountains, over a thousand miles from civilization, where, two years before, naught was to be found save the wild root of the prairie and the moun- tain cricket ; was a theme of unbounded thanksgiving and praise to the Giver of all Good, as the dawning of a day when the Children of the Kingdom can sit under their own vines and fig-trees, and inhabit their own houses, having none to make them afraid. May the time be hastened when the scattered Israel may partake of such like banquets from the gardens of Joseph 1" CHAPTEE IX. Beigham Young's Addeess to the Saints theoughottt the WoELD — Mission of the Twelve Apostles — The Gatheeing — Utah Teeeitoey — Moemonism in Geeat Beitain — Emigea- TION FEOM LiVEEPOOL AgEIOULTUEE AND THE AeTS IN THE Salt Lake Valley — Eepoet by eeoent Teayellees of the Peospeeity of the new Colony. The narrative of Colonel Kane, which has been impugned by many persons in America as giving too favorable an ac- count of the Mormons, relates to the most important incident in the history of the sect. We have reproduced it in extenso, not only for its interest, but because it is the only consecutive account of the exodus of the Mormons, from Nauvoo to the Valley of the Salt Lake, which has been given to the world. Colonel Kane, in a postscript to his pamphlet, reiterates the truth of all he has stated, and bears a cordial testimony to the virtues of the men with whom he made the long and painful journey through the wilderness. Having now traced the rise and progress of this extraordinary religion, of which the chief incidents have been enacted in America, we enter upon a new portion of our subject, and proceed to show what the Mormons have accomplished in the Great Salt Lake Valley, the means they have adopted to gather the " Saints" into that place from all parts of the world, and the develop- ments, both social and doctrinal, which have resulted since the Church has been under the guidance of Brigham Young and Orson Pratt. 278 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. Prior to the arrival of the several detachments of the Mor- mon people at the Salt Lake, the following general epistle from the council of the Tvi^elve Apostles was addressed " to the Saints throughout the earth," from Council Bluffs, the half-way station of the long overland journey to California : — " Beloved Brethren, — At no period since the organization of the Church, on the 6th of April, 1830, have the Saints been so ex- tensively scattered, and their means of receiving information from the proper source so limited, as since their expulsion from Illinois ; and the time has now arrived when it will be profitable for you to receive, by our epistle, such information and instruction as the Father hath in store, and which he has made manifest by his Spirit. " Knowing the designs of our enemies, we left Nauvoo in Feb- ruary, 1846, with a large pioneer company, for the purpose of finding a place where the Saints might gather and dwell in peace. The season was very unfavorable ; and the repeated and excessive rains, and scarcity of provisions, retarded our progress, and compelled us to leave a portion of the camp in the wilderness, at a place we called Garden Grove, composed of an enclosure for an extensive farm and sixteen houses, the fruits of our labor ; and soon after, from similar causes, we located another place, called Mount Pisgah, leaving another portion of the camp ; and after searching the route, making the road and bridges over a multitude of streams, for more than three hundred miles, mostly on lands then occupied by the Potta- watamie Indians, and since vacated in favor of the United States, lying on the south and west, and included within the boundary of Iowa, we arrived near Council Bluffs, on the Missouri River, during the latter part of June, where we were met by Captain J. Allen, from Fort Leavenworth, soliciting us to enlist five hundred men into the service of the United States. To this call of our country we promptly responded ; and before the middle of July, more than five hundred of the brethren were embodied in the ' Mormon Battalion,' and on their march for California, by way of Fort Leavenworth, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel J. Allen, leaving hundreds of wagons, teams, and families, destitute of protectors and guardians, on the open prairie, in a savage country, far from the abodes of civil- THE GREAT SALT LAKE CITY. EPISTLE TO THE SAINTS. 281 ized life, and farther still from any place where they might hope to locate. " Our camp, although aware of a cold northern winter approach- ing, with all attendant evils, — famine, risk of life in an unhealthy climate, Indian depredations, and everything of a like nature that would tend to make life gloomy, — responded to this'call of the Presi- dent with all the alacrity that is due from children to a parent ; and when the strength of our camp had taken its departure in the bat- talion, the aged, the infirm, the widow, and the fatherless that re- mained, full of hope and buoyant with faith, determined to prosecute their journey : a small portion of which went as far west as the Pawnee Mission, where, finding it too late to pass the mountains, they turned aside to winter on the bank of the Missouri, at the mouth of the Running Water, about two hundred and fifty miles north-west of the Missouri settlements ; while the far more exten- sive and feeble numbers located at this place, called by us Winter Quarters, where upwards of seven hundred houses were built in the short space of about three months ; while the great majority located on Pottawatamie lands. In July there were more than two thou- sand emigrating wagons between this and Nauvoo. "In September, 1846, an infuriated mob, clad in all the horrors of war, fell on the Saints who had still remained at Nauvoo for want of means to remove, murdered some, and drove the remainder across the Mississippi into Iowa, where, destitute of houses, tents, clothing, or money, they received temporary assistance from some benevolent souls in Quincy, St. Louis, and other places, whose names will evei be remembered with gratitude. But at that period the Saints were obliged to scatter to the north, south, east, and west, wherever they could find shelter and procure employment. And hard as it was to write it, it must ever remain a truth on the page of history, that while the flower of Israel's camp was sustaining the wing of the American eagle by their influence and arms in a foreign country, their brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, and children, were driven by mob violence frofti a free and independent State of the same national republic, and were compelled to flee from the fire, the sword, the musket, and the cannon's mouth, as from the demon of death. From that time to this the Latter-Day Saints have been roaming without home from Canada to New Orleans, from the Atlantic to the Pa- 13 282 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. cific Ocean, and have taken up their abode in foreign lands. Their property in Hancock County, Ilhnois, was Httle or no better than confiscated. Many of their houses were burned by the mob, and they were obliged to leave most of those that remained without sale, and those who bargained sold almost for a song ; for the influence of their enemies was to cause such a diminution in property, that from a handsome estate was seldom realized enough to remove the family comfortably away ; and thousands have since been wander- ing to and fro, destitute, afflicted, and distressed for the common ne- cessaries of life, or unable to endure, have sickened and died by hundreds, while the temple of the Lord is left solitary in the midst of our enemies, an enduring monument of the diligence and integri- ty of the Saints. " Lieut.-Colonel Allen died at Fort Leavenworth, much lamented by the ' Mormon Battalion,' who proceeded en route by way of Santa Fe, from whence a small portion, who were sick, returned to Pueblo to winter ; while the remainder continued their march, mostly on half-rations, or meat without salt, making new roads, digging deep wells in the desert, levelling mountains, performing severe labors, and undergoing the utmost fatigue and hardship ever endured by in- fantry, as reported by Colonel Cooke, their commanding officer, and arrived in California, in the neighborhood of San Diego, with the loss of very few men. " Soon after the battalion left the Bluffs, three of our Council took their departure for England, where they spent the winter, preaching and setting in order all things pertaining to the Church, and returned to this place in the spring of 1847, as did also the camp from Running Water for provisions. " On April 14, the remainder of the Council, in company of one hundred and forty-three pioneers, left this place in search of a loca- tion, and making a new road, a majority of more than one thousand miles westward, arrived at the Great Basin in the latter part of July, where we found a beautiful valley of some twenty by thirty miles in extent, with a lofty range of mountains on the east, capped with per- petual snow, and a beautiful line of mountains on the west, watered with daily showers ; the Utah Lake on the south, hid by a range of hills ; north-west extending as far as the eye can reach, interspersed with lofty islands, and a continuation of the valley ; or opening on the EPISTLE TO THE SAINTS. 283 north, extending along the eastern shore about sixty miles to the mouth of Bear River. The soil of the valley appeared good, but will require irrigation to promote vegetation, though there are many small streams emptying in from the mountains, and the Western Jordan (Utah Outlet) passes through from south to north. The climate is warm, dry, and healthy ; good salt abounds at the lake; warm, hot, and cold springs are common ; mill sites excellent; but the valley is destitute of timber. The box, the fir, the pine, the sugar-maple, &c., may be found on the mountains sufficient for im- mediate consumption, or until more can grovv'. " In this valley we located a site for a city, to be called the Great Salt Lake City, of the Great Basin, North America ; and, for the convenience of the Saints, instituted and located the Great Basin Post-office at this point. The city is surveyed in blocks of ten acres, eight lots to a block, with streets eight rods wide, crossing at right angles. One block is reserved for a temple, and several more in different parts of the city for pubhc grounds. " Soon after our arrival in the city, we were joined by that portion of the battalion who had been stationed at Pueblo, and a small camp of the Saints from Mississippi, who had wintered at the same place, who united with the pioneers in ploughing, planting, and sowing- near 100 acres, with a great variety of seeds, and in laying the foundation of a row of houses around a ten acre block, and nearly completing the same on one side. Materials for brick and stone buildings are abundant. " After tarrying four or live weeks, most of the pioneers com- menced their return, nearly destitute of provision, accompanied by a part of the battalion, who were quite destitute, except a very small quantity of beef, which was soon exhausted. The company had to depend for their subsistence on wild beasts, such as buffalo, deer, antelope, &c., which most of the way were very scarce, and many obtained were exceedingly poor and unwholesome. Between the Green and Sweetwater Rivers, we met 566 wagons of the emigrat- ing Saints on their way to the valley, at our last encampment with whom we had fifty horses and mules stolen by the Indians; and a few days after we were attacked by a large war party of Sioux who drove off many of our horses, but most of these were recovered. Our route was by Fort Bridger, the South Pass, Fort John (T/> 284 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. raine), and from thence on the north bank of the Platte, to Winter Quarters, where we arrived on the 31st of October, all well; hav- ing performed this long and tedious journey, with ox as well as horse teams, and with little food except wild flesh, without losing a single man, although many were sick when they left in the spring, inasmuch as they were unable to walk until we had travelled more than one half of the outward distance. " On the 11th instant, fifteen of the battalion arrived from Califor- nia, with a pilot from the valley, having suffered much on their re- turn from cold and hunger, with no provisions part of the way but a little horse-flesh of the worst kind. From these Brethren we re- ceived intelligence that the battalion was discharged in California in July, agreeably to the time of their enlistment ; that a portion of the battalion, constituting a company, under Captain Davis, had re-en- listed to sustain a military post in California ; that many had com- menced labor to procure means to return ; that a small portion had come on to the Great Salt Lake City, where they found the emi- grants which we passed in the mountains alive, and in good health and spirits, except three deaths ; and that some of the battalion, who had left the valley with them, had stopped on the Sweetwater, search- ing for buffalo, who with others, in all about thirty, arrived here on the I8th instant, penniless and destitute, having suffered from much cold and hunger, subsisting on their worn-out mules and horses. " All who possibly could v/ent to the valley this season ; and the Saints now in this vicinity have had to depend on their own resources in labor for their sustenance, which, on account of the absence of those engq,ged in the Government service, the sickness that has pre vailed in camp, and the destruction of the cattle by the Indians, con- sists mostly of corn, with a few garden vegstables. " The Saints in this vicinity are bearing their privations in meek- ness and patience, and making all their exertions to their removal westward. Their hearts and all their labors arc towards the setting sun, for they desire to be so far removed from those who have been their oppressors, that there shall be an everlasting barrier between .them and future persecution ; and although, as a people, we have been driven from state to state, and although Joseph and Hyrum, our Prophet and Patriarch, were murdered in cold blood, while in Government duress, and under the immediate control, inspection, and EPISTLE TO THE SAINTS. 285 supervision of the Governor and Government officers, we know, and feel assured, that there are many honest, noble, and patriotic souls now living under that government, and under other similar govern- ments in the sister states of the great confederacy, who would loathe the shedding of innocent blood, and were it in their power, would wipe the stain from the nation. " If such would clear their garments in the public eye and before God, they must speak out ; they must proclaim to the world their innocence, and their hatred and detestation of such atrocious and un- heard-of acts. But with this we have nothing to do ; only we love honesty and right wherever we find them ; the cause is between them, their country, and their God : and we again reiterate what we have often said, and what we have ever shown by our conduct, tliat, notwithstanding all our privations and sufferings, we are more ready than any portion of the community to sustain the constitutional in- stitutions of our mother country, and will do the utmost for them if permitted ; and we say to all Saints throughout the earth. Be sub- missive to the law that protects you in your person, rights, and property, in whatever nation or kingdom you are ; and suffer wrong rather than do wrong. This we have ever done, and mean still to continue to do. We anticipate, as soon as circumstances will per- mit, to petition for a territorial government in the Great Basin. " In compliance with the wishes of the sub-agents, we expect to vacate the Omaha lands in the spring. Thus, brethren, we have given you a brief idea of what has transpired among us since we left Nauvoo ; the present situation of the Saints in this vicinity ; and of our feelings and views in general, as preparatory to the reply which we are about to give to the cry of the Saints from all quarters, What shall we do ? " Gather yourselves together speedily, near to this place, on the east side of the Missouri River, and, if possible, be ready to start from hence by the 1st of May next, or as soon as grass is sufficiently grown, and go to the Great Salt Lake City, with bread-stuff suffi- cient to sustain you until you can raise grain the following season. Let the Saints who have been driven and scattered from Nauvoo, and all others in the Western States, gather immediately to the east bank of the river, bringing with them all the young stock, of various kinds, they possibly can : and let all the Saints in the United States 286 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. and Canada gather to the same place, by the first spring navigation, or as soon as they can, bringing their money, goods, and effects with them ; and, so far as they can consistently, gather young stock by the way, which is much needed here, and will be ready sale. And when here, let all who can, go directly over the mountains ; and those who cannot, let them go immediately to work at making im- provements, raising grain and stock, on the lands recently vacated by the Pottawatamie Indians, and owned by the United States, and by industry they can soon gather sufficient means to prosecute their journey. In a year or two their young cattle will grow into teams ; by interchange of labor they can raise their own grain and pro- visions, and build their own wagons ; and by sale of their improve- ments to citizens who will gladly come and occupy, they can replen- ish their clothing, and thus speedily and comfortably procure an out- fit. All Saints who are coming on this route will do well to furnish themselves with woollen or winter, instead of summer clothing, gen- erally, as they will be exposed to many chilling blasts before they pass the mountain heights. " We have named the Pottawatamie lands as the best place for the Brethren to assemble on tlie route, because the journey is so very long, that they must have a stopping- place, and this is the nearest point to their final destination, which makes it not only desirable, but necessary ; and, as it is a wilderness country, it will not infringe on the rights and privileges of any one : and yet it is so near West- em Missouri, that a few days' travel will give tliem an opportunity of trade, if necessity requires, and this is the best general rendez- vous that now presents, without intruding on the rights of others. " To the Saints in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and adja- cent islands and countries, we say. Emigrate as speedily as possible to this vicinity, looking to, and following the counsel of the Presi- dency at Liverpool ; shipping to New Orleans, and from thence di- rect to Council Bluffs, which will save much expense. Those who have but little means, and little or no labor, will soon exhaust that means if they remain where they are ; therefore, it is wisdom that they remove without delay ; for here is land, on which, by their la- bor, they can speedily better their condition for their further journey. And to all Saints in any country bordering upon the Atlantic we would say. Pursue the same course ; come immediately and prepare THE GATHERING TO THE NEW ZION. 287 to go west : bringing with you all kinds of choice seeds of grain, vegetables, fruits, shrubbery, trees, and vines, everything that will please the eye, gladden the heart, or cheer the soul of man, that grows upon the face of the whole earth ; also the best stock of beast, bird, and fowl of every kind ; also the best tools of every de- scription, and machinery for spinning, or weaving, and dressing cot- ton, wool, flax, and silk, &,c. &c., or models and descriptions of the same, by which they can construct them ; and the same in relation to all kinds of farming utensils and husbandry, such as corn shel- lers, grain threshers and cleaners, smut-machines, mills, and every implement and article within their knowledge that shall tend to pro- mote the comfort, health, happiness, or prosperity of any people. So far as it can be consistently done, bring models and drafts, and let the machinery be built where it is used, which will save great ex- pense in transportation, particularly in heavy machinery, and tools and implements generally. " The Brethren must recollect that from this point they pass through a savage country, and their safety depends on good fire- arms and plenty of ammunition ; and then they may have their teams run off in open daylight, as we have had, unless they shall watch closely and continually. " The Presidents of the various branches will cause this epistle to be read to those under their counsel, and give such instruction in accordance therewith as the Spirit shall dictate ; teaching them to live by every principle of righteousness, walk humbly before God, doing his will in all things, that they may have his Spirit to lead them and assist them speedily to the gathering place of his Saints. " Let the Seventies, High Priests, Elders, Priests, Teachers, and Deacons report themselves immediately on their arrival at the Bluffa to the presidency of their respective quorum if present, and if not, to the presidency or council of the place, that their names may be re- gistered with their quorum, and that they m.ay be known among their Brethren. " It is tlie duty of all parents to train up their children in the way ihey should go, instructing them in every correct principle so fast as they are capable of receiving, and setting an example worthy of imi- tation : for the Lord holds parents responsible for the conduct ot their children until they arrive at the years of accountability before 28S HISTORY OF THE MORMONS him ; and the parents will have to answer for all misdemeanors arising through their neglect. Mothers should teach their little ones to pray as soon as they are able to talk. Presiding Elders should be particular to instruct parents concerning their duty, and Teachers and Deacons «hould see that they do it. " It is very desirable that all the Saints should improve every op- portunity of securing at least a copy of every valuable treatise on education, every book, map, chart, or diagram that may contain in- teresting, useful, and attractive matter, to gain the attention of chil- dren, and cause them to love to learn to read ; and also every his- torical, mathematical, philosophical, geographical, geological, astro- nomical, scientific, practical, and all other variety of useful and inter- esting writings, maps, &c., to present to the general Church Re- corder when they shall arrive at their destination — from w^hich im- portant and interesting matter may be gleaned to compile the most valuable works on every science and subject, for the benefit of the rising generation. " We have a printing-press ; and any one who can take good printing or writing paper to the Valley, will be blessing themselves and the Church. We also want all kinds of mathematical and philo- sophical instruments, together with all rare specimens of natural curiosities and works of art that can be gathered and brought to the Valley, where, and from which, the rising generation can receive instruction; and if the Saints will be diligent in these matters, we will soon have the best, the most useful, and attractive museum on the earth. " Let every Elder keep a journal, and gather historical facts con- cerning the Church or world, with specific dates, and present the same to the Historian ; also let the presiding officer of every emi- grating company, immediately on arrival, sec that his clerk presents the Recorder with a perfect list of the names of every soul, the number of wagons, teams, and every living thing in his camp ; and let the Saints organize at, and travel from the Pottawatamie district, according to the pattern which will there be given them. " Since the murder of President Joseph Smith, many false prophets and false teachers have arisen, and tried to deceive many, during which time we have mostly tarried with the body of the Church, or been seeking a new location, leaving those prophets and teachers to THE GATHERING TO THE NEW ZION. 289 run their race undisturbed, who have died natural deaths or com- mitted suicide ; and we now, having it in contemplation soon to re- organize the Church, according to the original pattern, with a first Presidency and Patriarch, feel that it will be the privilege of the Twelve, ere long, to spread abroad among the nations, not to hinder the gathering, but to preach the Gospel, and push the people — the honest in heart — together from the four quarters of the earth. " The Saints in Western California, who choose, are at liberty to remain, and all who may hereafter arrive on the western coast may exercise their privilege of tarrying in that vicinity or of coming to head-quarters. " The Saints in the Society and other islands of the Pacific Ocean are at liberty to tarry where they are for the time being, or until further notice ; and we will send them more Elders as soon as we can. But if a few of their young or middle-aged intelligent brethren wish to visit us at the Basin, we bid them God speed, and shall be happy to see them. " The Saints in Australia, China, and the East Indies generally, will do well to ship to the most convenient port in the United States, and from thence make to this point, and pursue the same course as do others ; or, if they find it more convenient, they may ship to Western California. " We wish the travellingf Elders throughout the world to remem- ber the revelations of the Doctrine and Covenants^ and say nought to this generation but repentance ; and if men have faith to repent, lead them into the waters of baptism, lay your hands upon them for the reception of the Holy Ghost, confirm them in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, comfort their hearts, teach them the principles of righteousness and uprightness between man and man, administer to them bread and wine, in the remembrance of the death of Jesus Christ ; and if they want further information, tell them to flee to Zion. There the servants of God will be ready to wait upon them, and teach them all things that pertain to salvation ; and anything beyond this in your teaching cometh of evil : for it is not required at your hands, but leadeth you into snares and tempta- tions, which tendeth to condemnation. Should any ask. Where is Zion ? tell them in America ; and if any ask, What is Zion ? tell them the pure in heart. 290 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. " It is the duty of the rich Saints everywhere to assist the poor, according to their ability, to gather; and if they choose, with a covenant and promise that the poor thus helped, shall repay as soon as they are able. It is also the duty of the rich, those who have the intelligence and the means, to come home forthwith and estab- lish factories and all kinds of machinery that will tend to give em- ployment to the poor, and produce those articles which are necessary for the comfort, convenience, health, and happiness of the people ; and no one need to be at a loss concerning his duty in these mat- ters, if he will walk so humbly before God as to keep the small still whisperings of the Holy Ghost within him continually. " Let all Saints who love God more than their own dear selves — and none else are Saints — gather without delay to the place ap- pointed, bringing their gold, their silver, their copper, their zinc, their tin, and brass, and iron, and choice steel, and ivory, and precious stones ; their curiosities of science, of art, of nature, and everything in their possession or within their reach, to build in strength and stability, to beautify, to adorn, to embellish, to delight, and to cast a fragrance over, the house of the Lord ; with sweet instruments of music and melody, and songs, and fragrance, and sweet odors, and beautiful colors : whether it be in precious jewels, or minerals, or choice ores, or in wisdom and knowledge or under- standing, manifested in carved work or curious workmanship of the box, the fir, and pine-tree, or anything that ever was, or is, or is to be, for the exaltation, glory, honor, and salvation of the living and the dead, for time and for all eternity. Come, then, walking in right eousness before God, and your labor shall be accepted ; and kings will be your nursing fathers, and queens will be your nursing mothers, and the glory of the whole earth shall be yours, in con- nection with all those who shall keep the commandments of God ; or else the Bible, those ancient prophets who prophesied from gen- eration to generation, and which the present generation profess to believe, must fail ; for the time has come for the Saints to go up to the mountains of the Lord's house, and help to establish it upon the tops of the mountains ; and the name of the Lord will be there, and the glory of the Lord will be there, and the excellency of the Lord will be there, and the honor of the Lord will be there, and the ex- altation of his Saints will be there, and they will be held as in the THE GATHERING TO THE NEW ZION. 291 hollow of his hand, and be hid as in the cleft of the rock when the overflowing scourge of Jehovah shall go through to depopulate the earth and lay waste the nations because of their wickedness, and cleanse the land from pollution and blood. " We are at peace with all nations, with all kingdoms, with all powers, with all governments, with all authorities under the whole heavens, except the kingdom and power of darkness, which are from beneath, and are ready to stretch forth our arms to the four quarters of the globe, extending salvation to every honest soul ; foi our mission in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth ; and the blessing of the Lord is upon us : and when every other arm shall fail, the power of the Almighty will be manifest in our behalf; for we ask nothing but what is right, we want nothing but what is right, and God has said that our strength shall be equal to our day : and we invite all presidents, and emperors, and kings, and princes, and nobles, and governors, and rulers, and judges, and all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people under the whole heavens, to come and help us to build a house to the name of the God of Jacob, — a place of peace, a city of rest, a habitation for the oppressed of every clime, even for those that love their neighbor as they do themselves, and who are willing to do, God being our helper ; and we will help every one that will help to sustain good and wholesome laws for the protection of virtue and punishment of vice. " The kingdom which we are establishing is not of this world, but is the kingdom of the great God. It is the fruits of righteous- ness, of peace, of salvation to every soul that will receive it, from Adam down to his latest posterity. Our good-will is towards all men, and we desire their salvation in time and eternity ; and we will do them good as far as God will give us the power, and men will permit us the privilege : and we will harm no man ; but if men will rise against the power of the Almighty, to overthrow his cause, let them know assuredly that they are running on the bosses of Je- hovah's buckler, and, as God lives, they will be overthrown. " Come, then, ye Saints ; come, then, 3'e honorable men of the earth ; come, then, ye wise, ye learned, ye rich, ye noble, according to the riches, and wisdom, and knowledge of the great Jehovah ; from all nations, and kindreds, and kingdoms, and tongues, and 292 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. people, and dialects on the face of the whole earth, and join the standard of Emmanuel, and help us to build up the kingdom of God, and establish the principles of truth, life, and salvation, and you shall receive your rev^^ard among the sanctified, when the Lord Jesus Christ cometh to make up his jewels ; and no power on earth or in hell can prevail against you. " The kingdom of God consists in correct principles ; and it mat- tereth not what a man's religious faith is, whether he be a Presby- terian, or a Methodist, or a Baptist, or a Latter-Day Saint or ' Mor- mon,' or a Campbellite, or a Catholic, or Episcopalian, or Mahometan, or even Pagan, or anything else. If he will bow the knee, and with his tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ, and will support good and wholesome laws for the regulation of society, we hail him as a brother, and will stand by him as he stands by us in these things ; for every man's religious faith is a matter between his own soul and his God alone. But if he shall deny the Jesus, if he shall curse God, if he shall indulge in debauchery, and drunkenness and crime, if he shall lie, and swear, and steal, if he shall take the name of the great God in vain, and commit all manner of abominations, he shall have no place in our midst ; for we have long sought to find a people that will work righteousness, that will distribute justice equally, that will acknowledge God in all their v/ays, that will regard those sacred laws and ordinances which are recorded in that sacred book called the Bible, which we verily believe, and which we proclaim to the ends of the earth. " We ask no pre-eminence, we want no pre-eminence ; but where God has us, there we will stand, and that is, to be one with our brethren ; and our brethren are those that keep the commandments of God, that do the will of our Father who is in heaven ; and by bem we stand, and with them we will dwell in time and in eternity ** Come, then, ye Saints of Latter Day, and all ye great and small, • ise and foolish, rich and poor, noble and ignoble, exalted and per- '"ocuted, rulers and ruled of the earth, who love virtue and hate vice, >-nd help us to do this work which the Lord hath required at our .ands ; and inasmuch as the glory of the latter house shall exceed ♦hat of the former, your reward shall be an hundred-fold, and your "est shall be glorio'js. Our universal motto is, ' Peace with God, «»fld good-will to all men.' " THE DESERET STATE. 293 For the first twelvemonth of their residence in the Salt Lake Valley, as has already been described by Colonel Kane, the Mormons had sufficient to occupy themselves in clearing their farms, and in establishing their relations with their new neighbors, the Utah Indians. Their next care was to or- ganize themselves, not only as a religious community, but as a State claiming admission into the American Union. For this purpose a constitution was drawn up and promulgated. The preamble, which is as follows, shows tUe geographical position and limits of the proposed Mormon State : — " THE CONSTITUTION OF THE NEW STATE OF DESERET. " Whereas a large number of the Citizens of the United States, before and since the treaty of peace with the Republic of Mexico, emigrated to and settled in that portion of the territory of the United States lying west of the Rocky Mountains, and in the great interior basin of Upper California ; and '■ Whereas, by reason of said treaty, all civil organization origina- ting from the Republic of Mexico became abrogated ; and " Whereas, the Congress of the United States has failed to pro- vide a form of civil government for the territory so acquired, or any portion thereof; and " Whereas civil government and laws are necessary for the secu- rity, peace, and prosperity of society ; and " Whereas, it is a fundamental principle in all the Republican governments, that all political power is inherent in the people ; and governments instituted for their protection, security, and benefit, should emanate from the same — " Therefore, your Committee beg leave to recommend the adoption of the following constitution, until the Congress of the United States shall otherwise provide for the government of the territory hereinaf- ter named and described. " We the people, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continu- ation of those blessings, do ordain and estabUsh a free and independ- ent government, by the name of the State of Deseret ; including all the territory of the United States within the following boundaries, to 294 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. wit: — commencing at the 33d degree of north latitude, where it crosses the 108th degree of longitude, west of Greenwich ; thence running south and west to the northern boundary of Mexico ; thence west to, and down the main channel of the Gila River, on the north- ern line of Mexico, and on the northern boundary of Lower California to the Pacific Ocean ; thence along the coast north-westerly to 118 degrees 30 minutes of west longitude ; thence north to where said line intersects the dividing ridge of the Sierra Nevada mountains ; thence north along the summit of the Sierra Nevada mountains to the dividing range of mountains that separates the waters flowing into the Columbia River — from the waters running into the Great Basin ; thence easterly, along the dividing range of mountains that separates said waters flowing into the Columbia River on the north from the waters flowing into the Great Basin on the south, to the summit of the Wind River chain of mountains ; thence south-east and south, by the dividing range of mountains that separate the waters flowing into the Gulf of Mexico from the waters flowing into the Gulf of California ; to the place of beginning, as set forth in a map drawn by Charles Preuss, and published by order of the Senate of the United States, in 1848," &c. It appears, however, that the general Government of the United States has not seen fit to accord to the Mormons the exact boundaries which they desire — that it ignores the name of Deseret, and prefers that of Utah. — and is anxious to de- prive the Mormons of the coast line claimed in this document, and to shut them up in the table-land among the mountains. Accordingly, in the first section of the bill passed by Congress we find it enacted that the new territory is " bounded on the west by the State of California ; on the north by the territory of Oregon ; and on the east and south by the dividing ridge which separates the waters flowing into the Great Basin from those flowing into the Colorado River and the Gulf of Cali- fornia." By the same bill, a territorial government for Utah was appointed ; and in October, 1850, the President of the United 1 THK GREAT SALT LAKE. 295 States, with the advice and consent of the Senate, nominated Mr. Brighara Young to be its Governor, and six other persona to the subordinate offices of Secretary, Chief Justice, Associate Justice, Attorney-General, and States-Marshal. Out of these seven, four are members of the Mormon Church, " The spot on which the Mormons are now settled," says the Cincinnati Atlas, " is, geographically, one of the most interesting in the Western World. There is no other just like it, that we recollect, on the globe. Look at the map a little east of the Great Salt Lake, and just south of the South- west Pass, and you will see in the north-east corner of Cali- fornia the summit level of the waters which flow on the North American continent. It must be four thousand feet, perhaps more, above the level of the Atlantic. Li this sequestered corner, in a vale hidden among mountains and lakes, are the Mormons ; and there rise the mighty rivers, than which no continent has greater. Within a stone's throw almost of one another lie the head springs of the Sweetwater and Green Rivers. The former flows into the Platte River ; that into the Missouri, and that into the Mississippi, and that into the Gulf of Mexico, and becomes a part of the Gulf Stream, lav- ing the shores of distant lands. The latter, the Green River, flows into the Colorado, the Colorado into the Gulf of Cali- fornia, and is mingled with the Pacific. The one flows more than two thousand five hundred miles, the other more than one thousand five hundred. These flow into tropical regions. Just north of the same spot are the head streams of Snake River, which flows into the Columbia, near latitude 46^, after a course of one thousand miles. Just south are the sources of the Rio Grande, which, after winding one thousand seven hundred miles, finds the Gulf of Mexico. It is a re- markable point in the earth's surface where the Mormons are ; and, locked in by mountains and lakes, they will proba- bly remain, and constitute a new and peculiar colony." 