fe'a University Library 39002005303657 YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY JOSEPH SMITH. UTAH AID THE MOEMOIS. ,,,33TSTjQgY, GOVERNMENT, DOCTRINES, CUSTOMS, .rtPiAHV rX" AND PR0SPECTS 0F A! RAT' ' M v X - 'Til LATTER-DAY SAINTS. WlIXX-XX: ' PERSONAL OBSERVATION DURING A SIX MONTHS' RESIDENCE AT GREAT SALT LAKE CITY. BY BENJAMIN G. FERRIS. LATE SECKETAKY OF UTAH TERRITORY. NEW YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, 82 BEEKMAN STREET. 1854. YALE Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year, 1864, by HARPER & BROTHERS, In the Clerk's Office for the Southern District of New York. €n lis tallfttq MILLARD FILLMORE, LATE PRESIDENT OF TBE UNITED STATES, WITH GRATEFUL RECOLLECTIONS AND PROFOUND ESTEEM RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. PREFACE. In the early part of the summer of 1852 I was so licited to discharge the duties of Secretary of the Ter ritory of Utah. A curiosity, long cherished, to visit a portion of the world about which many marvelous ac counts had been given, induced me to accept the va cant post. The result has been a six months' residence in the "Valley of the Great Salt Lake, embracing the severe winter of 1852—3. Such a winter's residence excludes the sojourner from the rest of the world as effectually as is the luckless navigator hemmed in by Arctic ice, and leaves little else to engross the atten tion aside from the strange and eccentric community which has established itself in that isolated region. The practical workings of Mormon institutions, when freed from the outside pressure of " Gentile" prejudice and hostility, has excited much curiosity, and is be coming a question of some political importance ; and from gleaning facts for the" gratification of numerous correspondents, I have been induced to put them in a form for the public eye. In the course of doing this, it has been found difficult to illustrate the subject with out giving a more detailed previous history of the Mor mons than at first intended, and the result is the fol lowing work. The aim has been to give a strictly impartial ac count of the Mormons as they have been and as they are, without abstaining, however, from a free expres- Vlll PREFACE. sion of opinion, whenever the facts seemed to warrant a fair conclusion. To insure correctness, they have been allowed to speak for themselves whenever it has been practicable, and consistent with the brevity of the work. Aside from publications professedly Mor mon, much assistance has been derived from a book en titled " The Mormons," recently published in London. The recent and excellent work of Lieutenant Gunni son, entitled " The History of the Mormons," might seem to preclude the necessity of any further publica tion on the same subject, and it probably would have prevented the present, had it come into my hands at an earlier period. Yet I would fain believe that a more full development of some of the most distinctive features of Mormonism than fell under his observation, with the rare opportunity which my position gave me for obtaining facts, will make it acceptable to the public. It may not be inappropriate in this place to say that I was received at Salt Lake City and uniformly treat ed with friendly courtesy. It was my good fortune, while there, to be domesticated as a boarder in the family of Mrs. Farnham, who, though a Mormon, took unwearied pains to promote the comforts of her " Gen tile" guests. Among those with whom I was thrown into frequent communication, I hold in particular re membrance Judge Z. Snow, Mr. H. L. Hey wood, the territorial marshal, Mr. William C. Staines, the libra rian, Pr. "Willard Richards, the postmaster, and his as sistant, Mr. Kane, Mr. A. Carrington, of the Legisla tive Assembly, and Mr. J. Grimshaw, who seemed to take pleasure in rendering polite and kind attentions. Ithaca, New York, April, 1854. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. FROM MISSOURI TO UTAH Page 13 CHAPTER II. TERRITORY OF UTAH. The Great Basin : its geographical Features and Curiosities. — Great Salt Lake. — Utah Lake. — Iron and Coal. — Agricultural Capacities and Drawbacks. — Irrigation. — Alkaline Salts. — Scarcity of Tim ber. — Political Importance. — Business. — Mr. Livingston. — Great Salt Lake City. — "Ensign Peak." — Cities. — Health. — Improve ments 29 CHAPTER III. HISTORY OF MORMONISM. Theories in regard to Origin of Indians. — Solomon Spaulding. — His "Manuscript Found." — Sidney Rigdon. — Joseph Smith, Jr. — His Parentage and early Habits. — Discovers some curious Antiquities. — Golden Bible discovered and translated. — Characters submitted to Professor Anthon. — His Letter 49 CHAPTER IV. HISTORY CONTINUED. Coincidence between Book of Mormon and " Manuscript Found." — Witnesses, their Character. — Church organized at Fayette, N. Y. — Removal to Kirtland, Ohio. — Zion located at Independence, Mo. — Lands purchased in Jackson County, Mo. — Discords among the Saints. — Quorum of Three. — Troubles with the Gentiles. — Mor mons expelled from Jackson County 66 A2 x CONTENTS. CHAPTER V. HISTORY CONTINUED. Mormons quit Clay and remove into Caldwell County. — Joseph's Jour neys into Missouri. — Sets up a Bank at Kirtland. — Leaves Kirtland in the Night. — Troubles in Missouri. — " Danites." — Joseph arrested, and Mormons agree to leave the State. — Murder at Hawn's Mill. — Mormons remove to Illinois. — Evidence on the Trial of Joseph. — His. Imprisonment and Escape Page 81 CHAPTER VI. HISTORY CONTINUED. Nauvoo. — Revelation to build Temple and Tavern. — Nauvoo Legion. — Letter-writers. — Joseph a candidate for the Presidency. — Letter to Clay and Calhoun ...% 97 CHAPTER VII. HISTORY CONTINUED. Apparent Prosperity. — Internal Difficulties. — Arrogance. — Joseph's Licentiousness. — Polygamy. — Spiritual Wife-ism.' — Troubles with Higbee and Foster. — Attempt to arrest Joseph. — -Joseph and Hyrum surrender on Pledge of Safety. — Are murdered. — Character of Jo seph Smith Ill CHAPTER VIII. HISTORY CONTINUED. Excitement at Nauvoo. — Struggle for the Succession. — Rigdon ex communicated. — Brigham Young elected. — Further Troubles with the Gentiles. — The Saints resolve to quit the United States. — Ar rangements for that Purpose. — Nauvoo besieged, and Mormons driven out. — Character of Mormon Community, and alleged Perse cutions 135 CHAPTER IX. HISTORY CONTINUED. Battalion for Mexican War. — Mormons arrive at Salt Lake. — Charac ter of the Mormon Exode. — " Crickets." — General Address to the CONTENTS. xj Saints. — " Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company," and " Public Works." — State of Deseret. — Territory organized. — Ceremonies on breaking Ground for the Temple Page 151 CHAPTER X. GOVERNMENT. Priesthoods. — The President is Prophet and Seer : his Power. — Tith ing. — Individual cases. — Tithing-office 171 CHAPTER XI. GOVERNMENT. Legislative Assembly. — Governor's Message; 1852.— Legislation pro ceeds from the Church. — No Freedom of the Ballot-box. — Crimes. — Murder of Hatch. — Case of Goodyear. — Joe Bankhead. — Better Treatment of Emigrants. — Thieving. — Different Classes of Mor mons 185 CHAPTER XII. DOCTRINES. Idea of " Last Day." — Inspiration of Mormon Apostles. — Doctrines as contained in Book of" Doctrines and Covenants." — Faith the con trolling Principle. — Rebellion of Lucifer. — Great Efficacy of Bap tism. — Syllabus of Doctrines. — Damnation and Salvation 201 CHAPTER XIII. DOCTRINES CONTINUED. Doctrinal Sermons. — The Resurrection Saints to have Farms and be come Gods. — Pre-existence of Spirits. — Pantheism.— Propagation of Gods. — Holy Spirit. — Angels. — Materialism 217 CHAPTER XIV. DOCTRINES CONTINUED. Early Notions on Marriage. — Introduction of Polygamy. — Existed at first as a secret Institution. — Jesuitism of Missionaries on the Sub ject. — Polygamy an Element of Salvation. — The Gods are Polyg- amists 233 Xii CONTENTS. CHAPTER XV. Prevalence of Polygamy. — Its Effects on Population. — Arguments in its Favor. — Its Effects on Morals. — Frightful Licentiousness. — Its Influence on the first Wife. — Divisions and Hatred in Fami lies Page 246 CHAPTER XVI. Book of Mormon. — Proofs of its modern Origin. — Its Style. — Argu ments in Favor of the System 264 CHAPTER XVII. Efforts to make female Converts. — Mode of conducting public Wor ship. — Sermon by Parley P. Pratt. — Schools. — Deseret News. — Doctor Richards. — Deseret Almanac, by W. W. Phelps. — Lan guage used in public Discourses 284 CHAPTER XVIII. Social Intercourse. — Governor's Party. — Influence of Polygamy upon Amusements. — Style of Building. — Amusing Scenes growing out of Polygamy. — Superstition. — Endowment Robes. — Initiation Cer emonies. — The Curse. — The Patriarch and his Blessings. — Gift of Tongues. — Notions on Slavery 303 CHAPTER XIX. Manner of making Converts. — Doctor Cox. — English Converts. — Con tinual Loss of Members. — Dissensions. — Gladdenism. — Apparent Decline of Mormonism. — Decrease of Population. — Present Charac ter of its Missionaries. — Conclusion 318 Appendix 341 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. CHAPTER I. FROM MISSOURI TO UTAH. Our train started from Westport, Mo., on the 24th of, August, and reached Great Salt Lake City on the 26th of October, 18p2, a distance of over eleven hund red miles. A few incidents of the travel, though over so well-beaten a road, may not be uninteresting to the reader. A person intending to cross the Plains must expect to suffer some inconveniences. In so long a journey, the traveler will encounter the usual variations of the weather : there will be sunshine and storms ; he will be too hot, too cold, and too wet at times ; he will some times be unable to quench his thirst, except from a stagnant pool ; and every warm evening he must look for a fight with musquitoes, whose appetites are quite as keen as his own. At first he will feel some anxiety in regard to Indians, and keep his rifle and revolver in proper shooting condition ; but this soon wears off, and before the journey is half ended he becomes altogether too careless in this respect. "We had, one evening, an Indian alarm, after being four weeks upon the road, when one revolver proved to be the only fire-arm in 14 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. order in the camp ; the alarm, however, was occasioned by a gang of famished wolves, trying to form an ac quaintance with our mules. With ordinary foresight in reference to the requisite supply of food, a proper selection of animals, and the time and mode of perform ing the journey, there need be but few hardships. It CBOSSINO THE PLAINS. is easy to fit up a carriage with conveniences for sleep ing, which some do, but the majority prefer to sleep on the ground, even in stormy weather. An india-rubber cloth spread upon the thick grass makes a dry and soft bed ; at any rate, this kind of dormitory, curtained with heaven's canopy, generally proves more friendly to sleep than many a bed of down. The fatigue of traveling wears off in a very short time, and there is usually less weariness at the close of the day than is UTAH AND THE MORMONS. jg felt in travehng the same number of hours by rail-road. In a well-regulated train, the pleasurable excitements of the journey far outbalance all the inconveniences. There is a kind of cutting loose from the business re lations and customs of civilized life, which gives new freedom and elasticity to the mind. The traveler feels that he has sufficient elbow-room ; he neither jostles nor is jostled by any one ; he experiences all the buoy ancy of the boy when liberated from the restraints of the school-room. His feelings and ideas expand in view of the boundless plains spread before and around him. There is a grandeur and sublimity in the vast expanse of plains, skirted and intersected by rivers and lofty mountains, which would kindle enthusiasm in the bosom of the merest business drudge of the counting- house who dreams only of prices and profits. The evening camp, too, has its peculiar pleasures : the rude preparation for, and exquisite relish of the evening meal — the boisterous good humor of the com pany, with the usual concomitants of song and anec dote — and the almost invariable, and, withal7, plaintive serenade from a score or two of prairie wolves, produce a wild and pleasurable excitement, which the voya geur is ever fond of calling to remembrance. There is an abundance of wild game along nearly the whole route : prairie chickens, ducks, hare, ante lope, &c, afford rare sport in the hunting, and furnish food fit for an emperor. But the buffalo is the most noted, useful, and interesting of all the wild game to be found on the plains. We saw none until after we left Fort Kearney, after which we met vast numbers along the Valley of the Platte, and very few after leav- 16 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. ing that river. At a distance they look like herds of common cattle ; near at hand they are awkward, mis shapen monsters enough — all head and shoulders, and very Httle of any thing else. They were very wild, and invariably ran off, as we approached, with a clum sy, lumbering gait. We saw them under a great vari ety of circumstances. On one occasion, a herd of them were crossing the Platte in single file (the way they usually travel), and appeared in the distance hke abut ments for a gigantic bridge or aqueduct about being built. At another time we approached nearer than usual to a drove of them before they perceived us, and, as they lumbered off, they produced a stampede of our whole train, and it was with much difficulty we stopped and quieted our mules. At another time a herd of some three thousand were feeding along the banks of the river, and never discovered us until we were pass ing nearly opposite, when the monsters, in their fright, scampered directly toward us, and actually ran be tween different portions of our train ; two ofthe teams, less guarded than the rest, stampeded after them. These incidents always furnished subjects for mirth when we found no bones or wagons broken. Of course, the poor brutes are slaughtered without mercy by In dians and emigrants. We had a plentiful supply of buffalo beef during four weeks of our journey. The ravens and wolves that hover over and around every passing train, are the scavengers which clean up all that is left of the slain buffalo after man has helped himself to the choicest portions. The antelope is a very graceful animal, and bounds over the plains with the fleetness of deer, which it very much resembles. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 17 We saw many of them, but they do not collect in such herds as the buffalo. SCENE ON THE PLATTE. The emigration over the Plains to Utah, California,- and Oregon, for the last few years, has been immense, and, like the march of armies, each train has left sad memorials of its passage. The wayside in very many places is literally strewed with the bones of oxen and mules, the broken fragments of wagons, and the cast- off implements of agriculture. Sadder still, the road is lined with graves — some small, showing that there the mother has been compelled to deposit the remains of her infant child, and others of sufficient length to show that the strength of manhood has be'en brought to the dust. Many of these graves had been rifled by the wolves, and the bones scattered around in confu- 18 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. sion : these resurrectionists have no fear of penal en actments. Others were protected from these prairie surgeons by logs and rocks (every thing West, from a twenty7 ton boulder to a pebble, is a rock). In passing these evidences of mortahty, one can form some faint conception ofthe utter feeling of desolation which must overwhelm the poor wife, thus compelled to deposit her husband in a lonely grave, far away from the as sistance and sympathy of friends. " The Plains," so called, commence at the western bounds of Missouri, and extend to the vicinity of the Black Hills, a distance of about seven hundred miles. These Plains consist mostly of rolling prairies, which are crossed by numerous streams. Some of these streams run through comparatively deep valleys, and have rocky and precipitous banks. Again, the Plains are intersected by numerous gulleys, or '¦'¦pitch holes,'1'' as they are familiarly called, varying from ten to fifty feet, which contain small brooks in the spring and early part of summer, but the most of mem become dry later in the season. These gulleys are troublesome to cross, in proportion to their depth and the steepness of their banks. On the other hand, many of them contain springs of excellent water, and a scanty growth of tim ber, furnishing to the traveler wood and water, with out which he could not long prosecute his journey. At some points the Plains are almost a perfect level, without a tree or a shrub to relieve the eye — an ocean, in which one seems to be out of sight of land. We reached the River Platte a few miles east of Fort Kearney. This fort is commanded by Captain Wharton, a gentlemanly and highly intelligent officer. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 19 We were received and entertained by him and his ac complished lady not merely with generous hospitality, but with as much warmth as though we had been near relatives. At this point, and for a considerable dis tance west, the Platte runs through a valley from five to eight miles, bounded by a low range of sand-hills. The country becomes more and more interesting from Fort Kearney westward. The sand-hills, as you pro gress up the stream, are more bold and irregular, until they run into rugged and rocky ranges, worn and wash ed into sharp peaks and every variety of outline. One of the most singular of these rooky elevations has been called the "Court-house," from its fancied resemblance .SN\WN4*.'i\!.~^l'-k.'Si':. COURT-HOUSE BOCK. to a public building ; but it is a misnomer to give it so common a name. It is a large mass of reddish sandstone, rising abruptly from the plain in solitary grandeur, and in the distance looks like an immense 20 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. temple, or castle, reared to some heathen divinity, or by some feudal baron in ages gone by, but now in a state of decay. Some fifteen miles from the Court-house you see the justly celebrated Chimney Rock, pointing its solitary column to the sky, and from which you every moment jggggppc777-^. CHIMNEY ROCK. expect to see issuing smoke or jets of steam from the fancied furnace beneath. Of all the fantastic freaks of Dame Nature in fashioning natural curiosities, this is certainly the strangest. The chimney rises some 150 to 200 feet from the apex of pyramidal-shaped rock, all reddish sandstone. But this curiosity has been well described in many published journals, and I will not, therefore, inflict another description upon the reader. After leaving Chimney Rock, we came very soon to Scott's Bluffs, which we left to the right, and UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 21 i#X'^ SCOTT'S bluffs. passed up a valley lined on each side with similar cu riosities. Here was a castle with its turrets and bat tlements — there, an extensive fort, with parapets and bastions — and yonder, huge*, misshapen, beetling crags. One formation excited especial interest. There was first a gigantic perpendicular rock in the form of a. cyl inder, which served as a foundation, on which arose a smaller rock of the same form, and on that a third, still smaller, but ofthe same form. It looked like the vast mausoleum of some hero of a past race. The lover of natural scenery feels amply paid for all the dangers, in conveniences, and petty annoyances of such a journey, while viewing these curiosities, scattered, as it were, broadcast, on a scale of such magnificent grandeur. Near Fort Laramie the highlands commence ; the country is broken up into hills and irregular promi- 22 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. nences, and the traveling becomes more laborious. We left the Platte and reached the Sweetwater, a few miles east of Independence Rock. This is an im mense, irregular pile of granite, about 120 feet high, and from one and a half to two miles in circuit, full of seams and fissures. I climbed to the top, and saw M'mmk safe; STEEPLE ROCKS. a beautiful hare, which soon retreated into one of the numerous cavities. The rock is Mterally covered with the names of travelers ; at a rough guess, there must be 35,000 to 40,000 ! This is an easy way of hand ing one's name down to posterity, and Thomas Noake's stands quite as good a chance in this respect as the celebrated John Doe. Let any one who is puzzled for a name visit this rock. The Valley ofthe Sweetwater furnished us a smooth, level road until near the sources of the river. On the UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 23 north side are the Rattlesnake Hills, a range of bare granite, varying from 500 to 1000 feet high, and of precisely the same character as Independence Rook. It is cracked and seamed at all points, and may well be the resort ofthe rattlesnake for a thousand years to come. For some days before we reached the South Pass, the Wind River Mountains, with their snowy peaks glittering in the sunshine, appeared in view. These constitute some of the loftiest portions of the Rocky Mountains. The celebrated South Pass proved to be somewhat different from my previous conceptions. The word pass induced the belief that it partook ofthe •SSMSKSW*^ devil's gate (South Pass). character of a gorge between lofty mountains ; but it is quite different from this. The country from the vi cinity of Fort Laramie to the summit is made up of 24 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. ascending highlands ; the road is up and down, but there is more of up than down. Some fifteen to twen ty miles from the summit, the highlands become more bold and difficult of ascent, and the rocks by the way side crop out in sharp, perpendicular points. As we approach the summit, the surface becomes more even and gently rolling, and the exact dividing point is pass ed before one is aware of it. The wind was high and cold. Some twenty miles to the right was a ridge of high hills, and further still, in the distance, were the Wind River Mountains. On the left were irregular highlands. There is something exciting in the idea that one is passing over the topmost point of travel in all North America, and near which, too, as from a radi ating centre, waters arise which flow into three mighty rivers, the Mississippi, the Columbia, and the Colora do. Some ten to fifteen miles west of the summit the descent is very obvious, and the air becomes milder. On the Pacific side, the mountains above referred to are magnificent beyond description ; they seemed, in the bright sunshine, like immense masses of thunder clouds gathering for a storm. From the South Pass to the Wasatch Mountains, which bound the Great Basin on the east, the country consists mostly of rolling plains, quite similar to those over which we had passed. These mountains present the most fatiguing and difficult portions of the entire journey. It was, with few exceptions, a succession of steep ascents and descents, and narrow, rocky defiles ; but the scenery was alternately beautiful and grand. The Spanish word cafion (pronounced canyon) is now the familiar designation of the narrow passes through Mff - ¦ ¦:. ' > i X tiH ar PARLEY'S CANON. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 27 the mountains. One of these, called Echo Caiion, is twenty-five miles in length, terminates on the Weber River, and furnishes a nearly level road the whole dis tance. This canon is half a mile wide, is walled in by precipitous ridges, and the rocks, in many places, are worn into the same castellated forms so common in the vicinity of Scott's Bluffs. In one place the rocks were of a bright straw color, and the reflection pro duced a soft, yellow light. We finally descended into the Valley of Salt Lake, through Parley's Canon, a dangerous pass, in places but a few rods wide, and Walled in by rooks more than two thousand feet high. In a military point of view, these passes might be de fended by a handful of resolute men against a host. The whole route presents but few difficulties on. ac count of the Indians. They are all inveterate thieves, ^3mM% mm. Jmttmm sksss.-s; .".*;¦ DIGGEHS ON THE "WATCH. 28 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. from the Shawnees and Potawatomies, who are par tially civilized, to the most degraded Diggers ; and the traveler must use a reasonable degree of vigilance for the safety of his property. The Pawnees are the most dreaded of any on the route ; they are fierce, active, and disposed to be mischievous when they encounter a small, unguarded party, and can safely gratify their thirst for plunder. The Indians generally are the most troublesome beg gars in the world, and will importune without ceasing, unless repulsed with some degree of sternness. While encamped one day near Fort Laramie, a large, well- formed Sioux, known by the name of " Old Smoke," stationed himself within a foot of me while eating din ner, and fixed his gaze upon the food with the eager expression of a hungry dog. At every mouthful he would say " goot," "goof." This was not very appe tizing, so I gave the old rat a plateful on condition he would go away. He readily accepted the bribe, and went to another mess, where he played the same maneuver with success. I must confess I have no very exalted opinion of the whole race. Their broad features, wide mouths, low foreheads, and black, snaky, venomous eyes, make up a collection of disagreeables which they manage to heighten by paint, filth, and outlandish ornaments. Their most stylish dandies might well be taken for escaped inmates of Bedlam. Our train passed two vil lages of Chyenes, in the vicinity of Fort Laramie — that is, two collections of lodges, made up of lodge- poles and buffalo robes or canvas. The whole concern poured out, men, women, children, cats, dogs, and UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 29 horses, and surrounded us — some tricked out in all their scarecrow finery, and others ragged almost to nudity. They followed us, begging, hooting, scream ing, howling, and barking, for a mile. It might re mind one of Old Picket's denunciation, in which, among other choice things, he hoped the soul of his antagonist might be chased " by a tanner's dog around the ragged ramparts of damnation." It is no doubt the duty of philanthropists to continue their efforts to elevate the condition of the children of the forest and the plains ; yet the task looks well-nigh hopeless. But few have improved under these benev olent teachings, and the balance seem destined to melt away before the vigorous advances of civilized races. CHAPTER II. TERRITORY OF UTAH. The Great Basin : its geographical Features and Curiosities. — Great Salt Lake. — Utah Lake. — Iron and Coal. — Agricultural Capacities and Drawbacks. — Irrigation. — Alkaline Salts. — Scarcity of Tim ber. — Political Importance. — Business. — Mr. Livingston. — Great Salt Lake City. — " Ensign. Peak." — Cities. — Health. — Improve ments. The Territory of Utah lies between latitude 37° and 42°, and is bounded on the west by the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, on the east by the summit of the Rocky Mountains, and contains about one hundred and eighty-eight thousand square miles. This area embraces within its hmits not only the Great Basin, so called, but that portion of the valleys of 30 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. Green and Grand Rivers and their tributaries lying between the Wasatch and Rocky Mountains. The Great Basin constitutes a large, and decidedly the most interesting portion of this territory ; and is, in more aspects than one, the greatest physical wonder of North America. Completely walled in by lofty mountains, some of which are perpetually robed in K r '"'"fll "XX mm BWS&i $LmsmmSm!M VIEW IN THE SIERRA NEVADA. snow, its streams and rivers flow into its own bosom, forming lakes of various dimensions, from which the confluent waters escape only by evaporation, or disap pear in sandy deserts. That its entire surface has at some period been covered by a vast inland sea, there are many indications in the numerous water-marks which exhibit their traces in the mountain sides. The bench on the slope of which the Mormon capital is UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 31 built, is a shore-mark wliich, in the clear atmosphere, may be traced by the eye south, along the base of the mountains, a distance of over twenty miles. The Great Basin has as yet been but partially ex plored. The Mormon settlements extend along the base of the Wasatch Mountains, from the northern ex tremity of Great Salt Lake to near the southern bound ary of the territory, a distance of some three hundred and fifty miles. The usual emigrant route to Califor nia from Great Salt Lake City is around the northern extremity of the lake, and thence in a southwesterly direction down the valley of the Humboldt, or Mary's River, to Carson's Valley. The residue remains mostly unexplored. The portions known present bold and striking features, and great natural curiosities. It has lofty mountain ranges, rising to the clouds, some of wliich are perpetually capped with snow. The north ern rim of the basin lies much farther south than ap pears from Fremont's map, published in 1849. In passing around Salt Lake on the route to California, the traveler crosses streams which flow into the rivers of Oregon, and does not pass the dividing summit until he has journeyed some forty to fifty miles south of the northern end of the lake. While toiling over these rugged elevations, the lover of natural scenery enjoys the grandeur of the prospect — a panorama of lofty ranges and peaks, glittering in the light of the sun, and extending in all directions as far as the eye can reach. Often sharp pyramidal peaks, rising abruptly, exhibit different' kinds of rock, water-worn into turret- cd, castellated, and fantastic forms. The rocks are generally primitive, and the abundance of scoria gives 32 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. evidence of the fiery throes which the earth has under gone in heaving up these tremendous elevations. There is probably no part of the earth where so rich a field is presented for the researches of the naturalist. The valley of the Great Salt Lake is particularly pro lific in natural curiosities. Springs, from the one hot enough to boil an egg in a few minutes, to the one of a temperature for a pleasant warm bath, occur every few miles ; and these are generally impregnated with sulphur in combination with alkaline salts. Some of NEAR SALT LAKE CITY. these springs, throwing out generous volumes of water, form ponds from one to three miles in circuit, in which may be found, attracted by the genial temperature, tens of thousands of water-fowl. Some of them are cha lybeate, and coat the rocks and earth over which they flow with oxyd of iron. Great Salt Lake is a very great curiosity. It is UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 33 about one hundred and thirty miles long, and from sev enty to eighty broad, and is, as near as may be, a vast collection of brine. The water seems to be saturated with salt to its utmost capacity of holding it in solu tion, indicating the neighborhood of great deposits of mineral salt. Between Great Salt Lake City and Bear River is a spring intensely salt, which pours out a vol ume of water equal to that at Spring Port, on the east side of Cayuga Lake, which it very much resembles. This is probably one of many others of a similar char acter which pour their contents into the lake. At par ticular points on the beach, where the regular course of the winds dashes up the waves, the salt collects in such quantities as to be conveniently shoveled into carts for domestic use. It is also procured by evapora tion, three pails of the water producing one of salt. A person bathing may sit in the water, rising to his arm pits, as in a chair ; but let him beware of toppling over, unless he wishes to encounter the risk of drowning " heels over head." The water is perfectly limpid, and has no living thing beneath its saline waves. It has many islands with high mountain peaks, among the largest of which is Antelope Island, situated so near the eastern shore as to be accessible for grazing pur poses, for which it is extensively used. Utah Lake, about forty miles south of Salt Lake, with which it is connected by its outlet, the River Jor dan, is a handsome sheet of fresh water, some fifteen miles long by ten broad, and abounds with the finest salmon trout. In approaching it from the north, the valley of the Jordan narrows, and in rounding a point about seven miles from the lake, a grand spectacle B2 34 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. suddenly bursts upon the view of the traveler. The lake presents itself in placid beauty below him, sur rounded, and seemingly completely walled in, by lofty mountains covered with snow ; and it is not until he makes its circuit that he discovers a broad belt of lev el arable land between the lake and these mighty ele vations ; nor does he till then perceive the tremendous gorges through which flow the Provo River, the Span ish Fork, and other streams. The canon of the Provo is so deep and extended that a strong wind often pours through as from the nozzle of a blacksmith's bellows, which is felt for a distance of over two miles in pass ing its mouth. The Great Basin is rich in minerals, among which are iron and coal, found in Iron county, some two hund red and fifty miles south of Great Salt Lake City, in Such abundance as to provide an adequate supply for the future wants of the population. Iron has hitherto been supplied from the thousands of wrecked and abandoned wagons which line the road nearly the whole distance from Missouri to Oregon and Califor nia. Gold has only been discovered in Carson Valley, near the line separating Utah from California, but there are strong indications that it abounds in other portions of the Territory. In regard to agricultural capacity, waste undoubt edly predominates over fertility, except in river bot toms, or in localities favorable for artificial irrigation. The Wasatch range contains a vast number of deep and rugged gorges or canons, through each of which tumbles a mountain stream, fed partly by springs, but mostly by melting snows. Wherever one of these UTAHAND THE MORMONS. 35 streams rushes out upon the plains, the agriculturist can turn it to use in bringing forth the fertility of the land. Without this aid he would plow and plant in vain, owing to the sandy nature of the soil and the long summer droughts. All the products of the States in the same latitude can in this mode be raised in great perfection. The vegetables are large, and generally of superior quality. Those portions of the basin not in the immediate vicinity of rivers and streams will prob ably be found entirely unfit for cultivation. The farmer in Utah is subject to some heavy draw backs. The necessity of irrigation imposes no trifling addition to his labors ; water-ditches are to be cut over and through his land, and great care is necessary in their proper management. In some places where wa ter is not abundant, the neighbors use it alternately, and spend the night as well as the day in distributing the precious moisture over their fields. Again, the temperature is subject to very sudden changes. The lowest valley in this elevated region is some four thousand feet above the level of the ocean, and the surrounding mountains run up four to six thousand feet higher, the tops of which are covered with snow during a large portion of the year. Of course, the shifting winds from these snowy points are not only violent, but of an icy temperature, and the consequences are early and late frosts, and often a chilly atmosphere in the very midst of summer. The winds blow frequently with great violence, bringing up now and then terrible storms, accompanied with thunder and lightning. It is said the wind is some times so high as to bring spray from the lake to the city, a distance of twenty-two miles ! 36 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. Another serious drawback is the abundance of al kaline salts, or saleratus, in the soil. This is a mark ed peculiarity throughout the whole territory, as far as explored. Sometimes it shows itself in a white efflo rescence on the surface of the ground, covering whole acres with the appearance of a heavy white frost or slight fall of snow, and lumps are frequently picked up for domestic use. Many of the streams are so strong ly impregnated with it as to make it dangerous for cattle to drink from them. Between Salt Lake City and the lake, numerous pools and small ponds of wa ter may be found of the color and nearly of the taste of common ley, from the same cause. This property in the soil is beneficial to the grasses, and makes the extensive pasture ranges equal to the salt marshes on the Atlantic coast for cattle. So abundant are these salts, that the whole vegetable kingdom is more or less affected by them; some, as potatoes, squashes, and melons, are rendered sweeter and more palatable. The common pie-plant loses almost entirely its acidity. Wherever it is sufficiently abundant to effloresce upon the surface, it totally destroys vegetation ; and I heard of sundry fields of wheat being injured, and some to tally ruined, by its sudden appearance after the crop was half grown. In some cases, a good crop will be raised one season on a piece of land, and the next be entirely destroyed from this cause ; and many of the inhabitants believe that it can not be exhausted by re peated cultivation. Sugar beets are raised in such size and quantity as to suggest the idea that they could be made available in the manufacture of sugar. • Upon this suggestion, UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 37 a large quantity of machinery for the purpose was pur chased in Europe in 1852, and taken over the Plains in the fall of that year. The whole expense exceeded $100,000, and was contributed principally by Mor mons abroad, in connection with some having capital, who had but recently gathered with the Saints, under strong encouragements held out that it would be a profitable investment. The machinery was put into partial operation in the winter and spring of 1853, and, owing partly to want of skill in the workmen, but mostly to the fact that the beet was found to be strong ly impregnated with alkaline salts, the article manu factured so far has been miserably poor, and the con cern is likely to prove an unfortunate failure. Another drawback arises from the great scarcity of timber. The Valley of Salt Lake is nearly as bare of trees as though it had been blasted by the breath of a volcano. A few ofthe mountain streams are skirted with a scanty growth of cotton- wood and aspen ; some ofthe canons have a small quantity of maple ; and the mountain sides are sparsely supplied with stunted ce dar and pine. Wood for fuel in the city can only be obtained by a cartage of about fifteen miles, from places of difficult access, and the price ranges from ten to fifteen dollars per cord. Timber for fencing, build ing, and mechanical purposes, is equally difficult to be obtained, and bears a corresponding price. The evil, too, is increasing; the supply is becoming more and more scanty, and in comparatively a few years, unless the coal can be brought into general use, the expenses of hving, from this cause alone, must be greatly en hanced. The Mormons are looking forward to the pe- 38 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. riod when a rail-road, constructed from the iron found in Iron county, will be the means of distributing the coal found in the same region. Some efforts have been made by way of encouraging the manufacture of iron, and the excavation of the coal-beds, but they are fee ble and tardy. The Saints are at present too much engaged in building the Temple to devote their whole energies to the development ofthe resources of thei Ter ritory. They have a very convenient place of worship ; and it might seem that the Temple, which, from the plan of its construction, promises to cost a round mill ion, might be postponed to the growing necessity for a permanent supply of fuel. But it is to be noted that one item of their creed is, that their friends who have died out of the pale of the Church may be baptized by proxy, and thus saved from Purgatory ; and that this baptism can not effectually be performed except in the Temple. It ishard to have friends in infernal durance, but most people would let them roast a little longer, rather than run the risk of freezing themselves. Those who put faith in this absurdity are, of course, under the strongest possible impulse to go on with the struc ture ; and those who do not beheve in it, believe, nev ertheless, that the Temple will form a nucleus around which the Saints can be gathered without danger of dispersion. In a political point of view, the settlement of this isolated region has been, and will continue to be, of great importance, as the half-way house between the eastern and western portions of the continent. The emigrant, on his tedious journey to Oregon or Califor nia, becomes weary and dispirited when he reaches UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 39 this point — his cattle worn down, his wagon broken, and his provisions exhausted. Here he can recruit, and lay in new supplies ; and it seems as if Providence had overruled the Mormon fanaticism to the perform ance of uses in this respect, little dreamed of by the fugitive Saints when they made it their abiding-place. The benefits derived from this source have very much promoted the prosperity of the Mormons, by making a market for their surplus grain, and furnishing them with supplies otherwise difficult for them to obtain. In 1850, the emigrants were very numerous, and their wagons, cattle, tools, farming utensils, and household furniture, which were got along to this point, were sold to the inhabitants at the lowest rates in exchange for pack-animals and provisions. Many emigrants, too, every year, become utterly destitute at this point, and are compelled to labor for the means of further prose cuting their journey. Hundreds remain all winter, and work for a bare living; and a large number of the indications of industry and enterprise, in the form of buildings, fences, water-ditches, and other improve ments, for which the Mormons have received credit, owe their existence to the toil of these temporary so journers. The legitimate business of the country is grazing. It is an inland region, pent up between lofty mount ains, and is, and always must be, without commercial facilities. Its rivers are scarcely navigable to any ex tent, and its lakes can never connect points of sufficient importance to make them available in this respect ; but there are thousands of acres which produce, in great abundance, nutritious grasses, upon which cat- 40 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. tie, horses, and mules can subsist and thrive the year round. The worn-down animals of emigrants are pur chased at low rates, and, after being recruited upon these extensive ranges, are driven to a sure and profit able market in California, where enormous profits are usually realized. Some of the finest breeds can now be found in Utah ; and this business is beginning to be appreciated as the most lucrative in which the inhab itants can be engaged. The shrewd merchant lays in at St. Louis a stock of goods adapted to the wants of the people of the Basin, fits up a train of wagons, to be drawn by oxen or mules, and wends his way to the Mormon capital. At Salt Lake, in exchange for goods at handsome profits, he collects a drove of cattle, horses, and mules for Califor nia. Hundreds of able-bodied men, wishing to seek their fortunes in the great El Dorado, can be had for the mere victualing, to assist in conducting such a train ; and the entire expenses of the adventure sink into insignificance in comparison to the heavy profits realized in the great western market. Mr. Livingston, of the firm of Livingston and Kinkead, may be men tioned as a pioneer in these bold enterprises. He es tablished himself at Salt Lake City in 1849, in an ad venture of this description, which seemed doubly haz ardous to his friends, from the remoteness of the region and the character of the inhabitants. It was an ex periment, but he plunged boldly into it ; and by liberal dealing, strict mercantile honor, great firmness, and far-reaching sagacity, has, though anti-Mormon so far as religious views are concerned, gained a healthy in fluence with the population, and established this kind UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 41 of business upon its proper basis. His numerous ad ventures by " flood and field" make him an interesting companion; and many, compelled to a winter's resi dence in that out-of-the-way part of the earth, have been laid under deep obligations for his numerous kind nesses. If the design of the Mormon rulers in selecting the Great Basin as the seat of their power was to isolate their people from the rest7 of the world, they certainly made a happy choice. The Mormon capital is unap proachable from any civilized point except by a tedious journey of from eight hundred to one thousand miles. In a severe winter it is entirely inaccessible : the mount ain passes then lay in so bountiful a supply of snow as to set human perseverance at defiance ; and the luckless sojourner, who has been accustomed to his daily paper, must content himself with speculations as to events transpiring in the outside world for three or four months. , This isolation has its conveniences and inconveniences ; it protects the Saints from Gentile in fluence or persecution, and enables the leaders to carry out, without let or hinderance, the most singular exper iments upon human superstition and credulity which have been witnessed since the Dark Ages. But the expenses of living are great : every thing which can not be raised from the soil, and which the customs of civilized life have rendered necessary to eat, drink, and wear, cost at least four times as much as in the States, owing to the great land transportation. Great Salt Lake City presents a very singular ap pearance to the eye of a stranger. It is built of adobe or sun-dried bricks, and is of a uniform lead color, with 42 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. the single exception of the house of Brigham Young, the prophet and seer, which is white, and standing on the most prominent point in the city, may be seen at a great distance. The streets are eight rods wide, and cross each other at right angles. Each block contains ten acres, and is divided into eight lots of an acre and a quarter to a lot. Of course, the city, which contains a population of about eight thousand, is scattered over a very large area. It is built partly on the slope ofthe lowest mountain bench, at a point where the Wasatch range turns to the north after running six or seven miles westerly, and is twenty-two miles east from the lake. A mountain stream called, " City Creek," orig inally ran through the centre of the town, but by nu merous ditches its water is distributed through almost every street, according to the inclination of the land. The buildings are very ordinary in their style of con struction, generally of one story, and are, many of them, 9i?lS£^ic_z 7_i^»r l" MORMON HAREM. mere huts. It is not uncommon to see a long, low building, with from two to half a dozen entrances, UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 43 which is a sure indication that the owner is the hus band of sundry wives, after the fashion of the prophet Joseph. There are a few dwellings of a larger class and fair appearance, among which are those of Brigham Young, already mentioned, Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Platt, Ezra T. Benson, and other dignitaries of the Mormon hierarchy. The public buildings are few — the Council House^ where the Legislative Assembly and courts are held ; the Tithihg-office, where tithes are received, in a room TITHING-OFFICE. of which is the Post-office ; the Social Hall, where theatrical performances are had, and in which the Saints are accommodated with conveniences for danc ing and social parties ; and the Tabernacle, a long, low building on Temple Block, the Mormon place of wor- 44 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. ship, very large on the ground, and capable of seating an audience of three thousand. Temple Block contains the usual complement of eight acres, and, besides the Tabernacle, has a range of work-shops belonging to the Church, in which various mechanical employments are carried on. A wall is being built around the whole block, and excavations were commenced in the spring of 1853 for the erection of a temple which is to be the future glory and pride of all Mormondom. It is designed to be two hundred and twenty feet long by one hundred and fifty wide, with walls six feet thick. The excavation in the centre for a baptismal font is twenty feet deep. This grand structure is building, as all credulous Mormons believe, after a plan - revealed to the prophet Brigham from heaven, and is to consist of three parts, corresponding to the sun, moon, and stars, which are the three glo ries or degrees of salvation in store for all true Latter- day Saints. North of the city is a singular conical-shaped point called ." Ensign Peak," which may be reached by a fa tiguing walk of about two miles. This prominence must be about four thousand feet above the plain, and commands a magnificent prospect. The city lies be neath as on a map : the Jordan may be traced, like a small silver thread, winding its way through the valley until lost in the lake; the latter is seen to stretch away in the distance between the islands which rise from its bosom ; beyond may be seen a snowy range, which tho traveler must surmount in his journey to California ; and in a southern direction, mountains are beheld to rise above mountains far beyond Utah Lake, clothed UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 45 in their everlasting mantle of white, the whole leav ing upon the mind of the beholder an impress of gran deur which language utterly fails to describe. WmmtS^ fm ISLANDS IN SALT LAKE. The Mormons make a formidable display of cities upon paper. Great Salt Lake City contains about 8000 inhabitants, Provo some 1400, and Springville about 700. _ Aside from these, their cities are greatly more distinguished for the oddity of their names than the number of their citizens — such as Lehi, Manti, Nephi, &c. — names which belonged to various wor thies who figured in the history of by-gone things supposed to have been exhumed by the prophet Joseph. Another oddity is, that these cities are accommodated with the very longest acts of incorporation, embracing all the municipal machinery of mayor, aldermen, police justices, provisions regulating hacks, lighting streets, sewerage, and other things too numerous to mention 46 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. omething like the rustic grandson incased in the long-tailed coat of his ancestor, greatly too large for his dimensions. The city of Lehi, on Utah Lake, which I was enabled to visit, is a fair sample of the rest ; some twenty wretched mud huts, scattered over an area of two or three miles, with a population not ex ceeding one hundred, made up the whole affair. Why the Saints take so much pains to make cities upon pa per, unless by way of "handbill" to convey exaggerated notions abroad of their progress and prosperity, it is very difficult to perceive. The entire population of the Territory in the spring of 1853 could not have va ried much from twenty-five thousand ; Orson Pratt, in " The Seer," states it at from " thirty to thirty-five thousand." From its great elevation, and pure and bracing at mosphere, any one, reasoning from natural causes, would expect to find the Valley of Salt Lake one of the healthiest regions in the world. The very reverse, however, seems to be the case. Sickness is very com mon, and mortality great. The report of the Super intendent of the Census for December, 1850 (p. 140), exhibits Utah the very lowest in the list of compar ative health of all the states and territories except Louisiana. That such a result can not be owing to the privation and suffering incident to new settlements by emigration, is evident from the fact, that while one death occurred in 47^ in the population of Utah for the year ending June 1, 1850, only one in 232^ oc curred in Oregon. Whether it is the fault of the cli mate and the qualities of the soil, or of the peculiar customs and habits of the people, remains to be tested UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 47 by further observation. All these causes may have their agency in the result. The alkaline properties of the soil are, with good reason, supposed to promote erysipelas and scrofulous diseases. The gross sensualities originating in poly gamy, coupled with parental neglect of offspring, occa sion great mortality among children. To these may be added intemperance in drinking, very generally dif fused, and which finds its gratification in a miserable article of whisky and beer, manufactured in great quantities. When we regard the extended settlements made, the lands brought under cultivation, and the cities built within a brief period in this heretofore desolate region, it seems to us next to miraculous, and we are very much inclined to look upon the Mormons as an uncommonly industrious and enterprising race of men. Much, however, is due to emigrant labor, already al luded -to, and much more to the effect of contrast. After passing over the Plains, and for weary days and weeks meeting with no human habitations but Indian lodges, Canadian-French trading-posts, and two mili tary stations, the traveler is greatly delighted when he descends into the valley through one ofthe tremendous mountain gorges, enters a regularly-built city, and finds the necessaries and many of the luxuries of civ ilized life. All is for a time coleur de rose, and his descriptions are apt to be tinged with a similar hue. The mere surface of society is found to be similar to that of many other recently-established communities, and it needs a residence of more than a few days or weeks to lift the curtain and view things as they are. 48 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. Without detracting in the least from the commend able enterprise of the Saints, it may reasonably be said that any other body of American farmers, mechanics, artisans, and laborers, of equal numbers, would have effected more, because the means expended in the erec tion of the temple, and in the support of a numerous priesthood with their harems, would be turned in a more useful direction. Much of the marvel lies in two facts : first, the entire community have been transfer red there nearly at once, without waiting for the te dious process of a gradual settlement; and, second, all their energies, stimulated by religious enthusiasm, have been measurably directed by a single will. The real miracle consists in so large a body of men and women, in a civilized land, and in the nineteenth cen tury, being brought under, governed, and controlled by such gross religious imposture. As the Great Basin is the greatest physical, so its inhabitants may be said to be the greatest moral, curiosity of the New World. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 49 CHAPTER III. HISTORY OP MORMONISM. Theories in regard! to Origin of Indians. — Solomon Spaulding. — His "Manuscript Found." — Sidney Rigdon. — Joseph Smith, Jr. — His Parentage and early Habits. — Discovers some curious Antiquities. — Golden Bible discovered and translated. — Characters submitted to Professor Anthon. — His Letter. The antiquities of the Old World — its pyramids, ruined cities, dilapidated baronial castles, broken shafts and columns — are, with few exceptions, of well-known historical periods. They serve to illustrate the various phases, from barbarism to civilization, through which mankind from distant eras have passed ; and there is enough of obscurity and myth in their history to ren der their study interesting to the antiquary. The case is entirely different with the New World. Its history, anterior to the discovery of Columbus, is involved in a mystery more impenetrable than the past physical changes of the globe. The latter are meas urably illustrated by the various formations which compose the earth's crust, and the fossil remains wliich lie imbedded in its strata, while the former is lost hi the confused, absurd, and contradictory traditions of its barbarous native population. There are the re mains of ruined cities in the neighborhood of the Isth mus of Panama ; but, if we are to credit the earlier discoverers of America, these cities are comparatively of modern origin. There are also hieroglyphics, glyphs, C 50 ' UTAH AND THE MORMONS. mounds, obscure traces of fortifications, &c, all exhib iting the existence of a people but little in advance of the barbarous' and semi-barbarous tribes and nations found by the original discoverers. Where these peo ple came from — how many states and nations had ex isted among them — through what changes, revolution ary or otherwise, they had passed, are things involved in obscurity, to penetrate which the ingenuity and im agination of many persons have been exercised from the time of Columbus to the present. A favorite the ory, in support of which much learning and acuteness have been manifested, has been to people the North American Continent from the wandering tribes of Is rael. In or about the year 1809, a man by the name of Solomon Spaulding, a graduate of Dartmouth College, removed from Cherry Valley, in the State of New York, to New Salem (Conneaught), Ashtabula county, Ohio. At one period of his life he was a clergyman, but seems to have laid aside that profession for secular business, in which he failed, and his bankruptcy was the imme diate motive of his removal to Ohio. New Salem, or Conneaught, as it is sometimes call ed, is rich in American antiquities — mounds, fortifica tions, and sundry relics of a past race, in which Spauld ing, who was a man of learning and imagination, took an unusual interest. He adopted the theory which peoples America from the Israelites, and readily con ceived and carried out the idea of writing a fictitious history of this ancient race, influenced partly by his literary tastes, and partly by the hope of making mon ey by the sale of the book. His work was stvled the UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 51 "Manuscript Found," and purported to be the trans lation of an ancient manuscript found by him ; and to make the story as consistent as possible, he endeavor ed to imitate the style of the Scriptures, in which he was aided by his previous biblical studies. He de scribes the departure of a family of Jews — the father, Lehi, and four sons, Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi, with their wives — from Jerusalem into the wilderness, in the reign of Zedekiah, and, after various wander ings, their voyage to the Western Continent, under the leadership of Nephi, one of the brothers. On their journey and voyage they became distracted by dissen sions, which in America resulted in their division into hostile tribes, which branched out and populated the country, built up large cities, engaged in fierce wars, and underwent various changes and revolutions. La- man appears to have been the focus of disaffection in this imaginary family, and his descendants became a very powerful nation or tribe, under the name of La manites, engaging frequently in wars, and destroying the country and cities of the more peaceable Nephites. The frequency of these wars eventually broke up and destroyed the regular avocations of peace ; the people became barbarized, and split up into predatory bands, plundering- and murdering each other, until, in fine, they degenerated into the vagabond Indians of the American Continent. Besides the names already men tioned, the names of Mormon, Moroni, Mosiah, Hela- man, and others, frequently occur in the book, and rep resent the heroes, prophets, and great men who figured in this drama. As Spaulding progressed with his work, he was in the habit of amusing himself and sundry of 52 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. his neighbors by reading 4a them his manuscript, and availed himself of their observations in making emen dations and additions. He labored upon it for about three years, at the end of which, in 1812, he removed to Pittsburg, Pa., where he became intimate with a printer by the name of Patterson, in whose hands he placed the manuscript, with the design of having it pub lished, and with him it remained a number of years. Sidney Rigdon, a man of some versatility — a kind of religious Ishmaelite — sometimes a Campbellite preacher, and sometimes a printer, and at all times fond of technical disputations in theology— -was at this time in the employment of Patterson, and became so much interested in the "Manuscript Found" as to copy it, " as he himself has frequently stated." No satisfactory contract appears to have been made for the printing ; at least, it was delayed, for some rea son or other, until Spaulding found it necessary to re move from Pittsburg to Amity, in Washington county, New York, where he died in 1816. What subsequent ly became ofthe original manuscript does not very dis tinctly appear, owing to the death of Spaulding, and also that of Patterson in 1826. According to a state ment of Mrs. Spaulding, made in 1839, it was taken from Pittsburg by her husband, and after his death re mained in her hands, with other of his papers, in a trunk. She subsequently remarried, and this trunk, with the manuscript, was left in Otsego county ; but on search being made, in or about the year 1839, by some persons interested in exposing the pretensions of Joseph Smith, Jr., then attracting some attention, the important document was not to be found. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 53 In the year 1815, the father of Joseph Smith, Jr., removed with his family of boys from the county of Windsor, Vermont, to Palmyra, New York, from which he subsequently removed to Manchester, in the county of Ontario, remaining in both places about eleven years. He was a laboring man, and professed to be a farmer, but he manufactured and peddled baskets and wooden bowls, and, withal, his employments appear to have been of a miscellaneous character, not very consistent with regular industry. The members of the- family were held in light estimation by their neighbors, some of whom subsequently described them as " notorious for breach of contracts and the repudiation of their honest debts." Joseph, Jr., was ten years old when the family first settled in Palmyra, and, as represented by those hostile to his subsequent pretensions, he grew up among bad associates, totally averse to any thing in the shape of regular industry, and a ready adept in the art of "liv ing by one's wits." His physiognomy indicated sen suality and cunning, in which latter trait his mind was unusually versatile. He affected great mystery in his movements ; pretended to the gift of discovering hid den treasures, and the possession of seer-stones by wliich they could be found ; traveled about the coun try, appearing and disappearing in a mysterious man ner ; possessed a plausible and wordy jargon, by which many minds are easily captivated ; and, in various ways, cheated and robbed sundry simpletons, who were persuaded to credit his pretensions. Nor did he con fine his attention to any single branch of the business of deception, but allowed himself to be drawn into the 54 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. vortex of a pseudo-religious revival, and became quite as wordy in the vocabulary of hypocritical cant. On the other hand, his subsequent followers allege, that, though of very humble origin, and of extremely limited education, he was of retired habits, and reli giously disposed ; that, as early as fifteen years of age, ». " he began seriously to reflect upon the necessity of being prepared for a future state of existence, spend ing much of his time in prayer and other acts of devo tion." They do not deny that he may, in common parlance, have been a " money -digger ;" but claim that, whatever had been the character of his occupa-. tions, or the method of their performance, he was af terward rendered pure by the forgiveness of his sins. Which is the true and which the false construction of the early character of this remarkable man, depends, of course, upon the evidence furnished by his subse quent career. During Smith's searching operations for the discov ery of hidden treasures, it is more than probable that he exhumed one or more of those curious glyphs which now figure so largely in the list of American antiquities. These consist of metallic plates, covered with hieroglyphical characters. Professor Rafinesque, in his Asiatic Journal for 1832, describes similar plates found by him in Mexico as being " written from top to bottom, hke the Chinese, or from side to side indif ferently, like the Egyptian and the Demotic Libyan." A number of these remains were found in 1843, near Kinderhook, Pike county, Illinois, and described as " six plates of brass of a bell shape, each having a hole near the small end, and a ring through all, and clasped with UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 55 two clasps. The ring and clasps appeared to be iron, very much oxydated. The plates first appeared to be copper, and had the appearance of being covered with characters. A subsequent cleansing by sulphuric acid brought out the characters distinctly." It seems to be strongly confirmed that Smith discovered one of these singular specimens of American antiquity, in the fact that, soon after the alleged discovery of the golden Bi ble, he sent Martin Harris to Professor Anthon with characters which, according to the professor's descrip tion, are identical with those wliich appear upon them. In the course of his wanderings, Smith met with, and formed the acquaintance of, Sidney Rigdon. Ac cording to that view of the case which proceeds upon the hypothesis that he was an impostor, it would not be unreasonable to believe that these two men togeth er conceived the idea of starting a system of religious imposture upon a scale commensurate with the popu lar credulity. Conjointly they possessed, in mercantile phrase, the requisite capital for such an adventure. Smith had cunning, plausible volubility, seer stones, mysterious antiquities, and, withal, the prestige of suc cess ; Sidney was versed in the " lights and shadows" of religious verbiage, had some literary pretensions, was a printer, and, above all, had a copy of Spaulding's book. Which started the bright idea ofthe Golden Bi ble is not known, though in all likelihood the credit is due to Smith, as he ever after maintained the ascenden cy in the new hierarchy. After the plan had assumed a definite form and shape in the minds of the origina tors, it was easy for Joseph, in his perambulations, to 56 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. trace out and secure the original manuscript of Spaul ding, to guard the intended scheme from exposure, and the lapse of time and death of many of the parties seemed to make it safe to dispense with any alteration of names in the new Bible. To Smith was reserved the honor of making the first open demonstration, be cause success in deception had rendered him bold and skillful. Sidney was not to come in until some time afterward, and then ostensibly as a convert to the new religion ; this would give time to see what kind of an earthquake the mixture of iron- filings and sulphur was likely to produce, and his conversion would help to increase the commotion. Accordingly, we find him striking his colors to the first broadside of Parley P. Pratt, one ofthe earliest Mormon preachers. All things being in readiness, Smith, in due season, emerged from the chrysalis of a money-digger to the butterfly of a prophet and herald of a new dispensation. A portion of mankind have been looking for the last days for the past eighteen hundred years, and at the period in ques tion were ready to run into Millerism or any other ism whereby their notions could be accommodated in this respect. A prophet, therefore, who could super add to the discovery of a golden Bible a proclamation of the speedy destruction of all mundane things, a power of attorney for the restoration of an authorized priesthood and the gathering of the Saints, and make a formidable display of miraculous powers, was the most acceptable gift which could be made to popular superstition. Here, then, would seem to have been combined the elements of an imposture which has since branched out and gathered strength, until it has UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 57 become the most noted instance in modern times of the development and growth of religious fanaticism. But those who regard the new system with more favor take a very different view of the case. In tho Hght in which they regard it, Joseph Smith, Jr., in or about the year 1820, had a kind of preparatory vision, while he was in a retired place engaged in prayer, in which two glorious personages appeared to him, and informed him that his sins were forgiven him, and "that all the religious denominations were behoving in incorrect doctrines, and consequently that none of them was acknowledged of God as his Church and kingdom ;" and he " received a promise that the true doctrine and the fullness of the Gospel should at some future time be revealed to him." After this he fell away somewhat, but repented, and on the 22d of Sep tember, 1823, had another vision, in which an angel appeared, and announced to him that he was to be the chosen instrument of introducing a new dispensation ; that the American Indians were a remnant of the Israelites, who, after emigrating to this country, had their prophets and inspired writings; that such of these writings as had not been destroyed were safely deposited in a certain place ; that they contained rev elations in regard to the last days ; and that, if he re mained faithful, he would be the chosen instrument to translate them. The next day " the angel again appeared, and having been informed by the previous visions of the night con cerning the place where these records were deposited, he was instructed to go immediately and view them." Accordingly, the new-born prophet repaired to a hill C 2 58 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. about four miles from Palmyra, on the west side of which he dug down and found a stone box, so firmly cemented that the moisture could not enter. In this box the records were found deposited. On being ex posed to view, the angel, of course, appeared, and there was a wonderful display of celestial pyrotechnics, and the prophet was permitted to see that the devil, " sur rounded by his innumerable train of associates," was also present. Strange to say, Jiowever, Joseph was not yet permitted to have the plates, and it was not until the 22d of September, 1827, and after a great deal of negotiation between him and the angel, that they were placed in his possession. The following is a descrip tion of these important documents, by Orson Pratt, one of the Mormon champions. " 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 as the leaves of a book, and fastened at one edge with three rings running through the whole. This volume was something 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 marks of antiquity in its construction, as well as much skill in the art of engraving. With the rec ords was found ' a curious instrument, called by the ancients the Urim and Thummim, which consisted of two transparent stones, clear as crystal, set in the two rims of a bow. This was in use in ancient times by UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 59 persons called seers. It was an instrument, by the uso of which they received revelation of things distant, or of things past or future.' " The incredulous reader will be very apt to perceive how completely the ideas in this description are sug gested by the anoient glyphs before alluded to ; he will also recognize Joseph's " seer stones" in the " Urim and Thummim" here mentioned. A comparison of dates, too, will be very natural in this connection. " The Manuscript Found" fell into the hands of Rigdon some where between 1812 and 1816, in which latter year Spaulding died. Between this and 1827 there was ample time, not only to trace out and gain possession of the original manuscript, but to add the religious matter found in the Book of Mormon, which, with the exception of numerous extracts from the Bible, is in substance and form entirely beneath criticism as a lit erary performance. Patterson died in 1826, and the new Bible could in the following year be drawn from its hiding-place without risk of exposure from .him. Smith boldly exhibited not only the external form of a golden Bible, which, however, no unsanctified hands were permitted to touch, but also a neatly-polished marble box, in a hole in the ground, which'was either prepared by the prophet Moroni some fifteen hundred years ago, or by Joseph Smith, Jr., and one or two others, at a more modern period. It is a fact, that for about three years Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and a man by the name of M'Knight, were almost continually absent together from their homes, especially at night, and the neighbors were uncharitable enough to charge them with gambling and counterfeiting during these 60 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. stealthy interviews, until the Book of Mormon was dis covered, and then these people accused them of being engaged in polishing and preparing the stone box, and manufacturing all that was ever seen of the golden Bible. According to Smith, however, he was, during this period, engaged in lonely vigils and prayerful com munion with heaven, in preparation for the holy office to which he was about to be summoned. This wonderful discovery soon raised a popular com motion — but let Orson Pratt describe for himself: " Soon the news of his discoveries spread abroad throughout all those parts. False reports, misrepre sentations, and base slanders, flew as if upon the wings of the wind in every direction. The house was fre quently beset by mobs and evil designing persons. Several times he was shot at and very narrowly es caped. Every device was used to get the plates away from him. And being continually in danger of his hfe from a gang of abandoned wretches, he at length con cluded to leave the place and go to Pennsylvania ; and, accordingly, packed up his goods, putting the plates into a barrel of beans, and proceeded upon his journey. He had not gone far before he was overtaken by an officer with a search-warrant, who flattered himself with the idea that he should surely obtain the plates ; after searching very diligently, he was sadly disappoint ed at not finding them. Mr. Smith then drove on, but before he got to his journey's end he was again over taken by an officer on the same business, and after ransacking the wagon very carefully, he went his way as much ohagrined as the first at not being able to dis cover the object of his research. Without any further UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 61 molestation, he pursued his journey until he came into the northern part of Pennsylvania, near the Susque hanna River, in which part his father-in-law resided." Sidney Rigdon, it will also be recollected, resided hi the State of Pennsylvania. Joseph being thus quietly housed, and, thanks to the beans, the plates safe in his hands, he proceeded to the work of translation; but, being a poor penman, he soon provided himself with a scribe in the person of OHver Cowdry, who subsequently became one of the witnesses to the verity of the book. He stationed him self behind a screen, with the " Urim and Thummim" in his hat, and read off sentence after sentence, which Cowdry wrote down as an amanuensis. This process occupied a number of years. During the work of trans lation, and on the 15th of May, 1829, John the Baptist appeared and laid, hands on Smith and Cowdry, ordain ing them into the Aaronic priesthood, and commanded them to baptize each other, which they accordingly did ; at the same time, he informed them that he was sent by Peter, James, and John, who held the keys of the Melchisedek priesthood, which was to be conferred in due time ; Smith to be first, and Cowdry second elder. The thing began now to assume more form and shape. The family ofthe prophet's father were speed ily converted ; and, out of this family circle, a man of some property, by the name of Martin Harris, who had been a Quaker, Methodist, Baptist, and finally Presby terian, was so much captivated with the scheme, that he advanced some money to aid in the publication of the book. Harris had a strong desire to see the won derful plates. The prophet, however, put him off, on 62 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. the ground that he was not holy enough, but gave him the transcript of some of the characters on a piece of paper, which this admiring disciple submitted to the inspection of Professor Anthon, of New York. The professor's letter to a Mr. Howe, who subsequently wrote him on the subject, contains so fife-like a de scription of the modus operandi of the new prophet, that it is here given entire. "New York, February 17th, 1834. " Dear Sir, — I received your letter ofthe 9th, and lose no time in making a reply. The whole story about my pronouncing the Mormon inscription to be 'reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics' is perfectly false. Some years ago, a plain, apparently simple-hearted farmer called on me with a note from Dr. Mitchill, of our city, now dead, requesting me to decipher, if pos sible, the paper which the farmer would hand me. Upon examining the paper in question, I soon came to the conclusion that it was all a trick — perhaps a hoax. When I asked the person who brought it how he ob tained the writing, he gave me the following account : A ' gold book,' consisting of a number of plates fasten ed together by wires of the same material, had been dug up in the northern part ofthe State of New York, and along with it an enormous pair of ' spectacles !' These spectacles were so large, that, if any person at tempted to look through them, his two eyes would look through one glass only, the spectacles in question be ing altogether too large for the human face. ' Who ever,' he said, ' examined the plates through the glass es, was enabled not only to read them, but fully to un- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 63 derstand their meaning.' All this knowledge, how ever, was confined to a young man, who had the trunk containing the book and spectacles in his sole posses 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 character in the book, and having committed some of them to paper, handed copies from behind the cur tain to those who stood outside. Not a word was said about their being deciphered by the ' gift of God.' Ev ery thing in this way was effected by the large pair of spectacles. The farmer added, that he had been re quested to contribute a sum of money toward the pub lication of the ' 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 seUing his farm, and giving the amount to those who wished to publish the plates. As a last precautionary step, he had re solved 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 translation had at that time been made by the young man with the spectacles. 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. He requested an opinion from me in writing, which, of course, I declined to 64 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. give, and ho then took liis leave, taking his paper with him. " This paper in question was, in fact, a singular scroll. It consisted of all kinds of singular 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 let ters, crosses, and flourishes ; Roman letters inverted, or placed sideways, were arranged and placed in per pendicular columns ; and the whole . ended in a rude delineation of a circle, divided into various compart ments, arched with various strange marks, and evi dently 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 partic ular as to the contents of the paper, inasmuch as I have frequently conversed with my friends on the sub ject since the Mormon excitement began, and well re member that the paper contained any thing else but ' Egyptian hieroglyphics.' " Some time after, the farmer paid me a second visit. He brought with him the ' gold book' hi print, and of fered it to me for sale. I declined purchasing. He then asked permission to leave the book with me for ex amination. I declined receiving it, although his man ner was strangely urgent. I adverted once more to the roguery which, in my opinion, had been practiced 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. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 65 On my pressing him, however, to go to a magistrate, he told me he would open the trunk if I would take ' the curse of God' upon myself. I replied I would do so with the greatest willingness, and would incur ev ery risk of that nature, provided I could only extricate him from the grasp of the 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, " Charles Anti-ion." Much of the marvel attached to the idea that an illiterate young man could fluently dictate in connect ed series a voluminous work, is of course removed when we regard him as reading from Spaulding's manuscript, but to those not in the secret it was sufficiently mirac ulous, and made a deep impression. This seeming prodigy has been used as one of the strongest proofs of the divinity of his mission. In the usual sense of the term, Smith was an uneducated man. His book- knowledge was very limited. He often said, in sub stance, " How could I, as an illiterate impostor, hope to impose upon the intelligence of the nineteenth cen tury ?" and all persons of learning and refinement, who live in an upper world of their own, and in igno rance of the under-currents of ignorance and super stition coursing beneath them, were astonished at the prodigy. But in this he exhibited his almost intuitive knowledge of the weak traits of humanity, in which, in fact, he had more available learning than all the 66 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. closet men put together. His own autobiography shows him well studied at an early period in the nice shades and differences of modern sectarian creeds, and subsequent developments proved him well read in the history of Mohammed and other religious impostors. He would undoubtedly have excelled in such other pursuits as were suited to his disposition and tastes. As a gambler, he would have exhibited unrivaled dexterity ; as a trader, he would have been a skillful sharper ; as a military man, a master of strategy ; as a politician, an adroit whipper-in ; and as a policeman (without a single lesson from " Old Hays"), a first- rate nabber of thieves and discoverer of stolen goods. CHAPTER IV. HISTORY CONTINUED. Coincidence between Book of Mormon and " Manuscript Found." — Witnesses, their Character.- — Church organized at Fayette, N. Y. — ¦ Removal to Kirtland, Ohio. — Zion located at Independence, Mo. — ¦ Lands purchased in Jackson County, Mo. — Discords among the Saints. — Quorum of Three. — Troubles with the Gentiles. — Mor mons expelled from Jackson County. In 1830, the Book of Mormon made its appearance. The following is a brief description of it by Parley P. Pratt, one of the Mormon apostles : " The Book of Mormon contains the history of the ancient inhabitants of America, who were a branch of the house of Israel, ofthe 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 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 67 century, one of their prophets, whose name was Mor mon, saw fit to make an abridgment of their history, their prophecies, and their doctrines, which he engraved on plates, and afterward being slain, the records fell into the hands of his son Moroni, who, being hunted by liis enemies, was directed to deposit the records safely in the earth, with a promise from God that it should be preserved, and should be brought to light in the lat ter days by means of a Gentile nation who should pos sess 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 Jeho vah bore record of the same to chosen witnesses, who declare it to the world." The occurrence of the same leading events and names in the " Manuscript FounoV and the Book of Mormon, which fact is proved by a perfect cloud of witnesses living in and about New Salem, Ohio, estab lishes to the satisfaction of the anti-Mormon the iden tity of the two works beyond all possible question, whatever of confusion or contradiction there may be in regard to the ultimate destination of Spaulding's book. In the death of the principal personages, it is easy to confuse dates and circumstances ; but such a series of coincidences could not by possibility have happened by chance, and seems to demonstrate either that Spaul ding took a peep into the stone box at Cumora, or that Joseph got possession of his manuscript. The prophet was a bold innovator. In defiance of the maxim that truth is open and aboveboard, and 68 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. that roguery requires mystery and concealment, he strenuously guarded the sacred plates from the gaze of profane curiosity. It was accordingly revealed to him that they were not to be exhibited to any, except the witnesses chosen by the Lord for that purpose ; and it seems that after the translation and witnessing, the angel who had negotiated the whole business on the part of the supernal powers took them in charge. In the first place, three witnesses were obtained — Oliver Cowdry, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, who cer tify to having seen the plates, and to their having been " translated by the gift and power of God" — and they declare, " with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engraving thereon." Afterward eight more witnesses were procured, who signed a short certificate in terms much more general than the first — John Whitmer, Christian Whitmer, Ja cob Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jr., Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, Senr., Hyrum Smith, and Samuel H. Smith. Who were these witnesses upon whose testimony de pends the authenticity of a new Bible, and the verity of a new religious dispensation ? Three of them are the father and two brothers of the prophet, and five are made up of a family of Whitmers ; and Hiram Page was a brother-in-law of the Whitmers. If we are to credit the affidavits made by sundry of the neighbors, their characters are all very much below par, accord ing to the Gentile standard. But it will perhaps be more satisfactory to adduce Mormon testimony on_the subject. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 69 Harris, who, it wiU be recollected, exhibited a speci men of the mysterious characters to Professor Anthon, subsequently lost the bulk of his property in the Mor mon adventure, and feU into utter disgrace with the prophet himself, who spoke of him in the following dis paraging terms in the "Elder's Journal:" " There are negroes who wear white skins as weU as black ones. Grames Parrish and others, who acted as lackeys, such as Martin Harris, &c, but they are so far beneath contempt that a notice of them would be too great a sacrifice for a gentleman to make." From a statement of Sidney Rigdon, while the Saints were at Independence in 1838, it appears that Oliver Cowdry and David Whitmer were connected with a gang of " counterfeiters, thieves, liars, and blacklegs of the deepest dye, to deceive, cheat, and defraud the Saints." But this is not all ; Hyrum Smith, in 1839, wrote an account of his sufferings while in confine ment in Missouri, in which he speaks in the foUowing terms of Oliver Cowdry : " Those with whom I had been acquainted from my youth, and who had ever pretended the greatest friendship toward 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. Among those who treated me thus, I can not help making mention of Lyman Cow dry, who, in connection with his brother, Oliver Cow dry, 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 to his brother Oliver, about one hundred and sixty acres of land, to pay a note which I had 70 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. given to Oliver for one hundred and sixty-five dollars." This note he pronounced a forgery. Oliver Cowdry was afterward arraigned before the Church, and found guilty of sundry charges, among which were, 2d. " For seeking to destroy the character of Joseph Smith, Jr., by falsely insinuating that he was guflty of adultery," &c. 8th. " For disgracing the Church by being connect ed in the bogus business, as common report says." Oliver and Martin were expeUed or seceded, but afterward received again into the bosom of the Church, possessing too many of the qualifications of good mem bership to be long absent from the Latter-day sanctu ary. The true believers greatly wondered that the Mormon divinity should have made such a mistake in the character of his, chosen witnesses, but were suffi ciently reassured when instructed that it was a trial of their faith. On the 1st of June, 1830, the prophet organized his Church at Fayette, in the county of Ontario, consist ing of thirty members. But this was found to be an unfavorable locality : these embryo saints were held in light repute in that region ; and, in the course of the same year, Joseph removed to, and established his head quarters at Kirtland, Ohio ; not exactly as the future capital of his new religious empire, but as one of the stakes of Zion yet to be located. Here the furnace of this new fanaticism got into full and powerful blast. Superadded to the power of translating the Book of Mormon in particular, and aU mysterious hieroglyph ics in general, through a mammoth pair of spectacles, Joseph received the gift of prophecy and revelation : UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 71 he became not only the translator of these ancient rec ords, but the prophet, seer, and revelator of the cur rent era. These extraordinary gifts he exercised with out stint or measure. The fount of revelation poured forth through this chosen aqueduct a seemingly un ceasing and never-ending flood : the shrines of ancient heathendom were altogether cast into the shade by this modern oracle, which obediently responded at all times and on all occasions, to meet the exigencies and gratify the desires of Joseph and his coadjutors. All the movements of the Church and its members, wheth er of a secular or religious character, were regulat ed by these celestial responses. Any one curious in the lights, shadows, branchings, and ramifications of pseudo-religious commotions, can be gratified by read ing the book of " Doctrines and Covenants" where the most important of these Sibylline leaves are col lated for the edification and guidance of the Latter- day Saints. Missionaries were sent forth by revela tion, and entered upon their work with zeal, perform ing miracles, speaking with unknown tongues, healing the sick, &c. The thing was new, mysterious, and marvelous ; its pretensions were great ; its advocates bold and plausible ; where there was so much smoke, it was readily believed there must be some fire ; the .last days were believed to be at hand, and multitudes rushed into the new Zion. Such an aggregation of combustible materials pro duced a corresponding conflagration, and all accounts agree that the wildest vagaries of modern revivalism were manifested to such a degree, that Joseph was compeUed to attach a safety-valve to the boiler, lest 72 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. the concern should explode. He moderated the zeal ofthe over-zealous, rebuked the too lofty pretensions of some who were disposed to " see visions and dream dreams" on their own hook, and established the very important principle that he alone was the only reliable medium of revelation. Like a prudent general, too, he made seasonable provision for his own safety. As early as July, 1830, a revelation on this point ran in the following strain : " Magnify thine office ; and after thou hast sowed thy fields and secured them, go speedily unto the Church which is in Colesville, Fayetteville, and Man chester, and they shaU support thee." In February, 1831, the oracle was still more ex plicit : " And again, it is meet that my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., should have a house built, in which to live and translate." "If ye desire the mysteries of my kingdom, provide for him food and raiment, and whatsoever thing he needeth." Kirtland was never intended to be the metropolis of Mormonism ; it was selected as a temporary abiding- place, to make money in reference to a removal further west. Oliver Cowdry was sent forward as a mission ary to the Lamanites, and to explore a place for the future Zion. On his return, he gave so flattering an account of the western borders of Missom-i, that Joseph resolved to go himself. Accordingly, he and Sidney Rigdon, in obedience to a revelation (June, 1831), re paired to Jackson county, Missouri, and fixed on the spot where Independence now stands as the site of the great Mormon temple, and the gathering-place ofthe Latter-day Saints. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 73 SMITH PREACHING IN THE w ILDERNESS. Every thing appeared so sunny in this delightful re gion, on the borders of civilized and savage Hfe, where the Lamanites and the Gentiles could be within con venient range of the Mormon batteries, that Joseph was tempted to obtain a revelation, in. which matters were more clearly defined than is usual in prophetic annunciations. The following is the heavenly response on this occasion (July, 1831) : D 74 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. " Hearken, 0 ye elders of my Church, saith the Lord your God, who have assembled yourselves to gether, according to my commandments, in this land which is the land of Missouri, which is the 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. Behold, the place which is now called Independence is the centre place, and the spot for the Temple is lying westward, upon a lot which is not far from the Court-house : wherefore it is wis dom that the land should be purchased by the Saints ; and also my tract lying westward, even unto the fine running between Jew and Gentile ; and also my 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." By the Jew is here understood the Lamanite or In dian. The site of Zion having been thus duly fixed, the enginery of revelation was also put in motion to raise the means. From a number we select the fol lowing : " He that sendeth up treasures unto the land of Zion shaU receive an inheritance in this world, and his works shaU follow him ; and also reward in the world to come." " Let aU the moneys that can be spared, it mattereth not whether it be Httle or much, be sent up unto the land of Zion, unto them whom I have appoint ed to receive." (August, 1831.) The following looks very much like " letter s-of- marque" against the Gentiles : " Behold, it is said in my laws, or forbidden, to get in debt to thine enemies ; but behold, it is not said at UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 75 any time that the Lord should not take, when he please, and pay as seemeth to him good; wherefore, as ye are agents, and are on the Lord's errand; and whatever ye do according to the will of the Lord is the Lord's business, and he has sent you to provide for his Saints in these last days, that they may ob tain an inheritance in the land of Zion." There is no disputing a logical sequence upon the premises here assumed. If the Saints were really upon the Lord's business, and that business reaUy required a foray upon the flocks and herds of the Gentiles, it would seem to be a fair conclusion that the Lord should settle the bills when he pleased. In obedience to these celestial mandates, the means were obtained, and a large tract of land purchased in Jackson county, Missouri. Arrangements were speed ily made for the establishment of a store, a printing- press, and the usual mechanical operations necessary for the convenience of a town. Wuliam W. Phelps, a broken-down political hack in the State of New York, was placed at the head of the paper. The Saints flock ed in, and a town sprang up as by magic. Joseph re turned to Kirtland, where he proposed to remain five years, to make money for ulterior purposes. During this period of separation the elements of dis cord began to appear. Rigdon was a discontented spir it. He knew that he had furnished an equal share of the capital in starting the adventure, and became ex ceedingly restive in being compeUed, by the superior tactics of his co-partner, to occupy a subordinate posi tion. Phelps, too, was an uneasy genius, and, like the frog in the7 fable, was determined to sweU himself into 76 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. importance. He had a ready skill in the dialect of lampoons and half-way libels common to a class of ed itors at that period ; knew something of the weak points of human nature, and could tease it as effectu ally as the horse is tormented by a hungry swarm of flies. These and other kindred spirits began to ques tion the legitimacy of the powers assumed by the prophet over the Church, and accused him, " in rather an indirect way, of seeking after monarchical power and, authority." They began in whispers and covert insinuations, but finally broke out into open accusa tions, and boldly opened a correspondence with him on the subject. The prophet could not have been more annoyed had a chestnut burr been securely fastened to a sensitive part of his body. He would willingly have put down this rebeUion by hurling the thunderbolts of revelation at the heads of the audacious traitors ; but he was absent from the seat of discontent, and did not know how extensive or deeply rooted it might be. His position was exceedingly embarrassing, and he mani fested a curious mixture of grief and indignation. In answer to one of Phelps's letters, he writes (January 11th, 1833), " Our hearts are greatly grieved at the spirit which is breathed both in your letter and that of Brother G******s— the very spirit which is wasting Zion like a pestilence ; and if it is not detected and driven from you, it will ripen Zion for the threatened judgments of God." " Let me say to you, seek to pu rify yourselves, and also all the inhabitants of Zion, lest the Lord's anger be kindled to fierceness." In addition to these threats of divine vengeance, he caused a conference of high-priests to be held, and a UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 77 general epistle to be written, rebuking the rebeUious spirit of the Mormon camp. In this epistle, signed by Orson Hyde and Hyrum Smith, " Brother Phelps' let ter" is spoken of as betraying " a lightness of sphit that iU becomes a man placed in the important and re sponsible station that he is placed in." He is signifi cantly reminded, " If you have fat beef and potatoes, eat them in singleness of heart, and not boast your selves in these things /" and the malcontents are warn ed that " Brother Joseph will not settle in Zion until she repent and purify herself, and abide by the new covenant, and remember the commandments that have been given her, to do them as weU as to say them." The prophet, however, soon found that the rebellion was too serious to be put down by these " paper pellets of the brain," and he was eventually compeUed, in com promise of the difficulty, to associate two others with him in the presidency of the Church. The oracle in this emergency runs in this wise : " And again, verily, I say unto you, thy brethren, Sidney Rigdon and Fred erick G. WiUiams, their sins are forgiven them also, and they are accounted as equal with thee in holding the keys of this last kingdom" (March, 1833). Here we have the quorum of three, which has now become the most important department in the government of the Church. In the mean time, the Saints went on gathering at Independence until they numbered about twelve hund red. " The Evening and Morning Star," under the management of Phelps, was established in 1832, and opened its batteries upon the Gentile world. Every thing seemed to go on swimmingly. The Saints, en- 78 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. couraged by increasing numbers and the indications of prosperity, became arrogant and overbearing, and talked of ultimately possessing the whole land. They soon, too, acquired a doubtful reputation for Hcentious- ness, stealing, and fraudulent practices under various forms. To cap the climax, the " Star" published some incendiary articles in regard to the colored population, which aroused the jealousy of the slaveholders for the safety of the peculiar institution. The people became uncontrollably excited, and held a meeting at Inde pendence, July 20, 1833, in which they resolved on the expulsion of the Mormons. They required that the office of the Star should be closed, and that the Saints should pledge themselves to remove ; in which case they were to be " allowed to remain a reasonable time, to sell their property and close their business without any material sacrifice." The Saints wished for time to consult with their brethren in Ohio, but this being regarded by the angry multitude as an evasion, they » again assembled, after a few hours' delay, leveled the printing-office to the ground, and tarred and feathered two of the principal Saints. On the 23d of July, three days after, the mob again assembled, well armed, and the Mormons, becoming alarmed for their safety, agreed to remove from the county in a reasonable time. An agreement to this effect was drawn up and signed, by which one half were'to remove by the first of January, and the rest by the first of April following, in consideration of which the people agreed that no further violence should be offered. Had these terms been complied with, prob ably no further violence would have occurred in Jack- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 79 . .->*ysAr_je SMITH TARRED AND FEATHERED. son county. The prophet was at this time at Kirtland, and to him some of the brethren resorted in this emer gency, and under his direction made an appeal to Gov ernor Dunklin. The Governor, in answer, admitted that they had been illegally treated, and advised them to appeal to the courts for redress. In consequence of this, they commenced a number of suits against sun dry of the mob, and resolved to remain. Of course, this led to further violence, and finaUy to something like a regular skirmish, in which two of the Missouri ans were kiUed. Blood being fairly spiUed, there seem- 80 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. ed every 'prospect of a civil war, when the main body of the Mormons, hastily and in much confusion, aban doned their homes, and fled into Clay county, on the other side of the Missouri. This took place in Novem ber, 1833: women and children were exposed to the inclemency of the weather, and there was much suf fering and some loss of property. They were, however, received with great kindness by the people of Clay county, and the prophet managed to take off the rough edge of these reverses by a revelation that they were in consequence of the " contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires" among the Saints, whereby they had " polluted their inheritances ;" and they are comforted with the assurance that "Zion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding her children are scattered ; they that remain and are pure in heart shall return and come to their inherit ances, they and their children, with songs of everlast ing joy, to build up the waste places of Zion. And, behold, there is none other place appointed than that which I have appointed for the work of the gathering of my Saints, until the day cometh when there is found no more room for them, and then I have other places wliich I will appoint unto them ; .and they shaU be called stakes for the curtains, or the strength of Zion" (August, 1833). He also reveals to them that they were to appeal to the judiciary, and, if that was in vain, then to the Governor, and, if that was unsuccessful, then to the President of the United States, and if the appeal was stUl unheeded, " then the Lord God him self would arise, and come forth out of his hiding- place, and in his fury vex the nation !" UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 81 These appeals were aU subsequently made without success ; but, unfortunately for the prediction, the Lord does not seem to come forth from hia " hiding-place ;" and, although Missouri was to be overflowing with Saints before the " stakes for the curtains" were ap pointed, yet they have been compeUed to appoint these "stakes" without returning to Independence at all. The truth is, these revelations in regard to the seat of Zion Were a little too definite. The prophet, in due time, discovered that he led the Mormon deity into a mistake, and did aU he could to explain the faUure. It was difficult, however, in the face of such predic tions,, to change the venue, and the notion is therefore still prevalent among a portion of the Saints that they are to return in triumph to Missouri and drive out the Gentiles, CHAPTER V. HISTORY CONTINUED. Mormons quit Clay and remove into Caldwell County. — Joseph's Jour neys into Missouri. — Sets up a Bank at Kirtland. — Leaves Kirtland in the Night. — Troubles in Missouri. — " Danites." — Joseph arrested, and Mormons agree to leave the State. — Murder at Hawn's Mill. — Mormons remove to Illinois. — Evidence on the Trial of Joseph. — His Imprisonment and Escape. The Mormons went into Clay county as a tempo rary refuge from the popular storm then raging against them, and untU they could return to Zion or obtain some other abiding-place. Under the encouraging pre dictions of the prophet, they confidently expected soon D2 82 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. to be restored in triumph to their chosen metropolis. But delays ensued. The people of Jackson county, determined to be forever rid ofthe nuisance which they had thus summarily abated, pertinaciously refused all terms of accommodation based upon the idea that the Saints were to return among them. In the mean time, persecution seems to have given them exactly the kind of aid needed for a rapid accu mulation of numbers- New converts flocked in, and spread from Clay into Caldwell and Davies counties, and this portion of Missouri bid fair to become com pletely Mormonized. The people of Clay county be came seriously alarmed. They found in their midst an ignorant, clannish population, combined together by religious fanaticism, arrogant and overbearing in their pretensions, and completely under the control of a single wul. Their numbers were rapidly increasing ; they were purchasing lands ; and there was every ap pearance that they intended to remain. They were non-slaveholders, and excited the fears of the people in regard to their slaves ; they proclaimed that the In dians were a remnant of the Israelites, and were mak ing strenuous efforts to convert them to the new faith ; and the tomahawk and scalping-knife became, in popu lar imagination, fearful additions to the destructive ele ments which seemed to be combining for evil in their midst. A meeting of the citizens was held at Liberty on the 29th of June, 1836, in which these matters were taken into consideration. The Mormons were remind ed of the circumstances under which they were re ceived, and requested to leave, time being given them to harvest their crops and dispose of their property. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. Q3 Fortunately for aU concerned, the Saints admitted the conditions under wliich they were received by the cit izens, and agreed to leave on the terms proposed, de nying strenuously that they had ever tampered with the slaves, or had any idea of exciting an Indian war. The Mormons, being thus compeUed to leave Clay county, settled principaUy in CaldweU county, found ing the city of Far West, and other smaller places. The popular storm, however, which had never fuUy abated, gathered new strength, and ultimately drove them from the state. The prophet, who had kept himself out of the way of danger during the warfare in Jackson county, and had made a missionary excursion into Canada, seeking for new converts, projected a journey into Missouri soon after the Saints had got safely settled in Clay county. Many had grown, weak in the faith, and be come discouraged by reason of the troubles at Inde pendence. This journey was therefore intended to buUd up the breaches in the walls of Zion by a fresh display of revelations, and other signs and wonders. He journeyed partly in disguise, to avoid the anticipat ed hostility of the wicked Gentiles, and was attended by a body-guard of about one hundred young men, se cretly armed. This was in May, 1834. After passing the IUinois River, they came to some of those mounds so common in the Western States. One of these was opened, and the bones of a dead Indian exposed to view, with an arrow between his ribs. Joseph was in stantly favored with a vision, and declared the remains to be the skeleton of one of the ancient Lamanites by the name of Zelph, who had been killed in a battle 84 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. DISCOVERY OF THE LAMANITE SKELETON. with the Nephites. The journey occupied some time. On reaching the first settlement of the brethren, they were joined by Brother Hyrum Smith, with about one hundred armed men ; and with this re-enforcement he visited the Saints, gave forth some consohng and reas suring revelations, worked some miracles, and, after re ducing things to proper order, returned to Kirtland in July. The principal object of the prophet's residence at Kirtland, as avowed by himself, was to make money, UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 85 for the purpose of facilitating which he set up a bank, in connection with a mill and store ; and in this way he carried on business operations for a few years. But financial and commercial enterprises were altogether beyond his depth ; his forte lay in another direction ; the universal panacea of revelation could not ward off the blow ; the celestial councUs got into a decided fog ; to make a long story short- the whole concern exploded in 1837. He had great difficulty in preventing the whole Mormon scheme from exploding with the bank. The sufferers grumbled. One Elder Boyntoh contu maciously complained that " he understood the bank was instituted by the wiU of God, and he had been told that it should never fafl, let men do what they would." But Joseph adroitly threw the. blame on the managers, claiming that a blessing had been promised only on the condition .of its being conducted on proper principles. The foUowing, from his autobiography, shows the straits to which he was reduced at this crit ical period : " At this time the spirit of speculation in lands, and property of aU kinds, which was so prevalent through out the whole nation, was taking deep root in the Church ; as the fruits of this sphit, evfl surmisings, fault-finding, disunion, dissension, and apostacy follow ed in quick succession, and it seemed as though aU the powers of earth and hell were combining their influ ence in an especial manner to overthrow the Church at once, and make a final end. Other banking insti tutions refused the ' Kirtland Safety Society's' notes. The enemy abroad and apostates in our midst united in their schemes ; flour and provisions were turned to- 86 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. ward other markets ; and many became disaffected to ward me, as though I were the sole cause of those very evUs I was most strenuously striving against, and which were actuaUy brought upon us by the brethren not giving heed to my counsel. "No quorum in the Church was entirely exempt from the influence of those false spirits who were striving against me for the mastery ; even some of the Twelve were so far lost to their high and responsible calling as to begin to take sides, secretly, with the enemy." In addition to these troubles, the outside barbarians in and around Kirtland, who fancied themselves swin dled by these banking operations, became excited, and procured legal process for the arrest of the prophet and Elder Rigdon. In the profane and vulgar language of the day, Joseph and his coadjutor " run away" in the night of January 12th, 1838. It is curious to see how differently the same thing is viewed by different minds. The foUowing is the aspect of the case when viewed through Mormon spectacles : "A new year dawned upon the Church in Kirtland in aU the bitterness ofthe spirit of apostate mobocracy, which continued to rage, and grow hotter and hotter, until Elder Rigdon and myself were obliged to flee from its deadly influence, as did the apostles and prophets of old, and as Jesus said, ' When they perse cute you in one city, flee to another ;' and on the even ing of the 12th of January, about ten o'clock, we left Kirtland, on horseback, to escape mob violence, which was about to burst upon us, under the color of legal process to cover their hellish designs, and save them selves from the just judgment of the law." UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 87 The people were thoroughly exasperated, and Joseph and his prime minister had to run for it : "The weather was extremely cold, and we were obliged to secrete ourselves in our wagons sometimes, to elude the grasp of our pursuers, who continued their race more than two hundred mUes from Kirtland, armed with pistols, &c, seeking our Hves." Once fairly beyond the risk of seizure by the perse cuting Kirtlanders, the fugitive prophet took the mat ter more leisurely, and, after journeying about four weeks, arrived at Far West, which at this period must be regarded as the "Latter-day" metropolis. His presence here had become a necessity. The affairs of Zion, though prospering in point of numerical acces sion, were any thing but promising, and another col lision with the GentUes was evidently approaching. Ever since their expulsion from Independence, the Mormons had made the most persevering efforts to re turn, and among the means contemplated was a re sort to arms, in case milder means did not succeed. They had apphed to the Governor for a military force to restore them to their lost Eden, and also for permis sion to organize companies among themselves, to be armed by the state. The Governor manifested his willingness to reinstate them in their former posses sions, so far as lay in his power ; but, as it was mani festly impossible to keep a standing army at Independ ence, there was no guarantee that the same troubles would not be renewed ; and he advised them to con tinue their reliance on the courts for redress. The people of Jackson, however, were fully determined that none of the Saints should from henceforth settle in 88 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. their midst ; and, to put the question at rest, they made a more than equitable proposition to purchase the lands and improvements of the Mormons, at a price to be fixed by three disinterested arbitrators, with one hundred per cent, in addition. Strange to say, this extremely favorable proposition was rejected. Zion had been distinctly located at Independence by a rev elation, and the prophet could not bear to have the pre diction falsified ; and accordingly, under date of De cember 5th, 1833, from Kirtland, he had written: " You wiU recollect that the Lord has said that Zion should not be removed out of her place ; therefore the land should not be sold, but be held by the Saints, un til the Lord, in his wisdom, opens a way for your re turn." They not only refused to sell their property at double its value, in obedience to the prophet's injunctions, but instituted civU and criminal proceedings against those who had been most active in ejecting them from their possessions. In the mean time, precisely the same causes which made the Saints fugitives from Independence, were arousing against them the popular indignation in Cald well and Davies counties. As numbers and prosperity gathered around them, they became arrogant, and soon acquired, whether founded or unfounded, their former reputation for licentiousness, thieving, and other kin dred practices. Matters went on from bad to worse ; one scene of violence led to another a little more flagrant — buildings were burned, and blood was shed ; the exec utive of the state interfered and caUed out the mihtia, and something very much resembling civil war began UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 89 to rage in this unlucky portion of the state. Which party, the Mormon or anti-Mormon, committed the first act of open violence, is not very clear, though the weight of evidence in this respect is against the Saints. At all events, it is quite evident that Joseph at this period had made up his mind to resist the laws, and, if possi ble, play the part of Mohammed. To further these ob jects, he had organized a formidable band of ruffians, as the nucleus of a disciplined mUitary force, but whose present business it was to inflict vengeance upon apos tates and obnoxious Gentiles, and, in fact, like the ex ecutioners of the German Vehme, to commit any crime, however horrible, in obedience to the mandates of the prophet. These were the "Danites," or "Brothers of Gideon." But " the pear was not yet ripe." The Governor acted with vigor. A strong mihtary force was organized and placed under the command of General J. B. Clark, who, by a rapid march, surround ed Far West, and made Joseph and Hyrum Smith, with some forty others, prisoners, and virtually ended the struggle without a battle. The Mormons, panic-struck, delivered up their arms, and entered into a treaty by which they agreed to leave the state. During this pe riod of commotion, some lamentable scenes occurred, exhibiting the revengeful bitterness of the popular mind, among which was the murder of sixteen Mor mons, including two boys, at Hawn's Mill, by a law less band of armed men. The Saints charged this das tardly violence upon those in command ; and, unfortu nately, the phraseology of General Clark's instructions, and of his subsequent address to the Mormons, furnish es some plausibflity to the accusation. 90 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. In a dispatch from the general to the Governor, dated November 10th, 1838, he says : " There is no crime, from treason down to petit larceny, but these people, or a majority of them, have been guUty of — aU, too, under the counsel of Joseph Smith, Jr., the prophet. They have committed treason, murder, arson, bur glary, robbery, larceny, and perjury. They have so cieties formed under the most binding covenants in form, and the most horrid oaths, to circumvent the laws and put them at defiance ; and to plunder, and burn, and murder, and divide the spoils for the use of the Church." It was in answer to this that the Governor wrote to General Clark, that "the ringleaders of this rebell ion should be made an example of; and, if it should become necessary to the public peace, the Mormons should be exterminated or expelled from the state." This was extremely unguarded, and seems to have been too Hterally construed. In an address of General Clark to the Mormons, we find the foUowing : " 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 continue 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." " I did not say that you should go now ; but you must not UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 91 think of staying here another season, or of putting in crops, for the moment you do, the citizens wiU be upon you. I am determined to see the Governor's message fulfiUed, but shall not come upon you immediately ; do not think that I shall act as I have done any more ; but if I come again, because the treaty which you have made here shall be broken, you need not expect any mercy, but extermination." Making aU due aUowance for the exasperated state of the public mind, these threats of " extermination" sound a little too savage in Anglo-Saxon ears. They were undoubtedly intended to intimidate the Mormons into a compliance with the stipulations of the treaty which they had made. But they were impolitic, be cause they gave plausibility to the idea that the Saints were the victims of a cruel and unrelenting religious persecution, and furnished them with one of the surest means of future success. The prophet was not slow in using the weapons thus placed in his hands ; the cry of persecution was rung in aU its changes through Christendom ; his foUowers were compared to the early Christian martyrs, suffering under the tortures inflict ed by the enemies of the Church ; and converts rapidly gathered around the new Zion. By the treaty above referred to, the Mormons were required to quit the state, and five commissioners were appointed to seU their property, pay their debts, and aid them in removing. Many famifies being destitute, and without the means of removing, the state appro priated two thousand dollars for their relief; the citi zens of the adjacent counties also contributed in money and goods to the same object. 92 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. Once more fugitives and wanderers,, the Saints cross ed the Mississippi and found refuge in the neighboring State of Illinois. The prophet and his fellow-prisoners were arraigned for treason against the state, and on a CROSSING THE MISSISSIPPI. preliminary examination ofthe case before Judge King, some startling facts were disclosed in regard to the de signs of the- Mormon chief, the dangerous fanaticism of his followers, and the atrocities which had been sanctioned by him. It appears by the testimony of Samuel Avard that the first object of the Danite band was " to drive from the county of Caldwell all those who dissented from the Mormon Church, in which they succeeded admi rably, to the satisfaction of those concerned." " The prophet, Joseph Smith, Jr., together with his two coun- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 93 selors (Hyrum Smith and Sidney Rigdon), were con sidered the supreme head of the Church ; and the Dan ite band felt themselves as much bound to obey them as to obey the supreme God." John Cowill, another Mormon, swore : " This Mor mon Church has been represented as being the little stone spoken of by Daniel, which should roll on, and crush aU opposition to it, and ultimately should be es tablished as a temporal as well as a spiritual king dom. These things were to be carried on through the instrumentality ofthe Danite band, as far as force was necessary, they being organized into bands of tens, fif ties, &o., ready. for war." " I think the original object of the Danite band was to operate on the dissenters ; but afterward it grew into a system to carry out the designs of the presidency, and, if it was necessary, to use physical force to uphold the kingdom of God." John Cleminson (Mormon) swore : " Some time in June I attended two or three Danite meetings, and it was there taught as a part of the duty of the band that they should support the presidency, right or wrong ; that whatever they said was to be obeyed, and who ever opposed the presidency in what they said or de sired done, should be expelled the county, or have their lives taken." William W. Phelps, then a Mormon dissenter, but now again a member in good standing, and member ofthe Utah Legislative Assembly, swore : " It was ob served in the meeting, that if any person spoke against the presidency, they would hand him over to the hands of the ' Brothers of Gideon.' " " The object of the meeting seemed to be to make persons confess and re- 94 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. pent of their sins to God and the presidency, and ar raign them for giving a false account of their money and effects they had on hand ; and they said, Whenever they found one gmlty of these things, they were to be handed over to the ' Brothers of Gideon.' " " There was a short speech made by Joseph Smith, Jr., about carrying on the war, in which he said it was necessary to take spoils to live on. This was in reference to the dissenters, as weU as to the people of Davies, where they were going." " Wight asked Smith, Jr., twice, if it had come to the point now to resist the laws. Smith repfied, the time had come when he should re sist all law'' A great deal of testimony was taken, disclosing a fearful catalogue of stealing, robbery, burning, &c, by the Mormons, with the sanction of their prophet. Among the affidavits on which the prosecution was founded is one made by Thomas B. Marsh, a seceder, in which it is stated, " They have among them a com pany, consisting of aU that are considered true Mor mons, caUed the Danites, who have taken an oath to support the heads ofthe Church in all things that they say or do, whether right or wrong." " In a conversa tion between Dr. Avard and other Mormons, said Avard proposed to start a pestilence among the GentUes, as he called them, by poisoning their cows, fruit, &c, and saying it was the work of the Lord ; and said Avard advocated lying, for the support of their religion, and said it was no harm to he for the Lord. The plan of said Smith, the prophet, is to take this state ; and he professes to his people to intend taking the United States, and ultimately the whole world. The prophet UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 95 inculcated the notion, and it is befieved by every true Mormon, that Smith's propheoies are superior to the laws of the land. I have heard the prophet say that he would yet tread down his enemies and walk on their dead bodies ; that, if he was not let alone, he would be a second Mohammed to this generation, and that he would make it one gore of blood from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean ; that, like Mohammed, 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 be tween three and four hundred." These statements of Marsh were endorsed by Orson Hyde, then a seceder, but now one of the twelve apos tles, member of the Legislative Assembly pf Utah, &c, in the foUowing terms : " The most of the statements in the foregoing dis closures of T. R. Marsh I know to be true ; the re mainder I believe to be true. Orson Hyde. " Richmond, Oct. 24, 1838. " Sworn to and subscribed before me, the day and year above written, "Henry Jacobs, J. P." All the testimony taken on the examination was sub sequently communicated to the Missouri Legislature in 1840, by Governor Boggs, among the documents ac companying his message, and published. In his mes sage he thus speaks of the Mormons : " These people had violated the laws of the land by 96 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. open force and avowed resistance to them; they had undertaken, without the aid of the civil authority, to redress their real or fancied grievances ; they had in stituted among themselves a government, of their own, independent and in opposition to the government of this state, that had, at an inclement season ofthe year, driven the inhabitants of an entire county from then- homes, ravaged their crops, and destroyed their dwell ings. Under these circumstances, it became the im perious duty of the executive to interfere, and exercise the powers with which he was invested to protect the Hves and property of our citizens, to restore order and tranquiUity to the county, and maintain the supremacy of the laws." This accumulation of evidence furnishes abundant proof that the prophet had, at this early period, infused into his followers a fanatical befief in his pretensions, and the most extravagant notions of their future great ness. In all likelihood, the unexpected success of the scheme induced Smith to beheve that he could play the part of the Arabian impostor ; and he might have done so had he possessed equal resources, and found a field of popular ignorance and delusion sufficiently extensive for his operations. He was thrown into prison, where he remained until the spring of 1839, when he managed to make his es cape and join his followers in Illinois. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 97 CHAPTER VI. HISTORY CONTINUED. Nauvoo. — Revelation to build Temple and Tavern. — Nauvoo Legion. — Letter-writers. — Joseph a candidate for the Presidency. — Letter to Clay and Calhoun. The IUinoisans received the Saints with an extra ordinary degree of favor, and under the unceasing cry of persecution, converts, old and new, flocked in from aU quarters. They estabfished themselves in a bend of the Mississippi, in the county of Hancock, where the vUlage of Commerce had been laid out by its propri etor, the name of which they afterward changed to Nauvoo. Nauvoo was one of the names of one of the numerous petty chiefs in British India. About a year after their involuntary exode from Missouri, something like fifteen thousand Saints were supposed to be settled in and around the new city. To give an impetus to the gathering, Joseph, after an unusual interval, again mounted the tripod, and put forth an elaborate revela tion (January, 1841), in which, among other things, Nauvoo was duly appointed one of the stakes, and a temple ordered to be bunt; to which end, the Saints far and near were commanded to come with their gold, silver, precious stones, and other materiel, of which a goodly enumeration was made. One of the most powerful levers which he had in vented for moving his disciples in temple building was the doctrine oi baptism for ihe dead — that is, that the E 98 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. . ¦¦Bhiix ' 1 ! ^^ '. mmmm Rfflj^^^skr^^^^^LJ^''-7--1"' -:*^fflM ^¦NpvvnJl^ !¦¦¦ BEgHH MORMON BAPTISM. living could be baptized for, and thus save their dead friends — which baptism must be performed in the tem ple ; no other place would give it the requisite efficacy. The Mormon divinity, however, was becoming im patient at the various delays in constructing a res idence for him on this mundane sphere, and, to stim ulate and encourage his foUowers, he concluded to revise this doctrine, to suit the emergencies of the pe riod, in the foUowing terms : '¦' But I command you aU, ye my saints, to buUd a house unto me ; and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me, and during this time your UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 99 baptisms shall be acceptable unto me. But behold, at the end of this appointment, your baptisms shaU not be acceptable unto me ; and if you do not these things at the end of the appointment, ye shall be rejected as a Church with your dead, saith the Lord your God. For verUy I say unto you, that after you have had suffi cient time to build a house to me, wherein the or dinance of baptizing for the dead belongeth, and for which the same was instituted from before the foun dation of the world, youy baptisms for your dead can not he acceptable unto me ; for therein are the keys of the holy priesthood, ordained, that you may receive honor and glory." It was quite as essential that the Mormon prophet should be provided for as the Mormon Deity. Accord ingly, this same revelation provides for the erection of a tavern, in which Joseph was to have his head-quar ters. " Therefore let my servant Joseph, and his seed after him, have place in that house from generation to gen eration, forever and ever, saith the Lord ; and let the name of that house be caUed the Nauvoo House ; and let it be a delightful habitation for man, and a resting- place for the weary traveler," &c. This change in the character of the prophet's resi dence is significant of his growing habits of intemper ance and licentiousness — it was only two years subse quent that his revelation in favor of polygamy was con cocted — and a tavern, with its bar, and multiplicity of rooms, closets, and passages, would seem to be a fit and characteristic residence for the chief of Mormondon at this period. But alas for the prediction ! In a few 100 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. years from this time, the prophet slept in a bloody grave, and his famny and followers were driven from the place which he and his seed, from generation to generation, were to occupy "forever and ever." - Under the influence of fanaticism, fiercely stimula ted by persecution, the gathering Saints were active in aU departments of industry, and soon became a thriv ing community. Buildings were erected, farms culti vated, the tavern was built, the temple progressed apace, and Nauvoo rapidly increased. The free peo ple of Illinois, indignant that so peaceable, industrious, and virtuous a community should have been perse cuted and driven into exile by the slaveholders of Missouri, extended to them a friendly and fostering hand. Nauvoo received from the Legislature a charter with extraordinary privUeges, among which was the power to organize a military force, armed by the state, and under the command of the prophet as lieutenant- general. A formidable band, amounting, ultimately, to 4000 men, called the Nauvoo Legion, was organized, armed, and drilled, ready for any emergency, however desperate, to which the ambition or necessities of their leader might give rise. Reviews were held from time to time, and flags pre sented, and Joseph appeared on aU those occasions with a splendid staff, in all the pomp and circumstance of a full-blown military commander. The singular spectacle was presented of an independent military power growing and perfecting itself within the state, and rendered fierce and dangerous by religious fanati cism, and the recoUections of persecutions suffered. This legion is described by an officer of the U. S. J ^ - Sli6i&#x •lil^W^l^^ SMITH REVIEWING THE NAUVOO LEGION. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 1Q3 army, in September, 1842, as approximating, in regard to appointments and disciphne, " very closely to our regular forces." The Mormons at this time, in the United States and Great Britain, were supposed to number about one hundred and fifty thousand, and were on the increase ; and this standing army was capable of an indefinite increase. Why was the mili tary organization necessary ? The idea of playing the part of Mohammed, and marching back in triumph to the Mecca of the Saints in Jackson county, which had already floated through the brain of the prophet, had probably never been abandoned. Joseph, as the mouth piece of the Mormon Deity, had predicted, that unless justice were speedily done to his persecuted foUowers, " the Lord God himself would arise and come forth out of his hiding-place, and in his fury vex the nation ;" and the idea of being the executioner of the celestial vengeance may furnish a reason for the organization of so formidable a band. But, fortunately, he was too much engaged in pandering to his animal propensities to be capable of using efficiently the means of mis chief within his grasp. To organize and conduct a violent and treasonable revolution in this country re quires a larger reach of intellect, greater self-denial, and more determined energy than belonged to the Mormon chief. Joseph was a skillful tactician. Among the ways and means by which he and his community became favorably known to the world was that of newspaper correspondence, which forms so large a portion of the journals of the day. Strangers would suddenly ap pear at Nauvoo, and the columns of the widely-circu- 104 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. lated New York dailies were often garnished with glowing accounts of the prosperity of the city, the fascinations of the society, and, above aU, the extraor dinary character ofthe prophet and his nobifity. One, a correspondent of the New York Herald, tells us that " Joseph Smith, the President of the Church, proph et, 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 ofthe highest talent, and great independence of character, firm in his integrity, and devoted to his religion ; in a word, he is a per se, as President Tyler would say. As a speaker, he is bold, powerful, and convincing, possessing both the suaviter in modo and the fortiter in re ; as a leader, wise and prudent, yet fearless ; as a military commander, brave and determined; as a citizen, worthy, affable, and kind — bland in his manners, and of noble bearing." Hyrum Smith and other lions in the Nauvoo mena gerie are described in equally flattering terms. Another says : " Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, is a singular character ; he lives at the ' Nauvoo Man sion House,' wliich is, I understand, intended to become a home for the stranger and traveler. The prophet is a kind, cheerful, sociable companion ; 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." These were the palmy days of Mormondom. Mis sionaries had been sent into aU accessible parts of the world, and their zealous efforts were drawing multi tudes of credulous people within the Latter-day vor tex. Joseph seemed to be in the full tide of prosper- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 105 ity, and in a fair way of realizing all his predictions. He was prophet and seer, commander-in-chief, mayor, and tavern-keeper within his dominions, and as abso lute in these several capacities as the Grand Lama of Thibet. He became also a politician, and on the 15th of February, 1844, was duly put forth as a candidate for the presidency by the Times and Seasons, accom panied with a few columns of editorial, in which he was highly lauded for his great qualities. To give eclat to this movement, he pubfished a long address, written in a dashing, devU-may-care style, containing some shrewd suggestions, and curiously illustrating the character of the man, in making cunning appeals to the class of minds which he had gathered around him. At this period, he was ambitious of being con sidered as a learned man, and the document is queerly interlarded with scraps of almost all the known and unknown languages, dead and living. He goes on to extol the patriotism of the early presidents down to, and including, the administration of General Jackson, quoting from their inaugurals and messages, and com mending their policy. General Jackson's administra tion he regards as the " acme of American glory, lib erty, and prosperity ;" but the advent of Mr. Van Bu ren changes the scene : " At the age, then, of sixty years, our blooming re public began to decline under the withering touch of Martin Van Buren. Disappointed ambition, thirst for power, pride, corruption, party-spirit, faction, patron age, perquisites, fame, tangling alliances, priestcraft, and spiritual wickedness in high places, struck hands, and reveled in midnight splendor. Trouble, vexation, E 2 106 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. perplexity, and contention, mingled with hope, fear, and murmuring, rumbled through the union, and agitated the whole nation as would an earthquake at the cen tre of the earth the world, heaving the sea beyond its bounds, and shaking the everlasting hills." He is particularly severe on Mr. Yan Buren's opin ion in reference to the abolition of slavery in the Dis trict of Columbia : " Poor little Matty made his rhapsodical sweep with the fact before his eyes that the State of New York, his native state, had abohshed slavery without a strug gle or a groan. Great God ! how independent ! From henceforth slavery is tolerated where it exists, Consti tution or no Constitution, people or no people, right or wrong — 'vox Matti,' 'vox diaboW — 'the voice of Matty,' ' the voice of the devil ;' and, peradventure, liis great ' sub-treasury' scheme was a piece of the same mind ; but the man and his measures have such a striking resemblance to the anecdote of the Welshman and his cart-tongue, that, when the Constitution was so long that it aUowed slavery at the Capitol of a free people, it could not be cut off; but when it was so short that it needed a sub-treasury to save the funds of the nation, it could be spliced. Oh, granny, what a long tail our puss has got ! As a Greek might say, hyste- ron proteron, the cart before the horse ; but his mighty whisk through the great national fire for the presiden tial chestnuts burned the locks of his glory with the blaze of his folly!" General Harrison appeared " as a star among the storm-clouds for better weather," but was soon taken away ; and " subsequent events, all things considered — UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 1Q7 Van Buren's downfaU, Harrison's exit, and Tyler's self- sufficient turn to the whole — go to show, as a Chaldean might exclaim, Beram etai elauh beshmayaugh gau- hah rauzeen — Certainly there is a God in heaven to reveal secrets. " No honest man can doubt for a moment but the glory of American liberty is on the wane, and that ca lamity and confusion will sooner or later destroy the peace of the people." He winds up characteristically with a long list of what he would do if placed in the presidential chair. In the November previous, Joseph had written to Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, in anticipation that they would be candidates for the presidency, to ascer tain what would be their rule of action in relation to 1 the aUeged wrongs which the Saints had sustained in Missouri. He received answers from both these dis tinguished men. Mr. Clay, in general terms, sympa thized with the sufferings which they had sustained under injustice, but declined giving any pledges or promises ; and Mr. Calhoun reiterated that which he had already stated in an interview with the Mormon chief at Washington, to the effect that the case did not come within the jurisdiction of the federal govern ment. The .prophet replied to both ; and a few ex tracts from his letter to Mr. Clay, written May 15th, 1844, wUl exhibit his aptitude for wordy vituperation : " In your answer to my questions last faU, that pe culiar tact of modern politicians, declaring, ' if you ever enter into that high office, you must go into it free and unfettered, with no guarantee but such as are to be drawn from your whole life, character, and 108 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. conduct' so much resembles a lottery-vender's sign, with the goddess of good luck sitting on the car of for tune astraddle of the horn of plenty, and driving the merry steeds of beatitude without rein or bridle, that I can not help exclaiming, 0 fraU man ! what have you done that wUl exalt you ?" " Crape the heavens with weeds of woe, gird the earth with sackcloth, and let hell mutter one melody in commemoration of faUen splendor ! for the glory of America has departed, and God wUl set a flaming sword to guard the tree of liberty, while such mint- tithing Herods as Van Buren, Boggs, Benton, Calhoun, and Clay are thrust out of the realms of virtue as fit subjects for the kingdom of faUen greatness." "Why, sir, the condition of the whole earth is la mentable. Texas dreads the teeth and toe-nafls of Mexico ; Oregon has the rheumatism, brought on by a horrid exposure to the heat and cold of British and American trappers ; Canada has caught a bad cold from extreme fatigue in the patriot war ; South Amer ica has the headache, caused by bumps against the beams of Catholicity and Spanish sovereignty ; Spain has the gripes from age and inquisition ; France trem bles and wastes under the effects of contagious dis eases ; England groans with the gout, and wiggles with wine ;' Italy and the German States are pale with the consumption ; Prussia, Poland, and the Httle con tiguous dynasties, duchies, and domains, have the mumps so severely, that ' the whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint;' Russia has the cramp by lineage ; Turkey has the numb palsy ; Africa, from the curse of God, has lost the use of her limbs ; China UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 1Q9 is ruined by the Queen's evfi, and the rest of Asia fear- fuUy exposed to the small-pox the natural way from British peddlers ; the Islands ofthe Sea are almost dead with the scurvy ; the Indians are bhnd and lame ; and the United States, which ought to be the good physi cian, with ' balm from GUead' and an ' asylum for the oppressed,' has boosted, and is boosting up into the councU-chamber of the government a cfique of polit ical gamblers, to play for the old clothes and old shoes of a sick world, and ' no pledge, no promise to any particular portion of the people' that the rightful heirs will ever receive a cent of their fathers' legacy ! Away with such self-important, self-aggrandizing, and self-willed demagogues ! their friendship is colder than polar ice, and their professions meaner than the dam nation of heU." These letters, published far and wide, served their intended purpose of increasing the notoriety which he already enjoyed. The query very naturally arises, Had this notorious individual any idea that he could be elected to the presidency ? Probably not at the then impending cam paign. But the frog in the fable, which was ambitious of the size of the ox, acted in good faith in trying to magnify his dimensions ; and why doubt the bona fides of Joseph Smith ? The unceasing tide of Mor mon emigration had borne him upon its flood to a height of power and grandeur little dreamed of by him at the outset of his career, and he began to fancy him self to be at least in possession of the balance of poht ical power. He had a firm faith in the unbounded credulity of mankind ; and having already succeeded HO UTAH AND THE MORMONS. far beyond his most sanguine expectations, he became confident of success in any thing he might undertake. In his letter to General Bennett, he says, " I combat the errors of ages ; I meet the violence of mobs ; I cope with Ulegal proceedings from executive authority; I cut the Gordian knot of powers, and I solve the math ematical problems of universities, with truth, diamond truth, and God is my right-hand man." But, what ever may have been his own hopes or expectations, there are those among his followers in Utah who firm ly believe he would have been elected in 1844 had not his career been cut short by an untimely death. It certainly affords matter for curious speculation, in re gard to the state of society at Washington, with Jo seph at the "head of the nation, and the fashionable hos pitalities ofthe White House in the keeping of his for ty wives ; to say nothing of his cabinet, composed of Elders Brigham Young, Heber C. KimbaU, &c, with their respective harems. This, to use one ofthe proph et's pedantic phrases, would have been a pretty fair in stance of the prevalence of the " vox diaboli." UTAH AND THE MORMONS. m CHAPTER VII. HISTORY CONTINUED. Apparent Prosperity. — Internal Difficulties. — Arrogance. — Joseph's Licentiousness. — Polygamy. — Spiritual Wife-ism. — Troubles with Higbee and Foster. — Attempt to arrest Joseph. — Joseph and Hyrum surrender on Pledge of Safety. — Are murdered. — Character of Jo seph Smith. The Mormon community at this period presented a spectacle of much apparent prosperity: increasing numbers, great industry among the masses, an efficient military organization, the protection and favor of a powerful state, and its chief one of the candidates for the presidency. Why could it not continue ? Because it contained within itself the seeds of its own destruc tion. It was a strange combination of incongruous materials ; a festering mass of arrogance, discontent, hypocrisy, chicanery, licentiousness, and crime; and was surely destined to internal commotion, colhsion with the laws of the land, and ultimate dispersion. Large numbers, attracted by the novelty and out side appearances, like insects gathering into the open mouth of the aUigator, to be drawn into the reptUe's maw, were hopelessly ruined ; and these were discon tented. The fanatical portion were arrogant, and, in their estimation, the rights ofthe Gentiles were ofthe smallest weight in the balance against the superior privileges of the Saints. These feelings were necessa rily fostered and brought into terrible activity by the 112 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. whole tenor of Mormon teaching. Both the press and the pulpit were rife with the dismal condition of the Gentile world ; calamities by " flood and field," earth quakes, fires, popular commotions, rumors and pros pects of war, which were regarded as the sure fore bodings of its speedy destruction. The Saints, how ever, like the foUowers of the camp on the eve of battle, were to come in and enjoy the spoUs. " It is a day of strange appearances. Every thing indicates something more than meets the eye. Every nation is opening events which astonish mankind: even the heart of man begins to melt at the prospect before it. The unquenchable thirst for news ; the con tinuity of emigration ; the wars and rumors of wars, with many other signs of the distress of nations from the Old World — as it is called across the ocean — whis pers so loud to the understanding, that he that runs may read the label on the eastern sky. The end is nigh."— -Times and Seasons, p. 642. The following is from a discourse dehvered by Hy rum Smith at the April Conference, 1844. " The reason why I feel so good is because I have a big soul ; we have gathered out all the big souls from the ends of the earth ; the Gospel picks out aU the big souls out of all creation ; and we wiU get all the big souls out of aU the nations, and we shall have the largest city in the world; God Almighty has made men's souls according to the society which he lives in, with very few exceptions, and when men come to live with the Mormons, their souls swell as if they were going to stride the planets." — P. 597. Sidney Rigdon, at the same Conference, was par- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. H3 ticularly spicy on the outside barbarians : "I want devils to gratify themselves, and if howling, yeUing, yelping wiU do you any good, do it tiU you are aU damned. If caUing us devils, &c, will do you any good, let us have the whole of it, and you can then go your way to heU without a grunt." Elder Kimball, on a subsequent occasion, was pe culiarly felicitous : " They wiU be glad to black our boots and lick the dust that is under our feet, and this is nothing to what wiU come to pass ; I might stand here aU day and tell you things of the future, and you would not believe the half of it." In fine, the Gentiles were decidedly a scurvy race, condemned to speedy destruction, and of no more ac count than the felon who already feels the tightening squeeze of the halter. Under such circumstances, was it very strange for the true believer occasionaUy to an ticipate events, and make free with Gentile goods a Httle before the day of final execution ? Accordingly, we are regaled with the same old complaints against the Saints, for nearly all the crimes in the calendar, wliich had previously been made against them in Mis souri, and, unfortunately, the criminal records of Han cock county bear strong evidence of their truth. But the most fruitful element of internal commo tion, and that which more immediately led to the proph et's death, was the introduction of polygamy as one of the numerous privileges of the Saints. This extraor dinary addition to the curious coUection of Mormon doctrines and practices grew legitimately out of the character of Joseph himself, which was a combination of cunning and sensuality. The latter quality, indeed, 114 UTAH ANDTHE MORMONS. seems eventually to have become the absorbing and governing passion of his soul, which respected neither the ties of kindred nor friendship ; nor do his followers take much pains to conceal this feature of his charac ter. A devout Mormon at Salt Lake informed me that Joseph's wife adopted five orphan ghls, brought them up with great care, and became much attached to them ; and that two of them, as they grew up to womanhood at Nauvoo, became the victims of his im proper solicitations,, and were turned away by the in dignant wife. His unfortunate proclivity in this di rection is spoken of as a faffing which was intended as a trial of then faith, rather than as a vice to be con demned. It is a remarkable fact, that he was in the habit of having revelations accusing himself of faffing away, and threatening punishment, which were suc ceeded by other revelations that he had repented and was forgiven ; and in this the pious Samt sees strong confirmation of the truth of his pretensions, reasoning that such denunciatory oracles would not have been invented by himself. The prophet's habits did not mend with increasing years and prosperity ; and these threatening and whitewashing revelations, to satisfy the scruples ofthe over-prudish, became irksome. The celestial powers were again invoked, and on the 12th of July, 1843, responded by granting to, and rather en joining upon, the Saints the practice of polygamy. The prophet was aware that he was entering upon a ticklish experiment even with his own disciples, to say nothing ofthe Gentiles ; and he prefaced its recep tion by pretending to be in great trouble. He told some of his most influential followers that if they knew UTAH AND THE MORMONS. H5 what a hard and unpalatable revelation he had had, they would drive him from the city. The heavenly powers, however, were not to be trifled with, and a day was appointed when the important mandate was to be submitted to a convocation of the authorities of the Church. The time arrived; the priests and elders convened ; but Joseph, in virtuous desperation, con cluded rather to flee the city than be the medium of communicating a matter so repugnant to his mind. He mounted his horse and gaUoped from the town, but was met by an angel with a drawn sword, and threatened with instant destruction unless he imme diately returned and fulfilled his mission. He return ed, accordingly, in submissive despair, and made the important communication to the assembled notables. Such is substantiaUy the account of the matter given by simple-minded believers at Salt Lake. A revelation promulgated with such awful sanc tions could not but make a deep impression upon cred ulous and superstitious minds. A copy is given, by way of appendix, from the "Deseret News Extra" oi September 14, 1852. From its commencement, it would appear that the prophet, in the first instance, inquire4 how Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon were justified in having "many wives and concubines ;" and that the Mormon divinity takes the interrogatory as a sort of text, and branches out into a new set of definitions in regard to adultery, and estabfishes a new order in the Church, prefacing the whole with dire threats of damnation against all who should refuse to obey. Whether the main subject would ever have been entertained by the heavenly 116 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. councUs, had it not been first broached by Joseph, must probably forever remain a mystery. Perhaps, in ac cordance with the laws which regulate such deities, the priest must first mount the tripod, and propound a query before the oracle can speak. The same simple- minded believers to whom aUusion has been made have expressed to me their deep regret that the prophet should ever have questioned the Lord on the subject. The cream of this long revelation will be found in the last paragraph but one, and is as follows : " And again, as pertaining to the law of the priest hood : if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent; and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then he is justified ; he can not commit adultery, for they are given unto him ; for he can not commit adultery with that that belong- eth unto him, and to none else ; and if he have ten virgins given unto him by this law, he can not commit adultery ; for they belong to him, and they are given unto him — therefore he is justified. But if one or ei ther of the ten virgins, after she is espoused, shaU be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be destroyed; for they are given unto him to multiply and replenish the earth, according to my com mandment, and to fulfiU the promise which was given by my Father before the foundation of the world ; and for their exaltation in the eternal worlds that they may bear the souls of men ; for herein is the work of my Father continued that he may be glorified." By the next paragraph due provision is made in case the first wife should prove contumacious, and not give her consent : UTAH AND THE MORMONS. H7 " Therefore it shall be lawful in one, if she receive not this law, for him to receive all things, whatsoever I the Lord his God will give unto him, because she did not believe and administer unto him according to my word ; and then she becomes the transgressor, and he is exempt from the law of Sarah, who administered unto Abraham according to the law when I command ed Abraham to take Hagar to wife." The oracle is careful to provide for future changes of policy in the celestial counoUs on this subject : " And now, as pertaining to this law, verily, verily, I say unto you, I wiU reveal more unto you hereafter ; therefore let this suffice for the present." This revelation, of course, legalized Joseph's numer ous left-hand marriages already contracted, and gave a general license for future matrimonial engagements. It was not generally made known among the Saints at the time, but seems to have been kept as a choice tit bit for the prophet, and those of his foUowers who were judged to be prepared for so important a development of Mormonism. The Gentiles, of course, were to be kept in ignorance of the true state of the affair. The prophet was diligent in persuading his most confiden tial friends to become polygamists. Some were ready for the sacrifice. Brigham Young was the first, and Heber C. KimbaU the second who foUowed his exam ple. But others needed urging, and some utterly re fused, among the latter of whom was Hyrum Smith, who is said to have remained a faithful and devoted husband to his first and only wife. In the mean time, it became essential to prepare the Saints generaUy, and after them the Gentiles, for the 118 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. reception ofthe new revelation. This was the origin of what has been called the spiritual wife doctrine — a species of Platonism which has not been very clear ly defined, but by virtue of which a Saint might be favored with a vivid internal impression, or dictate, that a certain woman (not his wife) was his spiritual wife, and, if assented to, the relationship brought with it privfieges and obligations not necessary now to de tail. This doctrine was evidently put forth as a feel er, to try the temper of the uninitiated on this delicate subject, and prepare the way for the open recognition of polygamy. But human propensities are not always easily controUed, even under the severe restraints of law, and the privileged Saints were soon found poach ing on each other's warrens. Every one whose incli nations led him in that direction had the necessary im pressions and visions, and they very soon began to stand sadly in each other's way. A man could have half a dozen spiritual wives, but it was found incon venient to allow a woman to have the same number of spiritual husbands. Collisions growing out of this kind of license became bitter animosities ; and, accord ingly, we find them at this period accusing one anoth er of the most scandalous practices. Joseph was compelled to change his tack. In order to purge the Church, in public estimation, from scan dals, becoming of too widespread notoriety, he cut off and gave over to the buffetings of Satan, under the charge of seduction and adultery, various scapegoats who had been encouraged to preach the spiritual wife doctrine, and a regular system of denial that any such practices existed was adopted. This, however, was UTAH AND THE MORMONS. ng dangerous business. Among others, one Francis M. Higbee entered with zest into spiritual wife-ism, and, as he proved somewhat intractable, was cut off from the Church. Higbee, in revenge, prosecuted Joseph Smith, Sen., for slander, and had him arrested under a capias. The defendant sued out a habeas corpus (May 6th, 1844) before the Municipal Court of Nauvoo, and, in support of this proceeding, the prophet and others were sworn as witnesses, disclosing an inconceivably corrupt state of morals in that city, in which the names of R. D. Foster, John C. Bennett, and others appear as active agents. The deposition of one Eaton throws some light on the spiritual wife machinery : " Soon after I went in, the said Higbee commenced talking about the spiritual wife system. He said he had no doubt but some of the elders had ten or twelve apiece. He said they married them, whether the fe males were wilfing or not ; and they did it by record ing the marriage in a large book, which book was sealed up after the record was made, and was not to be opened for a long time, probably not until many of the husbands of those who were thus married were dead. They would then open the book and break the seals hi the presence of those females, and when they saw their names recorded in that book, they would believe that the doctrine was true, and they must sub mit. He said this book was kept at Mr. Hyrum Smith's." The patriarch Smith was of course liberated ; but the trouble did not end here. The Mormon chief was in the unfortunate predicament of the conjuror who is unable to get rid of tha fiend raised by his own incan- 120 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. tations. The trial of the Higbee matter disclosed some attempts on the part of the prophet to seduce the wife of Doctor Foster. The latter befieved, or professed to believe, this and other scandalous stories in relation to his late spiritual chief, and, in connection with one Law, established a paper caUed the Expositor in Nau voo, in which he published a batch of affidavits tending to prove the truth of these stories. Joseph was too ab solute in his own dominions quietly to submit to so gross an insult. As mayor of Nauvoo, he assembled the city authorities, and caused this audacious press to be pro nounced a nuisance, and ordered to be abated ; and, in obedience to the mandate, the marshal, with a posse, leveled the establishment to the ground. Foster and his coadjutors fled, and, in revenge for these summary injuries, procured a warrant for the arrest of Joseph and Hyrum Smith and some others. The prophet re fused to acknowledge the vafidity of this Gentile doc ument, and the officer who had it in charge was un ceremoniously expelled from the city. The mihtia of the county were thereupon ordered out to support the officer in the execution of his process, and the Mor mons in Nauvoo and its vicinity prepared to defend the prophet. The excitement rapidly spread, the mUitia of the adjacent counties were ordered out, the Govern or repaired to the scene of disturbance, and, as in Mis souri, there was every prospect of civil war. Here again was a collision between Mormonism and the laws of the land ; one or the other must yield. In this emergency, on the 21st of June, 1844, the Governor proposed to the Smiths that they should sur render themselves as prisoners under the warrant, upon UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 121 liis pledge for their safety from personal violence ; and, to satisfy the people that the Mormons were peacea bly disposed, he further proposed that the Nauvoo Le gion should surrender its arms, and be placed under the command of a Gentile officer. After an anxious consultation, the prophet concluded to comply with these terms, and on the 24th, with his brother Hyrum, started, for Carthage, the capital of Hancock county. On their way they were met by Captain Dunn, with a company of sixty men, having an order for the sur render of the state arms at Nauvoo. After a parley, it was agreed that the prophet should return to the city to see the order executed, and then repair to Car thage under the protection of Captain Dunn's company. This was done. On the evening of the 24th, Captain Dunn arrived at Carthage with liis prisoners ; on the 25th they surrendered themselves to the constable, and, at the same time, were arrested on a charge of treason. In the afternoon of the same day they were brought before the magistrate for examination ; but the popular excitement had become fearfully intense, and the pris oners, under the advice of then counsel, gave baU for their appearance at the ensuing Oyer and Terminer to answer for the riot. When this part of the business was completed, it was late, and the justice adjourned his court, nothing being said aboutithe more serious of fense. Upon this the constable produced a mittimus on the charge of treason, and lodged his. prisoners in jail, they protesting, and claiming that the examina tion for that charge should go on immediately. A guard was placed about the jail by the Governor for their protection, and on the morning of the 26th he F 122 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. visited them, and " again pledged himself for their per sonal safety, and said if the troops went to Nauvoo, as was then contemplated, they should go along to insure their protection." The examination of the prisoners was postponed, first to the 27th, which was subse quently changed to the 29th. The Governor, instead of marching the troops to Nauvoo on the 27th, changed his mind on ascertaining that nothing less than the destruction of that place would satisfy a portion of them, and disbanded the whole force except three companies, two of wliich were reserved to guard the jail, and with the other he pro ceeded to the city. One of the counsel for the pris oners, by the name of Reid, states that the Carthage Grays, whose conduct had exhibited the most hostility to the prisoners, were among the troops left to guard them ; and that only eight of them were stationed at the prison, the rest being in camp about one fourth of a mfle off. About six o'clock on the evening of the 27th, the guard at the jail were overpowered by an armed party of some 200 men, disguised by paint, who forced the prison, and assassinated the two Smiths, and despe rately wounded John Taylor. The following is an ac count of the murder, as given by WUlard Richards, who was an inmate of the prison at the time : "TWO MINUTES IN JAIL. " Possibly the following events occupied near three minutes, but I think only about two, and have penned them for the gratification of many friends. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 123 " Carthage, June 27th, 1844. " A shower of musket baUs were thrown up the stair way against the door of the prison in the second story, foUowed by many rapid footsteps, whUe Generals Jo seph and Hyrum Smith, Mr. Taylor, and myself, who were in the front chamber, closed the door of our 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 com mon 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. Gen eral Joseph Smith, Mr. Taylor, and myself sprang back to the front part of the room, and General Hyrum Smith retreated two thirds across the chamber, direct ly in front of and facing the door. A ball was sent through the door, which hit Hyrum on the side of his nose, when he fell backward, extended at length, with out moving his feet. From the holes in his vest (the day was warm, and no one had their coats on but my self), pantaloons, drawers, and shut, it appears evi dent 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 ofthe watch, at the same instant the baU from the door entered his nose. As he struck the floor, he exclaimed emphatically, ' Tm a dead man ." Joseph looked toward him, and respond ed, ' Oh dear ! Brother Hyrum ." and opening the door 124 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. two or three inches with his left hand, discharged one barrel of a six-shooter (pistol) at random in the entry, from whence a ball grazed Hyrum's breast, and, enter ing his throat, passed into his head, while other mus kets were aimed at him, and some balls hit him. Jo seph 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 bayo nets and muskets wliich 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 muzzle of the guns. When the revolver failed, we had no more fire-arms, and, expecting an immediate rush of the mob, and the doorway full of muskets — half way in the room, and no hope but in stant death from within — Mr. Taylor rushed to the win dow, 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 baU from without struck his watch, a patent lever, in his vest pocket, near the left breast, and smashed it in ' pi,' leaving the hands standing at 5 o'clock, 16 minutes, and 26 seconds ; the force of which baU 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 contin ued to reach their guns into the room, probably left- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 125 handed, and aimed their discharge so far around as al most to reach us in the corner of the room to where we retreated and dodged, and then I recommenced 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 feU outward, exclaiming, ' O Lord my God!' As his feet went out of the window my head went in, the baUs whistling aU around. He feU on his left side, a dead man. At this instant the cry was raised, ' He's leap ed the window ." and the mob on the stairs and in the entry ran out. I withdrew from the window, think ing 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 jail — and expecting a return to our room, I rushed toward the prison door at the head of the stairs, and through the 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 till 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, expecting an immediate re turn of the, mob. I said to Mr. Taylor, ' This is a hard 126 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. case to lay you on the floor, but, if your wounds are not fatal, I want you to live to teU the story.' I ex pected to be shot the next moment, and stood before the door awaiting the onset. "Willard Richards." This terrible murder produced the wildest fears that the Mormons would rush in a body from their capital to revenge it, and the citizens of Carthage began to flee from their houses. To prevent any such outbreak, a messenger was dispatched to Nauvoo with the fol lowing letter from three leading Mormons : "TO MRS. EMMA SMITH AND MAJ. GEN. DUNHAM, &C. : " The Governor has just arrived ; says aU things shall be inquired into, and aU right measures taken. " I say to aU the citizens of Nauvoo, my brethren, be stiU, and know that God reigns. Don't rush out of the city — don't rush to Carthage ; stay at home, and be prepared for an attack from Missouri mobbers. The Governor will render every assistance possible — has sent out orders for troops. Joseph and Hyrum are dead, but not by the Carthage people. The guards were true, as I believe. " We will prepare to move the bodies as soon as possible. " The people of the county are greatly excited, and fear the Mormons wUl come out and take vengeance. D I have pledged my word the Mormons wm stay at home as soon as they can be informed, and no violence wUl be on their part ; and say to my brethren in Nau voo, in the name of the Lord, be stiU — be patient. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 127 Only let such friends as choose come here to see the bodies. Mr. Taylor's wounds are dressed, and not se rious. I am sound. Willard Richards, John Taylor, Samuel H. Smith." The Governor at the same time, fearing some dem onstration against the Mormons, sent them directions to defend themselves, if necessary, untU protection could be furnished. So brutal a murder, committed in the face of such solemnly-repeated pledges of safety, de manded from, the Governor some explanation. All that he could probably give appears in the foUowing, from a statement pubhshed by him : " I desire to make a brief but true statement of the recent disgraceful 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 jaU ; by whom it is not known, but wUl be ascertained. I pledged myself for their safety ; and upon the assurance 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 Single ton, of Brown county, deputed for that purpose by me. All these things were required to satisfy the old citizens of Hancock that the Mormons were peaceably disposed, and to aUay jealousy and excitement in then minds. It appears, however, that the compfiance of the Mor mons with every requisition made upon them faded of that purpose. The pledge of security to the Smiths 128 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. was not given upon my individual responsibffity. Be fore I gave it, I obtained a pledge of honor, by a unan imous vote from the officers and men under my com mand, to sustain me in performing it. If the assas sination of the Smiths was committed by any portion of these, they have added treachery to murder, and have done aU they could to disgrace the state and sully the public honor. " On the morning ofthe day the deed was committed, we had proposed to march the army under my com mand' into Nauvoo. I had, however, discovered* on the evening before, that nothing but utter destruction of the city would satisfy a portion of the troops ; and that, if we marched into the eity, pretexts would not be wanting for commencing hostilities. The Mormons had done every thing required, or which ought to have been required of them. Offensive 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 dis band the army, except three companies, two of which were reserved as a guard for the jaU. With the other company I marched into Nauvoo, to address the in habitants there, and tell them what they might expect in case they designedly or imprudently provoked a war. I performed this duty, as I think, plainly and emphat ically, and then set out to return to Carthage. When I had marched about three miles, a messenger inform ed me of the occurrences at Carthage. I hastened on to that place. The guard, it is said, did their duty, but were overpowered." UTAH ANDTHE MORMONS. 129 Fortunately, owing to the precautions taken, no fur ther disturbances took place connected with the arrest and assassination of the Smiths. Their bodies were removed to Nauvoo, and buried amid solemn and im posing ceremonies ; and the grave which closed over them, under such appalling circumstances, has effectu ally concealed from the Mormon's vision the faults and vices of his prophet. In his estimation Joseph died a martyr's death, and sealed the truth of his great pre tensions by his blood. " He was," says the Times and Seasons, p. 584, " one of the best men that ever Hved on the earth. The work he has thus far performed toward establishing pure religion and preparing the way for the great gath ering of Israel, in the short space of twenty years since the time when the angel of the Lord made known his mission, and gave him power to move the cause of Zion, exceeds any thing of the kind on record. With out learning, without means, and without experience, he has met a learned world, a rich century, a hard- • hearted, wicked, and adulterous generation, with truth that could not be resisted, facts that could not be dis proved, revelations whose spirit had so much God in them that the servants of the Lord could not be gain- sayed or resisted, but, like the rays of light from the sun, they have tinged every thing they lit upon with a lustre and livery which has animated, quickened, and adorned. " The pages of General Smith's history, though his enemies never ceased to persecute him and hunt for offenses against him, are as unsullied as virgin snow. On about fifty prosecutions for supposed criminal of- F2 130 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. fenses, he came out of the legal fire, heated, like Neb uchadnezzar's furnace, seven, times hotter than it was wont to be, without the smell of fire, or a thread of his garments scorched. His foes of the world and en emies of his own household, who have sought occa sions against him, in order secretly to deprive him of his life, because his goodness, greatness, and glory ex ceeded theirs, have a poor excuse to offer the world for shedding his innocent blood, and no apology to make to the Judge of all the earth at the day of judgment. They have murdered him because they feared his right eousness." It is the duty, however, of impartial truth to strip this singular being of his bloody cerements, and view him as he was. That he possessed some extraordinary traits of character, would seem to be established by the degree of success attending the strange hierarchy orig inated by him. In 1827, he announced the discovery of the Golden Book, when only twenty-two years^of age ; and at the time of his death in 1844, his followers must have numbered over one hundred thousand. To operate on so many minds, even though upon a low plane and easily affected by the marvelous, bring them under a distinct organization, and sway them at wm, in the very midst of hostile influences, prove that he had some mental powers, which we are compeUed to respect, however much we may condemn the motives by which he was influenced. The remarkable tenacity of purpose which he exhib ited under discouraging circumstances, and the appar ent sincerity of his professions, have been suggested as evidence that he was really a religious enthusiast, who UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 131 became the victim of his own delusions. But it must be recoUected that he had every thing to lose, and but little to gain, by an abandonment of his imposture. His character had become bad in publio estimation; and he could go back into society, and settle down into some useful employment, no easier than the state's prison convict, whom every one shuns as he would a pestUence. He had fixed the mark of Cain upon his own forehead, and could have no future feUowship with his kind, except as an impostor. This is sufficient to account for the desperation of his efforts — it was with him a struggle of Hfe and death. Such, in fact, is the history of aU grades of cheats and impostors. What is the career of the counterfeiter but one of peril and punishment — a series of narrow escapes and durance ? Look at him through life : he suffers every thing ; runs the gauntlet of human contumely and prisons ; and yet with what tenacity will he adhere to his hazard ous employment. No one ever thought, however, of suggesting that such men really believed they were performing good uses to society. Why should the re ligious impostor be judged by any other rule ? Wheth er he practices upon the credulity of mankind as a pre tended prophet, or robs them by debasing the curren cy, m'akes no great practical difference, except that the former causes the greater mischief. Both have a sim ilar object in view ; they only pursue different roads to the same destination, and are to be judged by the same standard of right. He was no religious enthusiast who began in fraud and ended in sincerity. He lacked every element of the character. Self-convicted enthusiasts have been 132 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. ascetics, subjecting themselves to lonely vigils, self- torture, and rigid mortifications ofthe flesh. The Mor mon prophet, however, inculcated and practiced self- indulgence. His epicurean traits marked his whole career. He was the joUy landlord — the bon-vivant boon companion—the fair-weather militia general, car acoling in gay plumage at the head of his staff on the parade-ground — the man of many wives or concubines ¦ — the heated partisan, entering the lists for office, and belaboring his antagonists in the style of the bar-room politician. What room was there in the mind of such a man for sincere enthusiasm ? He possessed a mind extremely fertile in taking ad vantage of circumstances as they occur. In a com munity imbued with popular superstitions and enthu siastic fancies, it is not a hard task to explain away or soften down apparent inconsistencies or untoward events. He was, however, an adept at this business ; and not only always ready with a plausible reason for the non-fulfillment of a prophecy or failure of a miracle, but wonderfuUy skiUful in turning them to account. To great cunning he added apparent enthusiasm ; and as he dealt with the weakness instead of the strength of human nature, his success more than realized his anticipations. Joseph Smith possessed great popularity of manners, and extraordinary powers of impressing the popular credulity with faith in the sincerity of his pretensions. In those lay the principal secret of his success. Not withstanding his numerous vices — which, indeed, may be said to form the subsoU from which aU his mental fertihty received its nourishment — his name is vene- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 133 rated, and his words are law, among his foUowers. An incident, iUustrative of his popularity, is related of him while at Nauvoo. Passing along the streets, he found a number of men engaged at pitching quoits. He puUed off his coat, and entered with zest into the amusement. After the game was finished, he said, " Come, boys, we've had our fun, now let us go and cut a load of wood for Widow B — ." No quioker said than done — the wood-pUe was soon ready for the stove. He did not possess a high order of talent. He lack ed in sagacity and comprehensiveness — traits not com monly found united With sensuahty and cunning such as his. He could raise the whirlwind, but could not direct the storm. A better balanced mind would have avoided the troubles at Independence and at Nauvoo; perhaps, too, a better balanced mind would not have engaged at aU in the business of imposture. His cun ning, indeed, was on a low plane ; it fell far below sa gacity, and could only operate on the weakest points of humanity. This furnishes some explanation of the extraordinary degree of credulity and patient submis sion manifested by the mass of his foUowers. They were the only materials with which he could work- — the only minds on which he could impose. This was the extent of his reach, and he could no more go be yond it than the common blacksmith could fashion a Venus de Medici or Greek Slave. His capacity was , not even equal to cementing together, in regular form, the materials which he collected together; and the imposture would speedily have become a bygone event, had he not been aided by men of more sagacity, though 134 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. quite as Httle troubled with conscientious misgivings as himself. Joseph Smith was no martyr. There was, in his case, no passive and resigned submission to the bigotry ofthe religious persecutor, which has ever distinguish ed the martyr suffering in defense of his faith. If a martyr, he must have been the first who died with arms in his hands, fighting with his foes. His death was not at the hands of Gentile persecutors, but at those of his own quondam followers — the Higbees, the Fosters, the Laws, and others — in revenge for the nu merous wrongs wliich they charged to his account. The husband whose wife had been dishonored — the brother whose sister had been seduced — the farmer whose horse had been stolen, or building burned — re venged themselves upon the prophet's head, in that hour of retribution, for the injuries which they believed had been inflicted upon them through his agency. His death, nevertheless, was a political mistake, and ought to have been prevented, without reference to pledges given for his safety. He ought, in the regular admin istration of justice, to have found his way to the peni tentiary. Joseph, in the dress of a convict, making shoes or cutting stone, in the service ofthe state, would have been stripped of the lion's hide, and his foUowers, in gazing at the disgraced impostor through the bars of a prison, would have become disgusted with the idol of their worship. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 135 CHAPTER VIH. HISTORY continued. Excitement at Nauvoo. — Struggle for the Succession. — Rigdon ex communicated. — Brigham Young elected. — Further Troubles with the Gentiles. — The Saints resolve to quit the United States. — Ar rangements for that Purpose. — Nauvoo besieged, and Mormons driven out. — Character of Mormon Community, and alleged Perse cutions. The news of the violent death of the prophet pro duced the wUdest state of grief, apprehension, and in dignation among the Saints at Nauvoo. Some were exasperated, others terror-stricken, and there was im minent danger of total disorganization. The members of the " Nauvoo Legion" were for avenging the out rage by the strong hand, which, had it been attempt ed in the then excited state of the public mind, would have led to their entire destruction. The Mormon leaders — of whom one of the most influential was Brig ham Young, president of the twelve apostles — exerted themselves successfully to quiet the exasperation of some and the fears of others. Under their advice and management, the wise resolution was adopted to re main peaceable, and trust to the laws for redress. The effect of this movement was immediate. Not only were the Saints in Illinois brought into a state of or der and quiet, but two addresses sent forth to those abroad, one of which was signed by Brigham Young, as president of the twelve, dated August 15th, 1844, 136 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. and both of which manifested much tact and ab'ffity, and were well calculated to produce the intended effect/ Order being restored, the next step was to provide a head for the decapitated Church. Young was, of course, a prominent candidate ; but the ambitious spir it of Sidney Rigdon was now aroused into activity to reach that position in the hierarchy to which he be lieved himself entitled, and it soon became evident that the succession was to be contested. In this game Brigham proved himself the better politician. A meet ing ofthe Saints was held, in which it was determined, for the present, that the twelve " held the keys of the priesthood, and the authority to set in order and regu late the Church in aU the world." This, in effect, gave Young the control of the Church organization, an important advantage in all political maneuvers. Sidney, in the mean time, made a bold push for the vacant seat. He got up a revelation, constituting him self the prophet, seer, and revelator of the Church, and giving much new light in regard to its future organi zation and government, under whieh he proceeded to ordain " men to be prophets, priests, and kings." But he miscalculated his power. He was immediately brought to trial ; and although Joseph had pronounced upon his head one of the choicest of his prophetic bless ings, yet a new light now broke into the minds of his judges ; his revelations were pronounced to be "from tlie devil;" his name was loaded with vituperative ep ithets ; and, finally, he was cut off from the Church, and " delivered over to the buffetings of Satan in the name of the Lord, and all the people said Amen." Sidney Rigdon being thus fairly out of-the way, UTAH ANDTHE MORMONS. I37 Brigham Young succeeded to the presidency of the Church, without further opposition, on the 7th of Oc tober, 1844 ; and, under his vigorous management, the internal affairs of the Mormons settled down into a state of comparative quiet. The Saints were urged to furnish the necessary means for the completion of the Temple ; the work rapidly progressed, and there seem ed to be a prospect of returning prosperity. Says the Times and Seasons of December 15th, 1844 : " The Temple has progressed with greater rapidity since the death of Joseph Smith than ever it has done before, and things in this city never looked more prosperous." Nauvoo, at this period, contained a population of 14,000, nine tenths of whom were Mormons ( Times and Seasons, p. 759). The foUowing is a description of the Temple, from the same paper : " The Temple is erected from white limestone, wrought in a superior style ; is 128 by 88 feet square ; near 60 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 Melchisedek and Aaronic priesthoods, graded into four rising seats : the first for the president of the elders and his two counselors ; the second for the president of the high priesthood and his two counselors ; the third for the Melchisedek pres ident and his two counselors ; and the fourth for the president over the whole Church (the first president) and his two counselors. This highest seat is where the scribes and Pharisees used to crowd in ' to Moses' seat.' The Aaronic pulpit at the other end the same. 138 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. TEMPLE AT NAUVOO. " The fount in the basement story is for the baptism of the living, for health, for remission of sin, and for the salvation ofthe dead, as was the case in Solomon's Temple, and all temples that God commands 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 sanction from God than any common house in Babylon. " The steeple of our Temple wUl be high enough to answer for a tower — between 100 and 200 feet high. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 139 But I have said enough about the Temple ; when fin ished, it wiU show more wealth, more art, more sci ence, more revelation, more splendor, and more God, than aU the rest of the world, and that wfll make it a Mormon temple — ' God and liberty'— patterned some what after the order of our forefathers, which were af ter the order of eternity," But, though the Saints could be brought into a state of comparative quiet in obedience to the adviee of their rulers, yet it was quite another thing to control the popular feehng in Illinois. After the death of the prophet, there was a short calm, but it was only a lull in the tempest. It was extensively believed that the Mormons had not only resisted the regular administra tion of the laws, but that they had made their capital city a vast depository for stolen goods, and that within its walls they were guUty of almost every conceivable outrage upon the institutions and decencies of civilized life. The Mormons endeavored to purge themselves from these charges by holding meetings, and passing pre ambles and resolutions, avowing their innocence, and expressing their determination to enforce the laws. These measures, however, only produced a temporary cessation of hostilities, and were succeeded by mobs, riots, and other scenes of violence, more or less pubhc or private, until it became quite manifest that Saint and GentUe could not live much longer in peaceable contiguity. Matters were approaching a crisis. A con vention of delegates from the surrounding counties was held, in which it was resolved to expel the Mormons from the state — peaceably, if they could ; forcibly, if 140 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. they must ; and it became the all-absorbing question with the presidency of the Church, whether to oppose the popular fury, temporize until it should abate, or yield to circumstances and quit the state. Young had sagacity enough to see that the constitution of the Church over which he presided was such that it could never peaceably sustain itself in the States, and that it would be in vain to indulge the Mohammedan dream of conquest which once floated through the brain of the prophet Joseph. He accordingly made difigent efforts to prepare the minds of the Saints for removal beyond the bounds and out of the jurisdiction of the United States. This was no difficult task. The Mormons had be come in some degree a nomadic race ; they had broken the ties of kindred and home to gather around then fancied Zion ; many of them had left one part of Mis souri for another, and then had removed to Nauvoo; some had wandered from beyond the broad Atlantic, and could not, within a few years, form very strong local attachments. Superadded to all this was an in tense hatred to the United States, some of whose citi zens had inflicted upon them the sufferings, losses, and persecutions ofwhieh they complained, and whose gov ernment had failed to afford them redress. So intense was this feehng, that they looked exultingly forward to the fulfillment of prophecy, which remorselessly con signed the country to one vast and common ruin, under the visitations of earthquakes, fires, famine, pestilence, and civil wars, from the offended majesty of heaven. There was only one tie difficult to be severed — the Temple. It was a proud monument of architectural UTAH AND' THE MORMONS. 141 grandeur and beauty, reared, beautified, and finaUy completed^ the toil and contributions of aU the Saints, in which all had a property— in which all were to pay then devotions, baptize for their dead, and perform the secret ceremonies by which they are initiated into the ¦ different degrees and orders of their faith. But the mass were, notwithstanding, ready to go, at the advice or dictation of their rulers. A conference was held in the Temple on the 6th of October, at which the matter was debated and resolved upon, and an epistle was put forth by Brigham Young to the Saints throughout the United States, announcing the determination to remove as early as the next spring; and they were urged to . come forward and finish the Temple, and receive their endowments, before bidding a fareweU to their beloved city. The place of destination at first contemplated was Vancouver's Island, near the mouth ofthe Colum bia. Among the curious things to be noted at this period was the excommunication from the Church of WiUiam Smith, the sole surviving brother of the prophet. This man, it seems, was ambitious of the succession, and, in the bitterness of his disappointment, had let out some unwholesome secrets in regard to the conduct of the twelve apostles, for which they consigned him over to the " buffetings of Satan ;" and the language of the prophet Joseph, while pronouncing a blessing upon his brother, contrasts strangely enough with the de nunciations subsequently showered upon the same sub ject. He became, in Mormon phraseology, an apostate, and spoke in utter condemnation of the designs of the leaders, representing " that it is their design to set up 142 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. an independent government somewhere in the neigh borhood of the Rocky Mountains, or near Cahfomia ; that the plan has been maturing for a long time ; and that, in fact, with hate in their hearts, skiUfuUy kept up by the Mormon leaders, whose pockets are to be enriched by their toil, the mass of the Mormons wiU be alike purged of American feelings, and shut out by a barrier of mountains and Church restrictions from any other than Mormon freedom." In January, 1846, the plan for removal became more fully developed, as appears by a circular of the High Council of the 20th of that month, in which they say : " We, the members of the High CouncU of the Church, by the voice of aU her authorities, have united ly and unanimously agreed, and embrace this oppor tunity to inform you that we intend to send out into the Western country from this place, some time in the early part of the month of March, a company of pio neers, 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 bolt ing-cloths, seeds of all kinds, grain, &c. " The object of this early move is to put in a spring crop, to build houses, and to prepare for the reception of famffies, who will start so soon as grass shall be sufficiently grown to sustain teams and stock. Our pioneers are instructed to proceed west until they find a good place to make a crop, in some good valley in the neighborhood of the Rocky Mountains, where they will infringe upon no one, and be not likely to be in fringed upon. Here we will make a resting-place UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 143 untU we can determine a place for a permanent loca tion. 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 pecuHar circumstances, we can do it with less expense to the government than any other people." In the same paper they make strong professions of loyalty to the government, notwithstanding the various injuries they had sustained, and deny that they have been guUty of the crimes laid to their charge. In ref erence to their property to be left behind, they say, " Much of our property wiU be left in the hands of competent 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 famffies from .time to time, as fast as consistent ; and it now remains to be proven whether those of our famffies and friends who are necessarily left behind for a season, to obtain an outfit through the sale of property, shall be mobbed, burned, and driven away by force." In reference to the conditions upon which they agreed to leave, they say, " We agreed to leave the county for the sake of peace, upon the condition that no more vexatious prosecutions be instituted against us. In good fa'ith we have labored to fulfill this engagement. Governor Ford has also done his duty to further our wishes in this respect. But there are some who are unwilling that we should have any existence any where." Brigham Young manifested much abUity and fore- oast in the arrangements to remove a population of 144 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. some 15,000 souls to a new home beyond the Rooky Mountains. The Saints were divided into different companies, which were to emigrate at different times, so as not to be in each other's way. Places were se lected in the Indian country, among the Omahas and Potawatomies, where different sections could make temporary settlements, as resting and recruiting points, untU their final removal could be practicable. Espe cial pains were taken to conciliate the Indians on the entire route ; and so perfect were the arrangements in B^ LEAVING NAUVOO. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 145 detail, that the degree of suffering was comparatively trifling, except what resulted from the persevering hos tility of the people of Illinois. The first band, consist ing of something less than 2000, crossed the Mississippi on the ice, in February, 1846. " To see," says the Times and Seasons, " such a.large body of men, wom en, and children, compeUed by the inefficiency of the law, and potency of mobocracy, to leave a great city in the month of February, for the sake of the enjoy ment oipure religion, fills the soul with astonishment, and gives the world a sample of fidelity and faith, briU- iant as the sun, and forcible as a tempest, and as en during as eternity." This pioneer band encountered much severe weather and suffering. Other detachments followed from time to time during the season. The Great Salt Lake Val ley being ultimately fixed upon as the new Mormon Zion, an advance colony of about 4000 arrived there in July, 1847, and went to work diligently to irrigate the land and put in crops. They laid the foundation of Great Salt Lake City. Those who stiU remained in Nauvoo continued their work upon the Temple, deeming the completion of that edifice as essential to the fulfUlment of prophecy. This excited the jealousy of the people that they really did not intend to leave the state, and a thousand rumors were put into circulation that the main body would return with a horde of Indian warriors, and take signal vengeance for aU their wrongs. But little was wanting to fan into a flame fiercer than ever the hatred which burned in the popular mind. One form of violence succeeded to another, stiU more flagrant, and finaUy G 146 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. the luckless Saints who yet lingered within the walls of Nauvoo were regularly besieged in September, 1846, and, after fighting for two or three days, were driven from the place. They made their way in the best manner they could, under circumstances of much diffi culty and suffering, to the temporary settlements west of the Missouri. It can never be too deeply regretted that such disgraceful scenes were permitted to occur. The Mormons had manifested their good faith by leav ing as fast as practicable, and it was in the last degree cruel, cowardly, and brutal to attack a feeble remnant left behind. These lamentable occurrences gave some plausibffity to the charge of refigious persecution, wliich the Saints have not faUed to make heard in aU lands, and which has contributed so largely to an augmenta tion of their numbers. Once more, then, we find these strange people fugi tives from then homes, and now seeking an abiding- place deep in the recesses of savage Hfe. The ques tion naturally occurs, Were they really persecuted on account of their refigion, or were their habits and prac tices such as made them intolerable in any civUized community? They had essayed to establish them selves in different states of the Union, and the result would seem to prove that, for some reason, they can not exist in contact with republican institutions— that they present a combination of the elements of popular superstition and fanaticism, which, in its constitution and government, must neoessarUy interfere with the rights of the citizen, and come into collision with the laws of the land. It was, in fact, the strange anomaly of an independent power within the bosom ofthe state, UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 147 which, like a camp of soldiers, believed itself entitled to live at free quarters upon the surrounding population. At Palmyra, the character of Smith and his family were held in such hght esteem, that he could make no proselytes, and he left voluntarUy. At Kirtland, Ohio, the popular indignation on account of his aUeged swin dling operations", to say nothing of other things, re duced him to the vulgar necessity of running away. His disciples became fugitives from Missouri, because, in the language of Governor Boggs, " they had insti tuted a government of their own, independent of, and in opposition to, the government of the state." They were received in Illinois with open arms, and treated with an extraordinary degree of favor ; but, in the end, were driven from the state, after the violent death of their prophet, and compeUed to seek shelter behind the Rocky Mountains. And what was the true character of the community at Nauvoo? They admit them selves that their city had become the common resort of thieves, counterfeiters, &c, who sheltered their mis deeds under the bad name of the Saints. The most conclusive evidence, however, is furnished by their own apologist, Colonel T. L. Kane, who delivered a discourse before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania on the subject of the Mormon exode. He says : " When the persecution triumphed there, and no al ternative remained for the steadfast in the faith but flight out of Egypt into the wUderness, as it was term ed, all their fair-weather friends forsook them. Priests and elders, scribes and preachers, deserted by whole councils at a time; each talented knave, of whose craft they had been the victims, finding his own pre- 148 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. text for abandoning them, without surrendering the money-bag of which he was the holder. One of these, for instance, bore with him so considerable a congre gation, that he was able to found quite a thriving com munity in Northern Wisconsin, which I believe he af terward transplanted entire to an island in one of the lakes. Other speculative heresiarchs folded for them selves credulous sheep all through the Western coun try. One Rigdon, not long since, held a cure of them in our own state (Pennsylvania). Quite recently, an abandoned clergyman, who, shortly before the exode, was excommunicated for improper conduct, has pre sented a memorial to Congress, in which he charges the Mormons with very much more than he himself appears to have been guilty of. This abusive person, a. former intimate ofthe Major-general James Arling ton Bennett, lately on trial in New York, in company with a one-eyed Thompson of that city, is also the only surviving brother of the prophet Joseph Smith, and, as such, stiU claims to be the sole, true president, and genuine arch high-priest" (p. 86). If the design of the author had been to prove that this community was composed of impostors and dupes, organized and systematized for mischief, like a prowl ing, band of wolves, he could not have stated facts more germain to the matter. Here were, it seems, " whole councils," composed of "priests and elders, scribes and preachers," including WiUiam, the proph et's brother — leaders and rulers in Israel — high in of fice, and high in the confidence of the prophet, and who turn out to be the veriest knaves and vUlains in Christendom. This would seem to involve a pretty UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 149 thorough impeachment of Joseph's pretensions, who, as prophet-seer, had no right to be imposed upon by such " fair-weather friends ;" and the contiguous pop ulation of GentUes, who claimed neither the gift of prophecy nor seership, may well be excused for befiev- ing themselves cheated and robbed by the neighboring Saints. It is a misnomer to say the Mormons have been per secuted on account of their religion. Refigious perse cution does not belong to the American mind. Aside from constitutional and statutory protection, aU forms and creeds are tolerated, however ridiculous and ab surd, provided their practical ultimation do not inter fere with the rights of others. Here, however, lies one branch of the difficulty. Mormonism, unhappily, fur nishes a justification to the conscience of the fanatical believer for the commission of aU the crimes which have been charged to its account. But it is suggested, Why not bring the criminal to justice by indictment and trial ? Why resort to force ? Here lies another branch of the difficulty. A community like that at Nauvoo possessed almost unhmited facilities for the concealment of crime, in the first instance, and, in the end, for screening the detected offender from justice. A GentUe, whose horse had been feloniously taken from his stable, might trace it to the Mormon capital, but, once within its periphery, and aU further trace would be lost : it was then as fruitless a task as hunting In dians in the everglades of Florida without the aid of bloodhounds. It has been claimed that the hostffity against the Saints was stimulated by mercenary men, who covet- 150 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. ed their lands and improvements. That it had no such incentive in Jackson county, is evident from the fact that a proposition was fairly made to purchase their property at double its value. The Mormons hav ing rejected this proposition, and being finally compel led to remove under adverse circumstances, it is quite probable that selfish men took advantage of the emer gency, in many cases, to buy out their titles at a cheap rate. Such things would happen in any community, and we can not suppose that a Western border popula tion are any more free from unconscientious and grasp ing spirits than more refined societies. There is prob ably more foundation for the charge in the break-up at Nauvoo. Cases of individual wrong wiU always occur in civil commotions. Marauders wiU always be found, hovering, like carrion crows, around a field of battle, or a besieged city, watching their opportunity for plun der ; but it would be short-sighted enough to believe that the war was instigated by them. These occur rences, however much to be regretted, are not to divert our attention from the original causes of the trouble, and these are to be found in the Mormon system itself — in its arrogant religious pretensions, its reeking ficen- tiousness, and its general license to plunder the goods, and trample upon the rights of aU " Gentile" commu nities with which it may happen to be in contact ; and the authors and upholders of the imposture must be held accountable, as well for its remote and collateral, as its immediate consequences. It is not for them to complain that, in making war upon the social morah ty, and the civil and religious institutions of the coun try, they have not only lost the battle, but come out of the contest with diminished resources. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 151 CHAPTER IX. HISTORY CONTINUED. Battalion for Mexican War. — Mormons arrive at Salt Lake. — Charac ter of the Mormon Exode. — " Crickets." — General Address to the Saints. — " Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company," and " Public Works." — State of Deseret. — Territory organized. — Ceremonies on breaking Ground for the Temple. The fugitive Mormons established themselves at two different points in the Indian country, and, after a sea son of much privation and suffering, their affairs began to brighten. The Indians were friendly, then own in dustry and perseverance worthy of aU commendation, the land was fertUe, and their crops abundant. It was during the fore part of their sojourn in this region that a Mormon regiment was recruited into the United States service for the Mexican war. This, Hke many other matters connected with the Saints, has been made the subject of much contradictory remark. They are fond of referring to it as a requisition made upon them by the government to test their loyalty, and their ready response to it is cited as strong evi dence of their patriotic devotion to the country ; and as this regiment was on its march to California at the period when the remaining Saints were driven from Nauvoo, it offered an opportunity for comment not to be neglected. In an address to the Saints in all parts ofthe world, Brigham Young certainly makes a strong^ point on this subject. After taking a retrospect ofthe 152 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. sufferings and persecutions of the Mormons, he says : "And, hard as it was to write it, it must forever re main a truth on the page of history, that, whUe the flower of Israel's camp were sustaining the wing of the American eagle by their influence and arms in a foreign country, their brothers, sisters, fathers, moth ers, and children were driven by mob violence from a free and independent state ofthe same national repub lic, and were compeUed to flee from the fire, the sword, the musket, and the cannon's mouth, as from the de mon of death." Some of the Mormon seceders represent that they in tended to excite an Indian war, and furnished the men to luU suspicion, knowing that active service would in the end make them a well-disciphned corps. But it is not probable there was any settled purpose ofthe kind. Nor is it to be presumed that they felt much attach ment to a country which they had over and over again doomed to destruction, and against which they habit- uaUy indulged in bitter complaints and denunciations. According to William Smith, the prophet Joseph's brother, the leaders intended to establish an independ ent government beyond the Rocky Mountains ; and as the Great Salt Lake VaUey, to which they were jour neying, was at the time Mexican territory, there would seem to be good evidence to that effect. Their profes sions of loyalty and patriotism must therefore be re ceived with many grains of allowance. Colonel Kane says : " At the commencement of the Mexican war, the President considered it desirable to march a body of rehable infantry to California at as early a period as practicable, and the known hardihood and habits of WW UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 155 discipline of the Mormons were supposed pecuHarly to fit them for this service. As Cafifornia was supposed, also, to be their ultimate destination, the long march would cost them less than other citizens. They were accordingly invited to furnish a battalion of volunteers early in the month of July" (p. 27). The transaction seems, then, one of convenience on both sides ; the government wanted some good troops, and the Saints were wiffing to fight for pay, especially in the direction and against an enemy which harmon ized so remarkably weU with their ulterior designs. They were at that time, too, in great need of ready funds, and the bounty, or portion of the pay, wliich is said to have amounted to some $20,000, was paid to the authorities of the Church, and more than counter balanced the inconvenience arising from the absence of that number of men. Early in the spring of 1847, a pioneer band of one hundred and forty-three men, with seventy wagons, started on their westward journey, with all the means and appliances for forming a settlement. They reach ed the vaUey of Great Salt Lake in July, laid the foun dation of their present capital, and put in extensive crops for the future necessities ofthe incoming Saints. Others followed at short intervals, and some four thou sand people became the inhabitants of the vaUey during that year. In 1848, nearly afi that remained made their way to the new land of promise. Fortunately, the land cost them nothing, and aU the money and goods saved from the wreck of their property at Nau voo they were able to devote to other uses than acquir ing a property in the soil. 156 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. This was a remarkable exode, in respect to its num bers, the motives by which they were stimulated, and the admirable manner in which it was effected ; but it is stUl more remarkable, in a country where a cease less tide of emigration has been for years, and stiU is, surging from the east to the west, under no greater stimulus than the love of change or hope of gain, that this particular case should be singled out as " not par alleled in the history of mankind since Moses led the Israefites from Egypt." In fact, the iask was com paratively an easy one. The whole history of Mormon ism is a continuing Ulustration ofthe prodigious power of religious fanaticism over the mind. It required no greater effort to induce the Mormons to remove from Nauvoo to Salt Lake than from their previous homes to the gathering-place of the Saints for the time, nor so great, because the concentrated enthusiasm of the multitude easUy sways and carries along individual minds. There was skiU and good management in de tails, which enabled large masses to emigrate in safety ; but the way had been fuUy explored. Thousands of famffies had previously, in small bands, performed the tedious journey to Oregon, without the stimulus of religious enthusiasm, running the gauntlet of Indian hostilities under far more discouraging circumstances, and strewing the interminable road with frequent evi dences of suffering and mortality. The Mormons ac complished one half oi this journey in bands too pow erful to be molested by Indians, united by the same rehgious faith, and under the control and direction of a single will. Perhaps the traveler who threads his way over the UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 159 same journey, breathes the same pure, joyous, bracing air, hunts the same game, and gazes upon the same spreading plains and cloud-capped mountains, may not be able to see and appreciate the pecuHar wonders with which the Mormons' pUgrimage may be legit imately invested. The Saints, however, are exceed ingly fond of the marvelous. In their eyes it was a flight into the wUderness from a storm of refigious per secution, and was attended with uncommon dangers, and surrounded with uncommon protection. If the cloud by day, and piUar of fire by night, were not act ually visible to mortal sight, they were no less reaUy present, and the exode and its results were attended with miracles and wonders. On the arrival of Brigham Young with the first presidency in the vaUey, he, was too sick to be able to rise from his carriage-bed ; but when the party reached a particular spot, he became suddenly restored, rose up, and, directing attention to the top of a high mountain peak, proclaimed that he had in vision seen the prophet, Joseph Smith, standing there, pointing down to the spot then occupied by them as the site of the future Temple. It is needless to say that this place is Temple Block, on which the sacred edifice is now being built. The year 1848 was one of privation and suffering prior to the maturing of the growing crops. Among other discouraging incidents, a curious kind of "crick et" made its appearance in myriads, manifesting all the destructive properties ofthe locust of Eastern coun tries. AH vegetation was swept clean before its fright ful progress as effectuaUy as the grass before the scorching fury of a prairie conflagration, and the crops 160 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. put in with so much toil, and on wliich so much de pended, were fast disappearing. Suddenly, however, flocks of white gulls floated over the mountain tops, with heahng in their wings, and stayed this withering destruction by feasting upon the destroyer. It is no matter for wonder that the leaders shoulcLplace this in the fist of miraculous interpositions in their favor, nor that the mass of the Saints should imphcitly believe that the guUs were hatched into sudden maturity for the occasion ; but it is a little strange that one, of the evident intelligence of Colonel Kane, should speak of these fowl as "before strangers to the valley." The crickets and the guUs have been annual visitors sinoe, as they were before, the bane and the antidote together; and the Mormons have been able to raise enough to supply not only then own wants, but a sur plus for the emigrants to California and Oregon. After the pioneer company reached Salt Lake Val ley, and commenced a permanent settlement, another address was issued to the Saints all over the world. This address is very long, and embraces a great variety of subjects relative to the gathering of the Saints in their mountain Zion. The design of Brigham Young did not end in merely escaping from persecution — it had been foreshadowed -by Wilham Smith — it was to found an independent state ; and this address develops the comprehensiveness of the plan. The Saints were not only required to assemble at the common centre, but to come provided for aU possible emergencies. The foUowing wiU be sufficient to give the reader an idea of its scope and compass : "And to all the Saints in any country bordering UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 161 upon the Atlantic, we would say, pursue the same course. Come immediately, and prepare to go West, bringing with you all kinds of choice seeds of grain, vegetables, fruits, shrubbery, trees, and vines — every thing that wUl 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 cotton, wool, flax, and silk, &c, &c, or mod els and descriptions of the same, by which they can construct them ; and the same in relation to all kinds of farming utensUs and husbandry, such as corn-sheU- ers, grain-thrashers and cleaners, smut-machines, mills, and every implement and article within their knowl edge that shaU tend to promote the comfort, health, happiness, or prosperity of any people. " It is very desirable that aU the Saints should im prove every opportunity of securing at least a copy of every valuable treatise on education — every book, map, chart, or diagram that may contain interesting, useful, and attractive matter, to gain the attention of children, and cause them to love to read ; and also every histor ical, mathematical, philosophical, geographical, geolog ical, astronomical, scientific, practical, and all other variety of useful and interesting writings, maps, &c, to present to the general Church Recorder when they shall arrive at their destination, from which important and interesting matter may be gleaned to compUe the most valuable works on every science and subject, for the benefit of the rising generation. " Let all Saints who love God more than then- own 162 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. I dear selves — and none else are Saints — gather, without / delay, to the place appointed, bringing theh gold, theh ' silver, their copper, theh zinc, theh tin, and brass, and hon, and choice steel, and ivory, and precious stones, their curiosities of science, of art, of nature, and every thing in theh possession or within theh reach, to buUd in strength and stabUity, to beautify, to adorn, to em bellish, 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 knowl edge, or understanding, manifested in carved work, or curious workmanship of the box, the fir, and pine-tree, or any thing that ever was, or is, or is to be, for the exaltation, glory, honor, salvation of the Hving and the dead for time and aU eternity." The address manifests much tact and abihty, and was well calculated to promote the objects intended. It winds up with the usual high pretenses to a love of order and morality which has ever distinguished the preaching of this anomalous community : " The kingdom of God consists in correct principles, and it mattereth not what a man's refigious faith is — whether he be a Presbyterian, or a Methodist, or a Baptist, or a Latter-day Saint, or 'Mormon,' or a Campbeffite, or a Cathohc, or Episcopalian, or Moham medan, or even Pagan, or any thing else. If he wUl bow the knee, and with his tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ, and wUl support good and wholesome laws for the regulation of society, we hail him as a brother, and wUl stand by him as he stands by us in these things ; UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 163 for every man's faith is a matter between his own soul and his God alone. But if he shaU deny the Jesus — if he shaU curse God — if he shall indulge in debauch ery, and drunkenness, and crime — if he shaU lie, and swear, and steal — if he shall take the name ofthe 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 wUl work righteous ness — that will distribute justice equally — that wUl acknowledge God in all their ways— that will regard those sacred laws and ordinances which are recorded in that sacred book called the Bible, which we verily beheve, and which we proclaim to the ends of the earth." It is owing to the comprehensive views of this ad dress being measurably carried out that we find so many of the means and appliances of civilized life in the Great Basin. Flouring-miUs have been erected upon some ofthe numerous streams wliich pour down from the mountains, sufficient to meet the wants of the people ; and a few saw-miUs have been put up at points where the scanty timber is to be found in most abundance. Other mechanical employments are also in operation to an extent equal to the wants of such a community. The Saints went on gathering as fast as distance and other circumstances would permit, in obedience to the injunctions of the reigning prophet. But many were poor, and, especially in Great Britain, unable to defray the expenses of so great a journey without aid from the Church. This gave rise to two institutions, "The Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company," and 164 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. " The Pubhc Works," which, in connection with " The Tithing-office," are now engines of state in the hands of the ecclesiastical despotism existing in Utah. The subject is thus aUuded to in a letter from Brigham Young, dated October 14th, 1849, to Orson Pratt, then in England : " You wiU learn from our general epistle the princi pal 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 man ner, the perpetual emigrating 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 aU who are benefited by its operation will be wiUing to reimburse that amount as soon as they are able, facihties for which wUl, very soon after their arrival here, present them selves in the shape of pubhc works." These " Public Works" were soon after permanent ly established, under the dheotion and control of the Church. They consist of work-shops, built on Temple Block, in which various mechanical trades are carried on as systematicaUy as in manufacturing establish ments in the States. The poor emigrating Saint is, through the " Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company," furnished with the means of performing the great jour ney, but, when he gets to Zion, he is without food, rai ment, or shelter. A house is speedUy built for him, and he is placed in the " Public Works" to work out the debt, during which process he is furnished with the necessaries of life from the Tithing-office, to the amount of a moiety of the value of his labor ; and as UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 165 he is charged enormously for what he receives, as weU as a tithe of his labor, he is in a state of almost hope less servitude ; like the frog in the weU, which fell back one foot at night for every two feet hopped out in the daytime, his final extrication is hedged around / with discouraging drawbacks. The Mexican war terminated, and the members of the Mormon battalion straggled back, part of them to Utah, and part remained in Cafifornia. The treaty of Gaudeloupe Hidalgo followed, and the Saints stiU found themselves within the dominions of the great persecut ing republic, from which they had made such perse vering efforts to escape. But they were by themselves, in the fastnesses of the mountains, excluded from ob servation, and secure, at least, from present molesta tion ; and the next best thing to becoming a state in dependent of the Union, was to become an independ ent state of the Union. Brigham Young hastened, therefore, to organize the new State of " Deseret," un der a Constitution, with the following boundaries : " 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 northern line of Mexico, and on the northern boundary of Lower Cahfornia to the Pacific Ocean ; thence along the coast northwesterly to 118 degrees 30 minutes of west longitude ; thence north to where said line inter sects the dividing ridge of the Sierra Nevada Mount ains ; thence north along the summit of the Sierra Ne vada Mountains to the dividing range of mountains 166 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 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 southeast and south by the dividing range of mountains that separate the waters flowing into the Gulf of Mexico from the wa ters flowing into the Gulf of California, to the place of beginning, as set forth in a map drawn by Charles Preass, and published by order of the Senate of the United States in 1848." / The term " Deseret," in Mormon language, is said /.to signify the " Land of the Honey-bee ;" yet, strange to say, this useful insect, typical of order and industry, is unknown in the Great Basin. One of the emigrat ing bands of the Saints took in three hives, one of which, with great care and management, survived the severe winter of 1849-50 ; but, unluokUy, in the en suing summer, this hive was found one morning some distance from its proper place, robbed of its sweets, and the poor bees scattered abroad. The bounds of the State of Deseret would probably have been found to contain the requisite numbers for admission into the Union ; but Congress wisely con cluded to shear this ambitious stranger of her self-con stituted proportions, and wait until the Saints should give some better evidences of good citizenship before investing them with the fuU panoply of state sovereign ty. The present Territory of Utah was organized in 1850 under an act of Congress, soon after which Brig- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 167 ham Young was appointed Governor by the Presi dent. In the summer of 1851, the Legislative Assembly was elected under the Territorial BiU, and held its first session in the foUowing faU and winter ; and from this period the laws of the United States have been nomin ally in operation— what the reality is in this respect wUl appear more fuUy as we proceed. After the confusion incident to the influx of large numbers had measurably settled into something like order, Brigham Young turned his attention to temple building, wliich seems ever to have been the focal point of Mormon fanaticism. Temple Block, to which the index finger of the martyred Joseph had pointed from Ensign Peak in Brigham's vision, was duly set apart and consecrated for sacerdotal purposes. A tabernacle was speedUy built for present use ; but the Temple, without which the dead could not be baptized from Purgatory, required deliberation ahd time to erect upon a scale of grandeur equal to the present prosperity and anticipations of the future greatness of the Saints. A waU, surrounding the whole block, of reddish sand stone, handsomely dressed, was nearly completed on two sides up to the spring of 1853. Every step in the progress of this mighty edifice and its appurtenan ces has been commemorated by imposing ceremonies in the presence of multitudes. The one witnessed by the author, on the occasion of breaking ground for the foundation of the buUding (February 14th, 1853), will give the reader some faint idea ofthe modus operandi by which " Latter-day" fanaticism is kept up to its fe ver heat. 168 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. The day was superbly fine, the atmosphere without a cloud, and the panoramic view such as no other place can exhibit. The mountains east, west, and south were covered with snow, and glittered gloriously in the sun. The ceremonies were to commence at eleven o'clock. Before the hour a great multitude assembled, to the amount of some thousands, with a large infusion of women and chUdren. A stake was driven down at the point intended for the centre of the building. Two large brass bands were in attendance, and discoursed good music, among which was our old acquaintance " Hail Columbia !" A wagon was stationed at an ap propriate place, as a stand for those who were to conr duct the exercises of the day. At the appointed time, the Governor took his station and addressed the mul titude. The tenor of his remarks was : That they were now about to make a third attempt to build a Temple ; that they had tried twice before, but had not been permitted to finish one and enjoy it any length of time ; that it was the duty of the brethren to go on with the work, even if it should cost a milhon, and they knew they were to leave it the day after its com pletion ; that, if they were destined to leave it, it would be their duty to leave it with cheerfulness ; that some might wish to know what his knowledge was on the subject — whether he had had a revelation as to the site of the Temple ; that, for seven years past, the very spot had been present in his mind, in dreams and visions, notwithstanding individuals had gone in differ ent directions to hunt out a place, and if they wished him to write out the revelation, he would do so ; but that no revelation or command was necessary — the UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 169 people were bound to build a temple without any — they might as well ask for a revelation to build a house for themselves. He took them to task for not prompt ly paying their tithes ; said if the tithes were paid, as they should be, there would be no need of extra contri-/ butions to go on with the building. Once, and but once, he excited a laugh in the crowd, but it was done in a way which harmonized weU enough with the time and occasion. He said there were very many present who had not the rare privilege of being perse cuted by mobs, &c, but that they need not give them selves any uneasiness, as their time would come yet, in some form or other. The Governor speaks easily, has a ready flow of words, and a voice of sufficient compass for out-door speaking. He is not what would be caUed an eloquent or impassioned speaker in the States. He is very self- possessed, and his manner is deliberate and argument ative. He was Hstened to with the most profound attention, and evidently has the most unbounded in fluence with the people. After the address succeeded a prayer by Elder Kim ball, very much in the manner of prayers on such occa sions. There were some allusions which a stranger to the Mormon creed would not have understood ; for in stance, he thanked the Lord, among other things, for our tabernacles. This was in reference to theh doc trine, that our spirits existed as intelfigent beings long before our bodies, wliich they call tabernacles; and that the sphits enter into these tabernacles for the purpose of having an earthly body in the resurrection. The address and prayer, with intervening music, being II 170 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. ended, the ceremony of excavating was commenced by the Governor, who was succeeded by the twelve apos tles, each throwing up a smaU quantity of earth ; after which the assembly was dismissed. The ceremonies were imposing, and there was an evident manifestation ofthe tremendous power of rehgious enthusiasm under the direction of a single will. I am but little learned in scientific phrenology, but I think the ready eye of one of our Fowlers would have detected the organs of veneration and marvelousness prominently developed, while the heads of the multitude were uncovered dur ing the prayer. It is not to be supposed that such a ceremony could pass without something of the marvelous. A gold dollar was found by the prophet- Governor whUe en gaged in the work, which was, of course, seen "by one of the twelve to drop from the clouds, and was inter preted to mean that the Saints were to be amply sup plied with funds for this glorious work. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 171 CHAPTER X. GOVERNMENT. Priesthoods. — The President is Prophet and Seer : his Power. — Tith ing. — Individual cases. — Tithing-office. The government of the Mormon Church, like its doctrines, has been a matter of after-thought. At first it was simple enough, consisting of the prophet as the supreme head, and the leading men as priests under him, without division into particular orders. As the tide of success, however, began to elevate him upon its swelling flood, and visions of ambition and power floated through his brain, his ideas of govern ment rapidly sweUed and expanded, like an anaconda in swaUowing a captive tiger. As multitudes gathered into the new Zion and its numerous stakes, they co.uld not be moulded to the prophet's will and controlled without a regular system. This has given rise to a very singular machinery of Church government, part of which is apparent, and part, consisting of secret ini tiatory ceremonies, is sedulously guarded from profane curiosity. That which is open to observation has been duly estabfished by revelation, and consists of complicated and imposing machinery ; and there is probably no government in the world so weU calculated to concen trate despotic power in the hands of a few. There are two priesthoods in the Church — the Melchisedek and 172 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. the Aaronic (which latter includes the Levitioal). AU other authorities are appendages to one or the other of these priesthoods. Each priesthood holds the keys of the peculiar mysteries which it has in charge. The key is an important emblem in Mormon symbohcs. All heavenly mysteries are duly locked up, and can not be opened except by the agent who is authorized to hold and use the key. >r The Melchisedek is the superior priesthood, and con sists of high priests and elders ; the Aaronic is inferior, and made up of bishops, priests, teachers, and deacons. The Melchisedek priesthood is clustered about with holy sanctions and sublime mysteries, which strike awe into the minds of the simple-minded believers : " And the sons of Moses, according to the holy priest hood which he received under the hand of his father- in-law Jethro, and Jethro received it under the hand of Caleb, and Caleb received it under the hand of Elihu, and Elihu under the hand of Jeremy, and Jeremy un der the hand of God, and God under the hand of Esaias, and Esaias received it under the hand of God ; Esaias also lived in the days of Abraham, and was blessed of him ; which Abraham received the priesthood from Melchisedek, who received it through the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah ; and from Noah tUl Enoch, through the lineage of their fathers ; and from Enoch to Abel, who was slain by the conspiracy of his brother, who received the priesthood, by the commandments of God, by the hand of his father Adam, who was the first man ; which priesthood continueth in the Church of God in all generations, and is without beginning of days or end of years." UTAH AND THE MORMONS. I73 " The power and authority ofthe Melchisedek priest hood is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the Church, to have the privilege of receiving tho mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heav ens opened unto them, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus Christ the Mediator of tiie new covenant." [Doctrines and Cov enants, p. 101.) " 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 — tho letter of the Gospel — the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, agreeably to the covenants and com mandments." (P. 102.) These priesthoods have their presidencies, which con trol them and all below them. The bishopric is the presidency ofthe Aaronic priesthood, and hold the keys of the same. The very apex of the pyramid is the presidency of the Melchisedek priesthood, and consequently of the whole Church. This is the quorum of three, and is commonly called the first presidency, wliich is the high est authority for the final decision of aU questions, and to whom aU persons in the Church are subject. There are also twelve apostles, called also a quorum, who are, in theory, equal in power to the presidency of three ; though this is by no means the case in practice. Their decisions, to be of equal weight, must be unan imous, and of the whole body ; and as it is their more especial business to go into aU the world and preach, under the direction of the first presidency, it is very seldom that they can exercise much effective power. 174 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. There are also quorums of seventies, who, in theory, may decide matters for the Church, under the same qualification of unanimity. These seventies are trav eling quorums for preaching under the dhection of the twelve, as the latter are under the direction of the three. A general assembly of all the quorums consti tute the spiritual authorities of the Church. In extraordinary cases, a high council is convened. This tribunal was organized in 1834 by revelation, as follows : "1. This day a general councU of twenty-four high priests assembled at the house of Joseph Smith, Jr., by revelation, and proceeded to organize the high council ofthe Church of Christ, which was to consist of twelve high priests, and one or three presidents, as the case might require. The high council was appointed by revelation for the purpose of settling important diffi culties which might arise in the Church, which could not be settled by the Church or the bishop's council to the satisfaction of the parties. " 2. Joseph Smith, Jr., Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. WiUiams, were acknowledged presidents by the voice ofthe councU ; and Joseph Smith, Sen., John Smith, Jo seph Coe, John Johnson, Martin Harris, John S. Carter, Jared Carter, Oliver Cowdry, Samuel H. Smith, Orson Hyde, Sylvester Smith, and Luke Johnson, high priests, were chosen to be a standing councU for the Church, by the unanimous voice of the council." Each quorum has its president; and the president of the quorum of three is the president of the high council, and over all the Church, from whom " comes the administration of ordinances and blessings upon UTAH AND THE MORMONS. I75 the Church, by the laying on of hands." Joseph Smith was the first president ; Brigham Young is the present one. The president is " the seer, revelator, and prophet, having aU the gifts of God, which he bestows upon the head of the Church." As president of the high coun cil, he may, " in cases of difficulty respecting doctrine or principle, inquire and obtain the mind of the Lord by revelation." The prophet Joseph was very oareful to secure this feature of absolute power, the obedient oracle, of course, always giving the requisite response. In April, 1830, it uttered as foUows: " Behold, there shall be a record kept among you, and in it thou shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the Church, through the wUl of God the Father, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, being inspired of the Holy Ghost to lay the foundation thereof, and to build it up unto the most holy faith." [Doctrines and Cov enants, p. 265.) And in September, 1830, the foUowing important enunciation was given on this point : " But behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and rev elations in this Church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., for he receiveth them even as Moses ; and thou shalt be obedient unto the things wliich I shaU give unto him, even as Aaron, to declare faithfully the commandments and revelations with power and au thority unto the Church. And if thou art led at any time by the Comforter to speak or teach, or at all times 176 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. by the way of commandment unto the Church, thou mayest do it ; but thou shalt not write by way of com mandment, but by wisdom. And thou shalt not com mand him who is at thy head, and at the head of the Church ; for I have given him the keys ofthe mysteries, and the revelations, wliich are sealed, until I shall ap point unto them another in his stead." [Doctrines and Covenants, p. 272.) The Church assemble in conference every half year, and go through with the ceremony of re-electing tho prophet as president of the Church ; but this is the merest formality in the world, as nobody dreams of trying to reverse the Lord's appointment. Like the parishioners of Knooktarlittie, who always elected the candidate of the Duke of Argyle, the Saints are equal ly ready to ratify the nomination of the celestial cau cus. . By reason of these exalted gifts, the president, in fact, controls and governs the whole Church, the sev eral quorums being the mere instruments of his wUl. The government of the Mormons has, therefore, from the beginning, been a species of absolute theocracy, or very nearly so. This absolutism has been preserved by various expedients, as the putting forth of revela tions from time to time, the performance of miracles by healing the sick, preaching in unknown tongues, and other forms of popular imposition ; keeping up a prying system of espionage ; sending off turbulent spir its on distant missions ; and, more especially, the ab sorption of nearly all the wealth of the members, un der an improved system of tithing and other forms of ecclesiastical appropriation. Some idea of the power UTAH AND THE MORMONS. I77 claimed by and for the reigning prophet may be gath ered from their own statements. "Who gives me power that, ' at the pointing of my finger,' the hosts of Israel move, and at my request the inhabitants of this great territory are displaced ? that at my command they are here ? Who gives me that power ? Let the world inquire. It is the God of heaven ; it is the Spirit of the holy Gospel ; it is not of myself; it is the Lord Jesus Christ trying to save the inhabitants ofthe earth." [Remarks of Brigham Young, Deseret News, August 26th, 1852.) " When God calls a man to preside, he gives him wisdom to preside, so heap the balance on to me." " I have not the least fear of any division in this Church, for I can turn them whithersoever I will, Amen." [Same, Deseret News, November 6th, 1852.) " Jesus sought to do the will of his Father in heav en ; so it was our duty to do the will of Joseph ; and now it is the duty of us aU to do the will of Brother Brigham, for he reveals to us the wUl of God, which is his wUl. We wiU do his will as an elder, as a proph et, as an apostle of Jesus Christ, holding the same keys that Peter of old held, the same that Joseph Smith held as an apostle. You aU believe this, don't you, without an exception ? WeU, if this is your faith, if this is your determination, I want you should manifest it by raising your right hands, and saying Ay. [A literal forest of hands was the result of this call, and the spacious hall trembled when a simultaneous ' ay' burst from the mouths of over 2000 persons.] There it is, and it can not be any other way." ( Speech of Eld. Kimball, Des. News extra, Sept.Uth, 1852, p. 1, 2.) H2 178 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. Those turbulent and ambitious spirits who are rest ive under superior authority, human or divine, are gen eraUy disposed of by sending them as missionaries into foreign countries ; and as the most troublesome of these are from the United States, there is not the same effort as formerly to make converts in this country. Of the eighty missionaries sent away in the fall of 1852, only three were sent to the States — one to Tex as, one to Washington, and one to St. Louis ; the last two being rather intended as resident agents than mis sionaries. It has been found that the English labor ing classes are more amenable to authority, and sub mit more quietly to tithing and other burdens, and are less startled at the innovations upon the common rules of morality, than the more astute, enterprising, and self-rehant Yankee. And as the South Sea Islanders and Chinese are supposed to be exceedingly plastic on all these points, so important to the welfare of Mor mondom, considerable efforts have been made to make proselytes among them. / Tithing, in the Mormon hierarchy, is a regular sys- / tem ofthe appropriation ofthe mass of individual prop- ^ erty for the support and aggrandizement of the proph- ) et and his priesthood. In the Jewish Church it was "i the devotion of a tenth of the increase to sacerdotal ! purposes. We shall see how much the system has been improved upon by the modern prophet and his co adjutors. By a revelation of February, 1831, Smith discovered that those having property should convey it to the bishop and his counselors for the support of the poor, for the purchase of lands for the public benefit of the Church, and building of houses of worship, &c. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 179 In August, 1831, it was revealed that " all the mon eys which can be spared, it mattereth not whether it be little or much, be sent up unto the land of Zion, unto them whom I have appointed to receive." -^ In July, 1838, this important branch ofthe new dis pensation assumed a more definite shape as follows : " In answer to the question, 0 Lord, show unto thy servants how much thou requirest of the properties for a tithing ? " 1. VerUy, thus saith the Lord, I require all their surplus property to be put into the hands of the bishop of my Church of Zion, for the buUding of mine house, and for the laying the foundation of Zion, and for the priesthood, and for the debts of the presidency of my Church ; and this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people ; and after that, those who have been thus tithed shall pay one tenth of all their interest annually, and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord. "2. Verily, I say. unto you, it shaU come to pass, that aU those who gather unto the land of Zion shall be tithed of their surplus properties, and shall observe this law, or they shaU not be found worthy to abide among you." [Doctrines and Covenants, p. 430.) The key of this riddle very much depended on the true meaning ofthe words " surplus properties ;" and as the point has been construed by those whose pock ets were to be replenished from this source, it has been found to signify the complete stripping of the Latter- day dupe of nearly aU his avaUable means. On this subject, Elder Phelps, at the September Conference, 1851, discoursed as follows : 180 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. " I stand before you to address you on one of the most important acts of life that tends to salvation. Pay your tithing. Yes, from this day, and from this place, let every elder of Israel carry this glad tidings with the Gospel of repentance, that all that pay their tithing shall not be burned, if they obey the ordinan ces ofthe Lord. Let every elder, as soon as a convert to the truth of Jehovah is washed from his sins, teach this standing law." Here he quotes the above revela tion, and then proceeds thus : " This is plam language ; all the 'surplus property' of a Saint belongs to the Lord, or, in other words, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Then, if an elder baptizes a per- "son worth $10,000, and he only needs $5000 to bring him and his family to the valley, and situate himself with a house and farm, and the necessary appendages to obtain his Hving, $5000 is the amount of his sur plus property to be consecrated to the work of the Lord. So with the man worth $100,000, that needs only $10,000 for himself, $90,000 belongs to the Lord, or to the Church for the public works, as directed by the presidency. What next? In the first case of the $5000 for individual benefit, that comes under the head of ' interest' to be tithed annually, and actuaUy means my portion, my part or lot, and is the ' in crease.' Grain, hay, cattle, swine, stock of every de scription, poultry, fruit, yea, every thing animal or veg etable, together with all the time not employed in pro ducing these commodities, are to be tithed annually while the Saints occupy the earth in the flesh. If he has no property, and is sound in body, then every tenth labor-day belongs to the Lord." [Deseret Almanac, 1852.) UTAH AND THE MORMONS. Igl . _^ How much a man needs for himself is a question to be decided by " council ;" in other words, by the reign ing prophet, who, being guided by revelation, can not j err. If all is taken, he has no right to complain, be cause it is revealed to the prophet that property is an i injury to him, and he promotes his temporal and fu ture welfare by taking it from him. All good Saints bear this denuding process with exemplary patience. The discontented are made to feel the ten thousand annoyances wliich may be brought to bear upon them in a community so secluded and so organized ; and if they prove too refractory, they are handed. over to the tender mercies of the Danites. This system of plucking, under one pretext or an other, has been a distinguishing trait of Mormonism < from its commencement. Any number of cases are related at Salt Lake City, a few of which will suffice for the present purpose. A woman by the name of Vienna Jaques — a square- buUt, angular Yankee, claiming to be a lineal descend ant of John Rogers, of Smithfield memory — was a res ident of the city of notions, when she was made a hopeless captive by one of the earliest Mormon mis- ^ sionaries. She " gathered," as in duty bound, at Kirt land, then one of Zion's stakes, with her Httle fortune, consisting of about $1500 in ready money. The proph et Joseph was, of course, always in want of money ; and, like the sink of Mary's River, which absorbs the confluent waters, had a ready skiU in extracting from his followers both moieties of their goods and chattels. In due time, the treasures of Sister Vienna were trans- ferred to Joseph's coffers, and she became his creditor, 182 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. and enjoyed the superior unction of becoming a resi dent in his family. He, however, tired of her pres ence, and unceremoniously got rid of her and the debt too by one of those celestial responses which never failed him in time of need. The divine rescript ran as foUows : " And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, it is my will that my handmaid, Vienna Jaques, should receive money to bear her expenses, and go up unto the land of Zion ; and the residue of the money may be conse crated unto me, and she be rewarded in mine own due time. Verily, I say unto you, that it is meet in mine eyes that she should go up unto the land of Zion, and receive an inheritance from the hand of the bishop, that she may settle down in peace, inasmuch as she is faithful, and not be idle in her days from thenceforth." [Doctrines and Covenants, p. 332.) Vienna, in obedience to this command, straightway gathered with the Saints in Missouri; and, as her health was good, and her habits industrious, she man aged to gain a livelihood. She has since followed the fortunes of the Saints in all their varying phases, and is now industriously earning her Hving as a nurse at Salt Lake City — proud that her means have been de voted to Joseph's use — doubly proud that she has been made the subject of a revelation from heaven, and ready to do vigorous battle with any one who ventures to in timate that the whole concern is a veritable humbug. The case of Captain R****l attracted some attention in the winter and spring of 1853. This gentleman had been a sea-captain, was a resident of one of the British North American provinces, and had amassed a UTAH AND THE MORMONS. Ig3 large fortune. His mind, being afloat on religious sub jects, was excited with the idea that the last days were at hand, and that the Latter-day Saints enjoyed open communication with heaven, through the medium of their prophet. So rich a galleon was a tempting prize for missionary privateering ; and a few extra broad sides, in the shape of miracles, and other et cetera, re duced the gallant captain to submission. Among the many inducements held out for his gathering with the Saints was, that a project was on foot to establish the business of manufacturing sugar from the beet root, on a large scale, in the vaUey, which would furnish a favorable opportunity for the profitable investment of his capital. Seduced by these representations, he was induced to make heavy advances for the purchase and transportation of the sugar machinery, with the under standing that he was to have a joint-stock interest in the concern, in proportion to the amount invested. His advances are said to have amounted to over $20,000. He repaired to the valley in the fall of 1852, for the double purpose of gathering with the Saints, and look ing after his interest in the sugar business. The ma chinery came, too, but was unceremoniously turned into the public works as the property of the Church ; and the captain was given to understand that, instead of making himself the member of a joint-stock com pany, he had only obeyed a law of tithing, wliich re quired an appropriation of his " surplus properties." This did not at first. satisfy him, and it was generaUy understood that he would leave the vaUey in the spring in disgust ; but, as he had other " surplus properties," he was in some way prevented from going ; whether 184 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. by a revelation to suit his case, as in the instance of Sister Jaques, or how, has not been permitted to trans pire. A Mr. C****d, an Englishman of fair fortune, is a fellow-sufferer in the sugar business, and is understood to have advanced large sums; but he is in a much more disagreeable fix. In an unguarded moment, he was seduced to enter more deeply into the mysteries and privileges of the Saints by taking a wife." This, however, would not be worthy of notice, were it not for the material fact, that he has a wife hving in Eng land, where there are sharp laws against bigamy. He is from henceforth as helpless a prisoner at Salt Lake as the poor whale stranded upon the beach, which can neither fight nor swim". A large building has been erected at the capital for a tithing-office, in which one tenth of the grain, beef, pork, butter, and every other product of labor, is re ceived and stored ; and in the same building are kept accounts with every member of the Church, in which the amount of the produce of each one is carefully as certained, and he is charged with one tenth of every thing, including his labor, and credited with what he pays. Branch offices are kept at the principal viUages and settlements, from which reports are made. In this manner the presiding prophet is kept perfectly posted up, not only in regard to the condition and prospects of each one, but made speedily aware of the growth and extent of any sentiments of disloyalty to the Mor mon rule. This complete reduction of aU its parts to a depend ence on its head runs through all the ramifications of UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 185 the Mormon hierarchy, and probably forms a more per fect blending of Church and State than the world has ever yet seen. The temporal affairs of the community and all its members are governed by its ecclesiastical organization, which, in practice, is absolute, stern, un relenting, and cruel. A Saint can neither marry, or get divorced, or sell his property, or successfully trans act business, or leave the Great Basin, without the consent or against the advice of " council." The laws of Japan are not more minute and searching in their operations. CHAPTER XI. GOVERNMENT. Legislative Assembly. — Governor's Message, 1852. — Legislation pro ceeds from the Church. — No Freedom of the Ballot-box. — Crimes. — Murder of Hatch. — Case of Goodyear. — Joe Bankhead. — Better Treatment of Emigrants. — Thieving. — Different Classes of Mormons. The Territory of Utah is organized as such under an act of Congress, and, theoretically at least, the laws of the United States appficable to territories are therein administered. Under the organic act, a Legislative As sembly was elected in the summer of 1851, and held a session in the following autumn and winter. At this session they passed a smaU body of laws, embracing the usual range of legislative action — the organization of the courts of justice — the punishment of crime (except bigamy) — the administration of estates — the incorporation of cities — the construction of roads and bridges—the training of the mffitia, &c, &c. 188 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. Legislative action, both in form and substance, is npt very dissimilar from those of other territories, ex cept that it is obviously controlled by the Church. The second Legislative Assembly met on the 13th of De cember, at the Council House, This building was originally erected for Church purposes, but has been purchased by the Territory, and is now used as a State House, library, &c. The Legislative Assembly is di vided into the Council or Upper House, consisting of thirteen members, and the House of Representatives, of twenty-six members. After the organization of the two houses, they came together in joint session to re ceive the Governor's message. The Governor, on be ing notified of the hour, came in, and was seated in the speaker's chair. On being asked if he had any communication to make, he handed his message to the president of the Council, who handed it to the clerk of the House, and the same was read. The message is much longer than necessary for the amount of mat ter contained in it, and, as a Hterary production, is open to criticism. Take the foUowing ambitious gem as a sample : " Hence, also, the fanatical bigot, with the spirit of Northern supremacy, seeks to enwrap with sacrilegious flame the altar of his country's liberties, offering an unholy sacrifice, which, arising in encircling wreaths of dark and turbid columns, emitting, in fitful glare, the burning lava, betokens erewhile her consummation." His excellency must have lapsed suddenly into his ecstatic state as a seer when he penned this " turbid" prophecy. In reference, however, to the practical sense and UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 187 wisdom ofthe most of its suggestions, it is a creditable document. He calls the attention of the Legislative Assembly to the most important points of interest, such as making ferries and bridges over the principal rivers ; promoting the working of the iron and coal mines in Iron county; encouraging domestic manufactures in all its branches ; the necessity of simplicity and precis ion in legislation, and certainty in the administration of the laws ; and the importance of education. He is severe on California and her gold ; but it must be re membered that his Mormon excellency has had a diffi cult task to keep his flock together in the vicinity of the great El Dorado. He raps Congress soundly over the knuckles for President-making, and paying the Utah officers so shabbily. This may seem in bad taste for a mere territory, but the Governor claims that she is " a part of the grand confederacy which has so long embeUished the national galaxy ;" so there is no more to be said. In two or three days after the organization of the two houses, the Governor made a speech to them in joint session, in reference to their mode of doing busi ness. This was deemed of so much importanceKthat one hundred copies were ordered to""be printed for the use of the members. Here it is verbatim : " Previous to opening the business to be considered by this Assembly, and as aU the members are not pres ent, I wish to offer a few words for your guidance as members of a law-making department. Men who are not capable of governing themselves — of behaving themselves as gentlemen ought to behave, are utterly unprepared to make laws for others. If you will look 188 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. upon Congressional practices, it is plain that printed rules for the government of legislative bodies have been the most fruitful source of vexatious debate and shameful strife. The second reading of an act by sec tions Is now to be brought before this assembly. We would like to hear any objections that can be made to this act, or to any part of it ; which objections must be made at the time the section is read, so that, in the third reading, the biU may not be delayed in its pas sage. Find no fault until you can make a motion for the betterment of the bUl or section. If you can not improve it, let it alone until you can." The result of these "few words for your guidance" was, that the Legislative Assembly ceased all further talk about rules, and went through the session without them. Nor did this instance of executive interference strike any one of the members as extraordinary or improper. All legislation, in fact, proceeds from the Church — or, more properly, from Brigham Young, who is at the head of the Church. The passage of an act against his known wishes would, in Utah, be considered an idea altogether too preposterous to be for a moment entertained ; and such must continue to be the case, so long as the Church is the controlling power in the Territory. In such a community, legislation and the administration of the laws have no force or vigor, ex cept so far as they harmonize with its ecclesiastical policy. They are forms, but forms without life, except such as is breathed into it by the prophet of the Lord. Their forms and proceedings are convenient enough in cases and controversies where there is no particular in terest or policy to thwart their operation, and a snug UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 189 little fund is annuaUy drawn from the national treas ury to defray the expenses. The Governor, and the secretary, and the judges, and the public prosecutor, and the marshal, are all there in solemn array, like wax figures in a museum; and legislators hold their sessions — and courts are organized— and grand juries are charged to be vigilant in presenting the criminal for trial. But, notwithstanding aU this imposing ma chinery, neither life nor property is any the more secure from the hatred or grasp of the Church. That is above law, and controls the consciences and acts of its mem bers at wiU. The members ofthe Legislative Assembly are elect ed by the people ; but the nominees of the Church are sure to be chosen. To render assurance doubly sure on this point, the following curious provisions are em bodied in the act regulating elections, passed January 3,1853: "Sec. 5. Each elector shall .provide himself with a vote, containing the names of the persons he wishes elected, and the offices he would have them to fill, and present it, neatly folded, to the judge of the election, who shall number and deposit it in the ballot-box. The clerk shall then write the name of the elector, and op posite it the number of his vote. "Sec. 6. At the close of the election, the judge shall seal up the ballot-box, and the fist ofthe names ofthe electors, and transmit the same, without delay, to the county clerk." By this ingenious contrivance, it is known whom each elector votes for, and the dangers of a free exer cise pf the rights of suffrage averted. 190 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. In a territory so governed, it wiU not excite surprise that cases of extortion, robbery, murder, and other crimes, should occur, and defy all legal redress; or that the law itself should be made the instrument of crime., No one can be long a sojourner at Salt Lake City without hearing of persons mysteriously disappear ing ; of Missourians, supposed to have been engaged in the mobs in Jackson county, being decoyed into can ons, and ruthlessly dispatched. These he would be inclined to treat as bugbear stories, unless confirmed by his own observation, or his previous knowledge of Mormon history. The " Danites," originally organized as a species of secret police, to execute the behests of "ihe Church — by whom suspected persons can be dealt /with, and, if need be, put off out the way — are still in / existenoe, and such and such persons are frequently 1 spoken of as members of that notable corps. The Mor mon hierarchy has all the efficiency of a secret society : its members are initiated into different degrees ; take oaths of allegiance to the Church, of vengeance upon their former persecutors, and of denunciations upon themselves in case of apostacy ; and have signs and pass-words by which they recognize each other in any part of the world. A community, so banded together by oaths of fanaticism, combine a vast magazine of the elements of mischief in the hands of a few design ing men, and it would be strange if atrocious crimes were not sometimes committed. A case of violence occurred in December, 1852, in which a mortal wound was inflicted, affording a fair illustration of the subject. Two men, by the name of Hickman and Hatch, members of the Danite band, UTAH AND THE MORMONS. \CJ1 were noted for robberies, and many a deed of reckless and criminal violence. Hatch, for some reason or other, became sick of the trade, and was supposed to have a design of leaving the vaUey : he. became a " suspected person." These men were one day traveling in com pany on horseback, some miles from the city, and came to one of the creeks which pour down from the mount ains, fined With cotton-wood bushes. Hatch plunged in to cross over, and, while in the bed of the stream, received a shot ; the bullet passing obfiquely through his body,, and evidently fired by a person behind him on the bank. Hickman immediately turned his horse, fled to the city, and reported that they had been attack ed by Indians, and his companion killed. Hatch, how ever, had strength enough to make his way back to the city, and stated that he had been shot by Hickman ; which account of the transaction was adhered to by him and his family for some weeks, untU Hickman called upon, and had a long private interview with him; after which the family contradicted the story, and the victim remained silent when questioned on the subject. Hatch died of the wound in March, and at the last moment told his physician that the shot was fired by Hickman. The latter attended the funeral ; and, while officiously engaged in filling up the grave, the father of the murdered man, under the influence of a sudden and uncontrollable paroxysm of vengeance, caught up a spade, and aimed a furious blow at his head, which must have inflicted a fatal wound, had not his arm been arrested by one of the by-standers. What passed at the private interview was only known to the two ; but it was believed that Hickman then 192 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. stated to his companion that he had shot him by com mand of " council ;" and that unless he and his family ceased to speak of it, some further punishment would be visited upon them. No person at Salt Lake City, old enough to form a conclusion from facts stated, ever for a moment doubt ed of the guilt of Hickman. Not the first step, how ever, was taken to investigate the matter judiciaUy, or to bring the murderer to justice. The Governor, and the district attorney, and the marshal, were aU there, duly commissioned and clothed with power-, and had been duly sworn, too, to execute the laws ; but in vain. Justice still sleeps, nor is it probable that her slum bers will ever be disturbed in this particular case. Hickman is still at large, and, both before and since the death of his victim, has been frequently seen in that kind of close and intimate relationship with the Governor which is usual between the principal and his confidential agent. Of course, when such serious crimes can be commit ted with impunity or by authority, smaller ones can not very much shock the moral sense. Great com plaints have been made by emigrants, from time to time, of the loss of theh animals, in which the names of some of the twelve apostles are associated. In the winter of 1850 and 1851, a larger number of emigrants than usual wintered at Salt Lake. In the spring, many of them met in Carson's Valley, on their way to California, and, on comparing notes, made up a grievous list of complaints against the Saints of plun der, by means more or less direct — some under the forms of law, and some otherwise — the most flagrant UTAH AND THE MORMONS. I93 of which were published in a pamphlet, and verified by the oaths ofthe sufferers. These statements being ex parte, and set forth, doubtless, with a degree of ex aggeration natural to persons telling their own story, where smarting under a sense of injury, can not be re garded as conclusive proof upon the subject. But when we reflect that there has ever been a lax morality in their intercourse with the Gentiles, which has its foun dation in theh rehgious principles, we are compelled to admit that more cases of oppression, extortion, and di rect plunder have been tolerated among the Saints than could be in any other civilized community on the foot stool. A case occurred in 1851, of some notoriety, and which seems to be reasonably well authenticated. A man by the name of Goodyear, a mountaineer, had an Indian wife, and was established on Ogden River, near Salt Lake, when the Mormons first came into the val ley. They bought out his possession and improvements, and he went to California. After a time, he returned with a number of superior horses which he had pur chased, intending to seU them at a profit. He left sixty of these horses on a range under the charge of one Hayt, a Mormon, and went back to California to pursue the business, where he died. When news came of his death to Great Salt Lake City, letters of admin istration were taken out by two persons whose names are widely known in that region in connection with questionable transactions, and neither of whom were related to the deceased, or had any claims against his estate. Armed with these powers, these worthies took possession of the horses, turned them over on Antelope I 194 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. Island, got up a sham sale, and bought them in for a song. Goodyear's brother went to the Mormon capital in 1851 to look after the property, and called upon the administrators to ascertain how matters stood. As it was difficult to find them together, they kept up a game of battledore with him for some time, in which he had to play the unfortunate part of the shuttlecock. They finally pretended that the mass of the property had been expended in the expenses of administration and in support ofthe children. Goodyear then appealed to Brigham Young ; but he seemed to be very ignorant about the transaction, and, on the whole, concluded that the property .ought to remain where the children were. He then searched for the children, of which { there were two, and found them with their grandfather, ' an old Indian, in a state of great destitution, and that i not a shilling had been expended for their benefit. After much fruitless and vexatious negotiation, the matter was finally compromised for a smaU sum, about $200. The horses were worth at least $3000. Was the Governor cognizant of this transaction ? Any one acquainted with the thorough system and espionage kept up in Utah could have no doubt on the subject, and he would be exceedingly verdant not to believe that a very hberal tithing of this plunder went into the coffers of the Church. Gentiles, however, who reside and are engaged in business at Salt Lake City, are sufficiently sharp to protect themselves, and they gain an influence which makes it comparatively easy to enforce their rights. A curious instance occurred, in which Holliday & Warner, a mercantile firm, were interested. They missed a num- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 195 ber of cattle from a herd which they were coUecting for the California market, and managed to trace the depredation to Joseph Bankhead, one of the faithful. As the most ready means of recovering their property, they laid the matter, with the proofs, before the Gov ernor. Brigham satisfied himself of the facts, and then sent word to Bankhead that he wished to see him on important business. Joe repaired, without delay, to the executive presence, when something like the fol lowing amusing scene is said to have occurred. As Joe entered, the Governor regarded him with a frown, and, in a stern voice, thundered out, " Joe Bankhead ! Joe Bankhead !" Joe. " Why, Governor, what is the matter ?" Brigham. " Joe Bankhead, I have had a vision about cattle." Joe Bankhead's body began to perspire ; Joe was dreadfully scared. Brigham. "Joe Bankhead, go instantly and pay Holhday & Warner for those cattle ! Joe Bankhead, begone !" Joe retired chop-fallen, and thoroughly convinced that Brigham was a true prophet of the Lord. He went straightway and paid for the cattle, greatly wondering that, among his numerous peccadilloes, the celestial councils should remain oblivious of all except this tri fling one against the Gentiles, the most venial of all Mormon sins. Had Holliday & Warner been mere wayfarers, and Joe of more conspicuous standing in the Church, it is to be feared the supernal powers would have turned a deaf ear to the complaint. Brigham is usually very accessible in a case like that of Bankhead, 196 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. because it gives him influence-with the resident Gen tiles, and serves to impress upon the superstitious a be lief that he can penetrate their most secret actions, and even thoughts. These unfortunate propensities of the Saints, in the absence of Gentiles, are often exercised upon each oth er, something like a collection of spiders made by a Frenchman for the purpose of manufacturing silk from the web, and whose experiment totaUy failed, because the smaUer ones fell a prey to the ferocity of the lar ger. Under these circumstances, it becomes necessary at times to put the civil law in force, and as there are no prisons in the territory, the convict is ordinarily sen tenced to work upon the streets, encumbered with a baU and chain. The emigrants, too, are treated much better than at first. Their visits to the valley have been found of so much advantage to the Saints, that greater pains have been taken to protect them from the depredations of the most lawless and ungovernable. We would fain believe, also, that, as the recollection of persecutions suffered in the States loses its extreme bitterness by lapse of time, a kindfier feeling is coming into exercise. There certainly have been instances not a few in which sick and worn-down travelers have been treated with brotherly kindness, and sent on theh way rejoic ing without fee or reward. Notwithstanding every effort, however, whether civil or ecclesiastical, thieving is lamentably common, as the following, from a sermon preached by Brigham, published in The Deseret News, May 14th, 1853, will show : UTAH AND THE MORMONS. I97 " How many complaints have been made to me by men who have had their horses stolen out of their sta bles or out of their corrals ; or of clothes being taken from the line. The reason why people lose their prop erty is because they do not watch it. Have I ever complained of any such thing ? No ! Why ? Be cause I watch my corral. Do I lose any thing out of my barn ? No ! Because I lock it up, and keep somebody there to watch it. Do I lose any clothing ? Not that I know of. I tell my folks not to leave out my clothing. ' Why,' they ask ; ' is there any danger of theh behig stolen ?' ' It is none of your business ; they will not dry after dark ; therefore take them in, and hang them out again in the morning.' All will be peace here this summer if you keep on watching." If the terrors which surround the name of the proph et ofthe Lord can not protect his property without the aid of a sentinel at his door, there would seem to be greater numbers who profess Mormonism without sin cere faith in its pretensions than has generaUy been supposed. In what proportion the infidels stand to the true believers, it is not easy to estimate. The Mormon community is curiously made up : it may be divided into four classes. The first are the leaders, from the prophet down — those high in the priesthood, who are interested in keeping up the delusion, because they live upon the ordinary and extraordinary tithing extracted from the people. These, like the conductor, engineers, brake- men, and switch-tenders on a rail-way, manage and control the whole machinery. They get up revela tions, perform sham miracles, taUc in unknown tongues, 198 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. and concoct among themselves the various means and modes of imposing upon popular credulity. Not one of these have the least faith in Latter-day theology, except as a species of stock in trade, which enables them to thrive at the expense of others. ¦Second. Some, "leaving their country for their country's good," have resorted to the new Zion, not only because it afforded an asylum from pursuit, but seemed to offer a safe field for the indulgence of their vicious propensities. These have no faith in any thing except the universal depravity of mankind. They form a floating population : some become leaders and rulers in Israel, and are sufficiently contented ; others, not succeeding quite so well, become discontented, and leave. In this same class may be included persons who have been unfortunate in business in the States, and, finding themselves on the very lowest round of the lad der, gather with the Saints under the deceptive induce ments held out of being able to better their condition. Third. Many obey the caU to gather themselves in the " tops of the mountains," because they think they are Mormons. They are afloat on religious subjects ; discontented with current forms and creeds ; and cap tivated with the ideas that the last days are at hand, and an open communication permitted with heaven. These flock to the new promised land, with high hopes that they have at last found a resting-place. But when they get there, and gain some knowledge of the out rages upon morality and decency so openly practiced, they become thoroughly disgusted, and seek every op portunity to escape from the dreadful thraldom to which they have unwittingly subjected themselves. UTAH AND THE M.ORMONS. 199 The fourth class is made of the Mormons who be heve in all, and are ready to swaUow down all the im provements ofthe system which come from head-quar ters. They give credit to every miracle performed, however transparent the imposition, and justify every enormity, however wicked, which is practiced or sanc tioned by authority. These people break up their com fortable homes in the States, brave the dangers and dif ficulties of the great journey, settle down in content ment in the valley of the Great Salt Lake, look for ward in confidence to the speedy wind up of mundane ¦ things, and reaUy believe they constitute the grand ) centre from which radiates aU the light by which hu- J manity is to be regenerated. The firm grasp which ) these fanatical notions have taken of their minds is in conceivable, —f^ Once, on a brief visit to the shores of Utah Lake, I met with hospitable treatment in a squalid hut, tenant ed by a man and his wife by the name of Blanchard. They had been Presbyterians in the States, but becom ing tired of a religion which had become stationary, as they termed it, and fascinated with the ideas of direct communication with heaven through the medium of a prophet, the performance of miracles by duly author ized apostles, and especiaUy of the " last days" being at hand, they had embraced the new faith, and bid adieu to their old friends and pleasant home in the State of Connecticut. The woman was very voluble, and ready enough to talk on all Mormon subjects ex cept polygamy, and on that she was sore. In one con versation with her, I pointed to a lofty mountain which • reared its snowy summit to the sky within a mile of ¦* 200 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. the dwelling, and asked her if that would ever literal ly subside into a plane. " Yes, indeed," was her re sponse ; "I expect to see that mountain literaUy made low, for the last days are at hand, and the Bible says that ' every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain made low,' and the Bible means exactly what it says." Of her sincerity there was no room for doubt. -This class constitutes about two thirds ofthe entire Mormon community, and furnishes the reliable power — the grand lever — by which the whole is governed. They are generally industrious and honest to an ex emplary degree, and manifest on ordinary occasions the kindly instincts and sympathies of humanity. But their fanaticism renders them blind instruments in the hands of " council" for the perpetration of any atrocity, however Criminal or revolting. A community so made up requires the exercise of much adroitness and cunning to keep them under obedient control, and the wits of the leaders are well sharpened in this respect. But, with aU the manage ment and chicanery at their command, Mormondom has ever been like a region of moving sand, which loses in a given time on one side as much as it has gained on the other. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 201 j CHAPTER XII. DOCTRINES. Idea of " Last Day." — Inspiration of Mormon Apostles. — Doctrines as contained in Book of" Doctrines and Covenants." — Faith the con trolling Principle. — Rebellion of Lucifer. — Great Efficacy of Bap tism. — Syllabus of Doctrines. — Damnation and Salvation. The Mormon creed is a curious piece of checkered and incongruous patchwork. Joseph Smith, the found er, claimed to be the divinely authorized discoverer and translator of the sacred writings of an ancient peo ple on this continent — aUeged to have been written on golden plates, and reserved until these last days for the use of " the Church of Latter-day Saints"' — called the Book of Mormon. The cardinal starting-point of Mormonism is, that the last days are at hand, and that the Mormons are Latter-day Saints. The controlHng idea is, that the general judgment is to come soon ; by which is not meant an indefinite series of ages, but within the life time of the present generation. As early as January, 1833, the prophet announced as follows : " And now I am prepared to say, by the authority of Jesus Christ, that not many years shall pass away before the United States shall present such a scene of bloodshed as has not a parallel in the history of our nation ; pestUence, hail, famine, and earthquakes wiU sweep the wicked of this generation from off the face of the land, to open and prepare the way for the return of the lost tribes of Israel from the north country. The 12 202 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. people of the Lord, those who have complied with the requisitions of the new covenant, have already com menced gathering together to Zion, which is in the State of Missouri; therefore I declare unto you the warning which the Lord has commanded me to declare unto this generation, remembering that the eyes of my Maker are upon me, and that to Him I am accounta ble for every word I say, wishing nothing worse to my fellow-men than their eternal salvation ; therefore, ' fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of his judg ment is come.' Repent ye, repent ye, and embrace the everlasting covenant, and flee to Zion before the overflowing scourge overtake you, for there are those now living upon the earth whose eyes shall not be closed in death until they see all these things which I have spoken fulfilled." [Times and Seasons, p. 707.) The gathering oi the Saints is that they may wit ness the imposing exhibition of the consummation of all things, which, in fact, is to be got up for theh ex clusive benefit. Under this leading idea, the true be liever leaves a comfortable home in the States, en dures privations and encounters danger in the long and weary travel to Utah, shelters himself in a wretched mud hovel in the VaUey of Salt, and patiently waits for the sound of the last trump. To be sure, some die on the way, and some die at the place of gathering, but these are only the few decayed leaves wliich fall from the tree in summer ; the mass of the foliage re mains until the autumnal frosts. This is a fixed and abiding idea in the Mormon mind. They have even defined the time to be in or about the year 1870 when the grand wind-up is to take place. Any other than a UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 203 speedy period for this catastrophe would disperse the Saints to the four winds. When the time shall have elapsed without the occurrence of this momentous dis play in the literal heavens, it wUl require a special meeting of the Celestials, and a strong revelation, to reconcUe them to a postponement. Under the pressure of tiiis belief, the sending forth 'of missionaries is a necessity. The fanatical Mormon Would not be satisfied unless he believed the work of . conversion and gathering to be rapidly going on. No inconsiderable amount of their preaching is made up of reports from returned missionaries, who recount the victories they have gained over Gentile adversaries, the miracles they have performed, and the multitudes they have baptized. In March, 1853, one Gruard, a return ing missionary from the Sandwich Islands, delivered one of these discourses, in which he claimed to have baptized 700 natives. A Mormon's statement is gen erally to be taken with many grains of aUowance, es pecially where there is no chance for contradiction ; and if this champion baptized one tenth of the number, it was a sufficient foundation for the story ; but, whether 70 or 700, not a dozen of them will ever become mem bers of the Latter-day flock. Before the eventful period arrives, the Saints have a - huge amount of business to do. They have not only to gather in all who are to be made Saints among the Gentiles, but the lost tribes of Israel are to be brought out of the " North country" — somewhere in the neigh borhood of Sir John Franklin — and all the Indians are to be converted. Joseph, in 1831, said by revelation, " But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Ja- 204 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. cob shaU flourish in the wilderness, and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose." The Lamanites are In dians, but they have never blossomed at aU under Mor mon horticulture. Encouraged by the prophecy, they have preached diligently to the sons of the forest and the plains, and have baptized a few ; but the Indians are a wary race, and not one convert has ever remain ed steadfast. On the contrary, they are now in open hostility with the Utahs, upon whose lands they have encroached ; and Walker, or Wachor, the chief of this tribe, is their most deadly enemy, notwithstanding he has been purified by repeated baptisms. The Mormon Church commenced with no distinct faith or doctrines, except a belief in Smith as a proph et, the Bible as reformed by him, the authenticity of the Book of Mormon, and that the last days were at hand. Smith's object was to gather in followers from Christendom ; and to have rejected the Bible wholly would have shocked all who place faith in it. His plan was rather a renovation than a repudiation of ancient forms — the Melchisedek and Aaronic priesthood — the twelve apostles — the seventies, &c., &c. — blending Ju daism and Christianity together in this respect, and claiming that out of these forms there can be no effi cient administration in spiritual things. This exercise of the gift of revelation has gone on from one emer gency to another, and from one speculation to another — a species of sacerdotal legislation, each subsequent enactment repealing what is inconsistent with it in previous statutes — until the Book of Mormon has be come of minor authority. These Sibylline leaves were collected together, and published in 1835, in the Book UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 205 of " Doctrines and Covenants," and, as a whole, exhibit the inharmonious and contradictory features which might reasonably be expected under similar circum stances. It is a curious fact, that they have widely departed from the only important doctrines contained in tho Book of Mormon ; but they claim that their system is progressive. Says Brigham Young : " If he (an apos tle) magnifies his calling, his words are the words of eternal life and salvation to those who hearken to them, just as much so as any written revelations contained in these three books (Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doc trines and Covenants). There is nothing contained in these three books that is any more revelation than the words of an apostle that is magnifying his calling." [Deseret News extra, p. 25.) If the apostle, under the influence of this divine af flatus, eliminates nothing but what is found in these three books, he makes no advance. Each, of course, is ambitious of being found in the ranks of this moving array, and each, as a medium, gives the hues and col orings of his own mind. The result is precisely such as might have been anticipated, and the revelations of the voluptuary, the ambitious, the crafty, and the vis ionary speculatist, have come forth laden with the reek ing effluvia and murky hues of each one's ruling love. There is nothing positively bad in the Book of Mormon \ more than in the Apocrypha. It teaches Theism, the moral virtues, faith, charity, the marriage of one man with one wife, and, withal, very pointedly condemns ,; concubinage and jjs kindred vices. The progressive. Saints have run into pantheism ; polygamy, with its 206 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. affinities ; and, what is decidedly curious, as early as 1835 they totally ignored charity as a doctrinal prin ciple, while they made faith the beginning, middle, and end of all religion. " In 1835, something Hke a systematic statement of doctrines was arranged in seven lectures, by Sidney Rigdon, which were published, and form the first part of the " Doctrines and Covenants." Every one of these lectures is headed " Of Faith." From these lec tures it appears that they divide all theology into Faith, the objects of faith, and the effects which flow from it. Faith is the first great governing principle, which has power, dominion, and authority over aU things. It is the principle of power in God as well as in man. By it were all things created ; without it, God could not have created any thing ; nor could he uphold and gov ern the universe. It lies at the foundation of aU hu man effort, and is the only means of man's salvation. God would not have attempted to create any thing un less he had had faith in his power to do it, and the same rule holds in regard to man. Next comes the objects of faith, and under this head they profess a belief in the being and attributes of God. God is without beginning of days or end of life ; infinite and eternal ; omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient ; the creator and upholder of aU things, and the only living and true God. [Doctrines and Cov enants, p. 25, 39, 92, &c.) Our knowledge of God is only traditionary. Adam and Cain had personal inter views with him, and their knowledge has been handed down to posterity. Without a knowledge ofthe being and attributes of God, and faith in him, no one could UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 207 be saved; and in this respect the Latter-day Saints are on an equality with the Former-day Saints. God consists of a trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but the supreme power belongs to the Father and Son. Though the Holy Spirit has a nominal place in this trinity, yet, as he seems to be shorn of power, and to act more in the capacity of a servant, their doc trine in this respect, and at this period, was rather a duality than a trinity. [Doctrines and Covenants, p. 52, 55.) God the Father is a personage oi spirit, and the Son a personage of body ; that is, a body into which he en tered in the natural world. The Son was begotten of the Father, and descended, and suffered according to previous ordination before the foundation of the world, to be a propitiation for the sins of all who should be lieve on him ; by the efficacy of which the Saints are to have fuUness of spirit and glory. It seems that men, or rather their bodies, were not created as new beings, but as receptacles or " taber nacles" for pre-existhig spirits which had been begot ten in the heavens, and were there as the sons of God who shouted for joy at the creation ; and that it was a necessary part of the plan that man should transgress, and the body die, in order that these " sons" should be furnished with resurrection bodies. It does not seem to have occurred to the Creator to impose the dissolu tion of the " tabernacle" as a part of the law of crea tion without disobedience. However, the plan having been adopted that man should transgress, it became necessary for some one to offer an atonement, and a council was called to choose a candidate for this mis- 208 UTAH, AND THE MORMONS. sion. Among the celebrated personages present on this memorable occasion was " Lucifer, son of the morn ing ;" the passage from Job, " and Satan came also among them," being deemed sufficient authority on this point. Lucifer and the Son were the two candi dates presented to this democratic theocracy ; stump speeches were made ; and the devil seems to have made a stiff fight of it, but was finally outvoted. " The contention in heaven was, Jesus said there would be certain souls that would not be saved, and the devil said he could save them aU ; the grand council gave in for Jesus Christ ; so the devil rebelled against God and fell, and all who put up theh heads for him." [Times and Seasons, p. 616.) So much ill blood was engendered by this strife, that the devil and his adherents were finally banished, and their "tabernacles" in this world are the negro race, being cursed with a black skin. This, in reference to the election of the Son and the disgrace of Lucifer, is a doctrinal point, developed since the publication of the Book of Doctrines and Covenants, and introduced here for the sake of the connection. Under the objects of faith are classed the works of faith, by which are understood those effected by the powers of the mind, instead of those resulting from physical efforts. By faith, in this sense, every thing is accomplished by God, angels, and men. " The whole visible creation is the effect of faith." "As aU visible creation is the effect of faith, so is salvation also," and each one is saved according to the degree of his faith. " Salvation consists in the glory, authority, majesty, power, and dominion which Jehovah possesses, and in UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 209 nothing else," and to this same degree men attain who are saved. Salvation " begins with faith, and contin ues by faith ; and every blessing which is obtained in relation to it is the effect of faith, whether it pertains to this life or that which is to come." Faith brings with it " apostles, prophets, evangehsts, pastors, teach ers, gifts, wisdom, knowledge, miracles, healings, tongues, interpretation of tongues," &c. Baptism is necessary to salvation, and is adminis tered only by an apostle, and by immersion. Infants are not baptized, but blessed by an elder by the laying on of hands. Those who believe and are baptized, re ceive the Holy Ghost and the remission of sins. " It shall come to pass, that on as many as ye shall bap tize with water, ye shall lay your hands, and they shall reCeive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Those who do not believe and are not baptized, are damned ; but as this would involve the damnation of all those who had died without the administration of this rite, bap tisms are performed for them by proxy ; that is, a Saint may be baptized for his deceased relatives or friends — called " baptism for the dead" — and they, by this pro cess, are released from a state somewhat akin to Pur gatory. This kind of baptism, however, can only be administered in the Temple. Baptism may be said to be the most important of the Latter-day ordinances. Without it, no one can be saved ; with it, the vilest is on the high road to salva tion. There would seem to be an efficacy about it in Mormon hands wliich partakes ofthe miraculous. No matter how vile or filthy the applicant, baptism wash es him into purity and comeliness. A man reeking 210 UTAH AND THE' MORMONS. from the pot-house or the brothel — the gambler, the horse-thief, and the counterfeiter — can have their sins made as wool by this aU-powerful ablution. Woman, too, comes within this generous and comprehensive pale of salvation. She can be picked up from the gut ter of pollution — selected out from the third tier and Five Points — and laved into respectability and purity. The oddity mentioned by Hudibras, which was " Whelp'd without form, until the dam Had lick'd it into shape and frame," scarcely furnishes a parallel to its wondrous trans formations. This efficacy, too, has a continuando — a species of perpetuity perfectly marvelous. A man or woman may slide away into former licenses — the horse-thief may, in a fit of forgetfulness, take a valuable nag from some careless emigrant — the fair Cyprian be a little too lavish of her favors — when lo ! these stray lambs return again and again to the ever-open fold, and are washed into a new regeneration — their sins forgotten and forgiven, and ready to be forgotten and forgiven, for the seventy and seventh time, which I believe is the canonical number of times in which they may safely transgress. Even the sin of apostacy, which, in Mormon estimation, is the blackest of all, may be whitened by this process ; and it is related of Gladden Bishop, who claimed to stand in the same relation to.^ Joseph Smith that our Lord did to John the Baptist, that he was excommunicated and rebaptized nine times, but was finally cut off and given over to the bufferings of Satan for one thousand years. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is recommend- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 211 ed as expedient, and is administered by a priest or el der. Wine was at first used, but water afterward sub stituted, because none could be obtained except of Gen tUe manufacture. Subsequently, to rebut the charges of infidelity and heathenism brought against them, they published the following syUabus of doctrines : " We believe in God the eternal Father, and in his Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. "We believe that men wiU be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgressions. "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. Bap tism by immersion for the remission of sins ; 4th. Lay ing on of hands by the gift of the Holy Spirit ; 5th. The Lord's Supper. " We believe that men must be caUed of God by in spiration, and by laying on of hands from those who are duly commissioned to preach the Gospel, and ad minister the ordinances thereof. " We beheve in the same organization that existed in the primitive Church, viz., apostles, prophets, pas tors, teachers, evangelists, &c. " We believe in the powers and gifts of the everlast ing 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 beheve in the word of God recorded in the Bi- 212 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. ble ; 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 now revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he wUl 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 restoration of the ten tribes ; that Zion will be established upon the Western Continent ; that Christ wUl reign personally upon the earth a thousand years ; and that the earth wUl be renewed, and receive its par adisiacal glory. "We beheve in the literal resurrection ofthe body, and that the rest of the dead live not again until the thousand years are expired. "We claim the privUege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, unmolested, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how or what they may. " We believe in being subject to kings, queens, pres idents, rulers and magistrates ; in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. " We believe in being honest, true, chaste, temper ate, benevolent, vhtuous, and upright, and in doing good to all men ; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonitions of Paul : we ' believe aU things,' we ' hope all things,' we have endured very many things, and hope to be able to ' endure all things.' Every thing lovely, virtuous, praiseworthy, and of good report, we seek after, looking forward ' to the recompense of re ward.' But an idle or lazy person can not be a Chris tian, neither have salvation. He is a drone, and is des- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 213 tined to be stung to death, and tumbled out of the hive." In this rudely-fashioned theological structure, faith, it wiU be seen, is the cementing principle by which it is kept together. Faith is made not only the grand motive and propelling power, but also the regulating principle — the modus operandi — in divine and human efforts. They seem to have wholly overlooked the fact that man has a will as well as an understanding ; and that, as he was created in the image and likeness of God, we are warranted in the belief that the Cre ator possesses these faculties in infinite perfection. The will of man is the receptacle of love, and the un derstanding of wisdom ; and as the one is the motive, and the other the regulating power of all orderly hu man action, we may see that a union of these two fac ulties is absolutely necessary to constitute humanity. And, looking from man to his Maker, we may gain some insight into the laws which regulate the creation and government of the universe. Knowing, too, that man possesses these two faculties, and that charity re sides in the will, and faith in the understanding, we may learn why it is that these two doctrinal principles are so necessarUy interwoven into his spiritual being, that to take away one would destroy that duality which makes him human — would, in fact, reduce him to a mere perversion, which might well be represented by a body with one eye, one. arm, and one leg, one lobe of a brahi, one half of a nose, &c. ""¦* The Saints have invented, or rather destroyed, the law of human existence. They have set up faith as a duty which controls aU things, divine and human. 214 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. Love is nothing — wisdom is every thing. God and his creatures have understandings, but no wiU — thoughts, but no affections. The cold, harsh, icy inductions of reason, create, govern, and control all things ; nothing moves in heaven, earth, or hell from the impulses of affection. The only impulses in Mormon faith or prac tice are those which regard worldly grandeur, and the appetites and lusts ofthe flesh. God created all things because he had faith in his power to do it, not because he was actuated by the love of producing happiness : it was a question of power, not of love. Man acts only because he believes he can produce results ; if he did not so believe, he would make no effort. All that is said in common parlance and in preaching about the love and tender mercies of God, are mere cant and unmeaning phrases by the side of the freezing dogma of faith so distinctly set forth. We may as soon ex pect the snow-capped mountains which surround the seat of Mormon power to be clothed with the verdure of spring, as look for the vegetation and growth of a single spiritual principle from such a creed. At first, their notions of hell were not very well de fined. They scouted the idea of" fire and brimstone," notwithstanding their literalism, on the ground that the bodies of the damned, being material, must necessarily be consumed in such a furnace. In reference to the duration of punishment, some curious ideas have been evolved. The question was once put to Joseph, by a Universalist, upon this point, and was answered by a quibbling revelation in the following formula : " Eternal punishment is ) Endless punishment is God's punishment. ) God's punishment." UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 215 By the same revelation, it appears that the terms eter nal and endless are used because God is eternal and endless, and not in reference to the duration of the punishment; that punishment for a limited period is eternal and endless, because God inflicts it. The Lord was condescending enough to inform the prophet that it was written " eternal damnation, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men," for the sake of his glory. Whether the Universalist, so skiUfully angled for, was caught, does not appear. In regard to the nature of the punishment, the most definite idea seems to be, that those who come short of salvation are deprived of their external bodies, sep arated from their friends, and imprisoned. In this con dition, as " the spirits in prison," they are preached to, and have a chance to repent, and, if they do, can enter again into earthly tabernacles, and try once more for a kingdom. Every sinner, therefore, has more than one chance ; he can run the gauntlet of an earthly taber nacle as many times as he chooses to repent in this infernal prison-house. The prophet, however, was careful, in a subsequent revelation, to provide a more enduring hell for apos tates. Apostacy was discovered to be the sin against the Holy Ghost which is not to be forgiven. Those who sin in this respect are " they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the devil and his angels, and the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power ; yea, the only ones who shaU not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord :" " they shall go away into everlasting punishment, which is endless punishment, to reign with the devil 216 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. and his angels to eternity." The devil and his angels are those who voted in the minority at the election be fore referred to, and were cast down. Whether this appendix to the infernal regions was satisfactory to tho Universalist, we have no means of knowing. The salvation, as well as damnation, of the Saints possesses many curious features. The grossest mate rialism will be found to be the underlying formation on which the conglomerated stratum rests. There are three degrees of salvation, or glories, as they are some times called — the celestial, terrestrial, and telestial, corresponding to the sun, moon, and stars. The celes tial is the highest, and those who attain it are to have celestial bodies, and are the priests of the order of Mel chisedek. The terrestrial is a degree lower. It is made up of the " spirits in prison" who receive the Gospel wheri it is there preached to them : these have only terrestrial bodies. The telestial is the lowest of all, and is made up of those who in the first instance are cast into hell, but, after roasting a whUe, are final ly redeemed from the devil in the last resurrection. These have telestial bodies, and occupy, as it were, the basement story of this singular theological edifice. The bodies for these degrees, though differently named, all agree in being material ; that being, according to Mormon estimation, the entire composition of all things, divine, human, and infernal. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 217 CHAPTER XIII. doctrines continued. Doctrinal Sermons. — The Resurrection Saints to have Farms and be come Gods. — Pre-existence of Spirits. — Pantheism. — Propagation of Gods. — Holy Spirit. — Angels. — Materialism. In the summer of 1852, discourses were delivered by Orson Pratt and Brigham Young, in which some of the eccentric features of the Mormon creed, in refer ence to the salvation and glory of the Saints, are dis tinctly set forth. They believe, it appears, that by the sin of Adam eating the fruit contrary to the divine command, the penalty of the death of the body was brought upon all men ; and that, without any future redemption, the soul and the body would eternally lie in the grave. The death of Christ, however, satisfied the original sin, and by it man wiU have a resurrection from the grave only. " You wUl be redeemed from the original sin with no works on your part whatever. Jesus had died to redeem you from it, and you are as sure to be redeem ed as you live upon the face of the earth." " If you have murdered all the days of your life, and commit ted aU the sins the devil would prompt you to commit, you will get a resurrection — your spirit will be restored to your body ; and if Jesus had not come, aU of us would have slumbered in the grave." [Pratt's Ser mon, Deseret News, Aug. 21, 1852.) K 218 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. It is the general belief of Christendom that man, on the dissolution ofthe body, must bid a final adieu to his earthly riches. But this forms no part of the Mormon faith. After the earth has been purified by fire, and after the resurrection, each Saint is to have a good farm: " 0 ye Saints, when you sleep in the grave, don't be afraid that your agricultural pursuits are forever at an end ; don't be fearful that you will never get any more landed property ; but if you are Saints, be of good cheer ; for when you come up in the morning of the resurrec tion, behold, there is a new earth," &c. "We are looking for things in their immortal state, and farmers wiU have great farms upon the earth when it is so changed." [Idem.) But the sequel shows that the size of these farms de pends very much upon the length of time the earth shall escape the fiery purification. If the universal conflagration should happen to be postponed for 8000 years, there wiU have to be close engineering to make out a decent-sized lot, leaving out of the estimation salt lakes, deserts, and canons. " But don't be so fast, says one ; don't you know that there are only about 197,000,000 of square miles, or about 126,000,000,000 of acres upon the surface of the globe ? Will these accommodate all the inhab itants after the resurrection ? Yes ; for, if the earth should stand 8000 years, or eighty centuries, and the population should be a thousand million in every cen tury, that would be 80,000,000,000 of inhabitants, and we know that many centuries have passed that would not give the tenth part of this ; but supposing this to bo UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 219 the number, there would then bo over an acre and a half for each person upon the surface of the globe." [Idem.) The wicked, however, being excluded from the prom ises, gives the Saint the reasonable expectation of a good farm, even though the earth should jog on in the old way a little over the time limited. Upon the as sumption that one out of a hundred is brought into the fold, each Saint " would receive over 150 acres, which would be quite enough to raise manna, and to build some habitations upon and some splendid mansions; it would be large enough to raise flax to make robes of, and to have beautiful orchards of fruit-trees ; it would be large enough to have our flower-gardens, and every thing the agriculturist and the botanist want, and some to spare." It seems, too, each man is to rise with his wives and children, and the work of generation is still to go on ; and when the house gets too full, the surplus popula tion are to be sent forth to new worlds, to be created for their especial benefit. This, however, is not to be the end of his progress ; he is even to become a god, and a creator of worlds on his own hook. " The Lord created you and me for the purpose of becoming gods like himself. We are created, we are born for the express purpose of growing up from the low estate of manhood, to become gods like unto our Father in heaven. The Lord has organized mankind for the express purpose of increasing in that intelligence j and truth which is with God, until he is capable of creating worlds on worlds, and becoming gods." [Brig- , ham Young, Deseret News, Oct. 2, 1852.) -^ 220 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. "After men have got their exaltation and theh crowns — have become gods, even the sons of God' — are made Khig of kings and Lord of lords — they have the power then of propagating their species in spirit, and that is the first of theh operations with regard to organizing a world. Power is then given to them to organize the elements, and then commence the organ ization of .tabernacles. How can they do it? Have they to go to that earth? Yes, an Adam wiU have to go ther^i, and he can not do without Eve; he must have Eve to commence the work of generation ; and they wUl go into the garden, and continue to eat and drink of the fruits of the corporeal world, until this grosser matter is diffused sufficiently through their ce lestial bodies to enable them, according to the estab lished laws, to produce mortal tabernacles for their spiritual children." [Brigham Young, Deseret News extra, September 14th, 1852.) " But I expect, if I am faithful with yourselves, that I shall see the time with yourselves that we wiU know how to prepare to organize an earth like this — know how to people that earth, how to redeem it, how to sanctify it, and how to glorify it, with those who live upon it who hearken to our counsel. The Father and Son have attained to this point already ; I am on the way, and so are you, and every faithful servant of God." [Idem.) The Father and Son, therefore, must have been mor tals once, like the redoubtable Brigham, and have worked their way to their present condition ! This, however, does not tell the whole story. Each and every Mormon has had a pre-existence. The ma- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 221 terial body is a tabernacle produced by natural gener ation, into which the pre-existing spirit is inserted. But to create a spirit every time a natural body is cre ated is considered too irksome a business for the Al mighty. The foUowing reasoning is considered very conclusive at Salt Lake : - — -. " Do the Scriptures declare that the spirit was form- / ed at the time the tabernacle was made ? No. All the tabernacles of the chUdren of men that were ever \ formed, from remote generations, from the days of j Adam to this time, have been formed out of the earth. We are of the earth, earthy. The tabernacle has been organized according to certain principles and laws of organization, with bones, and flesh, and sinews, and skin. Now where do you suppose aU these tabernacles got their spirits ? Does the Lord make a new spirit every time a tabernacle is made ? if so, the work of creation, according to the belief of Christendom, did not cease on the seventh day. If we admit theh views, the Lord must be continually making spirits to inhabit all the tabernacles of the children of men ; he must make something like one thousand millions of spirits every century ; he must be working at it every day, for there are many hundreds of individuals being born into the world every day. Does the Lord create a new spirit every time a new tabernacle comes into the world ? That does not look reasonable, or God like." ( Orson Pratt, Des. News extra, Sept. 14th, 1852.) But, happily, the Lord is relieved of this daily drudg ery by a discovery which solves the whole difficulty. These pre-existing spirits were no other than the sons of God who shouted for joy on a certain memorable oo- 222 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. casion : " The Lord told Job that all the sons of God shouted for joy, and the morning stars sang together, when the foundations of the globe were laid. The sons of God, recoUect, shouted for joy, because there was a beautiful habitation being built, so that they could get tabernacles and dwell therein ; they expect ed the time ; they looked forward to the period ; it was joyful for them to reflect that the creation was about being formed, the corner-stone of it was laid, on which they might, in their times and in their seasons, go forth and receive tabernacles for theh sphits to dwell in." [Idem.) How the penalty of death, which is claimed to be brought upon aU men by the sin of Adam, could attach to those sons -who had not at the time entered taber nacles, does not appear to be explained. One would think, with such a punishment staring them in the face, to say nothing of Missouri mobs and other casu alties, they would be somewhat shy of entering such rickety and exposed habitations. But that they did pre-exist is proved to the satisfaction of all good Saints : " We find that Solomon, that wise man, says that when the body returns to the dust, the sphit returns to God who gave it. Now all this congregation very well know, that if we never existed there we could not re turn there. I could not return to Cafifornia ; why ? because I never have been there." [Idem.) Why- Solomon's declaration will not as weU apply to the daUy creation of spirits to be inserted in the taber nacles, as well as to the supposed case of the sons be ing created in a batch before the foundation of the world, is not explained. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 223 Some of these pre-created sons are more noble and intelligent than others, which fact is made satisfacto rily to appear by " the Book of Abraham, translated from the Egyptian papyrus by the prophet Joseph Smith." And what is stiU more wonderful, the scur vy ones have been sent into the bodies of Hottentots, negroes, 6cc, while the most noble have been reserved for these latter days, for the distinguished honor of be ing inserted into tabernacles prepared by the conse crated concubines of Utah. According to the Brahmin, Vishnu, from a Httle fish, became a big fish, and from a big fish, a giant, and from a giant, a boar, and with his tusks raised the earth from the bottom of the waters. This was a feat sufficiently marvelous ; but the Mormon has proved himself a match for the East Indian ; the latter never dreamed of making human beings the raw material for manufacturing gods. The former have fairly bridged over the impassable gulf which separates the finite from the infinite. These strange mutations from weak ness to omnipotence, which, in this case, may not ir reverently be compared to that wliich begins in a tad pole and ends in a bullfrog, are effected by the aU- powerful instrumentality of faith, which, like the in trusive young of the cuckoo in the sparrow's nest, has crowded out or made subordinate every other doctrinal principle. So far the system would seem to be Polytheism, dif fering from that of the ancients, inasmuch as each man is to become a god and creator. These wild notions lift up the Mormon in his own conceit, and invest him with superior privileges. Being a god in embryo, he 224 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. feels the right to anticipate the privileges of divine roy alty ; and as he has no idea of heavenly happiness, ex cept from that which springs from the unlimited enjoy ment of the senses, he has already legalized adultery, and is fast running into kingly enormities equal to any of which history has yet spoken. As before stated, the Mormons have floated off strangely from their original anchorage. On the sub ject of the Trinity, the Book of Mormon recognizes the common doctrine of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ; and it is fair to believe that the early converts Were not disturbed in their faith on this point ; but they have since adopted notions on this subject which would more appropriately apply to the fabled gods of antiquity. They now believe that God the Father was originally a spirit propagated by a previous God or Father ; that he was at first a disembodied spirit, and, to obtain a body or clothing to his sphit, passed through a proba tion upon some earth like a human being. The Father of God, they say, was the grandfather of Christ. Of course, the grandparent must have been propagated by some prior Deity. How far back this theocratic pedigree runs, does not appear to be definitely settled. Some of the Saints, in conversation, express the befief that each earth in 'the universe has its own separate God, exercising his omnipotent functions -independent of the rest; that other earths have probably passed through the purifying process which is yet in store for this earth ; and that some ofthe earths have been cre ated by mortals, who had become gods. There would, therefore, seem to be no danger of a faUure in this the ocratic lineage for the government ofthe universe ; and UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 225 if there were, the improved machinery at Salt Lake would insure a supply of the genuine article. The term " only-begotten" appeared to be somewhat at war with this theory, but is now satisfactorily ex plained. It is aUeged that, after Christ was chosen a delegate at the grand council before mentioned, the Father begat a tabernacle for him, through a human mother, and that this was the only instance of that description. The Holy Ghost is a disembodied sphit, and it is beheved he wUl at some period pass through a human probation and obtain a body. Some believe that this has already been done, and that he occupied the body ofthe prophet Smith ; but this has not yet received the stamp of authority, and must be regarded as one ofthe ten thousand wild notions floating through Mormon brains. This personage has a kind of shadowy exist ence in Latter-day theology, appearing and disappear ing with all the eccentric shiftings of an Aurora Bore- alis. Probably Shakspeare's Ariel, in the' Tempest, is as nearly an embodiment of the character as can well be conceived. His pedigree remains in still greater obscurity. Who was his she, and who his dam, is a point to be explained by some future revelation. _^ It is an important point in Mormon behef, that the " sons" or sphits who have been begotten in heaven should have natural bodies, as a kind of shield for pro tection ; otherwise, each one is like a body without a skin, or a clam without a shell. Why, being material in the first instance (as will appear in the sequel), it should be necessary to dip them, Hke candles, into the grosser parts of nature, to crust them over, is a point K2 226 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. to be yet canvassed and settled. Satan and his party are doomed to remain without bodies, or take up with very vile ones, on account of theh factious opposition at the time the celestial election was held. Had he obtained a majority on that occasion, the position of the parties would have been changed. On the subject of Angels, too, the Saints have de parted from common belief in assigning them a much lower position in the supernal regions. These beings — who have heretofore been so brightly colored with the hues of a heavenly morning — whose very name has presented a perfect ideal of the highest degree of happiness and goodness which can be secured to cre ated beings — have failed somehow to reach the highest position in the Mormon heaven. They are regarded as ministering spirits, messengers, or travehng agents, to do the bidding of those who are above them in the scale. One of them, for instance, was ordered to appear to the prophet Joseph, and point out the locafity ofthe golden plates. They are aUeged, indeed, to be happy in their sphere, but they can never be invested with the para phernalia of celestial royalty, like the most favored of the Latter-day Saints. The fair Cyprians of Salt Lake feel themselves quite superior to angels. He or she who can only be an angel is considered decidedly below I par. Why any ofthe Saints should be reduced to this dilemma is not very clear ; but the best opinion seems i to be, that angels are those who have not been married \ or sealed ; and it is an argument for silly and deluded females that they must lengthen out the taU of some harem in order to reach a higher degree of salva tion. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 227 " I wUl tell you what revelation says, not only con cerning them that reject these things, but concerning those that, through their carelessness, or want of faith, or some thing else, have faded to have theh marriages sealed for time and for all eternity ; those that do not do these things, so as to have the same ordinances sealed upon their heads by divine authority, as was upon the head of old father Adam — if they fail to do it through wickedness — through their ungodliness — behold, they also wiU never have the privfiege of possessing that which is possessed by the gods that hold the keys of power, of coming up to the thrones of their exaltation, and receiving their kingdoms. What wUl be their condition? the Lord has told us. He says these are angels ; because they keep not this law, they shaU be ministering servants unto those who are worthy of ob taining a more exceeding and eternal weight of glory ; wherefore, saith the Lord, they shaU remain singly and separately in their saved condition, and shaU not have power to enlarge themselves, and thus shall they re main forever and ever." ( Orson Pratt, Des. News extra.) Another important departure from the primitive faith is theh doctrine of Materialism. They have re vived the old atomic theory ofthe ancient Greeks, with improvements, and teach that matter is eternal and in telligent. They beheve that all things, divine or hu man, are material ; and, as a sequence, they negative the omnipresence of God, and eventually make the Saints every way the equal of God. " God the Father is material ; Jesus Christ is ma terial; angels are material; men are material; the 228 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. universe is material. Nothing exists which is not material." [Millennial Star, vol. vi., p. 19.) "What is God? He is a material organized intel- Hgence, possessing both body and parts. This being can not occupy two distinct places at once, therefore he can not be every where present." (P. 20.) Of Christ they say, " He, too, can traverse space, and go from world to world like the Father, but can not occupy two places at once." Ofthe Spirits they say, " They are material organ izations, intelligences possessing body and parts, but not composed of flesh and bones, but of some substance less tangible to our gross senses in our present life, but tangible to those in the same element as them selves. In short, they are men in embryo — intelli gences waiting to come into the material world, and take upon them flesh and bones, that, through bhth, death, and the resurrection, they may also be perfect ed in the material organization. Such was Jesus Christ, and such were we before we came into this world, and such we will be again in the intervening space between death and resurrection." Of Men they say, " They are the offspring of God the Father, and brothers of Jesus Christ. They were once inteUigent spirits in the presence of God, and were with him before the earth was formed. They are capable of receiving intelligence and exaltation to such a degree as to be raised from the dead with a body Hke that of Jesus Christ, and to possess immortal flesh and bones, being gods or sons of God, endowed with the same powers, attributes, and capacities that their heavenly Father and Jesus Christ possess." UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 229 Matter they claim to be eternal, and intelligence to be "either a property of material atoms, or a re sult of the combination or contact of these atoms." (P. 159.) Matter could not have been created by any being, because that would suppose the existence of such be ing prior to the matter, which could not be, inasmuch as such being consists of matter. This whole doctrine of matter seems to be compact ed in the following intricate weavhig of Orson Pratt. [Idem, p. 173.) " The only sound answer that can be given to these intricate inquiries is, that these atoms must be intel ligent, having self-moving powers, limited to contain spheres and modes of action according to the nature and degree of their intelligence ; and that this intel ligence is not the effect, but the cause of combina tion ; not derived from experience, but self-existent and eternal." This is as clear as mud. According to this, the first being was created by a chance combination of matter ; or else, these atoms being intelligent, squads of them got together and formed themselves into a being. Was there any wrangling among them as to which should be elevated to the head, and which depressed to the nether extremities ? which should be hide, and which hair ? which should tamely form the portion of a base ment wall, or shine gloriously in a Venus de Medici or Greek Slave? Of course, all organized forms had a beginning — gods, men, and devils being on a par in this respect, except that the former got the start in this combining process. How it chanced that some 230 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. of these atoms were of finer quahty than others, or why each, being intelligent, it became necessary for them to be organized into combined forms, are things which do not distinctly appear. This author continues his speculations, and ruth lessly overthrows long-cherished opinions in this wise : "Attraction is said to be a property of matter. Itis said that every atom attracts every other atom with a force varying inversely as the square of the distance. But attraction is impossible, for any atom can not act where it is not." He explains the phenomena usually attributed to attraction as follows : " It is evident that inteUigent self-moving atoms, confined in their move ments within the necessary Hmits, can produce all these effects. These self-moving atoms are regulated by the following law, namely, Every atom moves itself toward every other atom with a force varying inverse ly as the square of the distance." (P. 174.) Newton would seem to have made a grand mistake. His theory of gravitation is effectuaUy exploded, and at Salt Lake has become an obsolete idea. The apple will hereafter fall to the ground because it is intelli gent, and prefers a downward motion. It is to be hoped that our Spitzenbergs, and our pippins, and all their relations, will continue in that happy form of mind, and not "shoot madly from their spheres" in another direction. But the principle of gravitation is not the only cher ished idea which the world must give up. There are other and more important sequences from these start ling propositions. If each atom be intelligent, self- existent, and eternal, there must be as many first UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 231 causes as there are atoms in the- universe, and the idea of a Great First Cause must share the fate of the Newtonian theory. It has been shrewdly remark ed by some one, that " if all men were kings, there would be no subjects." Upon this principle, one would naturally suppose that these first causes, or gods, would scarcely find elbow-room for each other. Some would call this atheism, but why does it not come nearer pantheism ? Each atom is a god by itself, because it is "intelligent, self-existent, and eternal," and each Saint is consequently a conglomeration of gods. The subject naturally provokes some queries, which may, perhaps, be satisfactorUy solved at some future reve lation from the celestial atoms above. Atoms, as or ganized into men, quarrel and fight with each other ; was there any fighting between them before men were created? Who confined these atoms "within the nec essary hmits ?" was that a matter of chance, or did the leaders of the godocracy get together in atomic cau cus, and cut and dry the business for the multitude after the fashion of modern politicians ? Why is the boy less wise than the gray-beard, and why is it nec essary to build up schools and seminaries of educa tion? This whole doctrine of the eternity of matter and the origin of the gods is in direct contradiction to the Book of Mormon and of Smith's early revelations. " By these things we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting, the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them." [Doctrines and Covenants, p. 92.) 232 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. " There is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that are in them." [Book of Mormon, p. 69.) Afterward we find the prophet, in the very last ser mon he preached, using the following language : " The head God called together the gods, and sat in grand council. The grand counselors sat in yonder heavens, and contemplated the creation of the worlds that were created at that time." [Times and Sea sons, p. 614.) But Mormonism claims to be a progressive Church, and what was truth yesterday is discovered to be false to-day, and the new principle is destined to be ex ploded to-morrow. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 233 CHAPTER XIV. doctrines continued. Early Notions on Marriage. — Introduction of Polygamy. — Existed at first as a secret Institution. — Jesuitism of Missionaries on the Subject. — Polygamy an Element of Salvation. — The Gods are Polygamists. At an early period, their views in relation to mar riage were in conformity to the rest of the civilized world. This, in fact, was one of the few subjects which was plainly expressed in the Book of Mormon. " And now I make an end of speaking unto you con cerning this pride. And were it not that I must speak unto you concerning a grosser crime, my heart would rejoice exceedingly because of you. But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord, this people begin to wax in iniquity ; they understand not the Scriptures ; for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whore doms, because of the things which were written con cerning David, and Solomon his son. Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord. Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph ; where fore I, the Lord God, will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old. Wherefore, my breth ren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord ; 234 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. for there shall not any man among you have save it bo one wife, and concubines he shaU have none ; for I, the Lord God, dehght in the chastity of women ; and whoredoms are an abomination before me." [Book of Mormon, p. 135.) Their book of " Doctrines and Covenants" has tho form ofthe marriage ceremony, including the covenant obligations of the parties, in which is found the fol lowing : " You both mutually agree to be each other's com panion, husband and wife, observing the legal rights belonging to this condition ; that is, keeping yourselves wholly for each other, and from all others, during your lives." In 1843 the prophet had a revelation by which po lygamy was introduced, as already stated ; and tins institution is now the most distinctive feature of Mor monism. In answer to the objection that this revela tion is hi contradiction to the " Book of Mormon," the Saints quote the foUowing vague and somewhat un meaning sentence, which appears as a context to the above extract : " For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shaU hearken unto these things." By this they say " the bars were left down ;" but whether Joseph and Rigdon purposely left " the bars down," or intended this as one of the thousand obscure and wordy sentences with which the book abounds, with out particular aim or object, is not very clear. Be this, however, as it may, the whole Church have rushed through this gap like a flock of goats ; and the Mormon community are now as hopelessly encircled within the UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 235 folds of this pernicious doctrine, as poor Laocoon with in those of the serpent by which his body was crushed. The introduction of polygamy or concubinage into the Mormon Church was as certain as any other effect from an obvious cause. It belongs to it as legitimate ly as a muddy current to the Missouri, or filth to a cess-pool, and may be regarded as the crowning trait of Mormonism. As already stated, it grew out of the polluted mind of the prophet, who established it as an institution of the Church to legalize his own licentious ness, and the effect has been to diffuse the poison from a portion through nearly the whole mass. The revelation on this subject, which the reader will find in the Appendix, forms an era in Latter-day his tory, and is a curiosity of its kind. A brief analysis wiU exhibit its salient points. In the first place, the Mormon deity, in this import ant" communication, seems to have become utterly ob livious of the strong terms of condemnation which he had used in the Golden Bible in regard to the debauch eries of David and Solomon, and the tender solicitude therein expressed in reference to " the chastity of wom en." In the next place, all marriage covenants are declared to be void which are not sealed by the " holy spirit of promise of him who is anointed," which, of course, turns out' to be Joseph Smith. Marriages with this precious sanction are for eternity ; but with out it they are only for time, and the parties can get no higher than angels on the ladder of salvation. The promises to Abraham that his seed should be multi plied are then repeated, and the prophet is assured that he is a lineal descendant of that patriarch, and is com- 236 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. manded to "do the works of Abraham," which means that he must take unto himself a multiplicity of wives and concubines. ' " God commanded Abraham, and Sarah gave Ha gar to Abraham to wife. And why did she do it? Because this was the law, and from Hagar sprang many people. This, therefore, was fulfiUing among other things the promises. Was Abraham, therefore, under condemnation ? Verily, I say unto you, Nay ; for I the Lord commanded it." " Abraham received concubines, and they bare him children, and it was accounted to him for righteous ness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law. As Isaao also and Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according to the- o promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels, but are gods." Passing over sundry matters relating to the high powers with which the prophet was invested, and the high favor in which he stood, and also some very flat tering compliments to Emma Smith, his wife, we come to the summing up of the whole matter, in the last two paragraphs, containing the law of the priesthood in reference to polygamy, from which extracts have already been made. A laughing philosopher might find food for merri ment in all this, unless too much shocked by the bold blasphemy which can venture to put into the mouth of the Most High a justification for the grossest licen tiousness on the part of his creatures. The world has. heretofore supposed that the introduction of Christian- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 237 ity produced a revocation of the external ceremonies ofthe Jewish dispensation as the essentials of religion, and afforded a happy deliverance from the licentious practices permitted among the Jewish people. Theh internal states were such as could be aptly symbohzed by the prophet Hosea taking a harlot to wife, and oth er representative performances equally offensive ; and they were subsequently denounced as " a wicked and adulterous generation" by that Being before whose omniscient scrutiny all their pollutions and abomina tions were laid bare. According to the book of creation, the human race proceeded from a single pair. The Creator did not see fit to provide a score of Eves for the one Adam, though the necessity of populating the earth would seem to have been as great then as at any subsequent period. The first bigamist or polygamist of whom we have any account was Lamech, a descendant of Cain, the first murderer, and himself an admitted homicide. Lamech belonged to that race whose enormous wick edness brought on their own destruction by a flood of waters. With no more than a secular knowledge of ecclesiastical history, we may easUy see that the Jews possessed a peculiar genius, which could be exact in external ceremonies without any knowledge of their signification ; and for the same reason, that they were the best adapted for the preservation ofthe word ofthe Old Testament in its integrity. As they were merely outward in all things of religion and worship, so, too, they were grossly licentious, and presented the lowest plane of human degradation into which the Divine could descend, and work out the salvation ofthe human 238 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. family. In all these respects the Jews were a chosen people ; but the idea that Christians are to revive the practices of Jewry would be as startling and absurd as to command the mature and fruit-bearing tree to sink back into its own roots. Any degree of self-respect, however small, must pre clude an argument with the Mormon champions on the fairness of the precedents by which they justify theh licentiousness. One might as weU debate the point with any other class of fanatics or designing impostors, as to whether they had the right to stone people to death for violating the Sabbath. For the murderer, the most legitimate argument is the halter; and for the bigamist, the most appropriate one is the penitentiary. There is no such thing as an argument where there is no common ground. The Bible, the common resting- place of all Christian minds, ceases to be mutual au thority when a new revelation changes a permission into a command, and makes new readings and trans lations to suit the ideas, or pander to the lusts of the revelator ; and truly, if the world has learned nothing real in regard to polygamy, or sacerdotal lust, after a period of 6000 years, it may be regarded as quite un- teachable on any subject. It may seem strange that so many persons have been converted to the Mormon faith, in the faith of such systematic prostitution. It is libel enough upon the integrity and intelligence of mankind that Mormonism, in any form, ever had an existence ; but it is due to many to say, that they have been brought into tho Church under the strongest assurances of the mission aries that polygamy did not exist among them. Smith UTAH AND THEMOR MONS. 239 had his pretended revelation on the subject July 12, 1843, from which, until the 29th of August, 1852, it existed as a secret institution. At the last-mentioned period, it was pubhcly justified in a sermon preached by Orson Pratt ; and the revelation and sermon were, on the 14th of September foUowing, published to the world in the " Deseret News extra." During this en tire period of nine years, theh missionaries were in structed to deny the existence of polygamy, and they have proved themselves prompt and ready liars on all occasions when the subject has been called in question. On this point the proofs are abundant. In or about the year 1845, one John C. Bennett apostatized from Mormonism, and in his expose alleged that the spiritual wife system was in vogue at Nauvoo. Parley P. Pratt, then and now of high authority in the Church, promptly denied that any such doctrine was " known, held, or practiced as a principle ofthe Latter- day Saints ;" and urged that it was "but another name for whoredoms," " and that it was as foreign from the real principles of the Church as the devil is from God, or as sectarianism is from Christianity." [Millennial Star, vol. vi., p. 22.) In "A Series of Pamphlets," published in 1851, the reader will find an account of a discussion between Elder John Taylor, Another Mormon dignitary, and some persons in France, in July, 1850. One of the charges brought against the Mormons was, that polyga my was practiced among them. To refute this, Elder Taylor remarked, " We are accused here of polygamy, and actions the most indelicate, obscene, and disgust ing, such as none but a corrupt heart could have con- 240 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. trived. These things are too outrageous to admit of belief; therefore I shall content myself by reading our views of chastity and marriage from a work published by us, containing some of the articles of our faith." He then read from the Book of " Doctrines and Cov enants" on the subject, containing the following mar riage obligations : " You both mutuaUy agree to be each other's com panion, husband and wife, observing the legal rights belonging to this condition ; that is, keeping yourselves wholly for each other, and from all others, during your lives." Also the foUowing : " Inasmuch as this Church of Jesus Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and poly gamy, we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife, and one woman but one husband." It wUl be recollected that polygamy was introduced by the prophet in August, 1843, nearly seven years before this discussion; and yet this sacerdotal viUain quoted from the lying book of " Doctrines and Cov enants" in denial of the charge. But this is not all : this unmitigated scamp was at that very period living in a state of adultery with a plurality of wives, so call ed. Perhaps his Mormon conscience justified him with the plea that he did not directly 'deny the charge him self — he only said it was too gross an accusation to be believed, and then quoted what he knew to bo false from one of their sacred books ! It is difficult to find terms in which to express the baseness of these false hoods. We detest the man who tells a lie for the pur pose of gain ; we pity and despise the one who resorts UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 241 to it to screen his guUt from detection. But in what estimation shall we hold these reverend panderers, who utter glib and polished falsehoods to entice weak-mind ed females into theh ecclesiastical brothel ? A witness who perjures himself in one point of his testimony is discredited in all ; and the Latter-day Saints can not complain of the application of this rule to aU their al legations and pretenses. The Book of " Doctrines and Covenants," which has this standing falsehood upon its pages, is regarded as even superior to the Book of Mormon as an authori ty and guide. A new edition was printed in 1846, in which the same thing is repeated. Many simple- minded and honest people have been cajoled into Mor monism, who would have been saved from this pit of poUution had they known the truth on this point. Many have left after learning the truth ; many are pre paring to leave ; and many others would leave, were not their means exhausted in support ofthe hierarchy, which now keeps them in bondage. Polygamy, since its introduction, has branched into importance ; and as an element of salvation, has be come paramount to the atonement, and even to faith itself. Orson Pratt, in his sermon in justification, thus enlightens the world on this point : " But, says the objector, we can not see how this doctrine can be embraced as a matter of religion and faith ; we can hardly conceive how it can be embraced only as a kind of domestic concern, something that per tains to domestic pleasures, in no way connected with religion. In reply, we will show you that it is incor porated as a part of our religion, and necessary for our L 242 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. exaltation to the fullness of the Lord's glory in the eternal world. Would you like to know the reasons ? Before you get through, we will endeavor to teU you why we consider it an essential doctrine to glory and exaltation to our fullness of happiness in the world to come." [Deseret News extra.) What sublime efficacy! The descent, sufferings, and glorification of our Lord effected only the resur rection of the body, but a higher degree of salvation is secured by the efficient instrumentality of bigamy and adultery. The furies ofthe French Revolution abofish- ed Christianity, and bowed themselves in mock ado ration before the Goddess of Reason in the form of a strumpet. But the Mormon has improved upon this by taking the strumpet to his bosom — wallowing in the filth of the brothel as the grand panacea for the puri fication of society, and the elevation of himself to the attributes of Deity. Polygamy, according to the Mormons, is a privUege belonging to the gods as well as to men. Theh pro fanity on this subject exceeds belief. The spirits who enter the earthly tabernacles, they insist, are sons of the gods begotten in the usual course of generation. God has, nobody knows how many, wives or concu bines — the words of the Psalmist, " Kings' daughters were among thy honorable women ; upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir," being con sidered sufficient on this point. This doctrine is now as common at Salt Lake as " household words." " God was married, or how could he beget his son Jesus Christ, and do the works of his father." [Des eret Almanac, 1853.) UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 243 " The apostle says 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 V Father of spirits, which are in shape and form of mortal beings, would lead us to infer that spirits not only have a fa ther, but also a mother." [Deseret News, Dec. 25, 1852.) Christ, as a spirit, was begotten in the heavens, and born of one of the celestial concubines. A tabernacle. was begotten for him on earth by his father, simUar to the affair of Jupiter and Europa. Christ, too, was mar ried, and his wives were Mary and Martha ; these fe males would not have ministered unto him in the way described (so they reason), had they not been his wives. The pollution of the Latter-day polygamist is thor ough and complete, mind and body. There is no de gree of profanity and blasphemy that he can not com pass with the coolness of an every-day occupation. Every thing sacred which he breathes upon or touch es, is profaned and poUuted, from the throne of the Eternal to the famUy altar, around which are usually garnered aU the hopes and joys of Christian minds. AU his doctrines are based on literalism and material ism — all his joys are carnal and selfish. " If," says the Elder Lorenzo Snow, " you show me a man who is not selfish, you will show me no man at all ; if you show me a woman who is not selfish, you will show me an idiot, and one who knows not the way to happiness or a crown of glory." [Deseret News, Nov. 6, 1842.) The true follower of Smith can form no idea of 244 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. earthly and heavenly happiness except what proceeds from, or is in some way connected with, the pleas ures of the bodily senses. He knows nothing of spir itual ideas or pleasures. Disinterested benevolence has no place in the storehouse of his religious treas ures. Every thing with him is matter ; and mind is nothing, here and hereafter, except as it is made up of, and connected with matter. He is, in the strictest sense ofthe term, a materialist; this he not only openly avows, but strenuously contends that materialism fur nishes the only key to happiness. He is of the earth, earthy ; and earthy he desires and expects to be through all coming futurity. His future eternity is merely an elongation of time, and is to be spent upon the earth, after the general conflagration, in all the pomp of dei fied royalty, and in the gratification of every bodily lust. His supremest felicity is to consist in acting the glutton and the debauchee, free from bodUy infirmities and a sense of satiety. He expects to live fast with out wearing. The fires of his insatiable appetites are always to be supplied with fuel without consuming him. His body is not elevated into a mental sphere, and made subservient to the mandates of a pure, re generated, spiritual master, but his mind is brought down into the filthy lusts of the body, and there wal lows in the mire of sensuality. His religion resides only in the natural degree of his mind, and in the most sensual portion of such degree. Spiritual ideas are consequently above his comprehension. He can neither smell, touch, taste, hear, or see them, and, therefore, they have no existence in his universe. His intellectual is the bat of evening : he knows nothing UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 245 of the " eagle towering in his pride of place." His residence is in the basement story of humanity ; and the universal prevalence of liis system would drag the mind down into a low plane, restore the reign of .pantheism, the dance of satyrs, and the dalliances of syrens. y^ He exhibits to the world a present, active religious zeal, and compasses sea and land to make proselytes to his faith ; but his mission is that of the swindler and the cheat : ho goes with a lie in his mouth, and labors only to enlarge his own borders, and build up and strengthen his own dominions, and pander to his own pleasures. Selfish and sensual himself, he appeals to all that is selfish and sensual in those he hopes to make the victims of his duplicity, and the instruments of his ambition and pleasures. He belongs to the external and the ultimate : he is all rind — all kernel — all husk. He delights in literal constructions. The sentence of death passed upon Adam meant only the death of his external body, because Adam could be nothing unless in connection with this body. The way in which he speaks of the propagation of the Lord's Divine Human is natural and gross to a shocking degree. They have no spiritual idea of the production of a Human by " tho virtue ofthe Most High," into which the Lord could en ter, and with wliich he could form a complete union for the purposes of salvation. The Immaculate Conception was neither more nor less than an ordinary case of generation — nothing higher than the fabled intercourse of the heathen gods with the daughters of men. The god of his conception is carnal and sensual. The Jews were condemned for not doing the works of Abraham, 246 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. and these consisted in having a plurality of wives and concubines. The heavens are nothing more than one or more earths purified by fire, and it has gone through this process merely that it may be a place for the prop agation of sphits for earthly tabernacles elsewhere be-, gotten. Thus time and eternity are but the unvary ing cycles of the lusts of the flesh and of worldly grandeur, and earth and heaven but the vast recepta cles of the debauchee and the strumpet; and as all who do " the works of Abraham" are to become gods, ho is destined to be the greatest god who has the larg est harem and claims paternity to the greatest number of bastards. CHAPTER XV. Prevalence of Polygamy. — Its Effects on Population. — Arguments in its Favor. — Its Effects on Morals. — Frightful Licentiousness. — Its Influence on the first Wife. — Divisions and Hatred in Families. As a matter of civil polity, it would seem, at this age of the world, as though the founders of communi ties and states might regard polygamy as a settled question. It existed among the Jews, with other ques tionable practices, by divine permission, on account of the hardness of their hearts. The fruits of polygamy among them were such as might readily be supposed by any one knowing any thing of the relation of cause and effect. Each individual case presents a picture of famUy dissensions, divisions, and misery. Sarah, af ter giving Hagar to Abraham (not by divine command, as Smith would have his dupes believe), turns her UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 247 off, after the birth of IshmaeL in a fit of jealousy and rage. " The increasing wealth of the Hebrews under the patriarchal government, which forwarded its temporal power, was, however, morally counteracted in its influ ence by polygamy, the fatal tendency of which was soon discovered in the domestic misery distracting the family and embittering the days of the fondest, as he was the most unfortunate of fathers. The jealousies of the sisters, Rachel and Leah, for supremacy in their husband's affections, and the contentions of the sons of Bilhah and of Zilpah, produced those dark divisions which finaUy ended in the expulsion of Joseph. " The envious brothers, who hated Joseph for his virtues, who meditated his murder, sold him to slave ry, &c., were such sons and brothers as Oriental des potism produces down to the present day — where wom an is still the servant and man the master, and where polygamy is stUl the ruling institution of the land." ( Woman and her Master, vol. i., p. 56.) No nation of ancient or modern times, in which po lygamy has existed as a part of its political or rehgious institutions, has exhibited a permanent degree of vigor or prosperity. It did not prevail, except in one or two extraordinary instances, among the Greeks, nor at all among the Romans until, for a period, ^during the cor ruptions of the Empire. The modern nations of Eu rope are free from this scourge. It belongs now to the indolent and opium-eating Turks and Asiatics, the mis erable Africans, the North American savages, and the Latter-day Saints. It is the offspring of lust, and its legitimate results are soon manifest in the rapid degen eracy of races. 248 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. The reader is ready to ask, To what extent does it prevail and how does it work with the Saints ? Are the ordinary laws, and cause and effect, "suspended, to acoommodate the modern prophet and his disciples? Does it increase population, purify morals, improve the race, and produce happiness ? Polygamy is now fastened upon the Mormon com munity as tenaciously as the shirt of poor Nessus, which Hercules found far easier to put on than tear off. About one fourth of the adult male population are po- lygamists, varying in the number of their wives from two up to fifty. The priesthood, and especially that portion who hold all the power, and control nearly aU the wealth of the community, have the largest harems. Larger numbers would undoubtedly enter into it but for the scarcity of women and the want of means to support them. The census of 1851 disclosed the fact that there were 698 more males than females in the Territory. Subsequent emigrations have not probably much changed this proportion. For each man to have, two wives would require twice as many females as males. Of course it follows that, where the chief ba shaws have from ten to fifty in their harems, large numbers can not have even one. The effect upon population is decidedly deleterious. The prophet Joseph had over forty wives at Nauvoo, and the rest of the priesthood had various numbers, corresponding to their standing and inclinations ; and nearly all the children of these polygamous marriages died at that place ; indeed, it is alleged by Mormons that not one was taken to Utah. Brigham Young has thirty children, of whom eight are by his first and sec- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 249 ond lawful wives ; the remaining twenty-two are by his spirituals. He has about fifty wives, some of whom were widows of Joseph Smith, and are probably past the time of having children ; but, supposing him to have thirty who are capable of having issue — which is below the true number — the twenty-two- children would be less than one child to a concubine. If each of these degraded females eould have been the honored wife of one husband, the aggregate number of children, according to the usual average of four in a family, would be one hundred and twenty, showing a loss in population of ninety-eight. The children are subject to a frightful degree of sick- \ ness and mortality. This is the combined result of \ the gross sensuality of the parents, and want of care | toward their offspring. As a general rule, these saint ly pretenders take as Httle care of their wives as of their children ; and of both, less than a careful farmer in the States would of his cattle ; and nowhere out of the " Five Points" in New York city can a more filthy, miserable, neglected-looking, and disorderly rabble of children be found than in the streets of Great Salt Lake City. The Governor, again, whose attention to his multifarious famUy we are bound to suppose great er than the average, affords a fair Ulustration. He was twice lawfuUy married, and has had eight legiti mate chUdren, who are all living. He has had a large number of children by his concubines — no one knows how many — it is only known that there are only twenty-two surviving. These females do not reside in the " Governor's house," so caUed, but in different es tablishments, from one up to a dozen in a place ; and L2 250 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. theh children can only have the care of one parent. It would be too great a tax upon his time to render the same care and attention to the children of these separate families as is bestowed in a single family, where there is a union of affection and interests. In cases where the wives and children are aU under one roof, the total disruption of all domestic ties and har mony produce the same result. It would, therefore, seem that the boasted increase of population from this polluted source bids fair, under the just disposings of Providence, to be a decided failure. The moralists of Salt Lake exhibit some strange mental obliquities in defense of polygamy. The fol lowing, from a letter of W. W. Phelps to the New York Herald, dated May, 1852, is quite popular with the Saints : " If you have not received a communication from Dr. J. M. Bernhisel, on the plurality of wives, being a dialogue between Judge Brochus and the King's Fool, caU on him for it, and let the people have it, and I think your one- wife system will sing as smaU as our racing Gilpins, or ' dirty cotton court.' Of two evils, a Mormon chooses neither, but goes in for all good and more good ; which, if, as Solomon said, a good wife is a good thing, then the more you have the more good you have ; so that when the suffering female kind over the great globe are acquainted with the fact that ' the daughters of kings are among the Lord's honorable wives in heaven' (Psalm xiv.), ' and on the right hand the queen in gold of Ophir,' you will hear of more hon orable women clinging to the holy priesthood than you ever thought of, or a narrow-contracted Christian cler- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 251 gy drove into corruption by night-closetings because their deeds are evfi." The Emperor Vitellius reasoned in the same way in regard to a good dinner, and usuaUy tickled his throat with a feather, and threw up what he had eaten, in order to dine over again. This convenient rule would give a wife a score of husbands. Upon the same prin ciple, a man should have as many heads as a hydra, as many arms as Briareus, and as many legs as a spider ; and Nature was a niggard of her favors when she made him up. The argument, however, most relied on in support of the system is, that it tends to good morals, by taking away the inducements to unlawful pleasures; that, inasmuch as a man has as many wives as he pleases, he has no temptation to wander in forbidden paths. They even go so far as to claim that it is the only sys tem of domestic polity by which purity can be pre served. In foUowing out this idea, they are indus trious in gathering up and publishing in the Deseret News the numerous cases of seduction, adultery, and elopement occurring in the States, which find their way into the public prints, and are fond of contrasting the purity of morals in Utah in this respect with these irregularities, and with the tolerated houses of iU fame in the great cities of the Old and New World. This is decidedly a fair specimen of Mormon logic ; and re minds one of an inhabitant of the ancient seas, of which we have only the fossil remains, called some times the Ink-bag, which had the art to conceal itself by ejecting a black fluid. Upon this basis, it is very easy to purify the morals 252 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. of a people by civil enactments. The legislator wise enough to legalize bigamy, burglary, forgery, perjury, theft, and murder, would do away with the necessity of penitentiaries and criminal codes. The people who had the rare privilege of doing these things according to law, would be better off than the ancient Spartans. They were aUowed to steal, provided the theft was committed in a sly, artful manner ; but under the Mormon improvement, the burglar could pick locks and break doors in broad daylight. How true it is, that a perversion of moral principle brings a cloud upon the reasoning faculties ! When the will is im mersed in evil propensities, the understanding is ready to justify the abominations to which they lead. The Saints, whfie chuckling over the secret and stealthy sins of Eastern life, are willfully blind to the enormi ties enacted in their midst. Their system of plurality has obfiterated nearly all sense of decency, and would seem to be fast leading to |an intercourse open and promiscuous as the cattle in the fields. A man living in common with a dozen dir ty Arabs, whether he caUs them wives or coneubines, can not have a very nice sense of propriety. It is dif ficult to give a true account of the effects which have resulted from this cause, and, at the same time, pre serve decency of language. It is related of one of the English Georges, that, when he became old and sap less, a plump maiden was selected for his seasons of repose, and made to act the part of a warming-pan to his majesty. The Saints are progressive. Three in one bed sleep warmer than two, when wood is scarce and a kingdom is to be built up. Last year (1852) UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 253 they seriously discussed the subject of introducing a new order into the Church, by which the wives of ab sent missionaries might be sealed to Sahits left at home, under the plea that the important business of peopling the celestial kingdoms ought not to be inter rupted. Practically, this would make no great differ ence, as the proxies now readily make their way into these half-deserted tenements. There are a number of cases in which a man has taken a widow and her daughter for wives at the same time. One has a wid ow and her two daughters. There are also instances of the niece being sealed to the uncle, and they excite no more attention than any ordinary case. How far the plague-spot is to spread in this direction remains to be seen. Brigham Young stated in the pulpit, in 1852, that the time might come when, for the sake of keeping the lineage of the priesthood unbroken, mar riages would be confined to the same families ; as, for instance, the son of one mother would marry the daughter of another by the same father. This fact was spoken of by so many persons as to preclude all reasonable doubt of its truth. Why should not the blood of the priesthood, like that of the Incas, be kept pure ? A case has already occurred, which shows at least an entering wedge for the introduction of this improve ment upon the system. One Watt came over from England with his half-sister, and on the way they con cluded to enter into some of the sublime mysteries of Mormonism. When they arrived at Salt Lake City, they repaired to the " Governor's house" to be sealed. The lady was fairer than any at that time in Brig- 254 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. ham's collection, and he told Watt it would not do ; that the time had not yet arrived when persons so nearly related could be married; but that he would seal her to himself. This was done ; but Brigham, for some reason, like Henry the Eighth with Catharine of Cleves, became, in a day or two, sick of the new sul tana; sent for Watt; told him he had reconsidered the matter, and concluded, on the whole, that the orig inal proposition might be safely acted upon. Brigham was thereupon duly divorced, and Watt married to his half-sister. There has been some talk of going even beyond this, and allowing the father to seal his own daughter to himself. And why not? The same principle of lit eral construction, combined with a fanatical belief of the speedy destruction of the GentUe world, would jus tify it. Did not the daughters of Lot become sealed to theh father, under the belief that aU mankind had been consumed in the fires of Sodom and Gomorrah ? Nature, too, has already sanctioned it in the example of hens, cattle, and goats. Why should not the Saints act upon these exemplary precedents, inasmuch as it has become so very important that both worlds should be peopled with an improved breed? The truth is, their doctrine ofthe anterior existence ofthe spirits of men, so strenuously taught and extensively beheved, has had a strong effect in obliterating the sentiment of female chastity. If the bodies of men are tabernacles for pre-existing spirits to enter into, it can matter but little by whom they are begotten. It becomes a mat ter of mechanical employment; and no matter how often the workmen are changed, so long as the article UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 255 is properly manufactured. The chaste union of two minds in the conjugal relationship becomes thus a thing entirely unknown. The high-priest dignitaries of the Church are ex- \ ceedingly skiUful in procuring young girls for wives. '•¦ They inculcate the idea that elderly members, who ; have been tried and found faithful, are surer instru ments of salvation than the young,y who may aposta tize ; and as marriage to one who remains steadfast to the end is essential to escape from the fate of being mere angels, a great many young women are fooled into this bubbling and seething caldron of prostitution. Elder Wilford Woodruff, one of the twelve apostles, has a regular system of changing his harem. He takes in one or more young girls, and so manages, after he tires of them, that they are glad to ask for a divorce, after which he beats the bush for recruits. He took a fresh one, about fourteen years old, in March, 1853, and wUl probably get rid of her in the course of the en suing summer. These maneuvers are practiced more or less by the whole gang ; the girls discarded by one become sealed to others, and so travel the entire,. rounds ; and when they accomplish the whole circuit, and are ready to start anew, they have a profoundly " realizing sense" of female modesty, to say nothing of some of its adjuncts. These things are producing results in the very vitals of the Mormon community as frightful as the barking monsters in the bowels of Milton's portress to the in fernal regions : " About her middle round A cry of hell-hounds, never ceasing, barked 256 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. With wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rung A hideous peal." Young men, in a majority of cases, find it impossi ble to obtain even one wife, and run into excesses ri valing some ofthe choicest purlieus of Eastern cities. When the door of licensed indulgences are so widely thrown open to the elders, it is scarcely to be supposed that the young wUl look on with indifference ; nor can it be surprising that the affair of Absalom and his fa ther's concubines should be considered and acted upon by the youthful Saint as a fair precedent. s Various apostates have disclosed the factthat among the Temple mysteries of Mormonism is a degree into which the most favored ones are initiated, called the " Order ofthe Cloistered Saints," of which the foUow ing account is given : " When an apostle, high-priest, elder, or scribe, con ceives an affection for a female, and has ascertained her views on the subject, he communicates confiden tially to the prophet his love affair, and requests him to inquire ofthe Lord whether or not it would be right and proper for him to take unto himself 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 puts this singular question to the Lord, and if he receives an answer in the affirmative, which is always the case when the parties are in fa vor with the president, the parties assemble in the lodge-room, accompanied by a duly authorized admin istrator, and place themselves kneeling before the al- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 257 tar. 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 the knowledge of the secret purposes of this order, or whereby the Saints may suf fer persecution, your lives being the forfeit.' " Then comes a mock ceremony of marriage, after which — the parties leave the cloister, with, general ly, a firm belief, at least on the part of the female, in the sacredness and vafidity of the ceremonial, and con sider themselves as united in spiritual marriage, the duties and privileges of which are in no particular dif ferent' from those of any other marriage covenant." / The reader will naturally ask if this can be true. A residence of less than six months will be very apt to remove any doubts he may entertain on the subject. If the husband of a female Saint happens to be Gen tile, it is a great point with the Mormons to have her sealed in this way without his knowledge. Her pros titution is easily effected, inasmuch as she is made to beheve that it is necessary to her salvation, all Gentile marriages being void. The system is fast proving itself a. terrible whip of scorpions, from the lash of which there is no escape but in the ultimate disorganization of the Mormon community. Mankind were created a pair, male and female, and, in harmony with such an origin, political science discloses the fact that males and females are born into the world in nearly equal numbers. States 258 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. * are made up of families, and can not be strongly com pacted where the family is not a unit ; on the contrary, they are the most united, enterprising, and efficient for the common good where it is harmonious. Poly gamy introduces an element of disorder into families, and saps the foundations of social order according to the extent to which it prevails. On general principles, we may as well believe a building will remain unin jured by tearing away its basement walls, or the hu man body retain its healthy condition after a subtile | poison has disorganized its tissues, as that society wiU j flourish, with hatred rankling in the bosom of the fam ilies of which it is composed. It may be supposed that religious fanaticism will do much to change and control the ordinary current of human emotions. This has had its influence in the Mormon community, but it is generally limited and temporary in its character ; and now that persecution, or that which was regarded as such, has ceased, fanaticism has lost much of the nourishment upon which it subsisted. The fact is, the Mormon mind has greatly cooled of its primitive fervor ; its thermometer has fallen below its first fever heat ; and the ordinary causes which regulate human conduct have been quietly resuming their operations. ( Many who at first practiced or justified polygamy, be- j cause it was one of the points which invited Gentile persecution, are beginning to realize that it is a nest of adders, of which the sting can no longer remain un- felt. In Utah, the effect of the plurality system is most severely felt by the first or real wife. In Turkey, and other kindred nations, where polygamy has long exist- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 259 ed, it has become a fixed sentiment in the minds of men and women through the lapse of ages. Woman is there too much degraded to be the companion of man, and her wishes on the subject are of no more ac count than of so many slaves. In the Mormon com- -, munity, however, the case is different: it was intro- < duced to gratify the lust of Smith and his principal foUowers, and has been forced upon the society, in total disregard of the wishes and happiness of the first wife, as well as in opposition to the common sentiment of the age. That it should have been tolerated at all is only to be accounted for by the deep fanaticism and lament ably lax morality existing at aU periods among the Saints. A wife, in Utah, can not live out half her days. In families where polygamy has not been introduced, she suffers an agony of apprehension on the subject which can scarcely be conceived, much more described. There i is a sad, complaining, suffering look, obvious to the most ordinary observer, which tells the story, if there j were no other evidence on the subject. Ih most cases, it is producing premature old age, and some have al ready sunk into an early grave under an intolerable weight of affliction. The man, from the moment he makes up his mind to bring one or more concubines into the family, becomes always neglectful, and in most cases abusive to his wife. In every instance,/ where it has been introduced, it has totally destroyed*! all union of affection and interest previously existing. [ The wife has no further motive to labor and economize for the family, because she finds one or more intruders who have the right to share in the benefits of her ex- 260 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. ertions ; and the concubine, for a similar reason, feels no interest and makes no effort. The wife hates them for interfering with her comforts, and estranging the affections of her husband ; they, on the other hand, hate the wife and each other, and the chUdren of each ; other. The husband hates the wife on whose affections he has trampled, and over whom he has tyrannized, and hates each concubine, of whom he tires when a fresh one is introduced ; and the children hate each other j as cordially as a band of half-staryed young wolves. It [ is hate, and strife, and wretchedness through the whole \ family circle. Hecate herself, in her deepest malignity, could not have devised a more effectual scheme to de stroy the happiness of mankind. The husband, under the double influence of domestic discord and gross in dulgence, loses his energy, becomes discouraged, sinks into the bloated, vulgar debauchee, and affords a cap ital illustration of the truth, that " Our pleasant vices are made the whips to scourge us." In many families where there are as yet no concu bines, the wife is anxious to remove from this valley of Sodom, as well on her own account as to save her young daughters from becoming the inmates of a priest ly harem; and, as she has it in her power to obtain a divorce at any time, it may seem strange that she should remain the inmate of such a domestic hell. But a divorce would be of no practical benefit to her. She would be compelled to separate from her chUdren ; and, as she is powerless to perform an overland journey of over a thousand miles, to bring herself within the pro tection of a civilized government, she must, of course, UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 261 remain, and seek a precarious livelihood, under the discouraging pressure of Church vengeance. Any number of cases illustrative of the degrading licentiousness of the system, and of the brutality and wretchedness which it produces, might be mentioned. In a conversation with one of the missionaries (and, withal, a man of more than ordinary shrewdness), I asked him what the effect of the system was upon the domestic relations. "Why," said he, "you must be aware that human nature among the first wives is op posed to it. Whan a man's wife gets a Httle old, and he takes a fancy to a young one, why, you know, the old one will feel jealous that she is to give way to the other ; but it is the order ofthe Church, and she must submit to it." This was accompanied with a sly leer, such as would have done credit to a satyr. A man, by the name of Eldridge, was living with much apparent happiness with his wife at Nauvoo, at the time of the great break up there. Emma Smith, the prophet's widow, had seen enough of Mormonism, and, having secured some property out of the general wreck, resolved to remain in the States. When the Saints were on the point of removing, Emma Smith advised Mrs. Eldridge not to follow her husband to the valley of Great Salt Lake ; told her he would certainly go into the plurality order, and then she would be treat ed with neglect ; that was the case with them all. Mrs. E. replied that her husband had promised her that he would never go into it; that they were attached to each other ; and that she had the utmost confidence in him. They went on together to Salt Lake, and, in 1851, the predictions of Mrs. Smith were verified. 262 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. Brigham Young, for some reason or other, desired to involve Eldridge in the meshes of spiritual wife-ism, and repeatedly importuned him on the subject. Eldridge told him he was living very happily with his wife, and that to bring another into the family would almost kill her. Young replied that, if his wife was opposed to the order ofthe Church, " the quicker she was damned the better." He also stated, among other things, that he was about to go off on an exploring tour in the Ter ritory with a party (naming some of them) ; that he and the rest intended each to take along a new wife ; that he (Eldridge) had better do so too, and they would have " a nice time of it." Eldridge finaUy yielded, and so worked upcn his wife as to compel her to give her consent to his being sealed to a miserable drab selected for this occasion. From this period he became a per fect brute in the treatment of his wife ; turned her from the best room in the house to make room for his concubine ; and she, thoroughly crushed and despair ing, realizes that her once peaceful and happy home has been changed into a domestic hell. This is a fair history of the fate of the first wife. Instances of brutal insensibility on the part of the men are common, and excite but little attention. A man connected with the stage, having a number of wives, came home one evening (January, 1853) from rehearsing his part, and found one of them dead. This trifling circumstance, however, did not in the least in terfere with his engagement at the theatre ; he per formed his part that evening ; buried his deceased wife the next day ; and kept on at the theatre as though nothing extraordinary had happened. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 263 It may excite surprise that so many females can be found who are willing to be made the ready instruments of debauchery ; but they are generally young, exceed ingly ignorant, and are made to believe that their sal vation depends upon it, and it is regarded as no dis grace in the community in which they live. This com munity is so completely isolated as to form a world by itself, and its habits and morals are borrowed from the cock-pit and third tier of more civilized regions. The greatest opposition comes from the first wives : there are a few instances in which they advocate it; but these are divorces from the States, and are somewhat familiar with having " things in common." i Many of the older sealed ones are women who have been seduced to leave their husbands and famUies in the States. These, of course, become thorough-paced strumpets, and, when too old for use, are noted devotees. A fair type of this class is a Mrs. Cobb, whose race would embellish the pages of Peregrine Pickle. This woman was living hi Boston with her husband and family when Brigham Young visited that city as a missionary. He was at that time a good-looking man, and Madam Cobb made up her mind that to aid Brig ham in building up a celestial kingdom was far pref erable to the humdrum of her domestic duties. Sho accordingly raced off", taking one of her children (a young girl), was divorced from her husband, and after ward duly sealed to Brigham. She was^the reigning sultana for a time, and queened it with a high hand ; but he finally tired of her, and she is now a full-blown devotee ; talks solemnly of being sealed to Joseph Smith and other dead prophets ; and tries hard, by the extrav- -264 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. agance of her nonsense, to make herself a mother in Israel. Her daughter, in the mean time, has grown up handsome in face, and accomplished in the pecuHar graces which belong to female Mormondom. The moth er and daughter deal frequently in crimination and recrimination with each other, caUing things by their right names in choice BiUingsgate ; and the parent is in a fair way of draining to the bottom that cup of bit terness which she has prepared for her own lips. CHAPTER XVI. Book of Mormon. — Proofs of its modern Origin. — Its Style. — Argu ments in Favor of the System. The Book of Mormon claims to be "the history of the inhabitants of America, who are a branch of the house of Israel, of the tribe of Joseph, of whom the In dians are still a remnant ; but the principal nation of them having fallen in battle in the fourth or fifth cen tury, one of their prophets, whose name was Moroni, saw fit to make an abridgment of their history, their prophecies, and their doctrines, which he engraved on plates, and afterward being slain, the records fell into the hands'of his son Moroni, who, being hunted by his enemies, was directed to deposit them safely in the earth," &c. In other words, the Book of Mormon pro fesses to' be the Bible of this ancient people, which has been exhumed by Joseph Smith for the use of " these last days," and it is upon this foundation that the whole Mormon structure has been built. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 265 Upon examination, however, it will be seen that the book itself never could have sustained the superincum bent weight ; it required certain adjuncts, such as the gift of prophecy, seership, miracles, tongues, and other popular marvels, to give any thing like success to the scheme. There is probably no book in the world wliich con tains within itself so many proofs of its real origin, and one but partially read in the history of human credulity is struck with wonder that the imposture should have fastened itself upon such numbers ; and that, too, with such strength, that no incongruity, in consistency, or absurdity which can be pointed out can make the least impression. At the very outset we are met with a most surprising fact : a portion of the Israefites are alleged to have found their way, in a marvelous manner, to the shores of America, and £hey and their descendants write a long book, in which there is not one word of the Hebrew tongue : it proves to be in a language so whoUy lost as to require a mi raculous translation, through the aid of a huge pair of spectacles. In addition to this, not a single Hebrew word or character can be found in the languages of these descendants of Israel upon the American con tinent. Miracles become very suspicious characters when they start into existence without necessity or ap parent object. A reader of the Book of Mormon will not be disposed to deny, very strenuously, that the authors must, at times, have possessed the gift of strange tongues. .The religious portions are especially encumbered with gross grammatical errors, to say nothing of violations of good M 266 UTAH AND TH,E MORMONS. taste. The common version ofthe Bible contains some errors of this description, but this was translated by men, in an age when the accuracies of language were not as weU defined as at present. But how such mis takes should happen in a translation made through an infallible " Urim and Thummim," is a mystery which none but a Mormon elder can probably either explain or understand. Phrases Hke the following frequent ly occur : " I the Lord hath -not forgotten my people ;" " I the Lord delighted in the chastity of women ;" " For a more history part are written upon my other plates ;" " These things had not ought to be ;" "And the effects thereof is poison;" " I ought not to harrow in my desires the firm decree of a just God." The Book of " Doctrines and Covenants" abounds in simi lar phrases : " And the spirit of the body is the soul of man ;" " Her who sitteth upon many waters." The book contains evidences of its modern origin on almost every page. The mariner's compass, which was not discovered until the fourteenth century, and which made such a revolution in commercial enterprises as to form an era in the history of the world, was, it seems, miraculously made known to Lehi in the reign of Zed- ekiah, king of Judah : " And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord spake unto my father by night, and commanded him that on the morrow he should take his journey into the wilderness. And it came to pass, that as my fa ther arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment fie beheld upon the ground a round ball, of curious workmanship ; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spin- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 267 dies ; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wUderness." (P. 42.) "And now, my son, I have somewhat to say con cerning the thing which our fathers call a ball or di rector ; or our fathers caUed it liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass ; and the Lord prepared it." (P. 348.) These ancient worthies had a wonderful prescience of modern terms and customs, and in this respect to- taUy outstrip the prophet of the Old Testament. "And it came to pass, that I did arm them with bows and with arrows, with swords, and with cimeters, and with clubs, and with slings, and with aU manner of weapons which we could invent, and I and my people did go forth against the Lamanites to battle." The cimeter is a Turkish weapon, not known until after the time of Mohammed. " And because my words shall hiss forth, many of the GentUes shall say, A Bible ! a Bible ! we have got a Bible, and there can not be any more Bible." (P. 123.) " Bible" is a word which belongs to modern theolo gy, to express, in the complex, the Old and New Testa ments, and does not occur in either of those books. So, also, we have "priestcraft," lawyers " skillful in their profession," "machinery," law "suits," "plan of redemption," "dissenters," and a multitude of oth er terms and phrases, which belong to the dialects and customs of the present time. Modern sectarian theology appeared to be about as well known then as now. Among other curiosities in this department was a preacher oi universal salvation, 268 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. who held forth to the great scandal and annoyance of more rigid constructionists. " And it came to pass, that in the first year of the reign of Alma in the judgment-seat, there was a man brought before him to be judged — a man who was large, and was noted for his much strength ; and he had gone about among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against the Church; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher ought to become popular ; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people ; and he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads, and rejoice ; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed aU men ; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life." (P. 335.) Perhaps the greatest curiosity of the book is, that " Christ and him crucified" was preached, and " bap tism" administered, and Christian churches estabfish ed, long before the Christian era. Revivals, and revi valists, and protracted meetings, and anxious seats, were as well known among the Lamanites and Ne phites as modern sectarians. The incongruity of the thing appears to have occurred to Joseph and Rigdon, for one of these imaginary preachers is made to say : "And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to prepare their minds ; or, rather, that sal vation might come unto them, that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at the time UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 269 of his coming. And now I will ease your mind some what on this subject. Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, Is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming ? Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known unto this people, as well as unto their chUdren ? Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send his angel to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our children, or as after the time of liis coming?" (P. 352.) What was to be the fate of the precious souls to whom this ante-dated Gospel was not proclaimed, this reverend Nephite does not give us to understand ex cept by imphcation. One of these ancient revivafists had a summary knack of making converts : he promptly knocked them down by the mysterious power with which he was clothed, with as much facility as a bowler knocks down nine-pins ; and not only so, but kept them in durance generaUy for about three days. They not only preach ed Christianity, but, strange to say, anti-Christ made his appearance too : " But it came to pass, in the latter end of the seventeenth year, there came a man into the land of Zarahemla, and he was anti-Christ, for he began to preach," &c. (P. 322.) Occasionally the authors discourse on abstruse sub jects, and, when they do, they get into too deep water. The following, on the subject of the fall of Adam, put into the mouth of the prophet Lehi, is a fair sample : " And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed, he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in 270 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. the garden of Eden. And all things which w7ere cre ated must have remained in the same state which they were' after they were created, and they must have re mained forever, and had no end. And they would have had no children ; wherefore they would have re mained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery ; doing no good, for they knew no sin. But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of Him who knoweth all things. Adam fell, that men might be ; and men are, that they might have joy." (P. 69.) Curious enough that sin should be a condition prece dent to having children ! Curious, too, that a man should be under the necessity of transacting a shindy or two before he is capable of performing a good ac tion ! There is a continual effort to imitate the style ofthe Scriptures which it is absolutely painful to read : " And now I say unto you, that this is the order af ter which I am caUed : yea, to preach unto my beloved brethren ; yea, and every one that dwelleth in the land ; yea, to preach unto all, both old and young, both bond and free ; yea, I say unto you the aged, and also the middle aged, and the rising generation ; yea, to cry unto them that they must repent, and be born again ; yea, thus saith the Spirit, Repent, all ye ends of the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand ; yea, the Son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion." (P. 251.) This continually-strained effort betrays itself, and produces, to say the least, some very queer descriptions. A well-sustained battle against odds is thus described : UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 271 " But they fought for theh lives, and for their wives, and for their chUdren ; therefore they exerted them selves, and like dragons did they fight." The foUowing must have made a deep impression upon those to whom it was addressed : "And now, if ye do not this, behold, ye are in our hands, and I wiU command my men that they shall fall upon you, and inflict the wounds of death in your bodies, that ye may become extinct." These Nephite philosophers seem to have been as profound in theh knowledge of mental emotions, as graphio in their descriptions of external objects, as the following plainly shows : " Now if ye give place that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye wUl resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts ; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye wUl begin to say within your selves, it must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul ; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understand ing ; yea, and it beginneth to be delicious to me." The foUowing contains a very ample " biU of partic ulars," but whether intended as a description of the " stiU smaU voice" of Scripture, it is really difficult to say: "And it came to pass, that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice, as if it came out of heaven ; and they cast theh eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard ; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a 272 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. loud voice ; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice, it did pierce them that did hear to the centre, insomuch that there were no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake ; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn." Occasionally there is an attempt to imitate the sub lime passages so frequent in the Word of the Old Test ament ; but it is as the sound of the squib and pop gun to the roar of the thunder and the earthquake. Take the foUowing : "And the rocks ofthe earth must rend; and be cause of the groanings of the earth, many of the kings of the isles of the sea shall be wrought upon to ex claim, ' The God of nature suffers !' " (P. 55.) This is quite descriptive of a terrestrial colic, and these kings, forsooth, were not permitted to sympathize with these distressing symptoms in the stomach of mother earth untU wrought upon by the Spirit. The following perfect fusffiade of sublimities is in tended to be a prophetic representation of the phenom ena that should take place at the Crucifixion : " Yea, at the time that he shall yield up the ghost, there shall be thunderings and lightnings for the space of many hours, and the earth shall shake and tremble, and the rocks which are upon the face of this earth, wliich are both above the earth and beneath, which ye know at this time are solid, or the more part of it is one solid mass, shall be broken up ; yea, they shall be rent in twain, and shall ever after be found in seams and in cracks, and in broken fragments upon the face of the whole earth ; yea, both above the earth and be neath." UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 273 In imitation of that striking passage, " They have sown the wind, and shaU reap the whhlwind," we find the following : " And again he saith, if my people shaU sow filth- iness, they shall reap the chaff thereof in the whirlwind ; and the effects thereof is poison." Joseph subsequently continued his penchant for sub lime efforts in his revelations : "The earth rolls upon her wings; and the sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by night ; and the stars also giveth theh light as they roll upon their wings," &c. [Doctrines and Cov enants, p. 102.) Rolling upon wings is a new method of flying. The Psalmist should have written, " If I take the wings of the morning, and roll into the uttermost parts of the sea." The foUowing is in imitation of a passage in the Rev elations : "And the powers of darkness prevail upon the earth among the chUdren of men, in the presence of all the hosts of heaven, wliich causeth silence to reign, and all eternity is pained," &c. [Idem, p. 127.) The following is the trumpet which is to be sounded for the benefit ofthe Saints : " The heavens shall shake, and the earth shall tremble, and the trump of God shaU sound both long and loud," &c. The polemic reader will be somewhat curious to know what kind of arguments are relied upon to sus tain the divine authenticity of such a book. It is the harsh construction of some, that it is far easier to pro duce conviction upon the mass of mankind in favor of a He than of the truth, and the history of Mormonism M2 274 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. furnishes notable proof in support of the proposition. According to the Talmud, the body of a Jew, though buried thousands of miles from Mount Zion, will wrig gle itself through the ground until it ultimately arrives at that desirable point, and all true sons of Jacob' be lieve in the statement. Why should not the Saints, who claim to be descended from the " tribe of Joseph," believe in marvels equally wonderful, and prove their existence by a logic which never fails to demonstrate what it undertakes ? Mormonism ignores all prevalent forms and creeds, and claims to form a complete system within itself; it has not only clothed itself in aU the external parapher nalia of an independent hierarchy, but has boldly sent forth its champions to prove itself true, and its adver saries false. Its most noted and voluminous polemic author is Orson Pratt, whose speculations on the mys teries of matter and mind have already been noticed. His arguments will be mostly found in a book entitled "A Series of Pamphlets, by Orson Pratt." The first pamphlet of six pages hi 'this collection, entitled "Di vine Authority," contains a general summary of his ar gumentation, though many points are afterward great ly extended. A brief notice of some of the points made by him will be sufficient for the present purpose. He commences with receiving a letter from an anon ymous correspondent, who is satisfied that all prevail ing creeds are false ; that all preachers and teachers of the day are without authority ; that " the translations of the Scriptures, being done without inspiration," are uncertain ; and that, if the Saints have not " the au thority to teach, interpret," &c, no one else has it; UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 275 concluding with a desire that the Mormons may bo proved to be in possession of these gifts. Mr. Pratt gravely assumes the positions of his correspondent to be true, and, from this convenient starting-point (which, under ordinary circumstances, would distance all pur suers), leisurely walks over the course. In the first division of his subject, he comes to the conclusion that it is a " strong presumptive evidence Mr. Smith was sent of God," because other churches do not profess to have inspired apostles, prophets, &c, but the Latter-day Saints do profess to have them, with authority to administer aU the ordinances ; because Mr. Smith has successfully patterned after ancient forms in the paraphernalia of his Church, and because his doctrines are pure and infallible. This is a curious string of professions and assumptions, which seems to leave the reasoner exactly where he started. It may weU excite a smile that a man should be considered as divinely commissioned because he has made certain professions and patterned after ancient forms, and provoke a sneer that Mr. Pratt, with one wife and a dozen concubines, should be considered as pure as the man who has not violated the laws of the land and the moral sense of Christendom in his domestic relations. In the second place, he comes to the same conclusion because Smith declares that the angel Moroni appear ed to him, and revealed the place where he had con cealed the Book of Mormon : and this is claimed to be a fulfillment of the prophetic vision of John : "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth," &c. But how this can be, on a literal 276 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. construction, which is the Mormon rule, would seem to be very puzzling. The Book of Mormon should have come out ofthe air instead ofthe ground to fulfill the vision. It seems, too, the angel seen by John had the Gospel himself, and was to preach it himself, and he did proclaim it with a loud voice to all nations ; whereas the imaginary angel of Smith appeared to him and his coadjutors in secret, stealthy interviews, something very hke the studied concealment of a gang of thieves or counterfeiters ; and these unpromising appearances are followed by translating the newly-discovered book by the popular wizardoraft of looking through peep-stones, while the plates are carefuUy concealed from the vul gar gaze. The third position is, that Smith's mission was di vine, because he declares " that Peter, James, and John came to him in the capacity of ministering angels, and, by the laying on of hands, ordained him an apostle, and commanded him to preach," &c. ; and the reasoner is sure, very sure, that there is something transcending human thought in all this ; that Mr. Smith could never have originated such an idea. It would, indeed, be wonderful, had not hundreds of the inmates of Bedlam forestalled the Mormon prophet in hatching similar absurdities. The fourth proof is, that Smith professes to have received, " through revelation and commandment from God, a dispensation for the gathering of the Saints from all nations." Mr. Pratt undertakes to prove from Scripture that the people of God were to be brought out from the Gentiles, and gathered together in one place, and reasons that Smith, an unpracticed marks- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 277 man, never could have hit so happy an idea by a chance shot. Less clever rogues than the prophet Joseph would have stumbled upon this idea without supernatural aid. How else could he have his foUowers so completely un der his influence, or coUect his tithes, or keep them from apostacy, or so securely indulge in a community of wives, and other licentious practices ? Without the gathering, the adventure would have lacked one of its most essential elements of success. The sixth subdivision of the argument exhibits more than any other the pains which have been taken to bring the discovery of the Mormon Bible within the letter of ancient prophecy. As a train of argument, it will be found to hold together with the tenacity usuaUy ascribed to a rope of sand. It wiU be recollected that the Saints are strict literalists, and claim that certain prophecies were literaUy fulfilled' in the discovery of this book. A brief examination wUl show that these prophetic declarations must be stretched, like pieces of India-rubber, to an extraordinary degree of tenuity, in order to covet the requisite surface. In Isaiah xxix. occurs the following passage : " And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground ; and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be as of one that hath a famihar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust." Mr. Pratt reasons that the Book of Mormon is refer red to in this declaration, because it was taken out of the ground. The tribe of Joseph, he says, " have been brought down like all the rest of Israel ; but the words of their ancient prophets .' speak out ofthe ground' and 278 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. ' whisper out of the dust' to the ears of the present generation, revealing, in a very 'familiar' manner, the history of ancient America." Now, on reading the context, it wiU be found that aU this is spoken of the city of Jerusalem, besieged and brought into a state of abasement by an army, and, literally understood, has as little to do with a book as with moonshine. Again, it is said in the same chapter of Isaiah: " 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 says, I can not, 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." To bring his scheme within this prophecy, Smith or Rigdon inserted in the Book of Mormon the following : " But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall say unto him to whom he shall deliver the book, Take these words which are not sealed, and deliver them to another, that he may show them to another, that he may show them unto the learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee ; and the learned shall say, Bring hither the book, and I will read them ; and now, because of the glory of the world, and to get gain, will they say this, and not for the glory of God ; and the man shall say, I can not bring the book, for it is sealed ; then shaU the learned say, I can not read it." After Smith discovered the glyph which has aheady been spoken of, he transcribed some of the characters, and sent them to Professor Anthon by Martin Harris. Neither Anthon nor other mortal, learned or unlearned, of course, could read them ; and this is claimed as a UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 279 fulfiUment of prophecy. It may be a quasi fulfillment of Smith's own prophecy in the Book of Mormon, but it requires a vast deal of pulling and stretching to bring it within that of Isaiah. In the latter, the book itself was delivered to the man of learning, which is evident from his answer, " it is sealed," referring to the book, and not to any portion of the words ; and not only so, but this book was not delivered to the unlearned man until afterward, who, in fact, never read it at aU ; and it was only the blind and deaf that finally penetrated the mystery. It may be asked why Smith did not more nearly conform the Book of Mormon in this re spect to the prophecy ; but he could not, because, to have delivered Spaulding's " Manuscript Found" or the glyph to Anthon, would have broken the egg before the cockatrice was fairly hatched, and ended the imposture at once. But the most extraordinary argument ever brought forth in support of any thing divine or human is, that the Book of Mormon predicts that it should be shown to three witnesses, and that the prophet actually found the requisite number ; and Mr. Pratt, in great apparent simplicity, says, " Now an impostor might indeed pre dict the raising of three witnesses, but he could not call down an angel from heaven, in the presence of these witnesses, to fulfiU his predictions." True enough ; but what was to prevent the impostor from procuring three or more lying witnesses, ready to swear that black was white, for the purpose of sharing in the proceeds of the imposture ? The eleventh proof of divine authority is the power to perform miracles claimed by the prophet and his 280 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. foUowers. Decidedly the most bold feature of Mormon ism, and one which shows how strongly the originators must have relied upon popular credulity, is the pre tense of possessing the miraculous signs following true discipleship, as described in the following passage from Mark : " And these signs shaU foUow them that believe : In my name shall they cast out devils ; they shaU speak with new tongues ; they shall take up serpents ; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them ; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall re cover." The claims in favor of the marvelous skUl possessed by the celebrated Doctor Caustic, of whom it was said, " To raise a dead dog he was able, Though laid in quarters on the table, And lead him yelping round the town, With two legs up and two legs down," do not exceed those of the Latter-day Saints in mirac ulous gifts. The leaders have literally performed some of these prodigies, to the entire conviction of all true Saints. As may be readily supposed, the mass of Mormon mir acles consist in healing diseases ; and, in proof of theso notable performances, they have a string of certificates as long as the tail of a kite — almost as long, indeed, as the vender of a quack medicine appends to his univer sal panacea. Every one is familiar with the powerful agency of the imagination in the curing or ameliora tion of disease, and hence it is less difficult to impose upon the credulity of the multitude by extraordinary UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 281 cures than almost any other form of legerdemain. I never heard, however, of any of these miracle-mongers who were willing to handle living rattlesnakes, or swallow doses of arsenic or strychnine to test their boasted powers. Indeed, so little confidence have they in the miraculous texture of their stomachs, that, in their penal statutes of 1852, they impose a heavy fine on the druggist who shaU " sell and deliver any arsenic, corrosive sublimate, prussic acid," &c, without the word poison written on it ; nay, more, they have man ifested an uncommon degree of apprehension on the subject by imposing, in section 107 of the same act, a severe punishment upon the physician who shall ad minister poison as a medicine without fully explaining the nature and effect to the patient, and obtaining his free consent if over age, or of his parent or guardian if a minor. The fact that the amount of mortality in Utah has been next to that of Louisiana ; that their cemetery is filled with graves, from the infant of a span long to the maturity of manhood ; that aU kinds of medical practice are in vogue among them, from Thomsonian- ism up, or down, through all the pathies, forms a standing contradiction to all their pretenses in this re spect. Yet they are never in want of an argument sufficiently ingenious to impose upon those whose busi ness it is to have faith. If the man dies, why then his time had come, and it was of no use to pour on the consecrated oil, or lay on the hands. So the world goes. Quackery is the most powerful lever yet, either in medicine or theology. That they should have had great success in gaining 282 UTAH AND TIIE MORMONS. credit for these marvelous gifts can not appear strange to one who is aware of the great popular delusions prevalent in community. Who has not listened to sto ries of haunted dwellings — of mysterious sights seen, and voices heard ? Who has not heard of the juggling impositions of fortune-teUers, of witches and wizards, who, by means of cards, peep-stones, or something else, make thousands believe in theh ability to unrav el present perplexities and read future events — to dis cover secreted goods, and prognosticate happy match es and embryo fortunes ? All these things, and more like them, are known to exist, and to command exten sive belief; but no one can be fuUy sensible of the power and extent of this human element untU he sees the subjects of them gathered together, and concentrat ed, as it were, in a burning focus by the aid of rehg ious sanction in the VaUey of Salt Lake. The only other " sign" which they pretend to pat ronize to any considerable extent is the gift of tongues, and in this they exhibit aU the adroitness which prac tice can give. Many readers will not fail to recollect the gibberish termed " hog-Latin," so common as an amusement with boys at school, some of whom are very expert in this exercise, and wiU roll off the unmeaning dialect with great ease and fluency. This juvenile sport has been carefully revised and greatly enlarged by the proselyting members of the Mormon communi ty. No part of their jugglery is more transparent than this, and yet, strange to say, it has been one of their most efficient instruments of success. Hundreds will now gravely date their conversion from the period when they first heard the exercise of this marvel. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 283 A very cursory examination of the pamphlets wo have been considering wiU be found amply sufficient .to satisfy any one of theh scope and character. A train of reasoning similar to that which has been adopted— - which is made up of inferences from mere assump- « tions, with ad captandum appfications of Scripture — would sustain any other system just as well as the one in the support of which Mr. Pratt has so severely taxed his powers. In this style of reasoning, the au thor has proved himself a perfect knight-errant in po lemic warfare, cutting to the right and left with reck less desperation. A buU in a china-shop could not produce a more terrible smash, or effect more inextri cable confusion. In Tract No. 3, for instance, he has bastardized aU Christendom for the last seventeen hundred years, by satisfactorily proving that, since the first century after Christ, there has been no one au thorized to perform the marriage ceremony, or admin ister any of the ordinances of the Church. Curious enough that such a sentence should be pronounced by the jaded voluptuary who sports a harem by divine command ! The whole argument is addressed to the weakest points of the human mind — it is all outside. There is not the slightest attempt at internal evidence. There is no pretense of the development of a single new spir itual truth, or of any advance in the natural or meta physical sciences — not even the display of a beautiful or sublime idea. The whole cui bono, or utility of such a scheme, is left untouched, and the world is called upon to embrace Mormonism because Smith pretends to have taken the Book of Mormon from the 284 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. ground; because he has found three witnesses; be cause Mr. Anthon could not translate the strange characters submitted to his inspection ; because Smith, has copied after ancient forms in his machinery of apostles, elders, &c. ; because he and they pretend to the gift of prophecy ; and because they also pretend to the performance of miracles, and have annexed the usual certificates ! CHAPTER XVII. Efforts to make female Converts. — Mode of conducting public Wor ship. — ¦ Sermon by Parley P. Pratt. — Schools. — Deseret News. — Doctor Richards. — Deseret Almanac, by W. W. Phelps. ¦ — Lan guage used in public Discourses. The design of the leading Mormons in gathering their followers into one place was, as wiU readily be . seen, to isolate them from the rest of mankind, and thus tho more easily to subject them to their govern ment. Polygamy, though at first introduced for the sole reason that the prophet Smith was a licentious man, is now sought to be extended as a matter of pol icy, because it renders this isolation the more complete. The man in Utah who becomes a polygamist becomes a fixture, because he is then still more unfit for any other community. In reference to this policy, the Mormon missionaries make especial efforts to gain fe male converts, esteeming success in this work para mount even to the acquisition of wealthy disciples. When, however, they manage to obtain a lodgment in a family where girls and money both abound, they re- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 285 gard themselves in pursuit of a prize for which they wiU put forth their best exertions. Such a family transferred to Salt Lake City is an object of great consideration. The wealth of the father speedUy finds its way into the coffers of the Church, and the daugh ters are in due tirhe distributed among the high-priests, or have the proud distinction of starting new harems. Out of the pale of this singular society, it is often a matter for marvel that, in an age which is regarded the most enlightened since the creation of the world, men and women who have been accustomed to the usages of civilized life should remain the passive sub jects of such a despotism. But the true Mormon knows little or nothing of what is going on outside of the rim of the Great Basin, except that which is de rived from pulpit discourses, and the newspapers and publications which belong to his own faith. All the means of instruction within those boundaries are made instrumental in holding the consciences and bodies of the Saints in subjection. They are generally a church- going people. In Salt Lake City, their congregations on the Sabbath are from 2500 to 3000, which, in a population of 8000, is a large proportion. Their devotional exercises have their peculiarities, though generally resembling those of other communi ties. Their discourses on these occasions are mostly stereotyped, and are made up of histories of their per secutions, and a description oi the glorious destiny in store for the Saints. The reader shall have one of the most favorable specimens, which occurred on Sunday, the 9th of January, 1853. The services commenced with music from a full 286 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. band stationed in front of the priest's platform, accom panied with voices, the performance of which was creditable. This was followed by a prayer, which had nothing to distinguish it from similar exercises else where ; after which was music again. The presiding elder for the day then called upon one of the priests sitting on the platform for a sermon, who, in this in stance, proved to be Parley P. Pratt, one of their most plausible sermonizers. During the discourse the sa crament was administered, which was done by one or two persons taking each a pitcher of water and a tumbler, and going around among the congregation, followed by another with a plate of broken bread, each of the assembled Saints being thus furnished with a drink of water and a piece of bread. After Elder Pratt finished his sermon, a returned missionary from the Sandwich Islands was caUed up, and gave a tedious and egotistical account of his doings in that part of the world ; after which came a short benediction, and an other tune was played by the band as the audience retired. The discourse of Elder Pratt was thoroughly Mor mon. He congratulated himself and the audience that so large a number had congregated in the House of the Lord. He then descanted at considerable length upon the persecutions which they had suffered from the Gentiles, and the miraculous exhibition at present made by the Saints in having established and buUt up themselves in theh isolated position under such discouraging circumstances. He averred that nothing like it had ever been known before ; that no other people could have done it, and that this was ev- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 287 idence of their divine mission ; that this was now the great oentre of attraction, and that every thing which was said or done by them was closely watched, and caught up with great eagerness and published by the rest of the world. He then discoursed upon the glo rious destiny of the Saints here and hereafter, in pre paring to build up kingdoms and become gods, and expressed a feeling of solemnity when he felt that he was a responsible agent in the great work. But, on the whole, he expressed himself very well satisfied that he had performed his whole duty, and that he could not better it if it were to be performed over again ; that he had left wives and family to go on missions, and strongly condemned the Saint who could be kept back from such a duty by a woman ; that the present actors would soon be out of the way, and then the responsi bility would rest upon the boys and girls of the rising generation ; that, in view of this, he thought they were spending too much time in amusements, and too little in learning the sciences and mechanical arts-, and thus preparing themselves for their mission ; that God was not too proud to turn his attention to the arts and sci ences, of which there was abundant evidence, to wit, in having laid out the garden of Eden, planned the Temple of Solomon, &c. He spoke with an ordinary degree of ease and flu ency, and used many ad captandum expressions to excite the mirth of his hearers. With the exception of the exhortation to the young to become studious and industrious, there was not a single useful idea in the whole discourse ; but it was weU calculated to keep up the spiritual pride and self-glorification ofthe audi- 288 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. enoe, by reminding them of the persecutions which they had suffered, the marvelous things which they had achieved, and their glorious destinies in prospect. Humility, which forms so constant a theme in Chris tian pulpits, finds no abiding-place in a Mormon's mind. Why should it ? He was one of the spirits who shout ed for joy at the creation, and is destined to become a god and rule over a kingdom. Parley P. Pratt is one of their ablest men ; he is evi dently above mediocrity in point of talent, and, with proper cultivation, and under any other than a system of imposture, would be noted as a good speaker. He has a subtle and seductive genius, is very self-possess ed, and wears a candid and friendly appearance. He wrote " The Voice of Warning," a work much esteem ed among the Saints, and is, withal, a poet. At one period he had some rough weather with Brigham Young, who was jealous that he had an eye to the suc cession, and sent him as a missionary to the Sandwich Islands. Since his return he has been busUy engaged in another work, which is to furnish the key to all re hgious knowledge. He was formerly a Campbelfite preacher, and became noted for wild and visionary no tions in regard to the Millennium. The Book of Mor mon and the ready-made revelations of the prophet Jo seph found a friendly soil in the peculiar idiosyncracies of his mind, and he surrendered to Mormonism at the first summons, and at an early period. His mind is thoroughly imbued with the necessity of ecclesiastical forms and machinery for salvation, such as baptism, authorized apostles, &c. The apostolic succession hav ing, in his view, been lost, it was necessary to have UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 289 the authority renewed, which was done in the case of Smith through an angel. He enters readily into polyga my ; has a harem of eight wives ; has lost eight chil dren, and has sixteen still living. At his house he will introduce the stranger to one as Mrs. Pratt ; and then, pointing with complacent nonchalance to the rest of the bevy, wUl say, " These are all Mrs. Pratts." The most of his brethren exhibit a land of hang-dog look on such occasions, and seem to feel like a culprit caught in depredating upon a hen-roost ; but Parley puts a bold face upon the matter, and in this is certainly con sistent with his professed principles. In addition to theh means of instruction derived from the pulpit, they have organized schools, very similar to the common school district system in the States. In Great Salt Lake City there is a school-house in every ward, and schools have been kept up in the most of them ; but they are wretchedly managed, and so far have proved to be hot-beds of vice rather than places of instruction. The children and youth now growing up, and for the improvement of whom these means of instruction have been provided, are ungoverned and ungovernable, in and out of school ; and, so far from any effort being made to remedy the evil, this youthful turbulence is complacently regarded as evidence of their celestial descent. The Hon. J. M. Grant, Speaker of the House of Representatives, in a discourse dehv ered at a ward sehool-house on Sunday, the 20th of February, 1853, stated that the chUdren of the Saints possessed superior minds, which made it difficult to govern them in school ; and that, for his part, he was glad of it, as it manifested the dignity of their origin. N 290 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. With such notions openly preached, it is no wonder the schools are arenas of riot and disorder : they are worse than that ; they are the seminaries of juvenUe vice — incipient embryo hells, in which the most filthy and obscene ideas are instUled into their young minds. These children exhibit a precocity of knowledge on subjects which parents usually conceal from them which is perfectly astounding. It is a common thing for them to retaU at school the disgusting intimacies which they have witnessed at home. Young men who have graduated in these primary institutions of vice are licentious to a degree that wiU not bear description. The openness with which these forward youths are fol lowing in the footsteps of their predecessors may find fitting comparisons with flocks and herds, but not in any branch of the human family outside of Mormon dom, or since the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. The "Deseret News," published semi-monthly at Salt Lake City, at five doUars per year, furnishes the Saints with the most of their newspaper reading. This usually, contains a curious medley ; at least, such would be likely to be the judgment of any other than a Mor mon. Take the one of April 30th, 1853, as a sample. The first column is devoted to anecdotes and witti cisms ; after which follows a poetic effusion, by Miss E. R. Snow, " To the Saints in Europe," the first stanza of which and the chorus wUl be enough to show how deeply the Latter-day muse has quaffed from the " Pie rian puddle :" " Ye Saints who are dwelling in Europe, Wherever you're scattered abroad, Grace and mercy be multiplied to you, Through the favor and knowledge of God. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 291 CHOKUS. Come, come to the chambers of Israel ; Come, come to your home in the West ; Come, come to the valleys of Ephraim — Come, come to the land ofthe bless'd." After the poetry, two columns are taken up with tho autobiography of Joseph Smith, which is being repub lished in consecutive portions. Then comes a sermon by Elder P. P. Pratt before the April Conference, in which he undertakes to teU us of what stuff spirits are made : " But what are they if they are not flesh and bones ? What are they if they are not tangible to our gross organs of sense ? Of what are they composed that we can neither see, hear, nor handle them, except we are quickened, or our organs touched by the principles of vision, clairvoyance, or spiritual sight ? What are they ? Why, they are organized intelligences. What are they made of? They are made of the element which we caU spirit, which is as much an element of material existence as earth, air, electricity, or any other tangi ble substance recognized by man ; but so subtile, so re fined is its nature, that it is not tangible to our gross organs. It is invisible to us unless we are quickened by a portion of the same element, and, like electricity and several other substances, it is only known or made manifest to our senses by its effects. For instance, electricity is not always visible to us, but its existence is made manifest by its operations upon the wire or upon the nerves. We can not see the air, but we feel its effects, and without it we can not breathe. " If a wire were extended in connection with the equatorial line of our globe in one entire circle of twen- 292 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. ty-five thousand miles in extent, the electric fluid would convey a token from one intelligence to another the length of the entire circle in a very small portion of a second, or, we wiU say, in the twinkling of an eye. This, then, proves that the spiritual fluid or element called electricity is an actual physical and tangible power, and is as much a real and tangible substance as the ponderous rocks which were laid on yesterday in the foundation of our contemplated Temple." Parley then goes on to give a dismal account of those who have died without having the Gospel preached to them by those who are authorized to hold the " keys," but he somehow provides a way of escape for every body except apostates from Latter-day -ism : " Such apostates seek, in all dispensations, to bring destruction on the innocent, and to shed innocent blood, or consent thereto. For such, I again repeat, I know no forgiveness. Their children, who, by the con duct of such fathers, have been plunged into ignorance and misery for so many ages, and have lived without the privileges of the Gospel, will look down upon such a parentage with mingled feelings of horror-;, contempt, reproach, and pity, as the agents who plunged their posterity into the depths of misery and woe." After the sermon comes the editorial. The leader relates to the scarcity of provisions, and some good ad vice is given to the Saints to save their grain, and to be charitable to each other. Under the editorial head is an abstract of news, in whieh the disasters of the Gentile world by fire, earthquakes, &c, are largely represented. We then have communications from sun dry correspondents, and, among others, a very charac- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 293 teristic one from Edward Sayers, the Deseret garden er : " ' I herewith send a few cucumbers, wliich you will please to accept as the first of the season with me ; this I do, as I know you are always glad to see any thing like early productions in the Valley. If the little article on plants meets your approbation, I shall feel much obliged if you wiU give it an insertion in the News. E. S. " * Doct. Richards, Present.' " With the above we received a plate of cucumbers, varying from 5£ to 8J inches — the lot averaging 6f inches in length ; large enough for table use, or about If inches in diameter ; the whole covered with a hand ful of green leaves from 7 to 10 inches in diameter. We are thankful to learn by this expression that Friend Sayers has not forgotten the texture of our eye and taste for early vegetables, though it is many years since we have had the opportunity of regaling in his botanic, flower, and vegetable kingdom." Then follow the minutes of the General Conference, the largest portion of which is occupied with a sermon and speech from Brigham, and a few short speeches from other dignitaries. In the sermon, the reigning seer condescends to give the assembled Saints some Hght in reference to the Temple, of which the corner stones had been lately laid : " I scarcely ever say much about revelations or vis ions; but suffice it to say, five years ago last July I was here, and saw in the spirit the Temple, not ten feet from where we have laid the chief corner stone. I have not inquired what kind of a temple we should 294 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. build. Why ? Because it was represented before me. I never looked upon that ground but the vision of it was there. I see it as plainly as if it was in reality before me. Wait until it is done. I will say, how ever, that it will have six towers to begin with instead of one. Now do not any of you apostatize because it will have six towers, and Joseph only built one. It is easier for us to build sixteen than it was for him to buUd one. The time will come when there will be one in the centre of temples we shall build ; and on the top, groves and fish-ponds. But we shall not see them here at present." These fish, we may be permitted to conjecture, wUl be gudgeons, and gulls will probably sport in the same waters. It would seem, from the speech, as though Brigham had been rivaled a little too closely in chasing after some dowered widows to be quite agreeable : " You may see a great many miserly persons with regard to dollars and cents ; it is just as natural for men to be miserly with regard to their religious bless ings. You may see hundreds of elders who say to the sisters, ' Come, and be sealed to me,' crawling round to make the holy ordinances of God a matter of spec ulation to administer to their avaricious dispositions. They tell you that you will go into eternity, and find yourselves without husbands, and can not get an exalt ation ; that you can not have this, that, or the other, unless you are sealed to them. I am free, and so are you. My advice to the sisters is, Never be sealed to any man, unless you wish to be. I say to you high- priests and elders, never, from this time, ask a woman UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 295 to be sealed to you, unless she wants to be, but let the widows and children alone." The following affords some insight into the mysteries of courtship and marriage, as managed in this favored region : " I might notice many more items pertaining to this matter ; but the elders going round teUing the sisters they must be sealed to them, or they can not get an exaltation, particularly has wounded my feelings. How ignorant such men are ! This, to me, is like a shadow ; to talk about it is sheer nonsense. Let every man and woman magnify their calhng in the kingdom of God, and he will take care that we have our exalt ation. " Sisters come to me and inquire what they shall do, saying, Brother A. or B. taught me so and so. They are as wild as the deer on the mountains ; their ideas and calculations are derogatory to every shade of good sound sense, and to every principle of the priesthood of heaven." The foUowing are short speeches : " Benjamin L. Clapp remarked, ' I have been for some time in a curious frame of mind, depressed in spirit, but I have done nothing in secret, neither blasphemed the name of God,' and called on the Saints to forgive him, that he once more might enjoy the Spirit of God ; and thanks God he has been reproved, as it is for his benefit. He wants to stand in his lot and place, and magnify his caUing. He feels better to-day than he has for the last two years." " President Young presented the text, a set of fire- irons made by the brethren from the native iron in 296 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. Iron county ; also a smaU piece of metal, looking Hke silver, found at the bottom of the furnace, on which aqua fortis has no effect ; and said he, ' We no longer ask any person to go to Iron county.' " Elder George A. Smith was caUed upon to preach ' an iron sermon,' who rose, took in the stand one ofthe fire-irons, holding the same over his head, cried out ' Stereotype edition,' and descended, amid the cheers of the Saints. As many of the Saints had been in the house over five hours, the choir sung ' Praise God from whom aU blessings flow.' Benediction by Lorenzo Snow." The last page is devoted to advertisements, ofwhieh the foUowing are peculiar : " Brands, Brands ! » "Mistake corrected. — By some unaccountable op eration in human affairs, the following mark U. was recorded and published for the benefit of Lyman Hin man. " This "i^ is Lyman Hinman's brand, on the left hip, three inches long by four inches wide ; residence, Richards' Mill, Davis county; and all persons will please take notice, and govern themselves accordingly. "H. Coray, " Acting Recorder of Brands, Utah Territory." "Notice. " The members ofthe 31st Quorum of Seventies are requested to send in theh names and genealogies in the following order, to the Clerk of said Quorum in Grand Salt Lake City : Person's name ; when born ; UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 297 place of birth ; parents' names ; baptized ; ordained into the Quorum. By order of the Presidents, " Geo. Woodward, Clerk." " G. D. Watt, Reporter, is on hand when caUed for, to make verbatim re ports of the blessings of children, confirmations, ser mons, lectures, &c, 6cc, and may be found in the President's Office, northwest corner of the Council House, up stairs. « p.s. — When any of the Wards call a meeting for the blessing of children, it may be found for their ben efit to have G. D. W. present on such occasions." The "Deseret News" is edited by Dr. Willard Rich ards, a member of the Quorum of Three, and who, it wiU be recoUected, was an inmate of the Carthage jail when the Smiths were murdered, and narrowly escaped injury on that critical occasion. He is also the Presi dent ofthe Legislative CouncU, and,1n addition, holds the important position of deputy post-master at Salt Lake City under the general government. He is of unwieldy size, and disposed to lethargy. His corpu lence is a disease produced by the joint influence of gluttony and drink. He evinces much kindliness of disposition and politeness of demeanor, and is not des titute of talent. Some of his editorials read well and are sensible. His history in reference to polygamy is worth relating. When it was first introduced by the prophet, he was much annoyed. He was, it seems, married to a wife for whom he had a strong attach ment, and was so fearful that it would render her un- N2 298 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. happy, that he managed to keep all knowledge of it from her, which certainly presents the amiabihty of his disposition in a favorable Hght. His wife died in Nauvoo, after which the doctor took unto himself a goodly number of concubines, under the universal plea that it was a divinely authorized order of the Church. Was he sincere, or did he aU the while suspect that the inspiration of Joseph was from a class of sphits similar to those with whom Dr. Faustus was, in pop ular credulity, supposed to have been in league when he invented type ? He wiU not live with his concu bines, but furnishes them with separate stalls, as a farmer would his favorite cows, and continues to re side with a maiden sister. He is an instance of an easy, good-natured man, spoiled by a profane rehgious system and vicious associations. His obesity and hab its wUl soon remove him to a state where all that is good and evil, recorded in his book of life, wiU be fully explored. Another medium of instruction, through the agency of which the Saints are kept in a high degree of illu mination, is the "Deseret Almanac," a concern got up by W. W. Phelps, editor of the " Morning and Even ing Star" when Zion was located in Missouri, since Speaker of the House of Representatives at the first session of the Legislative Assembly, and who some times calls himself the " King's Jester." This man, as already stated, was a broken-down political hack, who resided for a time at Cortland, and also at Canandai gua, in the State of New York. There were too many screws loose in his mind to make him efficient in any thing rational, and, soon after Smith appeared upon the UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 299 stage with Spaulding's book, and his own machinery of seer-stones and mhacles, Phelps was hresistibly at tracted, and became an early convert. When tho troubles came on in Missouri, and Joseph and Hyrum were arrested for treason, he apostatized, and, as a witness before Judge King, made some ugly disclo sures. He was afterward restored to the bosom of the Church, and now figures among the great men of the Latter-day Saints. In the secret penetralia oi Mor mon Temple mysteries, he plays the part of the ser pent-devil in the garden of Eden ; and on such occa sions, wriggles and hisses so much hke a real snake, that his services are looked upon as indispensable by all true believers. An almanac made up by such a genius must, of course, have its peculiarities. In the one for 1852 oc curs the foUowing scrap of sublime doctrine : " The nearest ' fixed star' must be Mount Paran, mentioned in Habakkuk, the fruitful world of glory where the ' Holy One' came from ; or, rather, Kolob, where our Father in the heavens resides in the midst of his glory and kingdoms. The next ' fixed star,' also mentioned by Habakkuk, must be Tamen, the world of perfection, where God came from to do the works of liis Father spoken of by John the Revelator (Rev., L, 6) ; which Father of God and grandfather of Jesus Christ must now be living in one of the eter-nity of eternities, which closes the Lord's Prayer in the Greek version, and is mentioned by John (Rev., xix., 3, &c.)." This idea of matrimony and pedigree among the Mormon gods is kept up in the Almanac for the present year, as wUl be seen by the following specimen page : 300 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 1853.] February begins on Tuesday, and has 28 days. [Winter. First day, lOh. 3m. long. Fifteenth day, lOh. 35m. long. CHANGES OF THE MOON. CONJUNCTIONS, &c, OF PLANETS. A. h. m. 9 New Moon, 6 10 7 a. 4 i C 3 li 47 m. J First quarter, 14 9 45 a. $ 6 . ii. ni. A. m. Tuesday 1 Weather changes, so do men. 7 13 5 16 7 6 130 Wednesday 2 Mary's purification. 7 12 5 17 8 8 2 33 Thursday 3 Law costs cash ; 7 11 5 18 9 4 3 34 Friday 4 Matrimony patience. 7 10 5 20 10 4 4 19 Saturday 5 God hates sin and debauchery. 7 9 5 2111 2 5 24 Sunday 6 Flattery is the fog of greatness. 7 7 5 21 11 57 6 19 Monday 7 Beware ! yes, of folly. 7 6 5 22 12 45 sets. Tuesday 8 Hyrum Smith b. 1800. 7 5 5 23 141 6 1 Wednesday 9 Among officials, when one dog 7 4 5 24 2 23 7 13 Thursday 10 barks, another imitates him. 7 3 5 26 3 6 8 19 Friday 11 Every body talks too much. 7 2 5 27 3 48 9 13 Saturday 12 Cholera in London, 1812. 7 0 5 28 4 29 10 8 Sunday 13 Be one in time for eternity. 6 59 5 29 5 19 11 10 Monday 14 Gold governs this world, and 6 58 5 31 5 55 11 52 Tuesday 15 wisdom heaven. 6 56 5 32 6 44 morn. Wednesday 16 Vision of Joseph Smith, 1832. 6 55 5 32 7 29 54 Thursday 17 W.W. Phelps b. 1792. 6 54 5 33 8 20 2 1 Friday 18 Sirius s. 8h. 52m. 6 52 5 37 9 8 3 3 Saturday 19 Why does man fail in what he 6 51 5 38 10 9 3 55 Sunday 20 aims at nine times out of ten? 6 50 5 39 11 1 4 53 Monday 21 Becausehedoesnot honor God. 6 48 5 40 11 58 5 56 Tuesday 22 EzraT. Benson b. 1811. 6 47 5 41 morn. rises. Wednesday 23 God was married, or how could 6 45 5 43 46 6 24 Thursday 24 he beget his son Jesus Christ 644 544 1 38 7 13 Friday 25 lawfully, and do the works of 6 42 5 45 2 28 8 1 Saturday 26 his Father 1 6 41 5 46 3 19 9 13 Sunday 27 Eternity swallows ages. 6 39 5 47 4 11 10 33 Monday 28 Deseret University chart'd 1850. 6 38 5 48 5 18 11 50 In the miscellaneous department we find such scraps as these : "Union. " The experience of ages shows that ' union' makes heaven eternal, because the sun-lit, moon-tinged, star ry hosts above are as they were from the beginning. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 3Q1 Now I wish and pray for the ' Saints,' as they gather from the nations of the earth, to come to the same union. When this globe was organized, the ' waters were gathered into one place ;' so, when we view the Great Basin, we see the waters from aU points of the compass run to the centre, or Great Salt Lake, and there is no ' outlet,' but a specimen oi union as to com ing together, and preservation as to salt. Here, then, let every Saint preserve the union by bringing and manufacturing all that is needed, and not ' casting their pearls before swine,' by buying goods of Japheth's merchantmen, who run back to their ' sties' in the East; 0 eh, 0 eh, 0 eh ! how easy we made $500,000 out of the d — d Mormons by charging five hundred per cent. Don't take that pitcher to the well again — 'tis cracked ! ' Let the dead bury their dead,' or let the world cheat the world ; but, Saint, keep thyself unspot ted from the world !" " Hints for Hujmanity. " A family hell — a smoky house, a wife never suit ed, and a few ragged urchins playing cards and scratch ing their heads. " Paradise lost — a beautiful girl, after having tasted of the good word of God, with a prospect of the ' pow ers to come,' that runs away and marries a ' tare of the field.' " "A Sonnet on Bogus. " A new idea, fresh, The people all are bogus : Their bodies true are flesh, But devils' spirit rogue us — {except the Mormons). 302 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. " The world goes on to cheat, The very fashions vogue us ; There's tares among the wheat, And every coin has bogus — (except the Mormon)." The General Conference meets every six months, in April and October, which is a general meeting of the Church, and on which occasions speeches are made and sermons delivered. Lectures are also occasionaUy delivered before the " Female Health Society," an as sociation for the promotion of health, in which the mysteries of curing disease by miraculous agency are more particularly descanted upon. The language of their discourses on devotional, business, and festive oc casions, is often low, filthy, obscene, profane, and bru tal to a degree shocking to GentUe ears. In the summer of 1851, Brigham Young delivered a discourse intended to use up the doctors, in which, in vulgar and obscene language, he undertook to show that he was as well acquainted with the different parts of the human body as professional men. One phrase, in particular, has passed into the dignity of "house hold words." He said he knew that " women had legs, &c, &c, as well as the doctors." The dialect of the blackguard is so common to Brigham as to ex cite very little attention. In a speech of his, pubhshed in the "Deseret News" oi AprU 2d, 1853, against the Gladdenites, such phrases as these occur : " Nasty, sneaking apostate ;" " nasty little Smith and his wife ;" " go to hell across lots ;" " nasty, stinking ribbons." The Governor has a large harem, and sure no one can dispute his full appreciation ofthe meaning ofthe word " nasty." UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 3Q3 During the same summer that Brigham used up the doctors, a party of pleasure, men and women, resorted to the top of " Ensign Peak," and, among others, was an address .delivered by W. W. Phelps, in which he went on to enlighten the mothers and daughters in Israel as to the proper time and manner in which the work of generation should be carried on, with a mi nuteness of detail and vulgarity of language which could scarcely have been more broad had he denuded himself by way of Ulustration. This reached the cli max of Mormon obscenity in pubho speaking, and is often used by way of comparison. When any thing a little richer than common has been elicited, it is said to be almost equal to "Phelps's sermon on the Mount." So much remark was made about it at the time, that he reported the speech for the Deseret News, in which, though bad enough, the grosser portions are omitted. CHAPTER XVIII. Social Intercourse. — Governor's Party. — Influence of Polygamy upon Amusements. — Style of Building. — Amusing Scenes growing out of Polygamy. — Superstition. — Endowment Robes. — Initiation Cer emonies. — The Curse. — The, Patriarch and his Blessings. — Gift of Tongues. — Notions on Slavery. The Mormons are a social people. They have erect ed a large building caUed " Social Hall," with express reference to their gratification in this respect, and the building is so arranged as to answer the double pur pose of a theatre and a place for social parties. In the basement is a kitchen, having all the means and ap- 304 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. pliances for cooking ; adjacent to which is a saloon, capable of seating four to five hundred people. When a gathering takes place too large for the private res idence of the one who intends to be the master of the feast, " Social HaU" presents ample " room and verge" enough for all the guests. These parties have theh oddities, like every thing else connected with this strange people. The Governor made a party in this building in Jan uary, 1853, for which the invitation cards, very neatly executed, were sent around some days beforehand. At the entrance each guest was met by the "private sec retary," and required to pay two dollars and a half toward the expenses of the entertainment. This seem ed odd enough ; but it is the universal custom in all their parties of pleasure, and is no bad idea where lux uries are expensive. The party was large, and, after a goodly number had assembled, the business of the evening was opened by a short prayer ; after which the dancing commenced, and was kept up during the whole evening. A band of music, which performed exceedingly well, was stationed on the raised platform, and there was room enough on the main floor for half a dozen sets of cotillions. Those who did not see fit to engage in dancing made themselves agreeable in conversation ; and many being present who had trav eled over almost the entire globe as missionaries, a stranger could not fail to pass the evening pleasantly. The supper came off at eleven, and was first-rate ; all the elements of a good feast were there, and were en joyed with great good humor. The latest sultana, who is quite pretty, was present as a guest. Some dozen UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 3Q5 others, however, of the harem, gave efficient aid in preparing the supper, and were hospitable in their at tentions during the feast. The Governor did not appear to enter with much zest into the enjoyments ofthe evening — did not dance, and seemed abstracted. Perhaps he was not in the vein, or he may have been solicitous that every thing should go off right ; at any rate, no one could complain of any want of attention. He wore his hat, as usual. By-the-way, he seldom or never takes off his hat : in ' ' Social Hall" — by his own fireside — in the State House delivering his message to the Legislative Assembly, it is all the same ; the eternal hat is ever topmost. Is this intended as a species of ecclesiastical crown — a kind of Mormon tiara, emblematical of his sovereignty ? Or has he got a bald spot, or ugly wen on the top of his bump of veneration 1 I don't know ; I only know that Brigham and his hat, like the Centaur and his horse, are inseparable companions. His appearance is injured by this confounded hat, because he and his hat are always associated in the minds of all who have ever seen him. He must have been a very good-looking young man. He is now about fifty-five ; dresses well and in good taste ; has a dignified presence ; is of fair height, and well-rounded and well-proportioned figure, but stoops "a little too much for his age. To a stranger his man ners are affable, and his conversation possesses the in terest natural to a shrewd mind and large experience in some of the roughest phases of human life. He has not the daring, reckless genius of Smith (dealing httle in the prophet's bold and dashing revelations), nor does 306 UTAH AND TIIE MORMONS. he possess the same popularity ; but he is his equal in cunning, and his superior in sagacity. In Utah he is a 'great, man; in the States he would be lost in the multitude of greater men. He is probably in the only place in the world where he could ever be distinguished. Social parties are very common, at wliich music and dancing are the universal accompaniments. The in vited guests generally contribute something toward the expenses, and often the sum for each one to pay is noted upon the card of invitation. Sometimes the contributions appear in the form of