296 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. After having drawn up a constitution, declaring- Deseret a free and not a slave State, and trusting to the chances of pol- itics and political parties to fix their exact boundaries, the next thing to be accomplished by their leaders was to gather their people together. Before a " territory" under the pro- tection of the United States Government can claim admis- sion into the Union as a State, its population must amount to six^' thousand ; and to bring their number to this point has been the great work in which the Mormon leaders have been incessantly occupied since 1848, Several emissaries or "Apostles" of the sect were despatch- ed to Europe at the commencement of 1850, to "gather" the European Saints to the New Zion. Not the least remarkable circumstances in Mormon history are the faith and zeal of their missionaries They start without money, or, as they express it, " without purse and scrip," and trust to Providence for their subsistence, feeling assured that " He who provideth for the sparrows will provide for them," Some have proceed- ed to Germany, to Italy, to France, to Norway, and to Russia, in total ignorance of the languages of those countries, but trusting to pick up by the way sufficient knowledge to answer their purpose. Little success, however, has attended them upon the Continent. The strongholds of the sect are in England, Wales, and Scotland ; fully thirty thousand people in Great Britain are members of their Church, and there is not a con- siderable town in which they have not a congregation. At the Mormon Conferences held throughout the British Isles, in June, 1850, the number of Mormons in England and Scotland was reported at 27,863, — of whom there were in London, 2,529 ; in Manchester, 2,787 ; in Liverpool, 1,018 ; in Glasgow, 1,846; in Sheffield, 1,929 ; in Edinburgh, 1,331 ; in Birmingham, 1,909 ; and in Wales, 4,342. The report of Tune, 1851, showed a still further increase; and detailed MORMONISM IN GREAT BRITAIN. 297 some particulars of the growth of the sect, which we present in the words of that document : " In 1837, one year before the Saints reached Nauvoo, Elders K. C Kimball and Orson Hyde, together with several others, landed at Liverpool, friendless and destitute. They separated, and went forth preaching into the towns on either side. Preston first heard and obeyed the principles of truth. In eight months, seven hundred members met in conference in that town, rejoicing in the power and privilege of the Gos- pel. In a very short time, several counties, among which were Yorkshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, Stafford, Gloucester, Worcester, and Hereford, had heard and received the ser- vants of God. Thus the Church increased ; so that, in 1840, after three years' labor, the general conference reported 3,626 members, and 383 in the priesthood, making in all 4,019 Saints. But such triumphant success was not confined to England. Scotland enjoyed a portion ; and Ireland was also made to rejoice ; and Wales testified by her thousands how the Church had progressed in that province. In Scotland, the blood-cemented pyramid of bigotry and superstition had been triumphantly attacked, although sustained by the pro- verbial wariness of the Scotch. The Conference established in Edinburgh, notwithstanding that hundreds had removed and hundreds more emigrated, still represented more than 1,500 members. Glasgow was also proclaimed, and over 2,063 members were now revelling in the enjoyment of the spirit of truth. In 1851, more than 3,530 had obeyed the man- dates of Heaven, and thousands had besides emigrated to the gathering place of the Saints. As to Ireland, it was not un- til 1850 that Dublin had heard the principles of truth ; he was, however, glad to say that a small branch had been es- tablished in that city. In Wales, their success was still more great and glorious. In 1851, the number of Saints in the principahty was 4,848, including officers. The statistics of 19 298 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. January last showed there were, altogether, in the United Kingdom, 42 conferences, 602 branches, 22 seventies, 12 high priests, 1,761 elders, 1,590 priests, 1,226 teachers, 682 dea- cons, and 25,454 members, making a total of 30,747 Saints. During the last fourteen years, more than 50,000 had been baptized in England, of which nearly 17,000 had emigrated from her shores to Zion." We gather from other sources that for the two years prior to the death of Joseph Smith, thirteen vessels, wholly engaged by the Mormons for the emigration of their people, quitted Liverpool for New Orleans, — the largest number proceeding by one vessel being three hundred and fourteen, and the smallest sixty. During the year 1850, the Mormon emigra- tion amounted to nearly two thousand five hundred. Being desirous to know something of the class of persons who emi- grate under Mormon auspices to establish themselves in the Salt Lake City, and to ascertain from what parts of the coun- try their ranks were principally recruited, the writer made inquiries at the office in Liverpool of Messrs. Pilkington and Wilson, the shipping-agents for the New Orleans packets. The principal manager of this branch of their business, who is thus thrown into frequent intercourse with the Mormons, furnished the following statement : — " With regard to ' Mormon' Emigration, and the class of persons of which it is composed, they are principally farmers and mechanics, with some few clerks, surgeons, &c. They are generally intelligent and well-behaved, and many of them are highly respectable. Since the 1st of October — when, ac- cording to the new act, a note of the trades, professions, and avocations of emigrants, was first required to be taken by the emigration officer — until March in the present year, the fol- lowing seems to be the numbers of each who have gone out in our ships, as far a-s I can ascertain. I find in our books the namcB of sixteen miners, twenty engineers, nineteen farm- MORMON EMIGRATION. 299 ers, one hundred and eight laborers, ten joiners, twenty-five power-loom weavers, fifteen shoemakers, twelve smiths, nine- teen tailors, eight watchmakers, twenty-five stonemasons, five butchers, four bakers, four potters, ten painters, seven ship- wrights, four iron-moulders, three basket-makers, five dyers, five ropers, four paper-makers, four glass-cutters, five nailors, five saddlers, six sawyers, four gun-makers, &c. These emi- grants generally take with them the implements necessary to pursue their occupation in the Salt Lake Valley ; and it is no unusual thing to perceive (previous to the ship leaving the dock) a watchmaker with his tools spread out upon his box, busy examining and repairing the watches of the ' brethren,' or a cutler displaying to his fellow-passengers samples of his handicraft which he is bringing out with him. Of course the stock thus taken out is small, when placed in the scale with the speculations of commercial men ; but, judging from the enormous quantity of boxes generally taken by these peo- ple, in the aggregate it is large indeed. Many of these fam- ilies have four, five, or six boxes, bound and hooped with iron, marked, ' Not wanted on the passage,' and which are stowed down in the ship's hold ; these all contain implements of hus- bandry or trade. I have seen, with Mormons on board ship, a piano placed before one berth, and opposite the very next, a travelling cutler's machine for grinding knives, &c. Indeed it is a general complaint with captains, that the quantity of luggage put on board with Mormons quite takes them by sur- prise and often sinks the ship upwards of an inch deeper in the water than they would have otherwise allowed her to go. Their provisions are always supplied by their agent here, of the very best description, and more than ample ; for while the law requires that a certain quantity shall be put on board for each passenger, the Mormon superior puts, in all cases, twenty pounds per head above this quantity, and, in addition, a sup- ply of butter and cheese. Everything is good. The bread SOO HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. always is good, frequently better than that used by the shi The surplus provisions are given to the passengers on theii arrival at New Orleans, and distributed by their superiors to each family in proportion to its numbers. As to the localities from which they come, the majority are from the manufac- turing districts — Birmingham, Sheffield, the Potteries, &c. Scotland and Wales have also despatched a large quantity. When the Scotch or Welsh determine on going, it is gen- erally in large companies. It may perhaps be worthy of re- mark, that no Irish ' Saints' have yet made their appearance. The Mormons have the greatest objections against going in any ship carrying other passengers than themselves ; and •when such is the case, they invariably stipulate that a parti- tion shall be erected across the ship's lower decks, so as to sepa- rate them from all other passengers. " The means taken by this people for the preservation of order and cleanliness on board are admirable, and worthy of imitation. Their first act, on arrival here, is to hold a gen- eral meeting, at which they appoint a ' president of the com- pany,' and ' six committee-men.' The president exercises a complete superintendence over everything connected with the passengers ; he allots the berths, settles disputes, attends to all wants, complaints or inquiries, whether for or by the pas- sengers ; advises each how to proceed the most economically, whether in purchasing provisions, bedding, or other articles ; and he being in constant communication with the superiors here, the people are thus safely guarded from the hands of • Man-catchers' and all others of the many who frequent our quays, and whose profession it is to entrap and prey upon the unwary stranger. The duty of the committee-men is to as- sist in getting the luggage on board, and to make a proper ar- rangement in the ship, &c. They also stand sentinel alter- nately at the hatchway day and night, during the period the ship remains in dock, to prevent the intrusion of strangers. REGULATIONS ON SHIPBOARD. 3C To show how effectually this is done, I may just mention that while in every ship taking- the general class of emigrants, per- sons are found concealed on board, or * stow-aways,' in no in- stcmce has such been the case in a ship wholly laden with Mormons. To those acquainted with the slovenly and dirty arrangements of emigrants on shipboard, those of the Mor mons, for the preservation of decency and morality, will ap- pear deserving of the highest commendation. Each berth, or at least a great majority of the berths, has its little curtain spread before it, so as to prevent the inmates from being seen, and also to enable them to dress and undress behind it. In allotting the berths, the members of each family are placed in the berths next each other ; and in case the passengers are from different parts — say from England and Scotland — the Scotch are berthed on one side of the ship, the English on the other. The duties of the president and committee do not cease after the ship leaves dock, but are continued during the whole voyage. The president still exercises his superinten- dence over the general conduct of the passengers, the delivery of provisions, water, &c. The committee act at sea as police. Three of them take each side of the between decks, and see that every person is in bed by eight o'clock in the evening, and in the morning that every passenger is up, the beds made, and the rubbish swept together, hauled up in buckets, and thrown overboard before seven o'clock. It is remarkable the implicit obedience which is paid by the passengers to those whom they thus elect over them ; their slightest word is law, always respected, and cheerfully obeyed ; in their social in- tercourse they address each other as * brother' and * sister ;' and with regard to their care of the things entrusted to their charge, I have been told by an American captain who car- ried them, that having delivered to their committee a quan- tity of water which he had told them was to serve for three days, he found at the end of the third day a fourth day's sup- 302 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. ply left : whereas had he given it into the charge of one of his Bailors for distribution, it would not have lasted the three days. From my knowledge of the emigration at present going on from Liverpool, I can truly say that it would, indeed, be not only conducive to the comfort and health, but would absolutely save the lives of many who now die on shipboard, could the same rules for cleanliness, order, &c., be introduced amongst the general class of emigrants who leave this port for America." The following particulars respecting the route of the emi- grants after their arrival at New Orleans will conclude this part of the subject. After remaining a few days in New Orleans, the emigrants start in companies, sometimes of two or three hundred or more, to St. Louis, by steamboat on the Mississippi. The distance is 1,300 miles. The next stage, also by steam- boat, is a distance of 800 miles from St. Louis, to the settle- ments of Council Bluffs, already mentioned. Here they either remain to fatten their young cattle on the prairies, or squat upon the rich lands till they are ready to go forward to the Great Salt Lake City. The distance from Council Bluffs to their final destination is 1,030 miles. The emigrants travel in ox-teams, and their large caravans present a singular spec- tacle. These wagons are sometimes drawn by as many as six or eight oxen, and there are frequently six hundred wagons in the procession. Each is so arranged as to comprise a bed- room and sitting-room. They dine on the road-side, giving their cattle, in the meantime, an hour's grazing in the prai- ries. They take three months to complete the journey from New Orleans to the Salt Lake City, and being supplied with necessary provisions purchased at St. Louis, they trust for their luxuries to the occasional proceeds of the chase, in pursuing which the male emigrants amuse themselves on the way. They trade with the Indians as they go, ex- EMIGRATION FUND. 303 changing fire-arms and ammunition for buffalo robes and pel- tries.* The Mormons established a perpetual emigration fund in 1849, the nature and objects of which were stated in an epistle from Brigham Young to Mr. Orson Pratt, at that time their emigration agent in Liverpool — " Great Sail Lake City, Oct. 14, 1849. " Dear Brother, — You will learn from our General Epistle the principal events occurring with us, but we have thought proper to write you, more particularly in relation to some matters of general interest, in an especial manner, the perpetual emigration fund for the poor Saints. This fund, we wish all to understand, is perpetual, and in order to be kept good, will need constant accessions. To further this end, we expect all who are benefited by its operations will be willing to reimburse that amount as soon as they are able, facilities for which will very soon after their arrival here present themselves in the shape of public works ; donations will also continue to be taken from all parts of the world, and expended for the gathering of the poor Saints. This is no Joint Stock Company arrangement, but free donations. Your office in Liverpool is the place of deposit for all funds received, either for this or the tithing funds, for all Europe, and you will not pay out, only upon our order, and to such persons as we shall direct. We wish to have machinery of all kinds intro- duced in these valleys as soon as practicable. If you commence operations now, before you can get men to engage in the business, the material for cotton and woollen factories will be produced. Our settlements another season will extend over the rim of the basin, where we can raise the cotton, the sugar cane, rice, &c. Therefore, if you can find those who will engage in manufacturing cloth for this market in the Valley, we want you should let these cotton fac- tory proprietors, operatives, and all, with all the necessary fixtures, come to this place. We have a carrying company started, who will accommodate all emigrants to this place with passage and freight * We learn, as these sheets are passing through the press, that the Mormon emigration will for the future be conducted across the Isth- mus of Panama, or round by Cape Horn. 304 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. from Missouri River ; they need not be obliged under this arrange* ment to buy oxen and wagons when they arrive there, and can be immediately transported through the entire route. We have con- sidered it policy for us to collect tithing in money, instead of labor, as heretofore, therefore we employ constant hands upon our public works, and pay them the money, or such things as they need for themselves and families. We, therefore, kave appointed Joseph L. Hey wood and Edwin D. Woolley, our agents, to go east and pur- chase such things as we need to supply our public works with, such as are necessary, such as glass, nails, paint, &c., and furnish work- men ; these agents will probably call upon you from Boston for funds — if they should, you will send them accordingly. It is dis- tinctly understood that these arrangements are entirely disconnected with the Perpetual Emigrating Fund ; that is sacred to its proper use in gathering the poor Saints. Our true policy is, to do our own work, make our own goods as soon as possible ; therefore, do all you can to further the emigration of artisans and mechanics of all kinds ; also continue to collect tithing. " Our beloved Brother Franklin D. Richards, who is appointed to go on a mission to England, will co-operate with you, and give you more particular items, policy, &c. " With sentiments of the highest esteem, love, and kindness, we remain your brethren in the new and everlasting covenant. " Brigham Young. " P.S. We want a company of woollen manufacturers to come with machinery, and take our wool from the sheep, and convert it into the best of clothes — and the wool is ready. We want a com- pany of cotton manufacturers, who will convert cotton into cloth and calico, &c., and we will raise the cotton before the machinery can be ready. We want a company of potters. We need them. The clay is ready, and dishes wanted. Send a company of each, if pos- sible, next spring. Silk manufacturers and all others will follow in rapid succession. We want some men to start a furnace forthwith ; the coal, iron and moulders are waiting. B. Y.' u »J It will be seen, from the foregoing statements, that the Mormons have made a great movement in advance since the MORMON PROSPERITY. 805 death of Joseph Smith. California has been their golden land, and the source of their present prosperity and hope in the future. " When the Saints were about leaving Nauvoo," says an epistle in the Millennial Star, " Heber C. Kimball prophe- sied that in five years they would be better off than at this time. Little more than three years have elapsed when we behold the poor exiled Mormons in flourishing circumstances, counting among their riches a thousand hills and valleys, situate in the most remarkable, interesting, and auspicious portion of the globe ; having the fountains of rivers that must speedily command the commerce of the world, in the midst of their territories. Thus the banishment of the Church has become her freedom, the greatest boon her opponents could confer, and the glad signal for her to arise and shine. Forci- bly ejected from the mother country on her arrival at the age of puberty, and thrown back upon her own unaided resources, the development of her wonderful constitution, capabilities, and organization, strike the whole world with astonishment and admiration ; they who have plundered, robbed, and driven her into the wilderness, and thought she was dead, now turn their eyes, and discover to their great surprise that she lives, and nobly aspires to power, honor, might, majesty, glory, and dominion. She has triumphed over every form of persecution and every species of cruelty. Under circumstan- ces the most extraordinary and discouraging, she has proved herself not a whit behind the very first and foremost in all the characteristics necessary to constitute a great people. She has earned a title to a fair name and place amongst the na- tions. Yes, Zion is firmly established in the strongholds of the land. Riches unknown are at her disposal. And it is to be hoped that her oppressors will rejoice over her no more ; and that no weapon formed against her shall prosper. Every one is aware of the impracticability of subduing a brave peo- 306 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. pie, entrenched in the fastnesses of the mountains. A nation of mountaineers is not easily subjected. Even our enemies begin to acknowledge the manifest natural advantages and rising importance of the peculiar locality of the city ' sought out,' and are not backward in foretelling the proud and en- viable station we must shortly occupy. They look to her for support, and think of calculating on her assistance, whom they have driven to the last extremity. " All things work together for good. When an iron high- way shall be cast up in the desert, not only will the flight of the righteous be greatly facilitated, but the kings, nobles, and rulers of the earth, with the great men, will flock to the city of refuge, painfully aware that in Zion alone will be found peace and safety. The signs of the times augur an unparal- leled growth for the city in the midst of the everlasting hills." The following additional particulars, with reference to the Great Salt Lake City, are of interest : — " The Nauvoo Legion," says a general epistle to the Saints, signed by Brigham Young, and dated on the 12th of October last, " has been re-organized in the Valley, and it would have been a source of joy to the Saints throughout the earth, could they have witnessed its movements on the day of its great parade ; to see a whole army of mighty men in martial array, ground their arms, not by command, but simply by request, repair to the temple block, and with pick and spade open Ihe foundation for a place of worship, and erect the pilasters, beams, and roof, so that we now have a commodious edifice, one hundred feet by sixty, with brick walls, where we assem- ble with the saints from Sabbath to Sabbath, and almost every evening in the week, to teach, counsel, and devise ways and means for the prosperity of the kingdom of God ; and we feel thankful that we have a better house or bowery for pub- lic worship the coming winter, than we have heretofore had any winter in this dispensation. PROGRESS OF DESERET. 307 " Thousands of emigrants from the States to the gold mines have passed through our city this season, leaving large quan- tities of domestic clothing, wagons, &c,, in exchange for horses and mules, which exchange has been a mutual bless- ing to both parties. '■' The direct emigration of the Saints to this place will be gome five or six hundred wagons this season ; besides, many who came in search of gold, have heard the Gospel for the first time, and will go no further, having believed and been baptized. " On the 2Sth of September, fourteen or fifteen of the brethren arrived from the gold country, some of whom were very comfortably supplied with the precious metal, and others, who had been sick, came as destitute as they went on the ship Brooklyn in 1846. That there is plenty of gold in Western California is beyond doubt, but the valley of the Sacramento is an unhealthy place, and the Saints can be better employed in raising grain, and building houses in this vicinity, than digging for gold in the Sacramento, unless they are counselled so to do. " The grain crops in the valley have been good this season ; wheat, barley, oats, rye, and peas, more particularly. The late corn and buckwheat, and some lesser grains and vegeta- bles, have been materially injured by the recent frosts ; and some early corn in Brownsville, forty miles north, a month since ; and the buckwheat was severely damaged by hail at the Utah settlement, sixty miles south, about three weeks since ; but we have great occasion for thanksgiving to Him who giveth the increase, that he has blest our labors, so that with prudence we shall have a comfortable supply for our- selves, and our brethren on the way, who may be in need, until another harvest ; but we feel the need of more labor- ers, for more efficient help, and multiplied means of farming and building at this place. We want men. Brethren, come 308 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. from the States, from the nations, come ! and help us to build and grow, until we can say, ' Enough — the valleys of Ephraim are full.' " The following letter from a Mormon to his father in Eng land, gives some additional particulars of the city, and the journey overland from New York : — " City of the Great Salt Lake, Rocky Mountains, Oct. 1849. "My dear Father, — I scarcely know how to commence the chequered history of my journey from New York, but will endeavor to give you a very abbreviated account, reserving my journal until we again meet, which happiness will, I trust, yet be permitted to us. We started twenty-four in number, on 10th of March, armed and equipped for a long and toilsome journey. During the first part, having the advantage of hotels, we were very merry, and enjoyed ourselves amazingly ; but this was not to last long, as we had yet to experience the toils of a camp life. We travelled some 1,000 miles upon the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, in American steamers, a mode of transit I am by no means partial to, as I was in a fever of apprehension the whole time, the accidents on these rivers being in- numerable. They arise from ' snags' (pieces of timber sticking up in the muddy waters), from fire, collision, and bursting of the thin boilers, which are placed under the saloon. This part of our travel was, however, accomplished, with only the loss of a few goods ; and in the early part of May our mules were purchased, and we were ready for a start across the prairie. Our party had four wagons, each drawn by eight mules ; and, in addition, we rode upon these combinations of all that is stupid, spiteful, and obstinate. For some little time I enjoyed the change — the novelty of this pred- atory mode of life. At day-break we left our tents, were soon busy around the camp-fire, preparing breakftist. Our stores did not admit of much variety ; coffee, bacon, and hard biscuit, forming the staple of our provisions. The weather soon became oppressively hot, the thermometer rising to 100° and 110°. This was rendered very trying by the entire absence of shade upon this ocean of land ; indeed, these vast plains closely resemble in atmospheric phenomena and in the appearance of the ground, the dry bed of some mig^hty LETTER FROM A MORMON EMIGRANT. 309 sea. The heat, with the quality of our food, soon produced bilious fever, and before our journey thus far was accomplished, half our number had suffered from this complaint. We were much mistaken in believing the route a healthy one, the road being marked with the graves of victims to the California fever. Turning over the leaves of my journal, I find the following account of a night in the prairie, and only one of many similar : — June 19 : We had not been an hour in our tents before one of the dreadful storms swept over us ; the horizon was of the deepest purple, illumed occasion- ally by flashes of forked lightning, the accompanying rain resem- bling, at the distance at which we stood, a rugged cloud descending to the earth. I cannot describe the startling effect of the thunder — each clap resembling some immense cannon, shaking the very earth. I have a full perception of the sublimity and grandeur of these storms, but cannot attempt an adequate description. When the storm reached the tent it was blown over, and we were left to seek shelter in the best way we could. I dragged my coverings under a wagon, but soon found I was lying in a pool of water, with satu- rated blankets. I then crawled into a wagon, and in a cramped position, bitten horribly by mosquitoes, I passed an emphatically miserable night. " About the middle of June I was taken ill, and, with slight in- terruptions, continued so till we reached this ' city.' You will per- haps imagine that, being so styled, it resembles an English city ; but it is only in prospect. The houses are either of logs, or built of mud bricks, called ' dobies,' and, but in a few instances, are not larger than one or two rooms ; but time will accomplish much for this energetic and faithful people. Each house stands in an acre and a quarter of garden-ground, eight lots in a block, forming squares. The streets, which are wide, are to be lined with trees, with a canal, for the purpose of irrigation, running through the centre. As our wagon entered this beautiful valley, with the long absent comforts of a home in prospect, I experienced a considerable change for the better ; and when, to my surprise and gratitude, I met a pious, kind, and intelligent artist, and a countryman also, who took me, emacia- ted, sick, and dirty, to his humble home, my happiness seemed com- pleted. You must, from their own works, read the history of the Mormonites, and you will then learn how viis despised people have 810 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. been persecuted and driven from place to place, until they have at length found a haven in the all but inaccessible valley of the Rocky Mountains, where are gathered together, almost from every nation, some lOjOOOof those who felt happy in sacrificing all that the world holds dear for the sake of their faith; and after struggling with innumerable difficulties and hardships, are building their temple in the wilderness, and are rapidly increasing both in spiritual and tem- poral wealth, having a Church organized according to the New Tes- tament pattern, and endeavoring to live by every word that pro- ceedeth from the mouth of the Lord. The land here is most fruit- ful — I am told it produces 80 bushels of wheat to the acre ; and vines, delicious melons, with other fruits and vegetables, grow in profusion. A city lot — that is, one acre and a quarter — may be pur- chased at one dollar and fifty cents, and would produce food sufficient for my wants the whole year. No man with ordinary intelligence can be poor in such a place ; and then, glorious privilege ! he can be free from the harassments and perplexities which continually de- stroy the peace of those who live in an artificial state of society. " When recruited, in order to accomplish the remaining 600 miles, the distance that still intervened between the city and California, the wagons were sold, and ten of our number started for their original destination, through mountains covered with snow, with a prospect of being slain by Indians, or of feeding either upon their mules or each other. The other thirteen remained, earned their living in dif- ferent ways until later in the season, and have since started upon a southern route of 1,600 miles, for the gold mines, leaving me still too unwell to accompany them." A correspondent of the Neiv York Tribune, writing under the date of July 8, 1849, gives the following account of the state of affairs at the new Mormon city : — " The company of gold-diggers which I have the honor to com- mand, arrived here on the 3d instant, and judge our feelings when, after some twelve hundred miles of travel through an uncultivated desert, and the last one hundred miles of the distance through and among lofty mountains, and narrow and difficult ravines, we found CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE GREAT SALT LAKE CITY. 311 ourselves suddenly, and almost unexpectedly, in a comparative para- dise. " We descended the last mountain by a passage excessively steep and abrupt, and continued our gradual descent through a narrow canon for five or six miles, when, suddenly emerging from the pass, an extensive and cultivated valley opened before us, at the same in- stant that we caught a glimpse of the distant bosom of the Great Salt Lake, which lay expanded before us to the westward, at the dis- tance of some twenty miles. " Descending the table-land which bordered the valley, extensive herds of cattle, horses, and sheep, were grazing in every direction, reminding us of that home and civilization from whic^ we had so widely departed — for as yet the fields and houses were in the dis- tance. Passing over some miles of pasture land, we at length found ourselves in a broad and fenced street, extending westward in a straight line for several miles. Houses of wood or sun-dried brick were thickly clustered in the vale before us, some thousands in num- ber, and occupying a spot about as large as the city of New York. The whole space for miles, excepting the streets and houses, was in a high state of cultivation. Fields of yellow wheat stood waiting for the harvest, and Indian corn, potatoes, oats, flax, and all kinds of garden vegetables, were growing in profusion, and seemed about in the same state of forwardness as in the same latitude in the States. " At first sight of all these signs of cultivation in the w^ilderness, we were transported with wonder and pleasure. Some wept, some gave three cheers, some laughed, and some ran and fairly danced for joy — while all felt inexpressibly happy to find themselves once more amid scenes which mark the progress of advancing civilization. We passed on amid scenes like these, expecting every moment to come to some commercial centre, some business point in this great metrop- olis of the mountains; but we were disappointed. No hotel, sign- post, cake and beer shop, barber pole, market-house, grocery, pro- vision, dry goods, or hardware store distinguished one part of the t(.)\vn from another, not even a bakery or mechanic's sign was any- where discernible. " Here, then, was something new : an entire people reduced to a level, and all living by their labor — all cultivating the earth, or fol- lowing some branch of physical industry. At first I thought it was 312 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. an experiment, an order of things established purposely to cairy out the principles of ' Socialism' or ' Mormonism.' In short, I thought it very much like Ovvenism personified. However, on inquiry, I found that a combination of seemingly unavoidable circumstances had pro- duced this singular state of affairs. There were no hotels, because there had been no travel ; no barber's shops, because every one chose to shave himself, and no one had time to shave his neighbor ; no stores, because they had no goods to sell, nor time to traffic ; no centre of business, because all were too busy to make a centre. " There was abundance of mechanic's shops, of dressmakers, mil- liners, and tailors, &c. ; but they needed no sign, nor had they time to paint or erect one, for they were crowded with business. Beside their several trades, all must cultivate the land, or die ; for the coun- try was new, and no cultivation but their own within a thousand miles. Every one had his lot, and built on it ; every one cultivated it, and perhaps a small farm in the distance. " And the strangest of all was, that this great city, extending over several square miles, had been erected, and every house and fence made, within nine or ten months of the time of our arrival ; while at the same time, good bridges were erected over the principal streams, and the country settlements extended nearly one hundred miles up and down the valley. " This territory, state, or, as some term it, ' Mormon Empire,' may justly be considered as one of the greatest prodigies of our time, and, in comparison with its age, the most gigantic of all republics in ex- istence ; being only its second year since the first seed of cultivation was planted, or the first civilized habitation commenced. If these people were such thieves and robbers as their enemies represented them in the States, I must think they have greatly reformed in point of industry since coming to the mountains. " I this day attended worship with them in the open air. Some thousands of well-dressed, intelligent-looking people assembled ; some on foot, some in carriages, and on horseback. Many were neatly, and even fashionably clad. The beauty and neatness of the ladies reminded me of some of our best congregations in New York. They had a choir of both sexes, who performed extremely well, accompa- nied by a band who played well on almost every musical instrument of modern invention. Peals of the most sweet, sacred and solemn BRIGHAM YOUNG AS A PREACHER. 313 music filled the air, after which, a solemn prayer was offered by Mr. Grant (a Latter-Day Saint), of Philadelphia. Then followed various business advertisements, read by the clerk. Among these I remember a call of the seventeenth ward, by its presiding bishop, to some business meeting ; a call for a meeting of the thirty-second quorum of the seventy ; and a meeting of the officers of the second cohort of the military legion, &.c. &c. " After this, came a lengthy discourse from Mr. Brigham Young, president of the society, partaking somewhat of pohtics, much of re- ligion and philosophy, and a little on the subject of gold, showing the wealth, strength, and glory of England, growing out of her coal mines, iron, and industry ; and the weakness, corruption, and degra- dation of Spanish America, Spain, &.C., growing out of her gold, sil- ver, &c., and her idle habits. " Every one seemed interested and pleased with his remarks, and all appeared to be contented to stay at home and pursue a perse- vering industry, although mountains of gold were near them. The able speaker painted in lively colors the ruin which would be brought upon the United States by gold, and boldly predicted that they would be ov.erthrown because they had killed the prophets, stoned and re- jected those who were sent to call them to repentance, and finally plundered and driven the Church of the Saints from their midst, and burned and desolated thoir city and temple. He said God had a reck- oning with that people, and gold would be the instrument of their overthrow. The constitutions and laws were good — in fact, the best in the world ; but the administrators were corrupt, and the laws and constitutions were not carried out. Therefore they must fall. He further observed, that the people here would petition to be or- ganized into a territory under that same government, notwithstand- ing its abuses, and that, if granted, they would stand by the consti- tution and laws of the United States ; while at the same time he denounced their corruption and abuses. " But, said the speaker, we ask no odds of them, whether they grant our petition or not ! We never will ask any odds of a nation who has driven us from our homes. If they grant us our rignts, well ; if not, well ; they can do no more than they have done. They, and ourselves, and all men, are in the hands of the great 20 314 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. God, who will govern all things for good, and all will be right, and work together for good to them that serve God. " Such, in part, was the discourse to which we listened in the strongholds of the mountains. The Mormons are not dead, nor is their spirit broken. And, if I mistake not, there is a noble, daring, stern, and democratic spirit swelling in their bosoms, which will people these mountains with a race of independent men, and influ- ence the destiny of our country and the world for a hundred gen- erations. In their religion they seem charitable, devoted, and sin- cere ; in their politics, bold, daring, and determined ; in their domes- tic circle, quiet, affectionate, and happy ; while in industry, skill, and intelligence, they have few equals, and no superiors on the earth. " I had many strange feelings while contemplating this new civil- ization growing up so suddenly in the wilderness. I almost wished I could awake from my golden dream, and find it but a dream ; while I pursued my domestic duties as quiet, as happy, and contented as this strange people." A more recent correspondent of a New York newspaper also describes the rising condition of the Great Salt Lake City :— " It is now three years since the Mormons arrived in Salt Lake Valley, and their progress in laying out a city, buildings, fencing farms, raising crops, &c., is truly wonderful to behold ; and is but another striking demonstration of the indefatigable enterprise, in- dustry and perseverance, of the Anglo-Saxon race. " The city is laid out into about twenty different wards, and covers an area of three square miles. It already contains about one thou- sand houses, nearly one story and a half high, built of adobe, or sunburnt brick. A fine stream of cold water rushes down from the mountains, which is distributed in ditches through every street in the city, through the gardens, and to the doors of the dwellings, where it is used for culinary and other purposes. The ground whereon the city is built is sloping, which affords a great fall for the water, the current through the ditches running at the rate of about ' four knots an hour,' and keeps up a continual supply of fresh water from the mountains. The valley where the city stands PROSPERITY OF THE GREAT SALT LAKE CITY. 315 *s quite 'handsome,' running east and west. The city is situate about three miles from the Timpanagos Mountains on the east, witliin five of the Utah outlet on the south-east, and within twenty- miles from a range of mountains on the south, and within twenty- two miles of the Great Salt Lake. Its population is about five thousand, that of the valley ten thousand, exclusive of the city. The Mormons are now building a neat stone State House, two stories high, and its dimensions are forty by ninety feet. Most of the city is fenced, every half square mile being under one enclosure, almost every foot of the ground (except where the house stands) being occupied in grain and vegetables. There are several stores kept here. Mechanics of different trades are busily engaged. The Mormons, take them as a body, I truly believe are a most industri- ous people, and, I confess, as intelligent as any I have met with, either in the east or the west. It is true they are a little fanatical about their religious views, which is not at all strange when com- pared with the majority of religious denominations in the east. But let no man be deceived in his estimation of the people who have settled here. Any people who have the courage to travel over plains, rivers, and mountains, for twelve hundred miles, such prob- ably as cannot be travelled over in any other part of the world, to settle in a region which scarcely ever received the tread of any but the wild savage and beasts who roam the wilderness, must be possessed of indomitable energy which is but rarely met with. " Brigham Young, the president of the Mormon Church here (and to whom I had a letter of introduction), is a man about forty years of age, of light complexion, ordinary height, but rather cor- pulent. He exercises a vast influence among the Mormons, prob- ably more than any other man, and I think stands nearly in the same position as their Saint, .Joseph Smith. He is a man of con- siderable intelligence, and I think has seen a good deal of the world. The greatest fault I can find with his preaching is, that he is almost too egotistical. Instead of taking a text from the Good Book, and if possible showing that the Book of Mormon is the true road, he confines himself altogether to giving accounts of their persecuted Church in bygone days, and in ' showing up' its present enemies, I have heard him preach twice, and have had several 316 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. private conversations with him. In private, he is very sociable and talkative, joking and laughing as heartily as anybody." The latest traveller through the Great Salt Lake Yalley, who has published an account of his journey, is Mr. William Kelly, the author of JEaxursions in California. In this very entertaining work he thus describes his first view of the New Mormon City : — " Instead of a charming valley beautifully diversijfied with wood and water, there was a bald, level plain, extending over to the base of the Utah range on the other side, without bush or bramble to cast a shade from the scorching rays of a flaming sun, that blazed with a twofold intensity, reflected by the lofty ranges by which the plain is bounded. Some miles to the north lay the Great Salt Lake, glisten- ing in radiance like a sheet of crystals, in strange contrast with the dark and sombre Utah range that stretch along its western shores. At first the city was not visible, but on passing over a piece of table- land the new capital of the Mormons became revealed — not, I must admit, with any very striking effect, for it was too young as yet to boast the stately ornaments of spire and dome, which first attract the eye of the anxious traveller. We saw from here, with great dis- tinctness, the plan of the place, which had nothing n-ovel or peculiar about it, laid out in very wide, regular streets, radiating from a large space in the centre, where there appeared the basement and tall scaf- folding-poles of an immense building in progress of erection. The houses were far apart, each being allotted a space for gardens and enclosure, which caused 14; to cover a very large space of ground. " We were soon discovered coming down the slope, and as we entered the precincts of the town, the inhabitants came to the front of their houses, but showed no disposition to open an acquaintance- account, believing us to be an exclusively American caravan. So soon, however, as they were undeceived, they came about us in great numbers, inquiring what we had to dispose of. They were neat and well clad, their children tidy, the rosy glow of health and robustness mantling on the cheeks of all, while the softer tints of female loveli- ness prevailed to a degree that goes far to prove those ' Latter-Day Saints' have very correct notions of angelic perfectibility. We po- AN ENGLISH TRAVELLER AT DESERET. 31 7 litely declined several courteous offers of gratuitous lodging, select- ing our quarters in a luxuriant meadow at the north end of the city ; but had not our tents well pitched, when we had loads of presents — butter, milk, small cheeses, eggs, and vegetables, which we received reluctantly, not having any equivalent returns to make, except in money, whicli they altogether declined ; in fact, the only thing we had in superabundance was preserved apples and peaches, a portion of which we presented to one of the elders, who gave a delightful party in the evening, at which all our folks were present. We found a very large and joyous throng assembled ; the house turned inside out to make more room on the occasion, with gaiety, unembarrassed by ceremony, animating the whole, making me almost fancy I was spending the evening amongst the crowded haunts of the old world, instead of a sequestered valley, lying between the Utah and Timpa- nagos Mountains. After tea was served, " ' There were the sounds of dancing feet Mingling with the tones of music sweet," or, as Dermot MacFig would say, " ' We shook a loose toe, While he humored the bow." Keeping it up to a late hour, perfectly enraptured with the IMormon ladies, and Mormon hospitality. " I was not aware before that polygamy was sanctioned by their creed, beyond a species of ethereal Platonism which accorded to its especial saints chosen partners, called ' spiritual wives ;' but I now found that these, contrary to one's ordinary notions of spiritualism, gave birth to cherubs and unfledged angels. When our party ar- rived we were introduced to a staid, matronly-looking lady as Mrs. ***■*, and as we proceeded up the room, to a blooming young creature, a fitting mother for a celestial progeny, as the other Mrs. ****, with- out any worldly or spiritual distinction whatsoever. At first, I thought it a misconception ; but inquiry confirmed the fact of there being two mistresses in the same establishment, both with terrestrial habits and duties to perform, which I found afterwards to be the case in other 318 HISTORY OF THE MORMON'S. instances, where the parties could lay no claim to any particula? saintliness. " On Saturday morning, we had a very early levee at our tents with fresh milk, butter, fowls and eggs, and a light wagon in atten- dance, with a side of beef, a carcase of mutton, and a veal, — all of superior quality ; the latter articles for sale professionally, but cer- tainly on most moderate terms, — the prime joints not averaging ovei one penny per pound. The other matters we were forced to accept, and gave to the donors what we could afford of coffee, sugar, and tobacco, which were not to be had in the city for the last two months. In addition to those timely presents, we got all our washing done in the very best style of art. After breakfast we went out returning visits, and were most graciously received in every quarter. The houses are small, principally of brick, built up only as temporary abodes, until the more urgent and important matters of inclosure and cultivation are attended to ; but I never saw anything to surpass the ingenuity of arrangement with which they are fitted up, and the scrupulous cleanliness with which they are kept. There were tradesmen and artisans of all descriptions, but no regular stores or workshops, except forges. Still, from the shoeing of a wagon to the mending of a watch, there was no difficulty experienced in get- ting it done, as cheap and as well put out of hand as in any other city in America. Notwithstanding the oppresal-v'e temperature, they were all hard at work at their trades, and abroad in the fields, weed- ing, moulding, and irrigating; and it certainly speaks volumes for their energy and industry, to see the quantity of land they have fenced in, and the breadth under cultivation, considering the very short time since they had founded the settlement in 1847. There was ample promise of an abundant harvest, in magnificent crops of wheat, maize, potatoes, and every description of garden-vegetable, all of which require irrigation, as there is little or no rain in this region, a salt-lake shower being estimated at a drop to each inhabitant. They have numerous herds of the finest cattle, droves of excellent sheep, with horses and mules enough and to spare ; but very few pigs, per- sons having them being obliged to keep them chained, as the fences are not close enough to prevent them damaging the crops. How- ever, they have legions of superior poultry, so that they live in the most plentiful manner possible. VVe exchanged and purchased A SUNDAY AT DESEUET. ^19 some mules and horses on very favorable terms, knowing we would stand in need of strong teams in crossing the Sierra Nevada. " On Sunday morning early we went to the hot springs, a mile beyond the town, where the authorities were erecting a handsome and commodious building, and had a glorious bath, in sulphur water, at a temperature just as high as could be comfortably endured, drink- ing, too, of the stream as it gushed from the hill-side in a thick vol- ume, being told it possessed certain medicinal properties of which we all stood in need. The Mormons made a boast of their good health, and attribute it to bathing in those springs, many that I met declaring they came to the Valley perfie^ cripples, and were restored to their health and agility by frequenting them. , " After bathing, we dressed in our best attire, and prepared to at- tend the Mormon service, held for the present in the large space ad- joining the intended temple, which is only just above the foundations, but will be a structure of stupendous proportions ; and, if finished according to the plan, of surpassing elegance. I went early, and found a rostrum, in front of which there were rows of stools and chairs for the townfolk ; those from the country, who arrived in great numbers, in light wagons, sitting on chairs, took up their sta- tions in their vehicles in the background, after unharnessing the horses. There was a very large and most respectable congregation ; the ladies attired in rich and becoming costumes, each with parasols ; and I hope I may say, without any imputation of profanity, a more bewitching assemblage of the sex it has rarely been my lot to look upon. Before the religious ceremony commenced, five men mounted the rostrum, who were, as I learned, the weekly committee of inspec- tion. The chairman read his general report of the prospects and proceedings of the colony, and then read a list of those deserving of particular commendation for their superior husbandry, the extent of their fencing, and other improvements, which was followed by the black list, enumerating the idle, slothful, and unimproving portion of the community, who were held up to reprobation ; and threatened, in default of certain tasks allotted them being finished at the next visit, to be deprived of their lots, and expelled the community. The reading of these lists produced an evident sensation, and, I am satis- fied, stimulate the industrious to extra exertion, and goad the lazy to work in self-defence. This over, another, ' the gentleman in black,' 320 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. got up, and, without any form of service or prefatory prayer, read aloud a text from the Book of Mormon, and commenced a sermon, or disccurse, dz muUis rebus ei quibusdam allis, taking a fling at the various other religions, showing them up by invidious comparison with the creed of the Valley. He then pointed out the way to ar- rive at Mormon sanctity, in which there was nothing objectionable as laid down, and exhorted the congregation, not only as they valued tneir salvation, but their crops, to so demean themselves, and en- deavor to propitiate the favor and indulgence of the Supreme Being, calling to mind that, in the year of righteousness (last year) he sent sea-gulls, a bird never before known to visit the valley, to devour the crickets,,who would otherwise, from their numbers, have anni- hilated all vegetation.* " He then adverted to the barbarous treatment they received at the hands of the Americans, forgetting to avow his charitable for- giveness, and expressed a belief that their avarice would yet induce them to covet their possessions in Salt Lake ; but he entertained a hope that the Mormons by that time would be strong enough to guard and maintain their rights and independence. He talked of the gold of California, which he said was discovered by Mormon energy, but they freely abandoned it to American cupidity, as they (the Mor- mons) did not desire such worldly aggrandizement. " The affairs of Church and State here go strictly hand in hand, the elders of the Church being the magistrates and functionaries in all civil and criminal matters, the framers of the law and chancellors of the exchequer, with whom it is expected that every member of the community will lodge whatever wealth they may acquire beyond their immediate wants, taking treasury notes of acknowledgment. " There are no written laws among them ; but trespasses, outrages, and such matters, are taken cognizance of by the elders, and adjudi- cated on summarily, according to conscience, fines and public flog- ging being the punishments most in vogue. The authorities have a * It is surprising the Mormons, who are, as a class, a most asty.te and reasoning people, can be gulled and gammoned after this fashion, for sea-gulls are met all across the plains and were seen in the Valley the first time Colonel Fremont visited it, in 1845, two years before the Mormons thought of settling there. MORMON GOLD HARVEST. 321 mint, from which they issue gold coin only ; it is plain, but massive, without any alloy. " There are, as far as I could hear or judge, about 5,000 inhabi- tants in the town, and 7,000 more in the settlements, which extend forty miles each way — north to the Weber, and south towards Utah Lake. The valley, at its greatest width, is not over fifteen miles, and I think seven would be a fair average. Its soil is a rich black loam, and is watered, besides the Jordan, which flows through its centre from Utah to Salt Lake, by innumerable springs of good water, and streamlets flowing from the snowy mountains ; but it has a naked bleak look for want of timber, which renders the eflfects of the sun next thing to unbearable. The city is situated on the south- east end of the lake, about nine miles from its shores." Brigham Young, in a paragraph previously quoted, talks magniloquently of gold being only fit for the paving of streets and the roofing of houses ; but it appears that the sect has been so successful at the diggings of California, as well as at the more profitable diggings of the soil of a grain and fruit produce country, that they have put aside 3^ tons, or 94,080 ounces of gold, gathered in California, for the purpose of " gathering" the poor Saints from England and other parts of Europe, as well as from the remote districts of the Ameri- can Union, into the Great Salt Lake Valley. At £4 an ounce, this would amount to £376,320. It is possible that they may have exaggerated their resources in this respect. The gold coinage of their new State of Deseret has been al- ready struck. The five-dollar pieces are of pure Californian gold, without alloy, and somewhat smaller, but much heavier than a sovereign. The reverse bears the inscription, " Holi- ness to the Lord," surmounting the eye of Jehovah, and a cap somewhat like a mitre, both very rudely executed. The ob- verse bears two hands joined, and the words, " Five dollars." The two and a half dollar pieces are precisely similar. CHAPTER X. MOEMONISM — ^ITS PeESENT StATE, AND SOOIAL, POLITICAL, AND Religious Aspect. In tracing the history of the rise and progress of Mormon- ism, and detailing the varied fortunes of the founders and leaders of the new faith, as well as of the large community who have recognized Joseph Smith as the prophet of God, and his Book of Mormon as a new Bible, we have necessarily omitted to notice many controversial points, in order that the continuity of the narrative might not be broken. Having concluded this portion of the work, we proceed to the con- sideration of the present state of Mormonism, and to the ar- guments by which its divinity is asserted by the men who be- lieve in it. The discovery of the Book of Mormon is connected, by the believers in it, with certain Scripture doctrines and prophecies concerning the Latter Days. Hence, indeed, the designation of the sect, as the Church of the Latter-Day Saints. Here, we have to admire the cleverness of the case which they have contrived to make out for themselves. The wonder is, that so much plausible evidence should be collectible in support of the most transparent pious fraud ever attempted to be palmed off on the credulity of mankind. However, so it is ; and it is " writ down in our duty" to say a few words on this curi- ous point. In treating of this subject, in his pamphlet on the Divine CEBEMONY OF CONFIRMATION. THE BOOK OF MORMON. 325 Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, Mr, Orson Pratt, by far the ablest writer whom Mormonism has produced, commencea by a triumphant recapitulation of the means by which he hag reduced his opponents to the necessity of asserting a mere ne- gation in defence of their disbelief Secure in the strength of his affirmative position, he characteristically defies " all the powers of priestcraft, editors, and the infernal regions com- bined," to disprove his " vast amount of most incontestable evidences," by which it has been " abundantly" testified that "the Book of Mormon has been confirmed by the voice of the Lord, by the ministry of angels, by heavenly visions or by the miraculous gifts and powers of the Holy Ghost, unto tens of thousands of witnesses." Nay, he boldly declares that " if any one will follow the steps of demonstration which he has pointed out, he will know with the same certainty that it is a revelation from God, that a geometrician has when he follows the rules of demonstration in relation to any particular prob- lem." Such being the state of the argument, Mr. Orson Pratt pro- fesses to feel that he need call no further witnesses ; but nev- ertheless, for the sake of completeness, he summons the prophets into court. He takes the last first. St. John on Patmos (Revelations, xiv. 6, 7, 8), and his vision of an angel " having the Everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth," in the latter days, which, of course, is none other than the all-needed New Revelation contained in the " Book of Mormon," with the restoration of the Gospel priesthood, its gifts, powers, and blessings. Hitherto the world has had a history (in the New Testament) of the Gospel, but not in its enjoyment. That the angel was to preach his Ever- lasting Gospel "to every nation,' kindred, tongue, and people," shows that they were to be previously destitute of it, as they have been practically. Now, the " Book of Mormon" contains the Everlasting Gospel in all its fulness ; moreover, it has 326 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. been revealed to the inhabitants of earth y " an angel." a. E. D. Corollary. — " The only people that do testify that the Gospel has been restored to the earth by an angel are the Lat- ter-Day Saints ; therefore, if the Gospel is restored, the Latter- Day Saints are the only people to whom it is restored ; all others testify that it has not been restored to them. If the only people who do testify to the restoration of the Gospel by angel be impostors, then all nations must still be in darkness, without the Gospel, and without a Christian Church, and must remain so until the angel is sent in fulfilment of John's prediction." Again. The Church of the Latter-Day Saints is none other than the Stone foretold by Daniel to smite the Image upon its feet of iron and clay. The [Mormon] proof follows : — " The nations of modern Europe, including England and the Gentile nations of America, compose the legs, and feet, and toes, of the image, while the other portions of the Image will be found mostly among the Asiatic nations. The geo- graphical position of the image is from east to west ; its head is found in Asia, and its toes in Europe and America. When the kingdom of God is set up, it must be somewhere near the western extremity of this great image, for the toes and feet are first broken by it, and afterwards all the other portions, from which we learn that its advancement is from west to east. The progress of the kingdoms of the world has been from east to west ; the progress of the kingdom of God is from west to east, in a retrograde direction. This stone, according to Daniel (ii. 45), is to be ' cut out of the mountain without HANDS,' ' Cut out of the mountain,' signifies its location before any part of the image is broken. The present location of the Latter-Day Church is in the valleys among the Rocky Moun- tains ; this appears to be its appropriate position, according to prophecy. The stone is to be ' cut out witlmut hands :' THE BOOK OF MORMON. 327 this signifies that it is a kingdom, not formed by the will of man, but by the will of God ; human wisdom has no hand in its formation ; it is ' the God of Heaven' that sets it up, and by him it will be sustained and never destroyed, nor broken to pieces, nor left to other people. " The kingdoms of the world made war upon the saints of the former-day kingdom, and prevailed against them, and overcame them, and rooted them out of the earth, so that the kingdom no longer existed among the nations ; not so with the Latter-Day kingdom ; for it will prevail against the king- doms of the world, until they shall, as Daniel says, ' become like the chaff of the summer thrashing-floors : and the wind carry them away, that no place shall be found for them ; and the stone that smote the image shall become a great moun- tain, and fill the whole earth' (Daniel, ii. 35). And then shall the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him' (Daniel, vii. 27). The events predicted by Daniel are the same as the events predicted by John ; Daniel says a kingdom shall be set up ; John tells us by what means, namely, through the everlasting Gospel, revealed by an angel. Daniel says, when the kingdom of God is set up, that the kingdoms of the world shall be broken in pieces : John says, that when the ever- lasting Gospel has been restored and preached to tho nations, that then is ' the hour of God's judgment' — the downfall of Babylon. Both of these writers beheld the same great events, but described them in different language. That which was predicted by those two inspired men is now being fulfilled. The angel has appeared — the Gospel is restored — the king- dom is set up — its location is among the moutains, and shortly the balance of these predictions will also be fulfilled to the very letter, and not one jot or tittle shall fail, until the earth 328 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. shall rest from wickedness, and ' the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God and his Christ." But the great proof of all, according to the believers in Joseph Smith and his book, is derived from the 29th chapter of Isaiah, and his prophecy concerning Ariel therein contain- ed, particularly the latter part of the second .verse — " And it shall be unto me as Ariel."=^ Taking advantage of the cur- rent translation, which seems to compare by the word " it," some other place to Ariel, the Mormon writer contends that another nation than Jerusalem, suffering similar judgments is intended. The rest of the argument must be taken in Mr. Orson Pratt's own words : — " In the three following verses, the Lord describes more fully the second event ; he says, * And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee. And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall he low out of the dust, and thy voice shall he as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust. Moreover, the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away ; yea, it shall be at an instant, suddenly.' These pre- dictions of Isaiah could not refer to Ariel, or Jerusalem, be- cause their speech has not been 'out of the ground,' or ' low out of the dust,' but it refers to the remnant of Joseph who were destroyed in America upwards of fourteen hundred years ago. The Book of Mormon describes their downfall, and truly it was great and terrible. At the crucifixion of Christ ' the multitude of their terrible ones,' as Isaiah predicted, ' be- came as chaff that passed away,' and it took place, as he further predicts, ' at an instant suddenly.' Many of their * It is believed that the correct translation of the passage is, " And it shall indeed be an Ariel (a stout lion) to me," a play upon the name. THE BOOK OF MORMON. 329 great and magnificent cities were destroyed by fire, others by earthquakes, others by being sunk and buried in the depths of the earth. The sudden destruction came upon them be- cause they had stoned and killed the prophets sent among them. Between three and four hundred years after Christ, they again fell into great wickedness, and the principal nation fell in battle. Forts were raised in all parts of the land, the remains of which may be seen at the present day. Millions of the people perished in battle, and they suffered just as the Lord foretold by Isaiah, " And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee, and thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground,' &c. This remnant of Joseph in their distress and destruction, became unto the Lord AS Ariel. As the Roman army lay siege to Ariel, and brought upon her great distress and sorrow, so did the contend- ing nations of ancient America bring upon each other the most direful scenes of blood and carnage. Therefore the Lord could, with the greatest propriety, when speaking in reference to this event, declare that ' It shall be unto me as Ariel.' " One of the most marvellous things connected with this prediction is, that after the nation should be brought down, they should ' speak out of the ground.' This is mentioned or repeated four times in the same verse. Never was a prophecy more truly fulfilled than this, in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith took that sacred history ' out of the ground.' It is the voice of the ancient prophets of America speaking ' out of the ground.' Their speech ' is low out of the dust ;' it speaks in a most familiar manner of the doings of bygone ages ; it is the voice of those who slumber in the dust. It is the voice of prophets speaking from the dead, cry- ing repentance in the ears of the living. In what manner could a nation, after they were brought down and destroyed, ' speak out of the ground ?' Could their dead bodies, or their 21 330 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. dust, or their ashes speak ? Verily, no : they can only speak by their writings, or their hooks that they wrote while living. Their voice, or speech, or words, can only ' speak out of the ground,' or * whisper out of the dust,' by their books or writings being discovered. Therefore, Isaiah further says, in the eleventh and twelfth verses, ' And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book -that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, read this, I pray thee ; and he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed ; and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, read this, I pray thee ; and he saith, I am not learned.' '■ After obtaining the Book of Mormon through the minis- try of the angel ' out of the ground,' Mr. Smith transcribed some of the original characters upon paper, and sent them by the hands of Martin Harris, a farmer, to the city of New York, v.here they were presented to Professor Anthon, a man deeply ^earned in both ancient and modern languagcb. Mr, Harris very anxiously requested the learned professor to read it, but he replied that he could not. None of the learned have as yet been able to decipher the characters and hieroglyphics which are found among the ancient ruins, in almost every part of America. The written language of Ancient America is a sealed language to this generation." The story is then told of Professor Anthon's considering the application made to him as " a hoax," and particularly because of the "singular medley" presented by the alleged letters, which were arranged in columns like the Chinese mode of writing. In this it would now appear that Professor Anthon judged too hastily. Some American glyphs dis- covered by Professor Rafinesque, and of which fac-similes were given in his Asiatic Journal for 1832 (two years after the publication of tho Book of Mormon), agree very much with the description of the specimen as shown to him by the Mormon emissary. Thus, we are told by Professor Rafinesque THE BOOK OF MORMON. 331 that " the glyphs of Otolum are written from top to bottom, like the Chinese, or from side to side, indifferently, like the Egyptian and the Demotic Lybian. Although the most common way of writing the groups is in rows, and ear\^^ group separated, yet we find some formed, as it were, in o\ long squares or tablets, like those of Egypt." The glyph- found by the Professor in Mexico, were arranged in columns being forty-six in number. These the learned professor de- nominates "the elements of the glyphs of Otolum," and ho supposes that by the combination of these elements, words and sentences were formed, constituting the written language of the ancient nations of that vast continent. By an inspec- tion of the fac-simile of these forly-six elementary glyphs, we find all the particulars which Professor Anthon ascribes to the characters, which, he says Martin Harris, a " plain- looking countryman" presented to him. The " Greek, He- brew, and all sorts of letters," inverted and in different posi- tions, " with sundry delineations of half-moons," planets, suns, " and other natural objects," are found among these forty-six elements. This " plain-looking countryman," ac cording to Professor Anthon's testimony, got, says Mr. Orson Pratt, " some three or four years the start of Professor Rafin- esque, and presented him with the genuine elementary glypha years before the Atlantic Journal made them public ; and what is still m.ore remarkable, ' the characters,' Professor Anthon says, ' were arranged in columns, like the Chinese mode of writing,' which exactly corresponds with what Professor Rafinesque testifies, as quoted above, in relation to the glyphs of Otolum. We see nothing in Professor Anthon's statement that proves the characters presented to him to be a ' hoax,' as he terms it ; unless, indeed, he considers their exact re- semblance to the glyphs of Otolum, and their being arranged in the right kind of columns, is a ' hoax.' But, as Joseph Smith was an unlearned young man, living in the country, 332 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. where he had not access to the writings and ditiCGveries of antiquarians, he would be entirely incapable of forging the true and genuine glyphs of ancient America ; therefore we consider this testimony of Professor Anthon, coming as it does from an avowed enemy of the Book of Mormon, to be a great collateral evidence in its favor. Professor Rafinesque says, as we have already quoted, that * the glyphs of Otolum are written from top to bottom, like the Chinese, or from side to side, indifferently, like the Egypticm.' Now the most of the Book of Mormon was written from side to side, like the Egyptian. Indeed, it was written in the ancient Egyptian, reformed by the remnant of the tribe of Joseph." Other glyphs have since been found, as we learn from the fol- lowing statement which appeared in the Times a7id Seasons : — "On the 16th of April, 1843, a respectable merchant, by the name of Robert Wiley, commenced digging in a large mound near this place ; he excavated to the depth of ten feet, and came to rock. About that time the rain began to fall, and be abandoned the work. On the 23d, he and quite a number of the citizens, with myself, re- paired to the mound, and after making ample opening, we found plenty of rock, the most of which appeared as though it had been strongly burned ; and after removing full two feet of said rock, we found plenty of charcoal and ashes, also human bones, that appeased as though they had been burned ; and near the eciphalon a bundle was found that consisted of Six Plates of Brass, of a bell shape, each having a hole near the small end, and a ring through them all, and clasped with two clasps. The ring and clasps appeared to be iron, very much oxidated : the plates first appeared to be copper, and had the appearance of being covered with characters. It was agreed by the company that I should cleanse the plates. Accord- ingly, I took them to my house, washed them with soap and water, and a woollen cloth ; but finding them not yet cleansed, I treated them with dilute sulphuric acid, which made them perfectly clean, on which jt appeared that they were completely covered with char- acters, that none, as yet, have been able to read. Wishing that the world might know the hidden things as fast as they come to light. ANCIENT GLYPHS. SQ3 I was induced to state the facts, hoping that you would give them an insertion in your excellent paper, for we all feel anxious to know the true meaning of the plates ; and publishing the facts might lead to the true translation. They were found, 1 judge, more than twelve feet below the surface of the top of the mound. " I am, most respectfully, a citizen of Kinderhook, " W. P. Harris, M.D." The following certificate was forwarded for publication at the same time : " We, citizens of Kinderhook, whose names are annexed, do cer- tify and declare, that on the 23d of April, 1843, while excavating a large mound in this vicinity, Mr. Wiley took from said mound six brass plates, of a bell-shape, covered with ancient characters. Said plates were very much oxidated. The bands and rings on said plates mouldered into dust on a slight pressure. " Robert Wiley. G. W. F. Ward. Fayette Grubb. George Dickenson. J. R. Sharp. W. P. Harris. W. LONGNECKER. IrA S. CuRTIS. W. FuGATE." We have now to do with the manner in which the Mor- mons apply the supposed possession of some such plates as these by Joseph Smith to Isaiah's prophecy respecting Ariel, as interpreted by the Latter-Day Saints in their own favor. We therefore proceed with Mr. Orson Pratt's statement : — "Isaiah says, as we have already quoted, that 'the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, read this, I pray thee ; and he saith, I cannot for it is sealed.' Mark this prediction ; the Book itself was not to be delivered to the learned, but only ' the words of a Book ;' this was literally fulfilled in the event which has already been described, as clearly testified of, not only by the ' plain-looking country- man,' namely, Martin Harris, but by the learned Professor Anthon himself. "But Isaiah informs us, in the next verse (12), that the book itself shall be delivered to the unlearned. He says, 334 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. ♦ And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, read this, I pray thee ; and he saith, I am not learned.' This was fulfilled when the angel of the Lord delivered the Book into the hands of Mr. Smith ; though unlearned in every lan- guage but his own mother tongue, yet he was commanded tc read or translate the Book. Feeling his own incapacity tc read such a book, he said to the Lord, in the words of Isaiah, 'I am not learned.' When he made this excuse, the Lord answered him in the words of Isaiah, next verses (13, 14) ' Wherefore, the Lord said, forasmuch as this people drav near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear to- ward me is taught by the precept of men ; therefore, behold I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder ; for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of fheii prudent men shall be hid.' What words could better por- tray the powerless apostate condition of modern Christendom than this description ? and what words could be more descrip- tive of the ' marvellous work and a wonder,' than to say, that ' the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the under- standing of their prudent men shall be hid?' What could be more marvellous and wonderful, than for the Lord to cause an unlearned youth to read or translate a book which the wisdom of the most wise and learned could not read ? Surely the Lord's ways are not as our ways, and his thoughts are not as our thoughts ; for the wisdom of the world is foolish- ness in the sight of God ; he bringeth forth by his power the hidden things of his wisdom through the meek, the simple, and the unlearned, while he rejecteth the wisdom and learn- ing of men, because of their pride and high-mindedness." To us it is clear that the reply, — " I cannot, for it is sealed," fully proves that the Prophet meant that the book itself, not the words only, were delivered to the learned. But we are THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAH. 335 not here showing the truth or the contrary-of the Mormon argument, hut its ingenuity, which, sometimes, is best shown where it is the most evidently false. Besides, we rpust not pause on the way, and the subject is not exhausted. Hear, then, again, Mr. Orson Pratt, the "learned apostle" of Mor- monism : — " Isaiah, in the ninth and tenth verses, has given a further description of the condition of all the nations, addressing him- self to them, he exclaims, ' Stay yourselves and wonder ; cry ye out, and cry : they are drunken, but not with wine ; they stagger, but not with strong drink ; for the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes : the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered, and the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a Book that is sealed,' &c. Here we perceive the dark and be- nighted condition of the multitude of all the nations ; at the time ' the words of the Book' should ' speak out of the ground' ' the spirit of deep sleep' was to be poured out upon them ; they were to be drunken and stagger, but not with wine nor Avith strong drink ; the prophets and seers were to be covered from them ; and ' the vision of all,' that is, the revelations of all the holy prophets and seers, contained either in the Bible or any other place, were to become as the words of the sealed Book of Mormon. If they understood ' the vision of all' who have spoken in past ages by the spirit of prophecy, they would not be ' drunken,' nor ' stagger,' nor be in a ' deep sleep,' but all nations are drunken with the wine of the wrath of the for- nication of great Babylon ; they see not, neither do they un- derstand the judgments which are about to befall them. As the learned Professor Anthon could not read the ' words of the Book' presented to him because it was a sealed book — a language not understood by the learned — so with ' the multi- tude of all the nations' in regard to ' the vision of all the prophets and seers ;' they are covered : they are not understood 336 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. any more than the words of the sealed Book were understood by the learned. When the events of Scripture prophecy are so clearly fulfilled before their eyes, they will not even then per- ceive it ; when the wisdom of the wise and learned perishes, and a ' marvellous work, and a wonder' is performed, in caus- ins: the unlearned to read the Book, the nations will not take it to heart ; though, as Isaiah says, they will * stay themselves and wonder,' and 'cry out and cry,' because of the Book which 'speaks out of the ground,' yet, because they are drunken with every species of wickedness and abominations, and because they ' draw near to the Lord with their mouths and with their lips,' while their hearts are removed far from him, and because they are taught by the precepts of men they will reject it, and in so doing, they will reject the Lord's great and last warning message to man, and bring upon them- selves swift destruction. Because they despise so great a work, they ' shall be visited,' as Isaiah says, ' with storm and tempest,' and ' earthquakes,' and ' the flame of devouring fire.' ** As another evidence that the Book of which Isaiah speaks, was to come forth in the latter times, he says, in the seven- teenth verse, ' Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as the forest ? Eighteenth verse : ' And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the Book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.' This Book could not mean the New Testament, for when that was written, it was about the time that Lebanon was to be forsaken by the Jews, and become a desolation, a forest or wilderness, for many generations. * Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers' (Isaiah, xxxii. 13). Hence, the land of Palestine, which includes Lebanon, was, when the New Testament was written, about to be cursed. But immediately after the unlearned should read the Book, ' Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruit- THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAH. 337 ful field shall be esteemed as the forest.' The Book, there- fore, tljat Isaiah prophesies of, is to come forth just before the great day of the restoration of Israel to their own lands ; at which time Lebanon, and all the land of Canaan, is again to be blessed, while the fruitful field, occupied by the nations of the Gentiles, ' will be esteemed as a forest ;' the multitude of the nations of the Gentiles are to perish, and their lands, which are now like a fruitful field, are to be left desolate of inhabitants, and become as Lebanon has been for many gene- rations past ; while Lebanon shall again be occupied by Israel, and be turned into a fruitful field. These great events could not take place until the Lord should first bring forth a book out of the ground. " ' Aiid, in that day, shall the deaf hear the ivords of the Book.^ This has already been literally fulfilled. Those who were so deaf that they could not hear the loudest sound, have had their ears opened to hear the glorious and most precious words of the Book of Mormon, and it has been done by the power of God and not of man. ' And the eyes, of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of da.rkness. This has also been literally fulfilled, as abundantly testified of in the fifth number of this series. * The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord' Now, during the long night of darkness, there have been some humble meek persons, who have had a degree of light ; but as the Church of Christ had fled fr6m the earth, there was no one that had authority to baptize or administer the ordinances of the Gospel to those meek per- sons ; therefore, their joy was very imperfect : but Isaiah gays, when the Book is revealed, ' the meek shall increase their joy in the Lord.' This is what the Book is calculated to produce ; for by its contents the meek learn that the time is at hand for them to inherit the earth, according to the blessing of our Saviour on the mount : ' Blessed are the meek, for thev shall inherit the earth.' This will be fulfilled after 338 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. all the wicked nations are destroyed. ' And the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.' This also is promised as a result of the revelation of the Book, and the means by which it is to be effected is by a general overthrow of the wicked ; as, says Isaiah, ' For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off; that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.' how plainly it is declared that judgment was soon to fall upon all the wicked after the appearance of this Book — this marvellous work and a wonder ! And how plainly it is also declared that the deaf, the blind, the meek, and the poor among men were to be greatly benefited by the Book I" But the prophetic argument of the Mormons has wider ramifications. Not alone Isaiah, but Ezekiel, is produced as a witness : — "We have already shown from Isaiah that the house of Jacob never could be restored, until God should bring forth a Book, and that, too, ' out of the ground ;' and, until the deaf should hear the words of it. It will next be shown from the testimony of Ezekiel, that the Book which is to perform so great a work for Israel, was really and truly to be a record of Joseph. Ezekiel says (xxxvii.), ' The Word of the Lord catne again unto me, saying. Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon iv., for Judah, and for the chil- dren of Israel, his companions ; then take another stick, and write upon it, for Joseph the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions : and join them one to another into one stick, and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, wilt thou not show us what thou meanest by these ? Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph which is (shall be) in the hand of Ephraim, THE PROPHECY OP EZEKIEL. 839 and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. " It was customary in ancient days to write upon parch- ment, and roll the same upon sticks, and such reading-sticks or rolls were called books. All the prophecies of Jeremiah, from the days of Josiah down to the fourth year of Jehoikim were written in one of these rolls (Jeremiah, xxxvi. 1, 2). This ' roll' of the writings of Jeremiah, is called a ' book' in the 8th, 10th, 11th, and 13th verses: hence, the terms roh and bor^' ire synonymous. If, then, a reading-stick or roll, containmg writings, is called a ' book,' we can all understand the meaning of the word of the Lord to Ezekiel : it was a clear and beautiful representation of the union of two books in the hand of the Lord. Ezekiel was commanded first, to write upon one stick, ^for Judah and for the children of Is- rael his companions' This was a representation of the Bible, which is the record of Judah. * The7i take another stick, and ivrite upon it, for Joseph, the stick of Ephra'ini, aiid for all the Iwuse of Israel his companions^ This was a representa- tion of the Book of Mormon, which is the record of Joseph written in ancient America. * Arid join them one to another into one stick, and they shall become one in thine hand.' This was a representation of the union of the records of the two nations. In the interpretation of the meaning of the two sticks, the Lord says that He himself * ivill take the stick of Joseph' and put it ' vnth the stick of Judah.' Therefore, we ieam by this that the stick of Joseph was not found united with the stick of Judah by accident, but it was a work which the Lord himself should perform. Hence, he further says, ' They squill be one in mineha'tul.' Therefore, the two writ- ings becoming one in Ezekiel's hand, was a most beautiful 340 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. representation of the tv/o writings which should become one in the Lord's hand. " Having learned by Ezekiel that the Lord God will take the stick of Joseph, and put it with the stick of Judah, and make them one in his hand ; let us next inquire, what events are to follow the union of these two- writings. The Lord further declares, ' And the 'stick whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. And say unto them. Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land, and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel ; and one king shall be king to them all ; and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all : neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions ; but 1 will save them out of all their dwelling-places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them : so that they be my peo pie, and I will be their God.' We learn from this, that the great object the Lord has in view, in bringing forth the book of Joseph, and uniting it with the Bible, is to gather Israel never more to be scattered. Thus we see that both Isaidi and Ezekiel have spoken of the same great and marvellous events ; one declares that the house of Jacob should never again * wax pale' or ' be made ashamed' in the day that a certain book should make its appearance ; the other declares, that the whole house of Israel should be restored to their own lands, and should never again be divided into two nations, in the day that the Lord should put the writings of Joseph with the writings of Judah. Take the testimony of Isaiah and Ezekiel in connection with the testimony of Moses, concerning the ' precious things of heaven,' which should be given on the land of Joseph, and join this with the testim^iiy of John con- MORMON CHARGES AGAINST ALL CHRISTIAN CHURCHES. 341 cerning the restoration of the Gospel by an angel, and the testimony of Daniel concerning the stone cut from the moun- tain without hands, representing the latter-day kingdom of God, and we have by a combination of all these testimonies, prophetic evidences of the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon, which should convince the most incredulous, and destroy Atheism out of existence," Such is the argument of the great Mormon Apostle ! Af- ter all, however, it is designed exclusively for the profane. He himself needs it not ; he has higher, more immediate evi- dence. — This I " And I now bear my humble testimony to all the nations of the earth, who shall read this series of pamphlets, that the Book of Mormon is a divine revelation, for the voice of the Lord hath declared it unto me." But we must proceed, however, with our abstract of the theology of the Mormons, as it has grown out of and upon the Book of Mormon, as invented by Joseph Smith ; and as it has been developed by the acuter men, such as Orson Pratt, who succeeded him in the management of the sect. For the last fourteen hundred years, according to the per- suasion of the Mormon, the Church has been in a state of suspended animation. Mr. Orson Pratt, too, would prove the allegation out of the mouths of Christian controversialists themselves. " We believe," he states, in " E-emarkablo Visions, Wo. 6." " that there has been a general and awful apostasy from the religion of the New Testament, so that all the known world have been left for centuries without the Church of Christ among them ; without a priesthood author- ized of God to administer ordinances ; that every one of the churches has perverted the gospel ; some in one way, and some in another. For instance, almost every church has done away * immersion for remission of sins.' Those Avho have practised it for remission of sins, have done away the ordinance 342 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. of the * laying on of hands' upon baptized believers for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Again, the few who have practised the last ordinance have perverted the first, or have done away the ancient gifts, powers, and blessings, which flow from the Holy Spirit, or have said to inspired apostles and prophets, we have no need of you in the Ijody in these days. Those few, again, who have believed in, and contended for, the miracu- lous gifts and powers of the Holy Spirit, have perverted the ordinances or done them away. Thus all the churches preach false doctrines and pervert the gospel, and instead of having authority from God to administer its ordinances, they are under the curse of God for perverting it." In corroboration of these views, we are reminded that Protestants charge on the churches of Rome and Greece the sin of apostasy, and Roman Catholics have charged with her- esy all reformed churches ; — mutual recriminations which in- volve the predicated period of fourteen hundred years in the charge brought against it by the Mormon prophet. Mr. Pratt, indeed, in his " Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mor- mon," boldly declares, that "the whole Romish, Greek, and Protestant Ministry, from the Pope down, through every grade of office, are as destitute of authority from God, as the Devil and his angels." And this state of things (he says), was prophesied by Paul, in the memorable words, that " the day of Christ shall not come, except there come a falling away first," and by other apostles in many texts of Scripture. The Mormons admit that the churches which have existed from the first century " have all had a form of godliness, while denying the power ; and they yet stand in the same predica- ment." " Such," says Mr. Pratt, in the work just alluded to, " such was to be the religion of the latter ages, as prophetically de- scribed by the ancient apostles ; and such is the religion of the Papal, Greek, and Protestant churches of the nineteenth ORSON PRATT ON THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. 343 century. The predictions were uttered eighteen centuries ago, and modern Christendom exhibits a most perfect fulfil- ment. Instead of having apostles, prophets, and other in- spired men in the church now, receiving visions, dreams, reve- lations, ministry of angels, and prophecies for the calling of officers, and for the government of the church, — they have a wicked, corrupt, uninspired pope, or uninspired archbishop, bishops, clergymen, &rc., who have a great variety of corrupt forms of Godliness, but utterly deny the gift of revelation, and every other miraculous power which always characterized Christ's Church. These man-made, powerless, hypocritical false teachers, ' make merchandise of the people,' by preach- ing for large salaries, amounting in many instances to tens of thousands of pounds sterling annually. They and their de- luded followers are reprobate concerning the faith once de- livered to the Saints. The faith which once quenched the violence of fire, stopped the mouths of lions, divided waters, and controlled the powers of nature, is discarded as unneces- sary. The faith that inspired men with the gift of revelation — that opened the heavens and laid hold on mysteries that were not lawful to be uttered — that unfolded the visions of the past and future — and that called down the angels of heaven to eat and drink with men on earth, — is denied as be- ing attainable in this age. The sound doctrine taught by the apostles which put mankind in the possession of these glorious gifts and powers cannot now be endured. The doctrines, commands, fables, traditions, and creeds, of uninspired men, are now substituted in the place of direct inspiration from God. ' They are ever learning, but are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.' Guess-work, conjecture, opinion, and, perhaps, in some instances, a belief in regard to the truth, are all that they attain to, while a knowledge they do not obtain, because they deny new revelation the only means of obtaining it. This great multitude of false teachers 344 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. who have found their way into all nations, deceiving millions, ' resist the truth,' contend against the miraculous powers of the gospel, and reject inspired men, as * Jannes and Jambres' — the magicians, did Moses ; but ' their folly shall be made manifest unto all men, as their's also was ;' yea, all nations shall see the righteous judgments which shall speedily be ex- ecuted upon them, for they shall, like Pharaoh's host, perish quickly from the earth." Pursuing this course of logic, in connection with the evi- dence of history Mr. Orson Pratt argues that it is neither un- scriptural nor unreasonable to expect more revelation ; and that, in fact, more revelation is necessary. This, however, is an argument in behalf of modern visions and prophesyings, and but little in favor of the Book of Mormon, which, like the Scriptures in general, deals with the past, not with the present. And this, as we have before remarked, is the main proposition about which the Mormon advocate is solicitous. That proposition he uses both negatively and affirmatively. Negatively, as against all churches preceding his own : — e. g. "As the Church of England and other Protestants do not ^profess to have received any new commission by revelation, but, on the contrary, require their followers to reject every- thing of the kind, it may be asked, how did they get theii authority ? It will be replied, that they received it from WicklifFe, Cranmer, Luther, Calvin, and various other dissent- ers from the Papal Church. But where did those dissenters get theirs from ? They answer, from the Roman Catholics. But the Catholics excommunicated them as heretics ; and surely if they had power to impart authority, they had power to take it away. Therefore, if the Romish Church had any authority, the Protestants, being excommunicated, can hold none from that source. But if the Catholics hold authority, they must be the true church, and consequently the Protes- tants must be apostates ; but on the other hand, if the Cath- ORSON PRATT ON THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. 345 olics are not the true church, they can have no authority themselves, and therefore could not impart any to others. Now the Church of England states in one of her homilies, ' tliat laity and clergy, learned and unlearned, men and luo- nien and children of all ages, sects, and degrees, of Whole Christendom, have been at once buried in the most Abom- inable Idolatry {a most dreadful thing to think), and tliat for the SPACE of eight hundred years or more.' Wesley in his 94th sermon states the same in substance ; he says, ' The real cause why the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost were no longer to be found in the Christian Church, was, because the Christians were turned heathens again, and liad only a dead form left^ If, then, the ' whole of Christendom ' without one exception, have been ' buried in the most abom- inable idolatry for upwards of eight hundred years,' as the Church of England declares, and if they, because they are destitute of the gifts, are not even now Christians, but heath- ens as Wesley asserts, we ask where the authority was dur- ing the eight hundred years, and where is it now ? Surely God would not recognize ' the most abominable idolaters,' as holding authority ; if so, the authority of the worshippers of Juggernaut must be as valid as that of idolatrous Christen- dom. But the idolatry of ' the whole of Christendom' must have been more corrupt, according to the Church of England, than that of other idolaters ; for they call it ' the most abom- inable idolatry,' and most positively declare that there was no exception of either clergy or laity — of either man, woman, or child — all were buried in it. This being the case, (and we feel no disposition to dispute it,) there could have been no possible channel on the whole earth through which authority could have been transferred from the apostles to our day. Therefore, as Wesley says, all Christendom are, sure enough, ' heathens^ having no more authority nor power than the idolatrous pagans. If, then, the ' whole of Christendom' have 22 346 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. been without authority and power * for eight hundred years and upwards,' we ask, when was the authority restored ? how was it restored ? and to what man or people was it restored ? It could not have been restored to the papal churches, for they do not profess that any such restoration has been made to them ; it could not have been restored to the Church of England and other Protestants, for they do not admit of any later revelation than the New Testament ; consequently their own admissions prove most clearly that the whole of Chris- tendom are without an authorized ministry : therefore it is indispensably necessary that more revelation should be given to restore the authority to the earth and call men to the min- istry again, as in ancient days." The Mormon writer uses the same proposition affirmatively as justifying the creation and ordination of official persons in the new church of Latter-Day Saints. Revelation, he says, is also necessary to point out their duties. " Without continued revelation the officers of the church can do nothing." " The apostles, and Jesus Christ himself, were under the same ne- cessity in their time." Peter himself was one " of those visionary characters so much despised by modern religionists." So far the philosophical historian may recognize in these Mormon doctrines the spirit of reaction against that ultra Protestant opposition to mysticism of which Luther set the example. We therefore cannot do better than sum up the entire argument in the words of its clever though mistaken advocate. " New revelation is the very life and soul of the religion of heaven, — that it is indispensably necessary for the calling of all officers in the church, — that without it, the officers can never be instructed in the various duties of their callings, — that where the spirit of revelation does not exist, the church cannot be comforted and taught in all wisdom and knowl- edge, — cannot be properly reproved and chastened according RELIGIOUS ASPECT OF MORMONISM. 34Y to i,he mind of God, — cannot obtain promise for themselves, but are dependent upon the promises made through the an- cients. Without new revelation the people are like a blind man groping his way in total darkness, not knowing the dangers that beset his path. Without prophets and revela tors, darkness hangs over the future, — no city, people, or nation, understand what awaits them. Without new revela- tion, no people know of the approaching earthquake — of the deadly plague — of the terrible war — of the withering famine — and of the fearful judgments of the Almighty which hang over their devoted heads. When the voice of living prophets and apostles are no longer heard in the land — there is an end of perfecting and edifying the saints — there is a speedy end to the ' work of the ministry' — there is an end to the obtain- ing of that knowledge so necessary to eternal life — there is an end to all that is great, and grand, and glorious, pertain- ing to the religion of heaven — -there is an end to the very existence of the church of Christ on the earth — there is an end to salvation in the celestial kingdom.'' From this statement, the dogma that " the Bible and tra- dition, without further revelation, are an insufficient guide," naturally follows as a corollary. Some of the illustrations of this insufficiency are pregnant of suggestion. For instance, has the following any connection with the spiritual wife doc- trine, which, notwithstanding many denials, we are bound, on the authority of Mr. Kelly and many other persons, to be- lieve to be practised by at least some of the Mormons. " There are many things practised by both Romish and Protestant churches which the Scriptures do not clearly re- veal, therefore they must both of them consider that the Scriptures are not a sufficient guide. We are informed in Scripture that marriage is ordained of God, but we are not informed in Scripture who has the right to officiate in this ceremony. Who can tell from the New Testament anything 348 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. about the order to be observed in relation to this subject ? We read that ' what God hath joined together let no man put asunder?' but through what particular office does God join together the sexes in matrimony ? Can laymen offici- ate ? Can those out of the church officiate ? Can a wo- man officiate ? Can the parties join themselves together in matrimony, in the name of the Lord ? Who can answer these questions from the Bible alone ? No one. The Bible does not guide the church in this important ordinance." Similar questions are asked in the same manner as to all other ordinances of the church, baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, ordination, &c., with similar result. The writer then condescends to be jocose ; and asks, " Furthermore, where in the Bible does it say that the king and people of England ought to revolt from the Romish Church, and form a church of their own by act of parlia- ment ? If the Bible were a sufficient guide, why was an act of parliament necessary as another guide to form the English Church ? If the Bible were a sufficient guide, why was another book made, called the ' Book of Common Prayer,' and the people compelled to give heed to it under pain of banishment, and even death itself? If the articles of religion, contained in the New Testament were a sufficient guide, why were ' Thii'ty-nine Articles' more, enforced upon the people by acts of parliament, and the people butchered and murdered because they could not conscientiously comply with them ? It is certain that this newly-fbrmed-parliament- made church considered the Bible to be very deficient as a guide, or they never would have resorted to such blood-thirsty murderous measures to establish other books in addition to the Bible. " Again, what part of the Bible has established the salaries of the difi^erent officerrs of the church ? If it be necessary that preachers should have wages, how much shall it be ? How THE BOOK OF DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS. 349 much more shall an apostle get than a prophet ? If a bishop get from ten to twenty thousand pounds for one year's preaching, how much should an inspired apostle or prophet get ? or how much should some of the lower officers have ? the New Testament does not tell us the amount of wages re- ligious hirelings should have, therefore, if it be important to know, the Bible is an insufficient guide. It says, however, that apostles should * take neither purse nor scrip,' but it leaves us entirely in the dark, as to how much bishops, archbishops, and other officers should have. Would it not be a wise plan for an act of parliament to increase their wages a little, lest they sufier ? We see plainly that the Bible is not a sufficient guide in many, very many points, as the doings of the whole Protestant world most plainly declare." Practical as all these questions are, and enforced with tal- ent and eloquence not to be despised by any candid writer, they leave the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon much where they found it. Accordingly, no attempt is made by Mr Orson Pratt, to argue that question, by reference to internal evidence eitlfer of that book or of the Bible, or to sup- port either by tradition or argument, but only by testimony. And that testimony is the story of the angel and the discovery of the buried plates already related. We are to accept the testimony of Joseph Smith and his witnesses ; the Mormons will give us no other. For the rest, they resort to every spe- cies of forensic recrimination. This mode of argument is open to much suspicion. It in dicates a bad cause. It is a plea in extenuation, not a proof of non-guiltiness. It is the justification of one pious fraud by the allegation of another. To a considerable extent, how- ever, the justification has succeeded, and we are presented with a new church claiming immediate revelation with its specific doctrines, officers, and orders. These, for the most p&,rt, are to be found in another Mormow S50 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. book, already frequently mentioned, and of which the full title is as follows : " The Book of Doctrine and Covenants, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, selected from the Revela- tions of God, by Joseph Smith, President. Liverpool : Orson Pratt."=^ This work commences with seven lectures on the subject of faith, said originally to have been delivered before a class of the elders, in Kirtland, Ohio ; and certainly marked by con- siderable acumen. On this point Mr. Bowes, the author of a pamphlet entitled " Mormonism Exposed," and a public de- bater against the Saints in the manufacturing districts of England, has not been fortunate in attacking their theology. He charges them with ignorance of the word faith — he has only proved his own. Faith, he says, is crediting testimony, and asks, " What testimony God had to credit ?" — and there- fore concludes that faith is not an attribute of God but of believers. Mr. Bowes has here confounded speculative belief with practical faith. With the Mormons, on the contrary, " faith is the principle of power," both human and divine. " The principle of power," say they, "which existed in the bosom of God, by which the worlds were framed, was faith ; and it is by reason of this principle of power existing in the Deity, that all created things exist; so that all things in heaven, on earth, or under the earth, exist by reason of faith as it existed in Him." It is to the credit of the Mormons that, considering faith in its practical aspects, they have brought it to bear on the actual business of life, and used it as the cor- ner-stone of the social edifice, though rejected by other build- ers of churches and of states. It is because the Mormons accept faith as a practical im- * This and the other numerous controversial tracts of the Mormons may be obtained at their Depot, 35, Jewin Street, Aldersgate Street, London. MORMON IDEA OF " FAITH." 351 pulse rather than as a speculative acquiescence, that they re- gard the living prophet with even more esteem than his prophecy, and derive the authenticity of the book rather from the institution of the church, than found the church upon the book. They sympathize more strongly with the Roman Catho- lic view in relation to the Bible than with the Protestant. The church to both is the living witness and interpreter of the dead letter in old documents. With them, there still exists fellowship between God and man ; with them, the being of the former is testified by immediate inspiration ; and the be- lieving recipient is, as of old, " the temple of the Holy Ghost." Now, other and more generally esteemed men than Joseph Smith — men whom the world has accepted as philosophers, have yearned, in these latter days, to supply the void which they felt to exist as a want in modern Christendom. Luther's reformation in Europe was directly opposed to the mystical spirit which lies concealed in the bosom of all religious com- munities, and which, though the great reformer sought to ex- tinguish it, continues still unquenched to the present time, and, as his biography proves, was not absent in his deeper moods from his own mental operations. The Chillingworth doctrine of " the Bible and the Bible alone being the religion of Protestants," had a tendency to substitute for the idolatry of the priest the idolatry of the book ; and, indeed, it was a favorite tenet, and, strange as it may appear, the boast of the orthodox, that "there was no vision in the land." The time for miraculous communication was passed forever. The great American sage, Mr. Emerson, felt the burthen of the Protestant yoke in this particular ; and, in one of his lectures, declares that its teaching is equivalent to an admission that "God is dead," in respect to the human race at the present time. Now this is a conclusion against which the thinking man will reasonably revolt. Nor is much education required to perceive its fallacy. The self- instructed man would be one 352 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. of tlie first to perceive it. No wonder, then, that in some part of the Christian world, there should be a Joseph Smith, who would be deeply affected with such perception ; and, pur- suing the practical tendencies of a working-man, should seek to carry out its results in connection with the actual conditions and relations of the social state, collectively and individually. To accomplish such an end, the first thing to be done is, to destroy the Bibliolatry that impedes it. The infidel sought to do this by invalidating the Scriptures ; but modern sages have proposed, on the other hand, to invest the whole range of lit- erature with Divine sanctions, and to accept poets and phi- losophers as everywhere and always inspired. Joseph Smith adopted a more compact method. He set up a second Bible to partake the honors of the first ; and having thus divided the homage, and thereby weakened the idolatry, he prepared the way for the acceptance of new pretensions. A third Bible was now possible, which should record the origin, progress, and full establishment of a new dispensation entrusted to his own personal conduct as a prophet. The lecturer " on Faith" in the Book of Doctrine proceeds to ask, " Who cannot see, then, that salvation is the effect of faith ? for, as we have previously observed, all the heavenly beings work by this principle ; and it is because they are able so to do that they are saved, for nothing but this could save them. And this is the lesson which the God of heaven, by the mouth of all his holy prophets, has been endeavoring to teach to the world. Hence we are told, that without faith it is impossible to please God ; and that salvation is of faith, that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed. Romans iv. 16. And that Israel, who followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore ? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law ; for they stumbled at that stumbling stone. Romans ix. 32. And MORMON IDEA OF " FAITH.' 353 Jesus said unto the man who brought his son to him, to get the devil who tormented him cast out, * If thou canst believe, all thingji are possible to him that believeth.' Mark ix. 23. These, with a multitude of other scriptures which might be quoted, plainly set forth the light in which the Saviour, as well as the Former-Day Saints, viewed the plan of salvation. That it was a system of faith — it begins with faith, and con- tinues by faith ; and every blessing which is obtained in re- lation to it, is the effect of faith, whether it pertains to this life or that which is to come. To this all the revelations of God bear Avitness. If there were children of promise, they were the effects of faith, not even the Saviour of the world excepted. ' Blessed is she that believeth,' said Elizabeth to Mary, when she went to visit her, * for there shall be a per- formance of the things which were told her of the Lord.' Luke i. 45. Nor was the birth of John the Baptist the less a matter of faith ; for in order that his father Zacharias might believe, he was struck dumb. And through the whole history of the scheme of life and salvation, it is a matter of faith : every man received according to his faith — according as his faith was, so were his blessings and privileges ; and nothing was withheld from him when his faith was sufficient to re- ceive it. He could stop the mouths of lions, quench the vio- lence of fire, escape the edge of the sword, wax valiant in fight, and put to flight the armies of the aliens : women could, by their faith, receive their dead children to life again ; in a word, there was nothing impossible with them who had faith. All things were in subjection to the Former-Day Saints, ac- cording as their faith was. By their faith they could obtain heavenly visions, the ministering of angels, have knowledge of the spirits of just men made perfect, of the general assem- bly and church of the first born, whose names are written in heaven, of God the judge of all, of Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and become familiar with the third heavens, 354 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. see and hear things which were not only unutterable, but were unlawful to utter." These lectures are foUowed by sections entitled, " Doctrines and Commandments," which are given as from " the Lord, to his servants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints." In the second section the origin of the church is thus dated. " 1. The rise of the church of Christ in these last days^ being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly organized and established agreeably to the laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April ; which commandments were given to Joseph Smith, jun., who was called of God, and ordained an apostle of Jesus Christ, to be the first elder of this church ; and to Oliver Cowdery, who was also called of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ to be the second elder of this church, and or- dained under his hand ; and this according to the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory, both now and forever. Amen. " 2. After it was truly manifested unto this first elder that he had received a remission of his sins, he was entangled again in the vanities of the world ; but after repenting, and humbling himself sincerely, through faith, God ministered unto him by an holy angel, whose countenance was as light- ning, and whose garments were pure and white above all other whiteness ; and gave unto him commandments which inspired him ; and gave him power from on high, by the means which were before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon, which contains a record of a fallen people, and the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also, which was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to others by the ministering of angels, and is declared unto "doctrines and commandments." 355 the world by them, proving to the world that the Holy Scrip tnres are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in gen- erations of old, thereby showing that he is thr same God yes- terday, to-day, and forever. Amen," We are then instructed in those particulars in which it was above stated the Scriptures are an insufficient guide. "7. And again, by way of commandment to the church, concerning the mariner of baptism. — All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness be- fore the church that they have truly repented of all their sink-, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Chri8t, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be re- ceived by baptism into his church. "8. The duty of the elders, 2>riests, teachers, deacons, and members of the church of Christ. — An apostle is an elder, and it is his calling to baptize and to ordain other elders, priests, teachers, and deacons, and to administer bread and wine — the emblems of the flesh and blood of Christ — and ti\ confirm those who are baptized into the church, by .the laying on of hands for the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, ac- cording to the Scriptures ; and to teach, expound, exhort, bap- tize, and watch over the church ; and to confirm the churcli by the laying on of the hands, and the giving of the Holy Ghost, and to take the lead of all meetinsfs. " 9. The elders are to conduct the meetings as they are led by the Holy Ghost, according to tlie commandments and rev- elations of God. "10. The prieets' duty is to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and administer the sacrament, and visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and 356 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. in secret, and attend to all family duties ; and he may also ordain other priests, teachers, and deacons. And he is to take the lead of meetings when there is no elder present ; but when there is an elder present, he is only to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and visit the house of each member, exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret, and attend to all family duties. In all these duties the priest is to assist the elder if occasion requires. "11. The teacher's duty is to watch over the church al- ways, and be with and strengthen them, and see that there is no iniquity in the church — neither hardness with each oth- er — neither lying, backbiting, or evil speaking ; and see that the church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty ; and he is to take the lead of meet- ings in the absence of the elder priest — and is to be assisted always, in all his duties in the church, by the deacons, if oc- casion requires ; but neither teachers nor deacons have au- thority to baptize, administer the sacrament, or lay on hands ; they are, however, to warn, expound, exhort, and teach and invite all to come unt;o Christ. " 12. Every elder, priest, teacher, or deacon, is to be or- dained according to the gifts and callings of God unto him ; and he is to be ordained by the pov/er of the Holy Ghost, which is in the one who ordains him. "13. The several elders, composing this church of Christ, are to meet in conference once in three months, or from time to time as said conferences shall direct or appoint ; and said conferences are to do whatever church business is necessary to be done at the time. " 14. The elders are to receive their licenses from other elders, by vote of the church to which they belong, or from the conferences. " 15. Each priest, teacher or deacon, who is ordained by a priest may take a certificate from him at the time, which CEREMONY OF BAPTISM, " DOCTRINES AND COMMANDMENTS." 859 certificate, when presented to an elder, shall entitle him to a license, wiiich shall authorize him to perform the duties of his calling-, or he may receive it from a conference. " 16. No person is to be ordained to any office in this church, where there is a regularly organized branch of the same, without the vote of that church ; but the presiding elders, travelling bishops, high counsellors, high priests, and elders, may have the privilege of ordaining, where there is no branch of the church that a vote may be called. "17. Every president of the high priesthood (or presiding elder), bishop, high counsellor, and high priest, is to be or- dained by the direction of a high council or general confer- ence. "18. The duty of memhers after they are received by bap- tism. — The elders or priests are to have a sufficient time to expound all things concerning the church of Christ to their understanding, previous to their partaking of the sacrament and being confirmed by the laying on of the hands of the el- ders, so that all things may be done in order. And the mem- bers shall manifest before the church, and also before the el- ders, by a godly walk and conversation, that they are worthy of it, that there may be works and faith agreeable to the Holy Scriptures — walking in holiness before the Lord. "19. Every member of the Church of Christ having chil- dren, is to bring them unto the elders before the church, who are to lay their hands upon them in the name of Jesus Christ, and bless them in his name. " 20. No one can be received into the church of Christ, un- less he has arrived unto the years of accountability before God, and is capable of repentance. "21. Baptism is to be administered in the following man- ner unto all those who repent : — The person who is called of God, and has authority from Jesus Christ to baptize, shall go down into the water with the person who has presented him 360 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. or herself lor baptism, and shall say, calling him or her by name — Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Then shall he immerse him or her in the water, and come forth again out of the water. " 22. It is expedient that the church meet together often, to partake of bread and wine in remembrance of the Lord Jesus ; and the elder or priest shall administer it ; and after this manner shall he administer it — he shall kneel with the church and call upon the Father in solemn prayer, saying — God, the eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, God, the eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his command- ments which he has given them, that they may always have his spirit to be with them. Amen. "23. And the manner of administering the wine. He shall take the cup also, and say — God, the eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them ; that they may witness unto thee, God, the eternal Father ; that they do always remember him, that they may have his spirit to be with them. Amen." In section III. we are presented with still more important matter. *' 1. There are, in the Church, two priesthoods, namely, the Melchizedek, and the Aaronic, including the Levitical priesthood. Why the first is called the Melchizedek priest- hood, is because Melchizedek was such a great high priest. Before his day it was called the JioUj priesthood, after the order of the Son of God ; but out of respect or reverence tc PRIESTHOOD AND OFFICE-BEARERS. 361 the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek priesthood. "2. All other authorities or offices in the Church are ap- pendages to this priesthood ; but there are two divisions or grand heads — one in the Melchizedek priesthood, and the other in the Aaronie, or Levitical priesthood. "3. The office of an elder comes under the priesthood of Melchizedek. The Melchizedek priesthood holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things. "4. The presidency of the high priesthood, after the order of Melchizedek, have a right to officiate in all the offices in the church. " 5. High priests after the order of the Melchizedek priest- hood, have a right to officiate in their own standing, under the direction of the presidency, in administering spiritual things : and also in the office of an elder, priest (of the Le- vitical order), teacher, deacon, and member. "6. An elder has a right to officiate in his stead when the high priest is not present. " 7. The high priest and elder are to administer in spiritual things, agreeably to the covenants and commandments of the church ; and they have a right to officiate in all these offices of the church when there are no higher authorities present. " 8. The second priesthood is called the priesthood of Aaron, because it was conferred upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations. Why it is called the lesser priesthood, is because it is an appendage to the greater or the Melchizedek priesthood, and has power in administering out- ward ordinances. The bishopric is the presidency of this priesthood, and holds the keys or authority of the same. No 23 362 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. man has a legal right to this office, to hold the keys of this priesthood, except he be a literal descendant of Aaron. But as a high priest of the Melchizedek priesthood has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices, he may officiate in the of- fice of bishop when no literal descendant of Aaron can be found, provided he is called, and set apart, and ordained unto this power by the hands of the presidency of the Melchizedek priesthood. " 9. The power and authority of the higher or Melchizedek priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church — to have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven — to have the heavens opened unto them — to commune with the general assembly and church of the first-born, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, "10. The power and authority of the lesser or Aaronic priesthood, is to hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and to administer, in outward ordinances, the letter of the gospel — the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, agreeably to the covenants and commandments, " 11. Of necessity there are presidents, or presiding offices growing out of, or appointed of or from among those who are ordained to the several offices in these two priesthoods. Of the Melchizedek priesthood, three presiding high priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church, form a quorum of the presidency of the church. The twelve travelling counsellors are called to be the twelve apostles, or especial witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world ; thus difiering from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling. And they form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned. The seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world, — thus dit- PRIESTHOOD AND OFFICE-BEARERS. 363 fering from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling ; and they form a quorum equal in authority to that of the twelve especial witnesses or apostles just named. And every decision made by either of these quorums, must be by the unanimous voice of the same ; that is, every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions, in order to make their decisions of the same power or validity one with the other. (A majority may form a quorum, when circumstances render it impossible to be otherwise.) Unless this is the case, their decisions are not entitled to the same blessings which the decisions of a quorum of three presidents were anciently, who Were ordained after the order of Melchizedek, and were righteous and holy men. The decisions of these quorums, or either of them, are to be made in all righteousness, in holiness and lowliness of heart, meekness and long-suffering, and in faith, and virtue, and knowledge, temperance, patience, godli- ness, brotherly kindness, and charity ; because the promise is, if these things abound in them, they shall not be unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord. And in case that any decision of these quorums is made in unrighteousness, it may be brought before a general assembly of the several quorums, ■which constitute the spiritual authorities of the church, oth- erwise there can be no appeal from their decision. "12. The twelve are a travelling presiding high council to officiate in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the presidency of the church, agreeably to the institution of heaven ; to build up the church, and regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations ; first unto the Gentiles, and sec- ondly unto the Jews. " 13. The seventy are to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the twelve or the travelling hijjh coun- cil, in building up the church and regulating all the affaire of the same in all nations — first unto the Gentiles, and then unto the Jews ; the twelve being sent out, holding the keys, 364 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. to open the door by the proclamation of the gospel of Jesu3 Christ — and first unto the Gentiles and then unto the Jews. " 14. The standing high councils, at the stakes of Sion, form a quorum, equal in authority, in the affairs of the church, in all their decisions, to the quorum of the presi- dency, or to the travelling high council. " 15. The high council in Zion, forms a quorum equal in authority, in the affairs of the church, in all their decisions, to the councils of the twelve at the stakes of Zion. "16. It is the duty of the travelling high council to call upon the seventy, when they need assistance, to fill the several calls for preaching and administering the gospel, in- stead of any others. " 17. It is the duty of the twelve, in all large branches of the church, to ordain evangelical ministers, as they shall be designated unto them by revelation. " 18. The order of this priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son, and rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed, to whom the promises were made. This order was instituted in the days of Adam, and came down by lineage in the following manner : — "19. From Adam to Seth, who was ordained by Adam at the age of 69 years, and was blessed by him three years pre- vious to his (Adam's) death, and received the promise of God by his father, that his posterity should be the chosen of the Lord and that they should be unreserved unto the end of the earth, because he (Seth) was a perfect man, and his likeness was the express likeness of his father's, insomuch that he seemed to be like unto his father in all things, and could be distinguished from him only by his age. " 20. Enos was ordained at the age of 134 years and four months, by the hand of Adam. *' 21. God called upon Cainan in the wilderness, in the fortieth year of his age, and he met Adam in journeying to PRIESTHOOD AND OFFICE-BEARERS. 365 the place ShedolamaK. He was 87 years old when he re- ceived his ordination. "■ 22. Mahalaleel was 496 years and seven days old when he was ordained by the hand of Adam, who also blessed him. "23. Jared was 200 years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam, who also blessed him. " 24. Enoch was 25 years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam, and he was 65 and Adam blessed him. And he saw the Lord, and he walked with him, and was before his face continually ; and he walked with God 365 years, making him 430 years old when he was translated. "25. Methuselah was 100 years old when he was or- dained under the hand of Adam. " 26. Lamecli was 32 years old when he was ordained under the hand of Seth. "27. Noah was 10 years old when he was ordained under the hand of Methuselah. " 28. Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch and Methuse- lah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posteri- ty who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondiahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blct^.ng. And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed A.dam, and called him Michael, the Prince, the Archangel. And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him, I have set thee to be at the head — a multitude of na- tions shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them forever. " 29. And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation, and notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his pos- terity unto the latest generation. These things were all writ- ten in the book of Enoch, and are to be testified of in due time. "30. It is the duty of the twelve, also, to ordain and set 366 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. in order all the other officers of the church, agreeably to the revelation which says, "31. To the church of Christ in the land of Zion, in ad- dition to the church laws respecting church business — Verily, I say unto you, says the Lord of hosts, there must needs be presiding elders to preside over those who are of the office of an elder ; and also priests to preside over those who are of the office of a priest, and also teachers to preside over those who are of the office of a teacher in like manner, and also the deacons : wherefore, from deacon to teacher, and from teacher to priest, and from priest to elder, severally as they are appointed, according to the covenants and command- ments of the church. Then comes the high priesthood, which is the greatest of all ; wherefore it must needs be that one be appointed of the high priesthood to preside over the priesthood, and he shall be called president of the high priest- hood of the church ; or, in other words, the presiding high priest over the high priesthood of the church. From the same comes the administering of ordinances and blessings upon the church, by the laying on of the hands. " 32. Wherefore the office of a bishop is not equal unto it ; for the office of a bishop is in administering all temporal things ; nevertheless a bishop must be chosen from the high priesthood, unless he is a literal descendant of Aaron ; for unless he is a literal descendant of Aaron he cannot hold the keys of that priesthood. Nevertheless, a high priest that is after the order of Melchizedek, may be set apart unto the ministering of temporal things, having a knowledge of them by the spirit of truth, and also to be a judge in Israel, to do the business of the church, to sit in judgment upon trans- gressors, upon testimony as it shall be laid before him accord- ing to the laws, by the assistance of his counsellors whom he has chosen, or will choose among the elders of the church. This is the duty of a bishop who is ndt a literal descendant PRIESTHOOD AND OFFICE-BEARERS. 3G7 of Aaron, but has been ordained to the high priesthood aftei the order of Melchizedek. " 33. Thus shall he be a judge, even a common judge among the inhabitants of Zion, or in a state of Zion, or in any branch of the church where he shall be set apart unto this ministry, until the borders of Zion are enlarged, and it becomes necessary to have other bishops or judges in Zion, or elsewhere ; and inasmuch as there are other bishops ap- pointed they shall act in the same office. " 34. But a literal descendant of Aaron has a legal right to the presidency of this priesthood, to the keys of this min- istry, to act in the office of bishop independently, without counsellors, except in a case where a president of the high priesthood, after the order of Melchizedek, is tried, to sit as a judge in Israel. And the decision of either of these coun- cils, agreeably to the commandment which says, "35. Again, verily, I say unto you, the most important business of the church, and the most difficult cases of the church, inasmuch as there is not satisfaction upon the de- cision of the bishop or judges, it shall be handed over and carried up unto the council of the church, before the presi- dency of the high priesthood ; and the presidency of the council of the high priesthood shall have power to call other high priests, even twelve, to assist as counsellors ; and thu? the presidency of the high priesthood and its counsellors shall have power to decide upon testimony according to the laws of the church. And after this decision it shall be had in re- membrance no more before the Lord ; for this is the highest council of the church of God, and a final decision upon con- troversies in spiritual matters. " 36. There is not any person belonging to the church who is exempt from this council of the church. *' 37. And inasmuch as a president of the high priesthood shall transgress, he shall be had in remembrance before the 368 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. common council of the church, who shall be assisted by twelve counsellors of the high priesthood ; and their decision upon his head shall be an end of controversy concerning him. Thus, none shall be exempted from the justice and the \a.ws of God, that all things may be done in order and in solem- nity before him, according to truth and righteousness. "38. And again, verily I say unto you, the duty of a presi- dent over the office of a deacon is to preside over twelve deacons, to sit in council with them, and to teach them their duty — edifying one another, as it is given according to the covenants. "39. And also the duty of the president over the office of the teachers is to preside over twenty-four of the teachers, and to sit in council with them, teaching them the duties of their office, as given in the covenants. "40. Also the duty of the president over the priesthood of Aaron is to preside over forty-eight priests, and sit in council with them, to teach them the duties of their office, as is given in the covenants. This president is to be a bishop ; for this is one of the duties of this priesthood. "41. Again, the duty of the president over the office of elders is to preside over ninety-six elders, and to sit in council with them, and to teach them according to the covenants. This presidency is a distinct one from that of the seventy, and is designed for those who do not travel into all the world. "42. And again, the duty of the president of the office of the high priesthood is to preside over the whole church, and to be like unto Moses. Behold, here is wisdom ; yea, to be a seer, a revelator, a translator, and a prophet, having all the gifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the church. "43. And it is according to the vision, showing the order of the seventy, that they should have seven presidents to pre- MORMON MATERIALISM. 369 Side over them, chosen out of the number of the seventy ; and the seventh president of these presidents is to preside over the six ; and these seven presidents are to choose other seventy besides the first seventy, to whom tliey belong, and are to preside over them ; and also other seventy, until seven times seventy, if the labor in the vineyard of necessity re- quires it. And these seventy are to be travelling ministers unto the Gentiles first, and also unto the Jews ; whereas other officers of the church, who belong not unto the twelve, neither to the seventy, are not under the responsibility to travel among all nations, but are to travel as their circum- stances shall allow, notwithstanding they may hold as high and responsible offices in the church. " 44. Wherefore now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence. He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved, shall not be counted worthy to stand. Even so. Amen." The importance of the above extract will atone for its length. It contains nearly the whole of the Mormon Eccle- siastical Polity. Subsequent sections make provision for the most minute particulars — relative not only to things sacred, but things secular — such as farm and store taking, printing and publishing of books, building and the raising of the requi- site funds. These, of course, have excited much ridicule. Certain tech- nical religious doctrines have also met with little mercy from Mormon antagonists. It is sufficient here to allude to their distinctive tenets on prophecy, the religious and divine right of revenge, the baptism of the dead, and the revived Roman Catholic dogma of Baptismal Regeneration. It is possibly more important to consider at its due length the philosophical system promulgated by Mr. Orson Pratt, whose name we havQ 3Y0 HISTORY OB^ THE MORMONS. already mentioned, as the learned apostle of the lilornion pre- tensions. According to the " Lectures on Faith," and in accordance with the high tone assumed by the Mormons in their Mate- rialism, they invariably give a literal interpretation to the Hebrew Scriptures. That is their cardinal point, — no mysti- cism ; — the plain meaning of plain words. God, by the Mormons, is described through his personal attributes, and these, again, are resolved into corporeal char- acteristics. " The first thought that there ever existed in the mind of any individual that there was such a being as a God, who had created and did uphold all things," was owing to and " by reason of the manifestation which he first made to our father, Adam, when he stood in his presence, and conversed with him face to face, at the time of his creation." This materialistic view makes the Mormon very angry with the Orthodox dogma, that commences the thirty-nine articles of the Church of England. The Mormon author of " The Absurdities of Immaterialism"* expresses his contempt of the article in question, in these terms : — *' The Immaterialist says, there is such a substance as God, but it is without parts — (first of the 39 Articles; also, Art. Methodist discipline;)" and on all such Immaterialism the Mormons unscrupulously stamp the brand of Atheism. Of Atheists, they tell us, there are two classes in the world — one denying the existence of God in the most positive language ; the other denying bis ex- istence in duration or space. One says, " There is no God ;" the other says, " God is not here or there, any more than he exists now and then.'" The Infidel says, adds the writer, "God does not exist anywhere." The Immaterialist says, * Absurdities of Immaterialism; or, A Reply to T. W. P. Tay'.der's Pamphlet, entitled, " The Materialism of the Mormons or Lattei-Day Saints, Examined and Exposed." MORMON MATERIALISM. 371 " He exists nowhere. ^^ ' Upon the ingenuity or absurdity of these statements it is needless to remark. " The Immaterialist," says Mr. Orson Pratt, *' only differs from the other class of atheists, by clothing an indivisible un- extended Nothing with the powers of a God. One class," continues Mr. Pratt, "believes in no God ; the other class be lieves that Nothing is God, and worships it as such. There is no twisting away from this. The most profound philosophei( in all the ranks of modern Christianity, cannot extricate the Immaterialist from atheism. He cannot show the least dif- ference between the idea represented by the word Nothing, and the idea represented by that which is unextended, indi- visible, and without parts, having no relation to space or time. All the philosophers in the universe could not give a better or more correct definition of Nothing. And yet this is the God worshipped by the Church of England — the Methodists — and millions of other atheistical idolaters, according to their own definitions, as recorded in their respective articles of faith. An open Atheist is not so dangerous as the Atheist who couches his atheistical doctrines under the head of * Articles of Re- ligion.' The first stands out with open colors, and boldly avows his infidelity ; the latter, under the sacred garb of re- ligion, draws into his yawning vortex the unhappy millions who are persuaded to believe in, and worship an unextended indivisible nothing without parts, deified into a god, A pious Atheist is much more serviceable in building up the kingdom of darkness than one who c penly, and without any deception, avows his infidelity. " No wonder that this modern god has wrought no miracles and given no revelations since his followers invented theii * Articles of Religion.' A being without parts must be en- tirely powerless, and can perform no miracles. Nothing can be communicated from such a being ; for, if nothing give nothing, nothing will be received. If, at death, his followers 3 7 2 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. are to be made like him, they will enjoy, with some of the modern Pagans, all the beauties of annihilation. To be made like him I Admirable thought I How transcendently sub- lime to behold an innumerable multitude of unextended nothings, casting their crowns at the feet of the great, inex tended, infinite Nothing, filling all space, and yet ' without parts I' There will be no danger of quarrelling for want of room ; for the Rev. David James says, ' Ten thousand spirits might be brought together into the smallest compass imagi- nable, and there exist without any inconvenience for want of room. As materiality,' continues he, ' forms no property of a spirit, the space which is insufficient for one, must be amply sufficient for myriads, yea, for all that exist.' ^ According to this, all the spirits that exist, ' could be brought together into the smallest compass imaginable;' or, in other words, into no compass at all ; for, he says, a spirit occupies ' no room, and fills no space.' What an admirable description of Nothing ! Nothing 'occupies no room, and fills no space.' If myriads of Nothings were ' brought together into the smallest compass imaginable,' they could ' there exist without any inconvenience for want of room.' Everything which the Immaterialist says, of the existence of sjnrit^ will apply, without any variation, to the existence of NotJmig. If he says that his god cannot exist * Here' or ' There,' the same is true of Nothi7ig. If he affirms that he cannot exist ' Noio,'' and ' Then,' the same can in all truth, be affirmed of Nothing. If he declares that he is ' unextended^ so is Nothing. If he asserts that he is ' in- divisible,' and ' ivithout parts' so is Nothing. If he declares that a spirit ' occupies no room and fills no space,' neither does Nothing. If he says a spirit is ' Nowhere,' so is Nothing. All that he affirms of the one, can, in like manner, and with equal truth, be affirmed of the other. Indeed, they are only * Rev. David James on the Trinity, in Unitarianism Confuted. Lect. VII., page 382. MORMON MATERIALISM. 373 two words, each of which express precisely the same idea. There is no more absurdity in calling Nothing a substance, and clothing it with Almighty powers, than there is in making a substance out of that which is precisely like nothing, and imagining it to have Almighty powers. Therefore, an imma- terial God is a deified Nothing, and all his worshippers are atheistical idolaters." Skilfully, however, as the Mormon writer puts his argu- ment, it has no novelty. The celebrated Soame Jenyns, whose life was written by Dr. Johnson, has anticipated the whole of it. He (like the Mormon in regard to an Immaterial substance) supposed that he had disproved the existence of Eternity, by proving that its definition was identical with that of Nothing. It is true, that both the Mormon's "Imma- terial Substance" and Jenyn's " Eternity" suffer under this apparent confutation. After all, the controversy only regards a matter of definition : What is nothing ? Mr. Orson Pratt presents us with a series of "six definitions," as so many aids to the exposition of his own idea. Here they are : — Definition 1 . — Space is magnitude, susceptible of division. Definition 2. — A Point is the negative of space, or the zero at which a magnitude begins or terminates : it is not susceptible of division. Definition 3. — Duration is not magnitude, but time susceptible of division. Definition 4. — An Instant is the negative of duration, or the zero at which duration begins or terminates ; it is not susceptible of division. Definition 6. — Matter is something that occupies space between any two instants, and is susceptible of division, and of being re- moved from one portion of space to another. Definition 6. — Nothing is the negative of space, of duration, and of matter ; it is the zero of all existence. A Point, Instant and Nothing, here enjoy an identity of S74 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. definition. Neither of these are " susceptible of division." It is scarcely conceivable how an elaborate thinker, such as Mr. Orson Pratt evidently is, could thus have committed himself, by actually recognizing the Idea, not of one substance only, but of three Substances "without Parts." A "Point," an •' Instant," and a " Nothing," — each insusceptible of division ? He appears not to have been aware that he had reached the conception of the most abstract Being, in thus identifying it with Nothing, an Instant, and a Point, and had made an Affirmation of which an Euclid or a Hegel might be proud ; that, in fact, he had proved the very case that he sought to subvert, and demonstrated that he could not conduct his ar- gument without inferring, and indeed presuming, the existence of that " Substance without Parts," against which he was ex- pressing such a holy horror, when proposed to his belief in the language of a system different from his own. Philosophers who have been led, in their investigation of truth, not by a desire to establish the system of the Mormons but to interpret the system of the universe by the light of a Divine intelligence, have from Plato to Oken, recognized the difficulty which so puzzles the Mormon materialist. But they have seen in it only a proof that the Substances so iden- tified with Nothing, are not such as can be identified with any Thing — that is, with aught that occupies place or time ; that therefore, they cannot be properly called Things at all ; and that a higher term must be found to distinguish them from all possible objects of sense, and to class them in a "cage of rushes," a category of their own. In fact, the mind has been justly led, by contemplations such as these, to the ap- prehension of the idea of Being in itself, which, though in the carnal conception, identical with nothing, is the basis, the boundary, the origin, and the terminus of all ; at once the " Zero of all existence," and the plenum. It is in this sense, that we may understand the leading postulate of Hegel, that d DEATHS OF THE WITNESSES. 375 " Seyn und nicht ist dasselben." " Being and Nothing is the same" The Mormons have shown themselves, in accordance with their Materialism, to he practical political economists. The ordinary statf'sman is too apt, in the affairs of the world, to make little account of men of their order of mind. Yet have they been, at all times, the men of a crisis — the fomentors of" revolutions — the authors of new dispensations. Pious frauds to such individuals are no more than legal fictions to the law- yer. They serve them in the place of axioms and postulates ; they are assumptions which enable them to take the first step in the practical argument which they mean to maintain against the world. To them they are unquestionable data, and the more supernatural their character the more unques- tionable do they become. Frequently there is some shadow of a fact, which serves as the original basis ; this soon, how- ever, becomes modified into fiction ; and ultimately completed in a well-rounded myth. Whatever Joseph Smith may have been, the present race of Mormons are satisfied with him. They say — " There is our statement ; there are the witnesses ; there is the book." Armed with these credentials, the Apostles of the new belief have at last founded, not only a Church, but a State. The longer the original imposture has remained before the world, the more difficult it has become to overthrow it. Joseph Smith was slain, and it acquired sanctity in the eyes of his followers. Other " witnesses" drop off, and the myth becomes more and more mythological. Thus, we learn from an obituary in the Millennial Star (July 1st, 1850), that one of the " three witnesses" has lately died. *' Elder Wal- lace informs us, that Oliver Cowdery died last February, of consumption. Brother Cowdery is one of the ' three wit- nesses' to the Book of Mormon. For rebellious conduct he was expelled from the Church some years since. Although 376 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. he stood aloof from the Church for several years, he never, in a single instance, cast the least doubt on the truth of his for- mer testimony. Sometime in 1847 or 1848, he sought to be re-admitted to the fellowship of the Saints. His return to the fold was hailed with great joy by the Saints, who still re- membered him with kindly recollection, as one who had suf- fered much in the first rise of the Church. He has now gone the way of all the earth. May he rest in peace, to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection unto eternal life, is the earnest desire of all Saints." A similar record will shortly, in the natural course of things, be made of the other witnesses ; the seal of the grave will be set upon their testimony ; and thus Mormonism — even if Sid- ney Rigdon should divulge his secrets — will, to the hearts of thousands, who would believe it on far less evidence — stand as firm as Buddhism stands, or Mahomedanism, or any other false creed, which millions believe to be true. The objections to Mormonism, however, are not of a purely doctrinal character, or dependent upon the truth or falsehood of the Book of Mormon. It is alleged that the Mormons both tolerate and practise polygamy and seduction. This charge has been made against them in many quarters. According to Mr. Bowes, the author of the pamphlet from which we have already quoted, the social life of the Mormons is an extensive and well-organized system of licentiousness. Joseph Smith, he tells us, taught a system of polygamy ; that he sought to seduce Nancy Rigdon, Sarah M. Pratt, arid oth- ers , that, in some instances, he was repulsed, in others, he succeeded. Joseph Smith is also accused of having endeavored to secure Martha H. Brotherton, once of Manchester, for his friend Brigham Young ; in both cases attempting to influence his victims by persuading them that he had received a revela- tion from God, justifying adultery, seduction, and other sins. A letter from Martha Brotherton sets forth the whole charge LETTER FROM MARTHA BROTHERTON. 3*77 against Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, and if to be be- iieved, proves it : — " I had been at Nauvoo near three weeks, during which time my father's family received frequent visits from Elders Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, two of the Mormon Apostles ; when, early one morning, they both came to my brother-in-law's (John M'll- wrick's) house, at which place I then was on a visit, and particularly requested me to go and spend a few days with them. I told them 1 could not at that time, as my brother-in-law was not at home ; how- ever, they urged me to go the next day and spend one day with them. The day being fine, I accordingly went. * * * * He led me up some stairs to a small room, the door of which was locked, and on it the following inscription : ' Positively no admittance.' He observed, ' Ah ! brother Joseph must be sick, for, strange to say, he is not here. Come down into the tithing-office, Martha.' He then left me in the tithing-office, and went out, I know not where. In this office were two men writing, one of whom, William Clayton, I had seen in Eng- land ; the other I did not know. Young came in, and seated him- self before me, and asked where Kimball was. I said he had gone out. He said it was all right. Soon after, Joseph came in, and spoke to one of the clerks, and then went up stairs, followed by Young. Immediately after, Kimball came in. ' Now, Martha,' said he, ' the Prophet has come ; come up stairs.' I went, and we found Young and the Prophet alone. I was introduced to the Prophet by Young. Joseph offered me his seat ; and, to my astonishment, the moment I was seated, Joseph and Kimball walked out of the room, and left me with Young, who arose, locked the door, closed the win- dow and drew the curtain. He then came and sat before me, and said, ' This is our private room, Martha.' ' Indeed, sir,' said I, ' 1 must be highly honored to be permitted to enter it.' He smiled, and then proceeded — ' Sister Martha, I want to ask you a few questions , will you answer them ?' ' Yes, sir,' said I. ***** ' To come to the point more closely,' said he, ' have not you an affection for me, that, were it lawful and right, you could accept of me for your husband and companion ?'*****! therefore said, ' If it was lawful and right, perhaps I might ; but you know, sir, it is not.' ' Well, out,' said he, ' brother Joseph has had a revelation 24 378 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. from God that it is lawful and right for a man to have two wives for, as it was in the days of Abraham, so it shall be in these last days, and whoever is the first that is willing to take up the cross will re- ceive the greatest blessings ; and if you will accept of me, I will take you straight to the celestial kingdom ; and if you will have me in this world, I will have you in that which is to come, and brother Joseph will marry us here to-day, and you can go home this evening, and your parents will not know anything about it.' ' Sir,' said I, ' I should not like to do anything of the kind without the permission of my parents.' ****** Well,' said he, ' I will have a kiss, any how,' and then rose, and said he would bring Joseph. He then unlocked the door, and took the key, and locked me up alone. He was absent about ten minutes, and then returned with Joseph. ' Well,' said Young, ' sister Martha would be willing if she knew it was lawful and right before God.' ' Well, Martha,' said Joseph, ' it is lawful and right before God — I know it is. Look here, sis ; don't you believe in me ?' I did not answer. ' Well, Martha,' said Joseph, * just go a-head, and do as Brigham wants you to — he is the best man in the world, except me.' ' O !' said Brigham, ' then you are as good.' ' Yes,' said Joseph. ' Well,' said Young, ' we believe Joseph to be a Prophet. I have known him near eight years, and always found him the same.' ' Yes,' said Joseph, ' and I know that this is lawful and right before God, and if there is any sin in it, T will answer for it before God ; and I have the keys of the kingdom, and whatever I bind on earth is bound in heaven, and whatever I loose on earth is loosed in heaven ; and if you will accept of Brig- ham, you shall be blessed — God shall bless you, and my blessing shall rest upon you ; and if you will be led by him you will do well ; for I know Brigham will take care of you ; and if he don't do his duty to you, come to me, and I will make him ; and if you do not like it in a month or two, come to me, and I will make you free again ; and if he turns you off, I will take you on." Another deposition, sworn by Melissa Schindle, describes similar practices. Mr. Bowes also describes certain hidden orgies practised in the Nauvoo Temple, which are suffi- ciently suspicious. The statement is sworn to by J. M. Gee THE "spiritual WIFe" SYSTEM. 379 Van Diisen and Maria Van Dusen, who profess to have been initiated into the mysteries. The seventh degree in the tem- ple relates to " the Spiritual Wife Doctrine." " Those who have attained to this are taught," say these witnesses, " that they are no more under obligations to their husband, if they have one, and it is their privilege to leave their lawful hus- band, and take another ;" and, "it is the privilege of some kings to have scores, yes, hundreds of queens, especially the King of kings, Brigham Young, the present Mormon god in California — (or devil, I should say, for I have reason to be- lieve he is the wickedest man now on the face of the earth) ; and, further, as we are all made kings and queens by this secret farce the foundation for a kingdom is laid also. And here is the secret of the Spiritual Wife Doctrine : — Their kingdom is to consist in their own posterity, and the more wives the greater opportunity of getting a large kingdom, of course ; so it is an object to one who holds this doctrine sacred, as thousands do, to get all the women he can, con- sequently it subjects that portion of the female sex which he has influence over eventually to literal ruin." This reason, which may hold good for polygamy, obviously does not for adultery or fornication, into one or both of which the Spiritual Wife practice resolves itself There is, in such an erroneous argument, ground for suspicion of prejudice in relation to the statement adduced as its basis. And as the Mormon authorities positively deny that Joseph Smith was guilty of the charge often alleged in justificating his murder, it is a motive of caution in the receipt of evidence. We must remember, too, that Smith universally, in all his let- ters, revelations, and speeches, denounced adultery and for- nication. Subject as all founders of religious systems are to calumny, we cannot resist the doubt that there may have been misrepresentation and exaggeration, both as to the char- acter of Joseph Smith and the cause of his untimely end. 380 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. At any rate, and under any circumstances, it is impossible to justify the acts of his enemies, either in the persecution of his followers, or in the circumstances of his death. The fanaticism that destroyed him is to be condemned quite as strongly as his own. It is further stated, that the Mormon candidate for holy orders, among other promises, makes oath, that he " will never touch a daughter of Adam, unless she be given him of the Lord," — thus consecrating licentiousness with the holiest sanctions. But it must be remarked that these charges are given under cover of " secret revelations of the church — none but the faithful being permitted to have the privilege" of prostituting the daughters and wives of their friends and acauaintances. It is ajSirmed, on this covert evi- dence, that the Mormons " teach that this system is what we are to understand by the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." We are further told that there is an institution of " Cloistered Saints," which forms " the highest order of the Mormon harem, and is composed of women, whether mar- ried or unmarried, as secret spiritual wives." This is Mr. Bowes's statement ; who likewise requires us to believe that " When an apostle, high priest, elder, or scribe, conceives an affection for a female, and has ascertained her views on the subject, he communicates confidentially to the prophet his love affair, and requests him to inquire of the Lord whether or not it would be right and proper for him to take unto him- self this woman for his spiritual wife. It is no obstacle whatever to this spiritual marriage if one or both of the parties should happen to have a husband or wife already united to them according to the laws of the land." " The prophet," continues Mr. Bowes, " puts this singular question to the Lord, and if he receives an answ^ei in the affirmative, which is always the case where the parties are in favor with the president, the parties assemble in the lodge- THE "spiritual WIFe" DOCTRINE. 381 loom, accompanied by a duly authorized administrator, and place themselves, kneeling, before the altar, the administrator commences the ceremony by saying — "You, separately and jointly, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, do solemnly covenant and agree that you will not disclose any matter relating to the sacred act now in progress of consummation, whereby any Gentile shall come to a knowledge of the secret purposes of this order, or whereby the saints may suffer persecution, your lives being the forfeit." After the vow of assent is given by each of the pair, the administrator proceeds to pronounce them " 07ie flesh, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." "The parties," it is said, by the same authority, "leave the cloister with generally a firm belief, at least on the part of the female, in the sacredness and validity of the cere- monial, and consider themselves as united in spiritual mar- riage, the duties and privileges of which are in no particular different from those of any other marriage covenant," Among the stray statements quoted on more or less evi- dence touching this subject, we find that William Arrow- smith, before mentioned, " talked to Joseph Smith about Martha Brotherton's case. Smith did not deny what Martha relates, but stated that Brigham Young and he did it to try her, as they had heard an evil report of her." We are told, also, upon the same sort of authority, that " Whelock," an- other Mormon leader, married three wives, the first Parish, the second Rose. Grand jury took him up for bigamy. He married a decent girl at Birmingham, and she would have to live with the American wives, educated in bad families." Accusations like these naturally lead us to look into the recognized documents of the Mormons themselves for cor- roboration and support. We turn, accordingly, to " The Book of Doctrines and Covenants " for such articles of law 382 HISTORF OF THE MORMONS. and regulation as may relate to these alleged practices. These revelations, it should be observed, notwithstanding the limitation in the title-page, are not all given to Joseph Smith, but are extended to divers of his apostles, likewise. In one purporting to be received by Martin Harris, the opulent Mor- mon already spoken of as one of the witnesses, and who is warned in it " not to covet" his " own property, but impart it freely to the printing of the Book of Mormon," we find this admonition published: — "And again I command thee, that thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor seek thy neigh- bor's life." Not less explicit is the revelation vouchsafed to Joseph Smith himself. " And again, I say, thou shalt not kill ; but he that killeth shall die. Thou shalt not steal : and he that stealeth and will not repent, shall be cast out. Thou shalt not lie ; he that lieth and will not repent, shall be cast out. Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else ; and he that looketh upon a woman to lust after her, shall deny the faith, and shall not have the Spirit, and if he repents not, he shall be cast out. Thou shalt not commit adultery ; and he that committeth adultery and re- penteth not shall be cast out ; but he that has committed adultery and repents with all his heart, and forsaketh it, and doeth it no more, thou shalt forgive ; but if he doeth it again, he shall not be Ibrgiven, but shall be cast out. Thou shalt not speak evil of thy neighbor, nor do him any harm. Thou knowest my laws concerning these things are given in my scriptures ; he that sinneth and repenteth not, shall be cast out. " And, verily, I say unto you, as I have said before, he that looketh on a woman to lust after her, or if any shall commit adultery, in their hearts, they shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny the faith and shall fear : wherefore I, the Lord, have said that the fearful, and the unbelieving, and all liars, MORAL AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF MORMONISM. 383 and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie, and the whore- monger, and the sorcerer, shall have their part in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Verily I say, that they shall not have part in the first resurrection," Here, too, is an ordinance directing the manner of proceed- ing with adulterers. " And if any man or woman shall commit adultery, he or she shall be tried before two elders of the church or more, and every word shall be established against him or her by two witnesses of the church, and not of the enemy ; but if there are more than two witnesses it is better. But he or she shall be condemned by the mouth of two witnesses, and the elders shall lay the case before the church, and the church shall lift up their hands against him or her, that they may be dealt with according to the law of God. And if it can be, it is necessary that the bishop is present also. And thus ye shall do in all cases which shall come before you." Here is another with the same purport, but including the fornicator. "Behold, verily I say unto you, that whatever persons among you, having put away their companions for the cause of fornication, or in other words, if they shall testify before you in all lowliness of heart that this is the case, ye shall not cast them out from among you ; but if ye shall find that any persons have left their companions for the sake of adultery, and they themselves are the offenders, and their companions are living, they shall be cast out from among you. And again, I say unto you, that ye shall be watchful and careful, with all inquiry, that ye receive none such among you if they are mar- ried ; and if they are not married, they shall repent of all their sins, or ye shall not receive them." Here likewise is an ordinance relating to marriage. " And again, I say unto you, that whoso forbiddeth to marry 384 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man ; wherefore it is lawful that he should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation, and that it might be filled with the measure of man, according to his creation be- fore the world was made." ; Finally, the charge with which we are dealing is met in a direct and positive manner, as follows : — " All legal contracts of marriage made before a person is baptized into this church should be held sacred and fulfilled. Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy ; we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife ; and one woman but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again. It is not right to persuade a woman to be baptized contrary to the will of her husband ; neither is it lawful to influence her to leave her husband. All chil- dren are bound by law to obey their parents ; and to influ- ence them to embrace any religious faith, or be baptized, or leave their parents without their consent, is unlawful and un- just. We believe that husbands, parents, and masters, who exercise control over their wives, children, and servants, and prevent them from embracing the truth, will have to answer for that sin." Several of the Epistles which are to be found scattered through the publications of the sect, show that those in au- thority are actuated by an earnest desire to remove all cause for scandal in reference even to the most ordinary intercourse between the sexes, and if they are to be judged by their writ- ings, we may assume that their efforts are continually directed towards the attainment of a higher system of morality than that commonly in vogue. For instance, in a letter to the Saints by Orson Pratt and Orson Spencer, we find the writers addressing those under their charge in the following terms : — MORAL AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF MORMONISM. S8c " The sharp edge of persecution is whetted to unwonted keenness by lewd men, who turn the grace of God into lasciviousness, ana bring scandal and stigma upon that priesthood which is ordained to save the human family. When one member of the priesthood is polluted, however obscure, the whole body is sickened by the con- tagion. Speedy amputation often becomes painfully necessary. Al- heaven is pervaded with one common spirit of indignation. We feel as though something like fratricide, or slaying of our brethren had been attempted : the wound is in the house of our friends. But Zion will not always mourn. Judgment is now given into her hand, and the workers of iniquity shall be cut off, and the stench of their detestable deeds will follow them : and when the seducer's and adul- terer's bones are mouldering in the dust, the scent of his abominable deeds will bring upon his memory the bitter imprecations of the righteous. While the law of God has been but imperfectly appre- ciated, even by many of the Church, these things may have been bearable through false tradition ; yet, the time is now, when the cloak of charity cannot, and will not, screen such offenders. Two instances of gross lewdness have occurred among the elders of this land, and we have strictly enjoined the prohibition of their re-baptism or reunion with the Church, without a verbal application to the First Presidency, residing far distant in Zion. Although the spirit of se- duction and lewdness has occasionally invaded the Church in its purest state, it has never obtained a particle of fellowship, neither will it do so in any future time, from any faithful servant of God. And we distinctly say to the Saints in Britain, let no artifice or cun- ningly devised tale ever be regarded as an apology for this gross immorality. No grade of office whatever will ever authorize any one to teach or practise this abomination. This Church is a purifie?, and will refine its members as silver : and men must not think to bring into its sacred enclosure the abominations of the Gentiles, who are an adulterous and wicked generation — strange children — con- ceived in sin and shapen in iniquity. " Not so with the Church of the livinor God. Their marriage o to vows are sacred, and cannot be violated with impunity : their off- spring are legitimate, and not bastards conceived in sin, but holy unto the Lord ; and the man or woman In this Church that con- tributes to illegitimacy, therebv entailing upon his or her offspring 386 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. the curse of exclusion from the congregation of the Lord, to the third generation, he or she that does it becomes detestable in the eyes of the Lord and all good people, and their condemnation will not slumber. Let none be deceived in this matter, for the eyes oi the Lord will penetrate every work, and the spirit that is confirmee upon the Saints will bear witness against all such like abominations, and no work of iniquity will or can possibly escape detection in due time. The nations of the earth are corrupt and abominable in these things ; but they that bear the message of the Lord must be clean . they must keep themselves undefiled, or share in the plagues of Babylon. Pitiable is the condition of that man who has made com- merce of the gifts of the priesthood, like Esau. His strength is gone, like unto Samson's when shorn of his locks, and he becomes an easy prey to his enemies. Who then, among the sons and daughters of men, will lay hold upon the skirts of such fallen repro- bates in order to obtain salvation ? Let those who have already spotted their garments with these Gentile practices, prove a suffi- cient ensample to deter all others. Let the beacon-light of a few examples keep others from the rocks and quicksands where scat- tered wrecks fearfully remonstrate and warn ! " Dear brethren, no false delicacy shall forbid us from speaking plainly to you upon this subject. Lust, when it is conceived, bring- eth forth sin. The pure in heart have no occasion to mistake this infallible precursor and antecedent to sin : it is easily discoverable. It is only when the invading foe is welcomed and cherished that sin can ever be the result. Here is opportunity afforded for to consider, reflect, and beware ! Whatever of sexual manners, dress, or inti- macy is known to cherish forbidden or ungovernable lusts, may be as surely known to produce sin. The familiar usages of one nation may not be equally compatible with the purity of another people, ac- customed to other usages. We do not complain of the manners and dress of any nation, so long as they are compatible with purity and the law of God. The salutation by kissing was practised in tlie Jewish nation, and it was tolerated among the members of the primitive Church of Christ ; but it was by no means a law or neces- sary duty. " The first transgression introduced the necessity of a covering, and urged the importance of fresh laws regulating acts of decency. MORAL AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF MORMONTSM. 387 Perfect purity would require no law to determine what is modest or what is perilous to virtue. The law is made for transgressors. When men can keep themselves pure in body, soul, and spirit, they then become as wise virgins, and emerge into the perfect law of boundless liberty. No person can be a successful candidate for the celestial prize that does not keep the law in all these respects. Men must learn to approximate to that state of perfect purity in which the law is written upon their hearts, so as to supersede the necessity of outward ordinances which will perish with the using. " The pure in heart, who are fully established in the law of conti- nency, might use the ancient salutation of a holy kiss, and other in- nocent familiarities of a kindred nature, with perfect impunity. But not so with all. We have need to write unto some, even as carnal and babes in Christ. Such have not already attained that steadfast- ness to which the Gospel calls them. What then ? Is it not better that the strong bear the infirmities of the weak, and forego any prac- tice that may cause their brother to offend ? " We therefore think it wise and expedient, and give it as our counsel accordingly to the English Saints, to abstain entirely from these unbecoming familiarities through which some have been al- ready led into gross transgression. " If the elders wish to save their congregations, and obtain a good degree for themselves and others in the kingdom of God, let them abstain, rather, from all appearance of evil. Let those familiarities which are often the legitimate expression of innocence and the pur- est love, be avoided, because they may be spoken evil of by those that are without, and because the inexperienced confidence of young members is liable to be betrayed, and made a bait to folly and crime. We write unto presidents of conferences as unto wise men, to whom a hint will be sufiicient, and who will readily understand what the will of the Lord is in such matters. We do not wish to multiply arbitrary laws among a people that are destined by the grace of God, and their own trustworthiness, to rise above all law into the regions of ineffable light, purity, and glory. But we do, nevertheless, intend to establish laws against the invasion of the unruly and transgres- sors. And we wish the elders and holy women who are mothers, to co-operate with us against the intrusion of Gentile abominations. And we do declare, with all sobriety in the fear of God, and by the 388 _ HISTORY OP THE MORMONS. authority we hold from God in the holy priesthood, that a curse shall rest upon transgressors, who, with knowing wickedness, shall here- after violate the laws of virtue and chastity. This is the voice of the priesthood in Zion, and the voice of God, from the foundation of the world. Hear it, oh ye Saints throughout the British isles and adjacent countries ! While God is gathering, and will continue to gather his sons from afar, and his daughters from the ends of the earth, he will not tolerate the obstruction of the great and last gath- ering by the abominations of reprobates, that have been cast out as refuse silver, and by their slanderous tales of abomination, palmed upon his infant cause." In. the Third General Epistle of the Presidency we find some regulations which redound highly to the credit of the Mormon authorities. But leaving the question of the polyg- amy and seduction alleged to have been, or to be still prac- tised by the Mormons, to be decided by the reader, upon the evidence on both sides which we have produced, we proceed to other points. " Many brethren having gone to the Gold Mines, and many are about going, and all ' hy counsel,'' as they say, and, no doubt, truly. A few have gone according to the advice of those whose right it is to counsel the Saints, and such are right, inasmuch as they do right ; but much the greater portion have gone according to the counsel of their own wills and covetous feelings. Such might have done more good by staying in the Valley, and laboring to prepare the way for the reception of the brethren ; but it is not too late for them to do good and be saved if they will do right in their present sphere of action, although they will not get so great a reward as they would have done had they performed the greater good. " If, at the mines they will listen to the counsel of those men who have been appointed to counsel them, and they return to work right- eousness, and do as they would be done unto, and acknowledge God in all their ways, they may yet attain unto great glory; but if they shall cease to hearken to counsel, and make gold their god, and re- turn among the Saints, filled with avarice, and refuse to lend, or give, or suffer their money to be used unless they can make a great SOCIAL ASPECTS OF MORMONISM. 389 speculation thereby, and will see their poor brethren, who have toiled all the day, in want and in perplexity, and they will not relieve, but keep the dust corroding in their purses, it had been better for them if a millstone had been hanged about their necks, and they had been drowned in the depths of the sea, before they had departed from the right ways of the Lord ; for if they shall continue thus to harden their hearts ; and to shut up their bowels of compassion against the needy, they will go down to the pit with all idolaters, in a mo- ment they are not aware, with as little pity as they have manifested to their poor brethren, who would have borrowed of them but have been sent empty away. " Gold is good in its place — it is good in the hands of a good man to do good with, but in the hands of a wicked man it often proves a curse instead of a blessing. Gold is a good servant, but a miserable, blind, and helpless god, and at last will have to be purified by fire, with all its followers." Now, it would be easy to charge the cupidity of the indi- viduals here reproved on the Mormon community, but it would be manifestly unjust. We must recognize in such aberrations the inevitable struggle between self-will and newly established law. Further provision is made against the evil complained of ii* the following express rules and statement : — " Elders Amasa Lyman and Charles C. Rich will continue their operations at Western California, according to previous instructions, and not only keep an accurate account of all lithings and of the gen- eral proceedings of all faithful brethren, that we may know of their good works, and hail them as brethren when we meet, but keep a perfect history of all who profess to be Saints, and do not follow their counsel, pay tithing, and do their duty, and report the same to us every mail that they and their works may be entered in a book of re- membrance in Zion, that they may be judged therefrom, and not im- pose upon the faithful ; for it is not uncommon for men to say, " I can do more good if I go to the mines, than I can to stay here," and we want to prove such, and know whether they are true men or \iars. " When men, professing to be brethren, go to the mines according 390 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. to thtJif own counsel, we want them to stay until they are satisfi^J — until they have obtained enough to make them comfortable, and have some to do good with and a disposition to use it for that pur- pose, and not run back here in a few months, lock up their gold, boast how much they have made, doing no good theniselves, and hindering everybody else from doing good over whom they have an influence ; curse God, deny the Holy Ghost, and when spring opens, run to the mines again, as some have done. Let such men remem- ber that they are not wanted in our midst ; for unless they speedily repent, the wrath of an offended Creator will suddenly overtake them, and no power can stay it. Let such leave their carcases where they do their work ; w^e want not our burial-grounds polluted with such hypocrites ; but we have it in our hearts to bless all men who will do right, whatever their occupation, and our arms are ever open to embrace such, and we pray for all men who are ignorant, or out of the right way, that our Heavenly Father will give them his spirit, that they may learn and do right." Some other points of social economy are touched on with like wisdom ; such as the emigration fund, and the establish merit of the Deseret University. " We would urge upon all Saints the importance of keeping in view the Perpetual Emigrating Fund, and of adding thereto, all in their power the present season ; for every succeeding year will be more and more eventful in the progress of the work of God, and more and more Saints will be ready, and want to gather to Zion. We warmly anticipate that such will be the interest felt, and the funds collected in the British Isles, that we can commence bringing for- ward the Saints, from that region, one year hence ; and the Presi- dency in England will take special care to be ready to act on future iistructions on the subject. " Elders of Israel, be faithful in your calling, feed the sheep, feed the lambs of the flock, and proclaim the gospel in all simplicity, meekness, and Icve, whenever you have the opportunity as it shall be given you by the power of the Holy Ghost, which you will always have for your counsellor if you are faithful ; and let all the Saints give diligent heed unto the counsel of those who are over them in the Lord, 80CIAI ASPECTS OF M0RM0NI8M. 391 upholding them by the prayer of faith, keeping themselves pure and humble, and they will never lack wisdom from above, and by faith aiid works search out your way to Zion. " Several elders have been appointed missions to England, Scot- land, the Society Islands, the States, and Western California, as will be seen by the minutes of the General Conference, of the 6th of April, to which we refer for particulars concerning any business then transacted. " We are happy in saying to all, that a brighter day is dawning on the intellectual prosperity of Zion ; that the University recently established by the State of Deseret, bids fair to accomplish the object for which it was instituted ; that it is under the supervision of faith- ful and intelligent men, who will consider no labor too great to carry out the wishes and greatest possible good of those for whose benefit the institution was founded : and we earnestly solicit the co-opera- tion of all the Saints, and particularly the elders in all nations, to gather, as they may have the opportunity, books in all languages, and on every science, apparatus, and rare specimens of art and na- ture, and everything that may tend to beautify and make useful ; and forward or bring the same to the Regents of our University, for the benefit of all such as may hereafter seek intelligence at their hands." Mr. Orson Pratt, in an " Epistle to the Saints throughout Great Britain," is solicitous for the purification of hoth the state and church from unworthy members. The following are extracts : — " About two years have elapsed since I was appointed to preside over the Saints in this land. I have endeavored, during the time, to nform myself concerning your condition, and to offer such counsel as I thought best adapted to your circumstances. If, in the multi- plicity of business which has pressed my mind, I have at any time- erred, it has not been intentionally. It has been my constant prayer and study to know the will of God concerning you. It affords me great pleasure to know that the churches have greatly flourished since I have been in your midst, and that many thousands have been added to your numbers. Peace and union have also prevailed in almost every branch ; while the Holy Spirit has been abundantly 392 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. poured forth upon 3^ou, as is evident from the miraculous manifes- tation of the healing power, together with numerous other blessings enjoyed throughout the land. These tokens of the goodness of God towards his Saints are calculated to make the faithful servants of God rejoice. " The wise and judicious management displayed by the presidents cf conferences, and the travelling elders under them, has been the principal means in the hands of God in extending the cause of truth in the British Isles. The extensive circulation of the printed word has also given an impetus to the rolling of the great wheel of salva- tion. Strictness of discipline in plucking off dead branches — in puri- fying ike church of corrupt members — and in laying the axe at tht very root of every species of wickedness^ has also had a powerful ten- dency to strengthen and confirm the meek and humble, and to enlighten the eyes of the honest inquirer. " Let the presiding elders of every conference endeavor to inform their minds relative to the condition of every branch under their re- spective jurisdictions. See whether your flocks are in a healthy con- dition or not. The Lord has made you the shepherds over his sheep : if you lose the sheep, or suffer them to perish through your neglect, they will be required at your hands. Teach the presidents of oranches to look diligently after all the members. Counsel them to enforce strict discipline, and to root out all backbiting and evil-speak- ing one against another ; for this is a great evil, and tends to quar- rels, divisions, strifes, apostasy, and death. If the backbiter or evil- speaker will not, after proper admonitions, reform and cease his evil practices, let fellowship be withdrawn from him, and let all know that the church of God is not the place to injure and devour one an- other. If any officer or member under your charge be found teach- ing or practising unvirtuous doctrines, let him be dealt with strictly by the law of God ; and if the president of a conference shall trans- gress, or teach or practise any iniquity, let the same be reported to us, accompanied with the proper evidences ; and if one of the Twelve, or the president of the Saints in Great Britain, shall trans- gress the law of virtue, and teach or practise unrighteousness, let the presidents of conferences inquire into the same, and collect the testimonies thereof, and forthwith transmit the documents unto the First Presidency at head-quarters, that all may be dealt with accord- LOCAL ASPECTS OF MORMONISM. 893 ing to the law of heaven. The time is come when too much light and knowledge have been given to the Saints for them to suffer themselves to be imposed upon by men who are carried away with their lusts. And we say, in the name of the Lord, that the displeas- ure of heaven shall overtake the adulterer unless he speedily repent, and his name shall be blotted out from among the people of God. " Woe unto them that commit whoredoms, saith the Lord God Al- mighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell." Woe unto them who shall betray the confidence reposed in them, and shall make use of their authority to seduce and lead astray ignorant and silly women, for, except they repent, their authority shall perish quickly like the dry stubble before the devouring flame. Woe unto them who lie and bear false witness against their brother or sister to their injury ; it were better for them that they were sunk in the depths of the mighty ocean than to offend the children of God. Woe unto them who steal, for their deeds shall be made manifest, and justice and judg- ment shall lay hold on them in an hour they think not. Woe unto them who love slander, and will not cease to speak evil of their brother and sister, for they shall be hated of God and man, and their hopes shall wither away and perish. Woe unto all those among the Saints who shall turn from their righteousness and do iniquity, for the great day of the Lord is at hand, and their portion shall be among hypocrites and unbelievers." Such language as this in their public documents, together with the recorded facts of the excision and excommunication of offending members, would seem to exonerate the Mormon system from the vices of Mormon members. They also prove, whatever may have been the moral state of Mormon society in time past, that it has already greatly improved. And as to the accusations against their founders, even when made by undoubtedly pious men, the Mormons have an indisputably valid answer, which they have thus worded for themselves. " Pious men, who prayed often, and fasted frequently, af- firmed that Jesus and His apostles were foul impostors, vile eabbath-breakers, gluttons, wine-bibbers, treasonable persons, 25 ?94 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. not fit to live. Do you judge Jesus by the testimony of pious enemies ? JNfo, you judge his character, &c., by the testimony of friends. Pursue the same line of judgment toward Joseph Smith, and the fssue is triumph : his bosom burned with a love to humanity, manly, frank, and Godlike. You believe in the testimony of Moses as to the wonders recorded in the Pentateuch, yet Moses killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand ! Joseph Smith never did anything like that. You believe and receive the Psalms and Proverbs, yet David and Solomon sinned foully and fearfully. Let your reason and common sense speak and judge righteous judgment. A false prophet will ever teach something false : Joseph taught in perfect accordance with Scripture, just as a true prophet must do," The enmity excited among the pious, too, had its natural ground in the peculiar doctrines taught by the new sect. These we will also take in their own words : — " Some of the leading characteristics of the Latter-Day Gospel were as follows : It declared all the earth. Christian, Jew, Heathen, and Pagan, to be living in wickedness, unbe- lief, and without a knowledge of God. It declared that the religion of Jesus established upon the earth in the days of the primitive apostles, had been long perverted into human insti- tutions, without either the forna or power, and consequently were not acknowledged of God. It declared, that all those calling themselves Christians in the nineteenth century, were nothing less than idolaters, and living under a broken covenant. It declared that God had now spoken from the heavens, and given a commission to man to go forth and usher in the dis- pensation of the fulness of times, by opening the kingdom of God to Gentile and Jew. It declared that all who would not humble themselves, and go forth and be baptized for a remis- sion of their sins, and have the imposition of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost, by those v,hom God had called OPPOSITION TO MORMONISM- 395 would never enter into the kingdom of God, or be baved with, an everlasting- salvation. It declared that all who were without prophets and apostles — the spirit of inspiration and immediate revelation from God, together with the Holy Ghost, wfiich would enable men to dream dreams, see visions, and prophesy ; speak in unknown tongues, and work miracles ; were not yet fellow- citizens with the Saints, or of the house hold of God. It declared that this was the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, spoken of by Daniel and the prophets, and that it would roll on until every hostile power upon the earth had fallen before it, and it had become a great kingdom, and filled the whole earth. Let us here pause, and inquire : Was there anything in all this, to pamper the preju- dices of the public mind, and thereby gain the applause of the world ? On the contrary ; it is obvious, that had the inhabi- tants of some other world laid their heads together, to concoct such a story to palm upon this world, as would stir up the bitterest spirit of hatred and persecution, they could not have hit upon one more efTectual than the principles embodied in the Latter-Day Gospel. " We accordingly find that the gospel met the opposition and contempt naturally to be expected. No sooner was its first proclamation made, than both earth and hell were in a stew to find adequate means to put a stop to such a work ; all manner of lies and slanderous reports were put in circulation to the prejudice of those who obeyed it, everywhere. The whole artillery of the learned world was put in requisition to bolster up such lies and slanders, and men were warned, both from pulpit and press, to beware of the impostors. The ser- vants of the Lord knew and felt they were so treated ; but still they preached and still they determined to know, and to glory in nothing else. Why this, if they were impostors, they must have yielded to the contempt it called forth. But no, they preached it, and succeeded. And yet Jew and Geii' 396 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. tile hated it. What could carry it above that hatred but the power of God ? For, as was to be expected from a religion of this description, making such pretensions, and with a world hostile and already entrenched in power, it met with most formidable opposition and violent persecution from all ranks, orders, classes, and individuals whose interests were endangered or craft disturbed. From governors, rulers, inferior magis- trates ; from priests and the whole train of idolatrous wor- shippers ; from a lawless rabble multitude, the victim and sport of every passion and prejudice ; the ready instruments of party violence ; the easy dupes of designing men, and the tumultuous and eager executioners of wrath, against those who had become the object of their hatred. That the Latter-Day Saints have suffered horrible persecutions is a fact not to be denied, after all the publications upon the subject, and the thousands of living witnesses who at this moment attest its truth, and mourn over their martyred relatives, " As an outline of what is contained in our records upon this subject, we may notice, that no sooner were a few thou- sands of the Saints settled on the western frontiers of Missouri, having provided themselves with comfortable, and many of them with large possessions, and having by industry greatly improved their estates, and were beginning to enjoy some- ting like real comfort, than the storm that had been brewing against them in the hearts of their enemies broke out with uncontrollable force ; and large bodies of Christians, armed with the powers of mobocracy, and headed by their ministers, with the Bible in one hand and the sword in the other, en- deavored to annihilate the poor, peaceful, unoffending Latter- Day Saints ; and in the most savage, barbarous manner did they drive them from their lands and possessions in the midst of a severe North American winter, burning their dv/elling- houses and other buildings, murdering them and their farn- ilies, first ravishing and then murdering their wives and OPPOSITION TO MORMONISM. 397 daughters. In one case nineteen of them had hid themselves in an old smithy, but their ruthless pursuers found them out and butchered them to a man ; and just when about to leave, thinking that the work of slaughter was done in this place, one of them discovered a little boy hid behind the bellows ; him they dragged forth, and while his little eyes and hands were raised to heaven in earnest entreaty that these Christian sav- ages might have mercy upon him, one of them, in whose heart the last spark of humanity was not wholly extinguished, ventured to plead for the life of the little boy ; but the ready reply of one and all was, ' Away v/ith him ; d — n him, if he lives he'll be a Mormon like his father,' and a ball from a gun quickly scattered his brains upon the floor. " My heart sickens, and the blood freezes in my veins while I write, and while I contemplate the worse than savage atro- cities inflicted upon the most law-abiding; peaceful, unoflend- ing people that ever graced the footstool of God. Yes, — they drove them from their homes, their lands, and their posses- sions. Stript, Vv'ounded, and beaten, they were compelled to flee from all they had in or of the world, in the midst of a very rigorous winter. It would have sickened the heart of the wildest savage of the forest to see their young infants, their old men and women, their sick and infirm, with many of their women sufiering from the pangs of child-birth, many of them too premature to look, or even hope for their recovery, lying scattered here and there across the bare prairies, with- out the slightest covering to shelter them from the pitiless pelting storm, or the bitter frost and snow ; so that many more were they who fell martyrs to the inclemency of v/inter, than they who perished by the sword, and much more bitter and torturing to the feelings was their fate. " It will not be expected that I could write one-thousandth part of the sufferings of the Saints at the period alluded to, neither is it my present intention so to do : suffice it to say 398 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. that the readiest pen, or the most eloquent tongue, would come far short of the reality. To know would be to have felt ; and even then the knowledge would be all your own — you could not communicate it to another. " But the question now is, did these cruelties destroy the work of God ? No, — so far from destroying, it did not so much as retard it a single moment. Nay, it went on with accelerated speed ; and at triO very moment the Saints were being butchered for the testimony of Jesus and the word of Bms, to extort the wealth of their deluded victims, to rule ovtr them with an iron rod, and to consolidate the sys- tem of tyranny, lust, and imposture, which the crafty and ad- venturous Joe Smith had first inaugurated. There, during the progress of some years, Mormonism has had opportunity to develop its real character, to display without restraint the ten- dencies to which it inevitably leads, and to bring to full per- fection the fruits with which the system is pregnant ; for there, no modifying influence, imposed by near neighbors, or by scrutinizing and persecuting enemies, has been exerted, to soften down the most peculiar, or the most offensive, attributes of the system. And such as Mormonism is, in its present fully developed state, we are now, in concluding this volume, about to consider. The reader has found on a preceding page* a description of the external organization and government of the Mormon churc-h and community. We will complete the picture by defining the peculiar doctrines and tenets of the sect, as they are now preached and proclaimed, after the experience of some years has enabled their most intelligent elders, seers, and apostles to settle and define them. In regard to the Divine Being, the Mormons say : " We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in his son Jesus * See page 355 et seq. THEIR PECULIAR DOCTRINES. 403 Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." From this declaration the reader would reasonably infer that the Mormons entertained sentiments in regard to the Deity, similar in character to those which are held by other Christian communities ; and senti- ments both rational and intelligent in themselves. But never was there a greater error ; for never was there a more absurd and monstrous conception than theirs entertained on the sub- ject.^ One of their teachers declares : " We worship a God who hath both body and parts, who has eyes, mouth and ears, and who speaks when and to whom he pleases, — w^ho is just as good at mechanical inventions as at any other business." They teach that God possesses the person, the image, and the form of a man ; that he has the same passions and impulses as a man ; that he is in every respect only a superior grade of human being. Consequently, the Mormon conception of the Deity is pure materialism ; and in fact their whole system is materialistic throughout. They hold that not only is God material, but that Christ, the Holy Ghost, and the angels are all material per- sonages. In reference to spirits alone, they teach that their bodies, though material, are not composed of flesh and bones, but of some unknown substance less tangible to our gross sen- ses in the present life, but still tangible to those who inhabit the same sphere with themselves. The Mormon conceptions of the nature of the three per- sons of the Trinity, are monstrous, absurd and blasphemous in the extreme. Holding as they do, that the Father, or first person in the Trinity, is simply a perfected man, w^hose intelJl gence and power may be termed infinite only in comparison with those of other beings, the consequences which are deduci- ble and even deduced from such premises are equally mon- strous. He has created everything by the exercise of power ; but he begat the Son, of the Virgin Mary, after the ordinary 404 HISTORY OF THE MuRMONS. fashion of human generation. The Eternal Father descended to the earth, wooed the fair virgin, won her to be his spouse, "pro hac vice, and then consigned her over, to the care of the compliant Joseph. From these secret but celestial interviews, the Savior of mankind was born ; but we are not clearly in- formed whether the spirit which animated Christ, as well as his body, was the result of that intercourse, or whether it niay have had a previous existence, which was afterward transferred to the body of the child, as its tabernacle in the flesh. And yet they strongly contend for the divinity of the second per- son of the Trinity, whose origin they thus explain. hi other words, the Mormon theology has revived again, in all its grossness, the old mythological conceptions in reference to the nature, passions and outrages of the now defunct Jupiter. Wherein does this statement of the conception of Christ differ from that of the old Grecian myth concerning Pollux and Helen? Jupiter, enamored of the charms of Leda, descends from Olympus, sails majestically through the clouds in the form of a swan, visits the object of his passion, and the two children are born. Or wherein does it differ from the oricjin of Perseus? Jupiter, again afflicted with the loveliness of Danae, descends in the shape of a golden shower, and the future destroyer of the Gorgon in due time is born. There is not the slightest difference between these gross and sensual con- ceptions of the character and actions of the ancient monarch of Olympus, as set forth by the voluptuous and imaginative Greeks, and the Mormon conception of the God of the Bible the infinite Father, as revealed in the purer and nobler revela- tion of the scriptures. Of Christ, they teach that he, too, is material, " possessing both body and parts;" that he cannot occupy two places a*^ once ; that like the Father, he can traverse space, but is not omnipresent, or in more than one place at once. They be THE "head-god." 405 lieve that through the atonement made by Christ, all man- kind may be saved, by rendering obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. These ordinances they hold to be, first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ ; second. Repentance ; third, Baptism by immersion, for the remission of sins ; fourth, Laying on of Hands for the gift of the Holy spirit ; fifth, the Lord's Supper. As to the Holy Ghost, thus referred to, they contend that it is merely the concomitant will of both the Father and the Son ; the one mind possessing, actuating and harmonizing both ; and which gives vitality and unity to their thoughts and purposes. The Holy Spirit, therefore, differs from both the Fath- er and the Son, in being merely a spiritual existence, and not " possessing a body and parts," such as the two other Gods have who constitute their strange and revolting Trinity. To add if possible to the absurdity of the Mormon concep- tion of the Deity, they teach that the Father is not eternal in his existence, or without beginning ; but that he himself had a progenitor, a father, and a grandfather, and thus almost ad infi- nitum^ until they overtake the great '"'' Head-God^'' who called the grand council together '' when the worlds came rolling into existence." They nevertheless attribute the creation of the worlds to the second person in the Trinity, forgetful that he was only born, both as to his divine and human natures, four thousand years after the creation of the world, of the Virgin Mary. They believe that men will be punished for their own sitjs, and not for Adam's transgressions, and yet, they teach such an atonement in reference to the mediatorial work of Christ, as plainly to imply that they believe its efficacy and inten- tion were vicarious. They believe that men must be called of God by inspiration, and the laying on of hands, by those who are duly commissioned to preach the gospel, and admui- 406 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. ister its ordinances. They pretend to believe in the same church organization, which prevailed among the primitive christians, such as apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and c'vangelists. They contend that the powers and gifts of the everlasting gospel, the gift of tongues, the discerning of spirits, the exercise of prophecy, the receiving of visions and revela- tions, and the healing of diseases, still prevail among the chosen saints of the Lord in the present age, and are constantly exer- cised and possessed by themselves. The Mormons also teach that the Bible is the word of God, but that it is incomplete without the revelations contained in the book of Mormon, and some seven other books of lesser eminence, but which they hold to be equally of divine origin and authority.* They believe that God still continues to make direct revelations to men through their prophets and seers ; that the literal gathering of Israel, and the restoration of the ten tribes will take place ; but that Zion will be estab- lished, not on the ancient hills of Jerusalem, but in the Great Salt Lake Valley in Deseret ; that Christ will reign in per- son there, with great glory, a thousand years ; and that thus the earth will be renewed and invested with its pristine and paradisaical splendor. They believe iu the literal resurrection of the body ; and " that the rest of the dead live not again, until the thousand years are expired." They pretend to believe that all men should be subject in obedience to the powers that be; that they should honor, sus- tain and protect the law and its administrators. They pi each up, strangely enough, the paramount duty of being chaste, * Their titles are : "Doctrines and Covenants, the Voice of Warn- ing, The Gospel Reflector, The Times and Seasons, The Millenial Star, all the writings of Joseph Smith and Parley P. Pratt, and the General Epistles of the Presidency in Deseret," or, in other words, the proclamations and letters of Brigham Young, THEIR OPINION OF THE BIBLE. 407 temperate and virtuous ; they hold fornication and adultery in extreme abhorrence, so far as theory or profession goes; and they desire to live peaceably and honestly with all men. Not the least peculiar among all their peculiar sentiments, are those which relate to the scriptures. While they admit their divine origin and authority, they contend that, in the prevalent versions, they have been woefully mistranslated. Accordingly, they hold to the divine authority of the Bible when correctly translated ! To the attainment of this desirable result^ all the learning of preceding commentators is at fault. The profound philological researches of Gesenius and Winer, the exegetical labors of Tholuck and Rosenmiiller, are quite unsatisfactory and insufficient ; Moses Stuart must descend from his unde served eminence as the first of American commentators, and Dr. Robinson from his, as the chief of American linguists. The palm of ci'itical acumen and extensive, exhaustive lore, now belongs alone to the prophet Joseph Smith ! Says he : " I know more than all the world put together, and the Holy Ghost within me comprehends more than all the world, and 1 will associate with it. I possess the key of all languages." These assumptions were uttered by Smith himself, in the last sermon which he preached in the great temple in Nauvoo, previous to the expulsion of the saints. As an illustration of the exegetical results to which this unequaled expositor of the Bible arrives, we may quote his comment on the first verse of the first chapter of Genesis. Says he, " I will make a comment on the very first sentence of the history of the creation, in the Bible. It should be trans lated, the head-one of the Gods brought forth the Gods ;" and from this he proceeds to argue, that the Head-God has had any quantity of inferior or derivative offspring, who were also gods. While the Bible is regarded as the foundation b<>oic of revealed truth, the Mormons insist upon interpreting it literally 408 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. throughout. They say that God is honest, when he speaks to man ; that he always uses words m their literal meaning, and " never palters in a double sense." " Consequently, we infer, that where the psalmist says, " God is a rock," he *s a rock ; and, possibly, according to their blasphemous conceptions of him — a perfect brick. The Mormon doctrine in regard to the nature of man, is in accordance with the preceding ones. They say that men are the offspring of God the Father, and brothers of Jesus Christ ; that they were formerly intelligent spirits in the presence of God, and were with him before the creation of the world. They hold that men are capable of receiving intelligence and exalta- tion to such a degree, as to be raised from the dead with a body like that of Jesus Christ, and to possess immortal " body and bones," becoming in fact gods, endowed with the same pow- ers, attributes, and capacities which God the Father and Christ themselves possess. Matter, the Mormons, consistently witli their materialistic system, contend is eternal, and they hold that intelligence or thought is either a property of material substances, or is a re- sult of the combination and contact of those substances. Mat- ter, they say, has always existed, and was never created ; be- cause that would presume the existence of some creative spirit anterior to the existence of matter, which is impossible accord- ing to them, inasmuch as such spirit is itself matter. They contend that all spirits are material, organized intelligences, also possessing "bodies and parts;" that they are men in embryo, patiently waiting to be evoked into the material world, by the ordinary process of birth. Such was Jesus Christ himself, such are we, such are all men who ever have lived and who ever will live, in this " breathing world." And the first great cause of all things is, after all, self-existent, self- moving intelligent, eternal matter ! THE FINAL RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS. 409 f Qne of the most prominent peculiarities of the doctrinal system of the Mormons, is their theory in regard to the final restitution of all things, from which they choose to designate their sect as Latter Day Saints. At that great day, the first process will be, to unite all the continents and islands of the world into one, as they were in the morn of creation. This job apparently belongs to the Head-God. The seas will then retire and assemble in their own place as before. The earth will be restored, and the inhabitants purified, both man and beast, so that they can neither hurt nor destroy. Then the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters fill the deep. Then the first resurrection of the millions of saints who repose in their graves, will take place ; the saints will arise, " body and bones," but no blood, and they shall reign with Christ over a world full of Gentiles, for a thousand years. The blood is not reanimated in the sleeping and crumbling dead, because, for the very philosophical reason that, as the blood is the seat of the natural life of man, and as the life of the resurrection is a supernatural one, no blood can, on any pretext, be admitted. Besides, the risen saints must needs re- semble Christ in every particular ; and he, after his own resur- rection, commanded his disciples to handle him, and see wheth- er he was not possessed of flesh and hones ; but not a word respecting blood did the Divine Teacher of men utter. Con- sequently, the risen body of Christ had no blood. The im- portant functions of his venous system must have been per- formed by a new arrangement, unknown and unexplained by the Mormon revelations. At the resurrection Jesus will repair at once to Jerusalem ; but all the rest of the faithful will make their way, as fast as possible, to the Great Salt Lake Valley. A thousand years of peace and prosperity will then ensue ; during which the saints will reign with Christ. At the termination of tbit pc- 410 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. • riod, the whole earth will be celestialized by the baptism of fire, the Head-God himself superintending the general confla- gration ; during which the two cities, Jerusalem and the Great Salt Lake City, will be caught up literally into heaven, and then descend again upon the renewed earth, with all the saints, and with the Lord God, and remain forever resplendent and glorious, under the bright canopy of those " new heavens " which shall span the earth, after the ordeal of the last great conflagration shall have passed over. The consequences of this resurrection of the saints will be to make gods of everybody ; for the prophet himself thus de- clares : " You have got to learn to be gods yourselves, to be kings and priests to God ; the same as all the gods have done, by going from one small degree to another, from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you are able to sit in glory, as doth those who sit enthroned in everlasting power." The. doctrine of the Mormons on the subject of the sacra- ments is peculiar. As to baptism, they immerse only for the remission of sins. But they do not simply immerse for the re- mission of their own sins, but also for the sins of their dead friends, who have never had the opportunity of baptism or have neglected it during life. This ceremony is called bap- tism for the dead. They contend that there is also a proba- tionary state in the future world, and that, consequently, it is not useless thus to obtain the benefits of this sacrament by proxy. All those who are thus admitted to salvation after their death, will be added to the number of the baptized and redeemed at the resurrection, and he who on earth has thus been baptized for the benefit of others, will, in the resurrection, have all these trophies of his piety and benevolence added to his train, to swell his consequence and glory among the hosts of the redeemed. The authority which the Mormons produce in defense of this baptism for the dead, is the language of the OF THE SACRAMENTS. 411 Apostle : " Else what shall they do, which are bapti /.ed for the dead, if the dead rise not at all ? Why are they then baptized for the dead 1 " On this passage the prophet Joseph appended an explanation, that " Every man who has got a friend in the eternal world, can save him, unless he had committed the un- pardonable sin ; so you can see how far you can be a savior, and the Apostle says, they without us cannot be made perfect." In the sacrament of the Lord's supper, the Mormons use the bread and wine merely as commemorative symbols. But they cautiously abstain from all wine manufactured by the pro- fane hands of the Gentiles, and prepare for their own use the pure juice of the grape ; and when that cannot be obtained, they substitute water in the place of it. A loaf of bread and a pail, with a tin, or glass vessel in it, to dip out the water or the wine, is carried around by the bishops among the congre- gation, on each Sabbath, and all both young and old partake of them as they sit in their seats. The absurdity of the Mormon creed probably culminates in their theory respecting the origin of God and of the universe. They teach that in remote eternity two of the elementary par- ticles of matter met in consultation and compared intelligences ; that they then called in the aid of a third passing atom, and the three, uniting in one will, became the first power. To the dignity of this power no other subsequent one could attain, because it had the priority, and by continually uniting more atoms together, would always have the advantage and prece- dence over all other combinations of power. Out of this first combination a God — the Head-God — was begotten, 7iot made; and other gods have sprung from him as his children. Sex is an universal, coordinate, coeternal law of all being, both moral and physical. Hence, there are kings and queens in heaven, and these are the fathers and mothers of our spirits, and of all other spiritual existences. Some of these are sent by the il2 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. Head-God, as messengers and heralds from one planet to another. They bear what is termed mysteriously the " Ever- lasting Gospel." The angel described by St. John in the book of Revelations, as having a great scroll in his hand, and flying in the midst of the heavens, was one of these ; and that same angel was identical with " Moroni," who eventually brough the gospel in its fullness to " Joseph the Seer," and is now preached to men by the saints assembled in the Great Sal Lake Valley in Deseret, and elsewhere. From the preceding statement of the doctrinal system of the Mormons, it will clearly appear, that their creed is made up of a most singular congeries of dogmas and absurdities, some coined from the ignorant and presumptuous brain of the impostor Smith ; some gathered from the ancient Gnostic and Platonic theories in reference to the creation of the world by ^ons, or the moving element in matter ; some derived from the Brahmin mysticism on the subject of the dependence of God ; some from the slough of Mahommedan sensualism ; some from oriental theories in reference to the transmigration of souls ; and a few also from the purer and diviner revela- tions of the Bible. But all these incongruous and heterogene- ous materials thus jumbled together in one mass, constitute a system compared with which even the ancient heathenisms of Greece and Rome were beautiful, instructive, and elevating. The hoary Jupiter of Olympus was certainly a much nobler being than the Godhead of the Great Salt Lake Valley ; and Jupiter's imaginary sway over the world would have been much more intelligent, consistent, and benignant than that of the latter Having said this much in reference to the doctrines taught by the Latter Day Saints, let us examine their social system, its structure, its principles, and the consequences which have always resulted from its full and free operation. The religion of the Mormons is emphatically a social re- OF THE SPIRITUAL WIFE DOCTRINE. 418 ligion ; and the social relations which it commends and intro- duces, are the most marked and pernicious attributes which belong to it. The prominent and peculiar feature in this part of their system, is the defense and prevalence of polygamy, which Joe Smith first introduced, at the commencement of his career and which has ever since prevailed among his followers. So abhorrent is this vice to every enlightened sentiment of human nature, so repugnant is it to all that is elevating and ennobling in social existence, that even the leaders of these fanatics have been compelled to veil its evident enormity under some spe cious garb of scriptural sanction and religious character; and they consequently term it the sjnritual wife doctrine. This doctrine had its sole origin in the lust and sensuality of the founder of Mormonism, and it has had its strongest de- fense and perpetuity in the same qualities of his successors. Smith pretended to receive the Bible as authoritative when he first set up as a prophet, and yet that volume expressly teaches him the opposite principle and duty, from the first to the last page. Where was the necessity for giving polygamy so great a prominence in the new system, unless it was to minister to the lusts of the leaders of the imposture 1 And the truth of this conjecture is amply vindicated by the subsequent expe- rience which the progress of years has now developed. The spiritual wife doctrine is based on two principles : first that the kingdom of the saints is to consist solely of their own posterity, and that thus, the more wives a man has the more heirs of glory will be born,* and that, second, the mar- riage of a woman to one of the saints whereby she became " sealed to him^'' is her own surest passport into heaven. They assert that not only did David, Solomon, Jacob, and other Old Testament worthies practice polygamy, but that Christ him- self had three wives, Mary, Martha, and the other Mary whom * See ante, page 379. il4 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. Jesus loved. They affirm that, in the new church and paradise, the glory of a man will be in proportion to the size of his household, to his number of wives, children, and servants ; and yet, at other times, when charged with the sensuality of their system, they contend that the purpose of their po- lygamy is only a spiritual one; and that sensual gratification is an abomination in their eyes. They quote in support of this institution the language of the scriptures : " the man is not without the woman, nor the woman without the man;" and they contend from this, that no single person, either male or female, can ever enter the kingdom of heaven. In defense of polygamy it is further urged, that there is a great disparity of numbers between the sexes, and that the predominance of the female is more than can be accounted for from the casualties of war, from the dangers of the sea, and from all the other perils to which the male sex is subjected. Hence they conclude, with profound logic, that the unaccounta- ble preponderance of the female sex in numbers, is a clear in- dication that a plurality of wives was intended by the Head- God, as the law of social existence. Strange as it may appear, the Mormons assert that polyg- amy tends to diminish the prevalence of licentiousness ; that it leads to the promotion of domestic concord and enjoyment ; that by it society is made to wear a more pleasing and attract- ive aspect ; that the duties and labors of life are divided, and thus lessened. They assert that the great glory of a wornan is, to reproduce her species ; and that according to the arrange- ment generally prevalent in Christendom, a vast multitude of women are deprived of a legal and honorable way of achieving their proper destiny. Consequently, the introduction of the polygamous relation vastly increases the number of the " Mothers in Israel," who thus have an opportunity to serve the church and the world, in rearing Christian children, the fti- ARGUMENTS USED IN FAVOR OF POLYGAMY. 415 ture heirs ot saivation. And above all, and more blasphemous than all, they declare that " God himself was married, or how could he beget his son, Jesus Christ, and do the works of his father 1 " * They add, that spirits are the sons of the Gods, begotten in the usual course of generation ; that God has — " nobody knows how many " wives and concubines, and that the words of the Psalmist : " King's daughters ^cre among thy honorable women, upon thy right hand did stand the Queen in gold of Ophir," clearly prove the truth of this supposition. Again they say : " The Apostle declares to the Hebrews, we have had fathers of our flesh, who corrected us and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in sub- jection to the Father of spirits and live ? Father of spirits, which are in the shape and form of mortal beings, would lead us to infer that spirits not only have a father, but also a moi^er."f Accordingly they teach that Christ, as a spirit, was begotten in the heavens, but his body was born of one of the terrestrial concubines ; and thus the incidents of his birth re- semble, in no inconsiderable degree, those which trans- pired, according to the Greek mythologists, between Ju- piter and Europa, Alcmena, Antiope, Callisto and other unhappy victims of supernal violence and lust. These, and such as these, are the arguments used by the Mormon fanatics, in defense of the institution of polygamy, or the spiritual wife doctrine. Let us proceed to examine into facts, and ascertain what have been the real tendencies and legitimate operation of that institution, during the past and more recent years of its prevalence among them. A large proportion of the present adult male population of Deseret Territory, are practical polygamists. The only restraint * See Deseret Almanac for 1853. f See Deseret News, Dec., 25, 1852. 416 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. which exists upon the practice is the increased expense which at- tends the increase of the harem. The number of wives which these saints possess vary from two to fifty. Brigham Young has more than fifty wives and thirty children. The general rule is that the priesthood, who hold the chief power, both civil and ecclesiastical, also possess the greatest number of wives. The effect of this arrangement upon the increase of population is injurious. Joe Smith had over forty wives at Nauvoo, and yet the number of his offspring fell far short of even that of Young. It has been asserted by those familiar with the facts, that not one of all the children born to polygamists in Nauvoo, ever lived to reach their present capital. Many of the wives of Smith were espoused by Young after the death of the for- mer, the personal tastes and the standards of conjugal excel- lence of the two prophets being similar. The sickness and frailty of the children of the Utah polyg- amists are proverbial ; proving that nature's inevitable curse rests upon the usage. Their shortness of life results from two causes ; their natural imbecility from their birth, and the preva- lent want of care, cleanliness and attention. Those who are familiar with the history and present aspect of society and population, in Great Salt Lake Valley, declare that the chil- dren of the saints are generally filthy, ragged, disorderly, and sickly. By his two first lawful wives, Brigham Young had eight children, all of whom survive. By his succeeding fifty wives he has had a large number of children, only twenty, two of whom survive. Nor do these polygamists pretend to maintain one general household, properly organized, and gov- erned by the constant presence of the father and head ; but their wives and concubines are frequently scattered about in some half-dozen different abodes, like so many secret mistresses carefully distributed at safe and unknown distances from each other, whom these sanctimonious debauchees gravely visit ac- TENDENCIES AND EFFECTS OF POLYGAMY. 417 cording to their whims, and whenever the behests of pcission impel them. Thus they legalize bigamy or polygamy, and think that by so doing they diminish the prevalence of licen- tiousness and impurity. In the same way they have only to legalize forgery, perjury, burglary, larceny, murder, and then the happy millenial day would soon greet the world, when all crime would be unknown, and every man become blameless and honorable ! The Mormons point with great boasting to the numerous evidences of licentiousness and lust, to the myr- iads of immodest women, to the magnificent, as well as to the squalid abodes of prostitution which crowd the great cities of the world, where monogamy still prevails ; and then they triumphantly exclaim that no such things appear among them- selves. But the only real difference which exists between the two cases is this, that these polygamists commit fornication, adultery, and incest with the protection of the law — a law es- tablished by themselves, by those who are the culprits, in their own favor; while in the other case, the same crimes which are inherent in the very nature of unsanctified man, are committed secretly, are committed under the ban of the law, are committed frequently with the heavy penalty which they deserve rapidly following after them, and overwhelming the offenders. In this case we think that the advantages are very greatly on the side of the monogamist. We have said that the spiritual wife doctrine has introduced incest among the saints, and this assertion' may readily be established by many facts. A single instance will suffice for our purpose. An English convert named Watt came over to the United States, and arrived at length at Salt Lake City. He was accompanied by his half1?ister, and before the end of their journey, they had determined to signalize their advent among the saints by being married. They repaired for this purpose to Brigham.'s house ; but no sooner had the lecherous 4,18 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. impostor set eyes on the fair form of the graceful and bloom- ing English girl, than he instantly conceived the purpose of possessing her himself. He had great scruples, he said, about " sealing " people who were so nearly related to each other ; but that the difficulty might be obviated in another way. He would seal her to himself. The ne\*'-comers were con- strained to submit to so high an authority ; and Brigham forth- with sealed the Albion maid. But it is probable that the pair had adroitly devised some plan to render that sealing abortive, so far as regarded the separation of themselves from each other ; and consequently Brigham, in a day or two, be- came tired of the lady, and sent for Watt. The prophet then informed him that he had reconsidered the matter ; that he had obtained new light upon the subject ; and that Watt and his half sister might now safely be sealed. They were then married by Brigham on the spot, and thus both the incest and the bigamy were consummated. Nor are there wanting members of this strange community who contend, that it is allowable and proper for fathers to commit incest with their own daughters, as Lot did with his daughters, when they sup- posed that all mankind would be destroyed by the ruin of Sodom and Gomorrah. And this example is by no means worse than many others which they openly profess to follow ; for it would actually appear that, whatever foul crime any scriptural saint or prophet is recorded to have committed, in any sad moment of temporary apostacy and unfaithfulness, that crime the Mormons have eagerly selected, and elevated to the prominence and importance of a great precedent, to justify themselves in habitually indulging in the same vice, under the pretext of inspired* example. But there is a degree of refinement in the spiritual wife sys- tem at which the leaders of the saints have arrived, which clearly illustrates the true nature and purpose of the institution. ORDER OF THE CLOISTERED SAINTS. 419 A.mong the mysteries which are observed in the recesses of the Temple a few favored ones are initiated into the '• Order of the cloistered saints." respecting whom the following account is given by one who has apostatized from them. Whenever an apostle, elder, or high-priest has conceived a lustful attach- ment for any female, and has ascertained that an equal attrac- tion exists on her part, he informs the "Governor" Brighani of the state of the case, and requests him to inquire of the Lord whether it would be right for him to make his inamorata his spiritual wife. The prophet gravely promises to make the inquiry, and if the amorous saint is in the good graces of the Governor, the answer is invariably in favor of the applicant. It makes no obstacle whatever to the proposed union, if the parties have a lawful husband or wife already existing, accord- ing to the laws of the land ; nothing is allowed to hinder or de- feat the progress and success of their pertinacious lust. Ac- cordingly the parties are married by Brigham secretly in the Temple ; the parties are themselves bound to future secrecy in reference to the marriage, and no outward or public change in the life of the spiritual wife is observable. She still lives with her lawful spouse. But the unscrupulous pair who were made one in the recesses of the Temple^ meet secretly from time to time for purposes which need not be named. What is this but a legalized form of private assignation, as practiced among the most licentious, perfidious, and debauched of the Gentiles ?* * One Wells who already had six wives, conceived a violent pas- sion for the sister of one of them, who was married to another hus- band. The latter was appointed forthwith to a long mission t( Siara; but ascertaining the real cause of the appointment, he re- fused to go. Wells, however, being in favor with Brigham, at length prevailed ; and the marriage which already subsisted between the parties was dissolved by the Governor, and the woman was added to the seraglio of the intrepid Wells. See Utah and the Mor- mons], p. 337. 420 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. The pernicious tendency of the plurality of wives is clearly evinced in every aspect of Mormon society, but it is especially so in reference to the first or lawful wife of the saint. Mar- riage properly defined is the union of affection and interest be- tween two persons of opposite sexes. It needs no argument to prove, that such an union can only exist, by any possibility, between two persons. If there be more than two, if there be three, or five, or ten, then both affection and interest become divided. And when conjugal affection and interest become divided^ they become obliterated ; for unity is of the very essence of their nature. Sexual and conjugal love involves the idea of entire and absolute resignation of self, in view of an exchange equally entire and absolute. How can there be any pure love between a Mormon husband, whose body and soul are divided and subdivided between ten rival wives 1 Can any one of them claim him as hers % and when the wife must receive as the whole of her share in her husband's affections, only one-tenth of them, supposing it possible for true affection to be thus split up, can she in return for that contemptible moiety, give up to him a whole heart glowing with all the richness of ardent, absorbing, and undivided affection ? The thing is absurd. All true-hearted women will turn away with ineffable disgust from any such beggarly arrangement and dis- tribution of the affections ; and few except those whom either misfortune, disgrace or despair have already rendered perfectly reckless, will ever endure it. Accordingly, facts prove that the condition of the first or leiial wife among the Mormons is miserable in the extreme. If her husband has not yet commenced to practice polygamy, the bare possibility of his doing so, renders her life miserable from constant apprehension. But as soon as the saint intro- duces a second wife into his household, the real affection of the first, if it still exists, is destroyed ; she hates her rival as one TENDENCIES OF POLYGAMY. 421 whj has trespassed on her rights, in violation of every law of reason, scripture, and decency ; and unspeakable misery en- sues. The women, or wives, having no real interest in the superintendence of the household, permit disorder and neglect to take the place of the former thrift and neatness. The wives quarrel about the supremacy. They quarrel about their children, they quarrel about their husband, they quarrel about everything. Nor is it possible for things to be otherwise, as long as human nature remains constituted as it is. The first wife soon pines, if she have any decency and delicacy of soul, at the contemplation of her altered state, at the coldness and alienated love of her husband, at the vaunting ascendency of some more presumptuous or more beautiful concubine ; all the sweet and tender traditions and associations which, in all Christian, and even in many heathen lands, have clustered from immemorial time around the sacred precincts of the do- mestic fireside, are banished and unknown; and that first wife, once so hopeful, joyous, devoted, and finding her heaven in the delights of home, and husband, and children, sickens, and in the very language of an impartial eye-witness, "does not live out half her days." Sad, complaining, unloved, and neglected, she sinks into a premature grave, the victim of hypocritical, sanctimonious, but legalized lust. The tendency of the spiritual wife system is also seen in the character and conduct of the succeeding wives, the real con- cubines, of the saints. Can any subtile process of reasoning, can any supposed authority even of scripture, render a woman who has any refinement or delicacy of feeling, willing to abase herself to assume the marriage tie under such circumstances ? That, too, is impossible ; and facts also prove it. It is asserted by those who are familiar with the Mormon com* munity as it now exists in Utah, that the vast majority of women who, in that community, are the second, tenth or twentieth 422 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. wives of the saints, are adventurers from the States, who have already been unfortunate in their marriage relations at home ; women who have been divorced from their first husbands for various, and sometimes for no very innocent causes, and have turned Mormons solely in order to improve their temporal condition.* When these and other women succeed in becom- ing sealed to a Mormon, they enter his household with no very elevated or refined sentiments. They take no interest in his affairs, nor do they become in the least degree identified with them. They find rivals around them, with rights fully equal to their own ; they must either settle down into perfect indif- ference — the same indifference which prevails in a Turkish harem — or else raise a jealous storm about their ears, by as- suming a preeminence and authority over their associates. Accordingly, in a Mormon harem, the universally prevalent appearance of things is either general neglect and confusion, or else, what is worse than any neglect and confusion, the fierce tumults of passion, jealousy and conflict. The husband natur- ally hates the first wife whom he has disgraced and degraded, on the general principle, that all men hate those whom they have injured. The wife in return justly condemns the husband, who has become recreant, without any just cause, to his vows and promises of affection. The concubines hate the wife, be- cause she presumes to arrogate to herself any rights over them. The wife hates and despises the concubines, because they have indecently invaded the sanctity and privacy of her domestic circle, and transformed what to her was once a para- dise, into what is now a hell. Such is Mormon life, such is the inevitable operation of the spiritual wife system. Other facts may be adduced to illustrate the degrading and * For the proof of this and other facts, already stated in the text, Bee " Utah and the Mormons," by B. G. Ferris, late Secretary of Utah Territory, p. 2G3. TENDENCIES OF POLYGAMY. 423 demoralizing tendency of the spiritual wife system. It is the prevalent custom for a saint and several of his wives to occupy the same sleeping apartment. A late United States Secre- tary for Utah testifies, that in a village on Utah Lake, he him- self saw a man, his two wives, and a full grown daughter lodged in the same room, containing two beds, which room served the purposes both of parlor, kitchen and bedroom. He adds with much truth, that "a dozen women, the common property of one man, seven of them divorced from other men, lodged un- der the same roof, and often more than one in the same room soon begin to feel that they might as well be the common property each of a dozen men." These spiritual wives entertain the same feelings of jealousy respecting their rivals, which other women experience all over the world ; nor can the thin varnish of religious sanction which the church throws over the indulgences of their husbands, di- vest them of those feelings. W. W. Phelps, the editor of the Deseret Almanac, took to himself a new wife. His first and legitimate spouse was sorely irritated and incensed, as any ra- tional woman would be, at the evident lust and perfidy of her lord. Phelps found such a tempest gathering around his head, after the introduction to his house of Mrs. Phelps No. 2, that he was constrained to provide separate lodgings for her. Con- sequently, Phelps was compelled occasionally to slip away to pay the necessary attentions to his new wife. This was more than Mrs. Phelps No. 1 could endure. Tremendous storms assailed the unhappy Phelps after each return from these stolen interviews. One night female Phelps No. 1, followed the footsteps of male Phelps to the abode of his second wife, and stationed herself at the window of the adobe or mud-brick hut in which she lived, and in which Phelps himself had disap- peared. But unfortunately, the eagerness of female Phelps No. 1, to ascertain what was transpiring between her husband 424 HISTORY OF the mormons. and female Phelps No. 2 overcame all her prudence. W hile leaning too heavily against the window-sash, the whole fell in, with female Phelps No. 1 along with it. Male Phelps was sud- denly surprised in no very agreeable manner ; and the whole affair ended in a domestic tempest of more than usual fierce- ness, acrimony, and mutual recrimination. Such incidents which are much more appropriate to the experience of worn- out debauchees and adventurous men-about>town, than to saints, are frequent among the inhabitants of the Great Salt Lake City and Territory. The general sentiment of indecency and immodesty which the polygamy of the Mormons introduces among them, is il- lustrated by the indelicacy and coarseness of language which there prevail. On one occasion Brigham Young deliv- ered a discourse in the Temple at Salt Lake City, in which his purpose was to turn into ridicule the healing art, and all its scientific representatives. He declared before three thou- sand auditors of both sexes, that " he knew, as well as the doc- tors, that women had legs, bellies, &c ; " and in a speech of his against the Gladdenites, a faction in the Mormon com- munity, on another occasion, he asserted that their leader was a " nasty, sneaking apostle, — that the nasty little Smith and his wife would go to hell across lots ; and that they wore nasty stinking ribbons." On another occasion, the aforesaid Phelps deliberately proceeded to preach to a large audience composed of both sexes, upon the proper time and manner in which the process of generation should be carried on ! This discourse was delivered on an excursion to the top of "Ensign Peak," an eminence not very distant from Salt Lake City ; and is to this di'.y well known and frequently quoted by the saints, as "Phelps' seniion on the mount." Brigham Young, who now rules over this singular communi- ty, is a remarkable personage. lie has been identified with BRIGHAM YOUNG. 425 the Mormon movement from an early period. In his youth, he must have been good-looking. He was the intimate friend of Joe Smith, and after his death obtained a supremacy which he has ever since maintained. He has not the daring ai)d reckless spirit of that impostor, nor does he possess the same fertility in devising new and striking revelations. But he has more caution, more cunning, and more real sagacity than eveu Smith ; and hence he has been able so long and so absolutely to maintain his supremacy over a community, among whom have been found some spirits of very considerable acuteness and vigor. He always wears his hat ; and whenever he is to be seen, whether in the house, or the temple, when preaching, and even when in social assemblies, the same hat is eternally to be seen upon his head. Whether this singularity results from the idea that his hat serves as an emblem of his authori- ty ; or whether his head is bald ; or whether he has some re- pulsive wen upon its summit, are secrets which neither the researches of saints nor of Gentiles have yet revealed. But he has a dignified presence, is of full height, and possesses a well proportioned figure. His manners are agreeable, and his nat- ural shrewdness has taught him very much of human nature, which has enabled him so lono; to retain his influence over the dupes by whom he is surrounded. But he is quite deficient in education, and is a stranger to all the elevating influences of liberal learning and scientific cultivation. He is the ablest man, in point of natural ability, who is to be found among the Mormon community. He was appointed to the post of Governor of Utah Territory by President Fillmore. After the end of his term of office, the federal government designated a successor to him : but as the new incumbent was not one of the saints, his position was found to be one of such great diffi- culty, as to induce him, and even several others afl:er him, to resign. At length Brigham again resumed the reins of em 27 426 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. pire, which he has for the most part ever since retained ; and comparative harmony has prevailed among the Utah com- munity under his administration. In some cases Mormon polygamy assumes the direct form of downright concubinage. One of the saints named Willard Richards, on arriving in the Valley of Salt, took a large num- ber of wives. But he refused to live with any of them. He continued to reside with his sister, and furnished his various wives with separate dwellings, where he visited them according to his caprice, like so many rival mistresses. In cases like these, the primitive idea of a household is totally abandoned, and the whole affair assumes the appearance of what it actually is, a system of legalized prostitution. At the social assemblies of the Mormons their polygamy frequently leads to the exhibition of amusing scenes. Each saint makes his appearance with a wife on each arm, with the rest of his harem following behind. Should a stranger be present to whom the saint desires to introduce his wives, as bound by ordinary politeness to do, the scene which ensues is diverting in the extreme. One after another of the Mrs. Pratts, or Mrs. Phelps, or Mrs. Youngs, are marched up to the stranger, and successively announced as such; until he becomes overwhelmed and confused by the immense multi- plicity of duplicates who are thus arrayed around him. One of the most singular attributes of the Mormon com- munity is the profound confidence which so many people re- pose in their high-priests and leading men. One would sup- pose that the preceding history of Mormonism, and the innu- merable impostures, evasions, and knaveries which have been clearly fastened upon their leaders, would have opened the eyes of all persons possessing an ordinary share of discern- ment, as to their real character, and thus lessen their influence, or at least render their authority less despotic. But such is THE MORMON HIERARCHY. 427 by no means the case. The Mormons stoutly maintain that their priesthood is indispensable to the very existence of their church, and that its functions are essential to the salvation of the saints over whom they rule. The sincerity of this convic- tion is evinced by the fact, that this priesthood, headed by Brigham Young, governs with despotic power their whole community. And it is also proven by the fact, that the whole community give to the priestly order, without any reluctance, one-tenth of all their income, and also devote one-tenth of all their wealth to the services of their religion. In addition to this, when a convert enters the church, he is required to give very large tithes of all he possesses. These sacrifices, both of money, time, and service, are far greater in amount than any rendered by the members of any other branch of Christen- dom. The bishops have charge of all the tithe labor of the saints ; they receive the contributions of produce and money ; and they profess to place the proceeds of the industry and sacrifices of the community in the public store-houses. These priests who thus possess absolute spiritual, political, and financial power over so many thousands of their fellow beings, are divided into several grades and classes. At the summit of the Hierarchy stands the President and Governor, Brigham Young. He is President in his spiritual, and Gov- ernor in his political, capacity. Nominally, his power has some restrictions, but in reality it has none. He is associated ill the Presidency with two other persons, and these three rep- resent the trinity in heaven, Brigham being the " Head-God ;" and they also represent the apostolic trinity on earth, Peter James, and John, the first presiding spirits of the primitive church. Next come the apostolic college, consisting of twelve trav- eling apostles, who are appointed to journey abroad over the earth, to oreach the new gospel, and to make converts to the 428 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. new faith, throughout the world. After these twelve apostles, come the " three seventies," a number and arrangement also modeled after the primitive church. Into these bodies are usually introduced the most zealous, self-sacrificing, and fanati- cal of the members ; and this distribution will serve to ac- count for the singular manner in which converts to this mon- strous and absurd faith are made even in the most distant countries. Certainly the Mormon missionaries have preached their religion in foreign and remote climes, with a degree of zeal and perseverance, with an indifference to persecution and to suffering, which are well worthy of a nobler and a better cause. After the " seventies " come the priests, elders, bishops, teachers, and deacons. Each of these orders constitutes a full quorum for the government of its own members ; but appeals from each lie to a high council of twelve members, selected from these various orders, which remains in perpetual session to advise with the Presidency. So far do the Mormons carry their confidence in the efficacy of their priesthood, in all its various grades, that they gravely assert their ability to work miracles and cure diseases, after the fashion prevalent in apos- tolic times. In truth, they claim, as we have already stated, that their priests possess all the powers which were delegated to the first christian teachers and martyrs. But they gener- ally refuse to furnish to the " Gentiles " any evidences of the truth of these claims ; because they say that the Gentiles seek after a sign, but that no sign shall be given unto them, inas- much as Christ himself, in a former age, rebuked the same spirit of Gentile curiosity and unbelief. They pretend to be able to evade poisons, and heal the sick; and an eye-witness relates that once a mad dog rushed through the streets of Great Salt Lake City, and bit sundry other dogs, and a boy. The bitten dogs all died ; but the priests immediately assembled PHYSICIANS IN UTAH. 429 around the bed of the young invalid ; sent up mighty prayer to heaven ; applied the consecrated oil according to the in- junction of St. James ; and the suffering juvenile instantly recovered ! In accordance with these notions, the home of the saints has but few attractions for the professors of the healing art. All diseases are held to be demoniac possessions, and are only to be cured by the casting out of devils. The use of medicines is forbidden, except to the weak in faith, to whom is allowed a " meagre diet and mild herbs." A full grown saint pro- fesses to be able to take up deadly things without injury, and to drink poison without harm, provided the latter is done by accident. All voluntary trials of this kind are held to be temptings of the Lord, and therefore receive the deserved pen- alty of such levity. The Mormons contend that all the phe- nomena of mesmerism and spiritualism are manifestations of the devil, and his power ; and that Swedenborg, himself, la- bored under diabolical influence, when seeing his wonderful visions. One of the few favorable features of the Mormon com- munity, as it now exists in Utah, is the degree of industry which generally prevails. This is accounted for by the fact, that not only do their rules and discipline require it, but their own physical wants imperatively compel it. Living is dear in the Great Salt Lake Valley, in consequence of the immense distance by land over which all commodities must be trans- ported. Hence, in order even to live, everybody must work. Even Brigham Young himself sets the example. He adorns his original vocation of a carpenter, much more than his re- cent one of a priest, by the skill with which he works his own saw-mills in the kanyon. Another important consideration, on this point, is this : that the income of the priests increases in proportion to the individual income of the saints; and con- 430 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. sequently the interests of both parties harmonize in favor of general industry. At the same time, in proportion as the means of a saint augment, in that same proportion is he able to gratify the great incentive which has led nine-tenths of their proselytes to enter the community ; he can enlarge the number and variety, and with these, the attractiveness, of his harem. And this modern revival of oriental voluptuousness under the spurious pretext of the spiritual wife doctrine, is, after all, the great attractive element, the chief cohesive principle, and the potent, aggressive agent, which have made the Mormon im- posture what it already has been, what it now is, and what it is destined hereafter to become. CHAPTER XII. The Gladdenites — Mormon "Worship in the Salt Lake City — Edu- cation IN Utah — The Administration of Justice — Liberty among THE Mormons — Mormon Missionaries — Mormon Arguments to Con- verts — Hostility to Lawyers in Utah — Brigham Young's Assault ON Lawyers — Statistics of the Mormons — Probable Causes of Future Discord in Utah — The Admission as a State into the Union — Arguments for and against her Admission. The absurd and monstrous consequences of polygamy have been observed and felt even among some of the Mormons themselves, and a sub-sect has been formed which contends that, in this respect, the saints have apostatized from their true and original doctrine. The head of this schism is a man named Gladden Bishop, and his followers are named Gladdenites. They practice what they preach, and abstain entirely from po- lygamy. They are of course fiercely persecuted by the great body of the Mormons; and Brigham himself frequently pours out upon them the floods of his despotic and indignant wrath. But though they are under the ban, though Brigham stigma- tizes their doctrine as the doctrine of demons, though they are fiercely condemned, yet all this does not prevent the faction of the Gladdenites from having a few adherents of considerable influence, among whom are Rigdon, William Smith, and J. J. Strang, all names of some prominence in the history of the Latter Day Saints. The peculiarities of public worship among them are such as might be supposed to accord with their other peculiarities. On Sundays the whole adult community assemble in their Tem- ple. On a high platform at one end of the room, the elders, high-priests, and other dignitaries, sit facing the congregation. 432 HISTORY OF THE MORMONS. The senior priest present commands order, at the appointed time, by askins; a blessing. A hymn is then given out from their own collection. After the hymn comes an extempora- neous prayer. Then another hymn follows ; after which an el- der appointed beforehand preaches a sermon. At the termina- tion of the sermon, any members of the congregation, " who feel moved to speak," proceed to express their sentiments. Then come notices of the arrangements of the tithe labor for the ensuing week, and then the clerk of the council gives in- formation on all secular matters, which interest them as a church. The exercises close with the Lord's Supper and a benediction. There is, in the Temple at Salt Lake City, a large band of musical instruments always present at the servi- ces, who perform waltzes, anthems, marches, and other kinds of music for the entertainment of the faithful. Preaching is only conducted in the English and Welsh languages. This musical band operates both while the congregation is assem- bling, and while it is dispersing. Their sermons are generally inartificial and exhortatory harangues ; and as to the use of ele- gant or grammatical English, each preaching elder has long since proclaimed a "declaration of independence" on his own account. It is said by an eye-witness that the costumes of this assemblage for public worship on Sundays, is variegated in the extreme. The diversity of dress indicated an ingather- ing of the saints from all points of the compass. A few fash- ionable toilettes^ here and there scattered through the throng, charmed the eye with an occasional indication of remaining refinement and unaccustomed taste. But the majority of the people presented a contrary aspect ; and the great coal-scuttle bonnets of the women, and the immense rolling collars of the men, forcibly carried the mind of the observer back to mourn ful reminiscences of an anterior age.* * See "The Mormons at Home," by Mrs. Ferris, p, 147. EDUCATION IN UlAH. 43^3 The arrangements made to promote the cause of education in the Salt Lake City are commendable and extensive. De- sirable grounds have been selected for the " University of Deseret," on a high and broad terrace on the north side of the city. Among other peculiarities, this institution contains a "Parents' School," for the heads of families; in which, in spite of their age and avocations, they may remedy the deficiencies of their earlier education. It is said that Brigham Young him- self has shown the example of becoming to some extent a scholar in this school, and the fact is noted, as one speaking highly in praise of his independence and strength of character. Primary schools are also opened under the direction of the Chancellor, which are well attended by the children of the city. Their philosophers, with the usual assurance of ignorance, as- sert that they will soon revolutionize the whole kingdom of science, and that they will soon excel the most learned Euro- pean savans in mathematics, in philosophy, and in the sciences of observation.* Connected with the University of Deseret, is a large square appropriated to athletic and equestrian exercises, which is cer tainly a favorable feature. They have also an observatory for practical astronomy ; and instruction is given in engineer ing, mechanics, surveying, and agricultural knowledge. The modern languages are also taught to some extent, but the ut- most oblivion prevails as to the cultivation of the languages the literature, and the arts of the ancients, and also in reference *For proof of this, see Gunnigan's " History of the Mormons," p. 81. It is proper to state that the beautiful hymn quoted on page 57 of this volume, as being found in the Mormon hymn book, must by no means be attributed to the Mormon muse. It is a borrowed effusion from one of New England's most gifted sons, who composed it immediately before sailing as one of the missionaries of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreia;n Missions. 434 HISTORY OP THE MORMONS. to all departments of mental, moral, historical, and critical learning ; respecting which not only the teachers of the saints are entirely ignorant, but their cultivation would seriously militate against the supremacy of their own moral and theo- logical absurdities * From the preceding arrangement of studies and instruction it would appear, that the plan of educa- tion adopted by the Mormon Solons is very wisely fitted to promote the practical, every-day learning of the saints; to make them efficient members of the community ; and to ren- der the danger of future disbelief and apostacy less imminent. By the liberality of Congress, the delegate from the Territory of Utah was recently furnished with the means to purchase a fine library, by which the literary apparatus of Deseret University * I append the following passage from a recent address of one of the Regents of the University, the " male Phelps," before referred to, to illustrate both the style and the substance of the literary or scholastic productions of the great lights of science and philosophy in Deseret. " Beseeching the whole church to pray the Lord, our Heavenly Father, to send down some of the Regents from the great Univer- sity of Perfection, as he did to Noah, Moses, and others, to unfold unto his servants the principles of wisdom, philosophy, and science, which are truth." — " But what will all the precious things of time, the inventions of man, the records from Japhet in the ark to Jona- than in Congi'ess, embracing the wit and the gist, the fashions and the folly, which so methodically, grammatically, and transcendent- ally grace the libraries of the elite of nations, really be worth to a saint, when our Father sends down his regents, the angels, from the grand library of Zion above, with a copy of the History of Eternal Lives ; the records of worlds ; the Genealogy of the Gods; the philosophy of truth; the names of our spirits from the Lamb's Book of Life ; and the songs of the sanctified ?" It must be borne in mind, in order to take any sense from the preceding, that, ac- cording to Mormonism, all things in the church below are to be pattei'DS of those which exist in the celestial planet. THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. ' 436 will be greatly improved. One of the few wise maxims of Joseph Smith was, that the saints should search for wisdom in all good books ; and the present Mormon leaders are earnest in insisting on obedience to this behest. The administration of Justice among the saints is one of the greatest novelties of their system. The legal profession has either been too mercenary, or too sagacious, to be induced to unite with them, and but few lawyers have as yet secured any interest, much less any " fee-simple," in the new heaven and new earth that are to be, and over which the saints are here- after to reign. Accordingly, the amount of legal lore existin. D., LL. D. Steel Portrait, Tti'o Volumes, 1033 pp. 12ino. Price, $2 aO* THE LIFE EMBRACES 1. The Webster Family. i. Webstej the Boy and Youth. 3. Webster the Student. 4. Webster the Lawyer. 6. Webster in his Domestic Relations. 6. Webster the Legislator. 7. Webster the Citizen. 8. Webster the Senator. 9. Webster the Orator. 10. Webster the Executive OfBcor. THE SPEECHES EMBRACE 1. Argument in the Dartmouth College Case. 2. Plymouth Oration — First Settlement of New England. 8. Speech on the Greek Eevolution. 4. Bunker Hill Monument Oration. 5. Funeral Oration — Adams and JeflFerson. 6. Lecture before Mechanic's Institution, Boston. 7. The Character of Washington. 8. Speech at Niblo's Garden, New York. 9. Letter on Impressment. 10. Eeply to Hayne on Foot's Eesolution. IL Constitution not a Compact— Iteply to Calhoun. 12. Constitution and the Union — 7th of March Speech. We receive these volumes with especial satisfaction. Dr. Tefft's book, we doubt not, will be a popular one. It has that brilliancy of touch and that vivacity of style which are always popTilar with the great body of readers. — Boston Traveler. Such a life of the great statesman was needed. There is no other as cheap yet elegant form ittAvhich Webster's great etforts are to be found. They will sell well, we doubt not. The more of them there are distributed, the better it is flor our intelligence, our political virtue and the public weal.— /V. Y. Tunes. Dr. Teflft has displayed much industry, versatility and discrimination in his bi-'.-rraphy, and good taste in the selection of Mr. Webster's efforts, and these volumes cannot but meet with a favorable reception from the public. — Boston Atlas. There is no doubt but the book will be very generally sought and read by an appre- ciating public. It must be regarded as a valuable addition to the standard literary works of the times. The author is exceedingly happy in his use of language. There is nothing laborious, dull or dilHcult in the perusal ; but on the contrary, it possesses an aftablo, congenial spirit which is entirely winning. We have be:!n peculiarly interested with the description of Mr. Webster's character contained in the last chapter of the biographv . The author enters into the subject with his whole soul, delineating faithfully those traits peculiar to the man, expanding upon those qualities of mind which constituted his great- ness. The work is handsomely got up, and is tit to adorn any MhT&ry.— Buffalo Rep. We doubt whether a better biography will ever meet the eyes of the student, or en • rich the library of the man of letters. The style ;s polished, clear, and interesting in a liigh degree. — Boston Eve. Gazette, The best life of Webster that has ever appeared.— ifw^aZo Democracy. MILLER, ORTON & CO., Publishers, 26 Park Row, New York. ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS IN SEARCH OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN, DTJEING THE YEAKS 1853, '54, 55 : BEING A PERSONAL NARRATIVE, , AND CONTAINING AN ACCOtTNT OF HIS IMPORTANT. DISCOVERIES, THE PERILOUS ADVENTURES OF HIS PARTY, AND THE THRILLING INCIDENTS CONNECTED THEREWITH. FULLY AND ELABOEATELT ILLtJSTKATED BT INCLUDING POETEAITS OF DDzr. Z£A>3ie A^xxca. IVEir. Q-arl-n in oily THE DBA WINGS AND PAINTINGS BY THE DISTINGUISHED ABTIST, JAMES HAMILTON, ESQ. FROM SKETCHES BY DR. KANE, THE STEEL PLATES EXECUTED UNDEB THE SUPERINTENDENCE OP J. HL BUTLEE, OF PHILADELPHIA. THE WOOD ENGBAYING8 BY VAN INOEN AND 6NYDEK. TWO VOLUMES, OCTAVO. PRICE, $5 00. THIS BBAUTOTTLLT EXECUTED AND INTENSELY INTEEE8TING WOEK SHOULD BE OWNED AND BEAD BY BVEEY ONE. PUBLISHED BY CHILDS & PETERSON, 124 Arch Street, Philadelphia, MILLER, ORTON & CO., 25 Park Eow, New York, and 107 Genesee-st, Auburn. CS'" Sinerle Copies sent by Mail or Express? prepaid^ on re- ceipt of $5 OO.,.^! O RE Gr O N ITS HISTORY, CONDITION AND PROSPECTS : CONTAINING PERSONAL ADVENTURES AMONG THE INDIANS, AND NOTES OF A VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD. BY REV. G. HINES. One Volume, 437 pp. 12mo., Portrait. Price $1 00. FROM THE PREFACE. The principal reason which induced the publication of this work, was a desire to connect with entertainment the promotion of a more exten- sive knowledge of those interesting portions of the world where it has been the privilege of the author to travel and make his observations. "While the world is literally teeming with fictitious publications, here is presented a volume of facts ; and in the absence of the tinsel adornment '^f a glowing and high-sounding style, the truthfulness of what is narrated is the principal merit to which the work is entitled. The part relating to the history of the Oregon Mission it is believed will supply the public with needed information respecting the true character of that important Mission, and of the courageous and self-de- nying men who were the first to carry the gospel across the Rocky Mountains, and to proclaim it along the shores of the Pacific. The last few chapters of the book are devoted exclusively to the ge- ography and history of the Oregon Territory. From a residence of several years in Oregon, connected with the fact that he made it a lead- ing object to become informed from personal observation, not only with the geography of the country, its productions, the soil, climate, seasons mountains, valleys, prairies, forests, rivers,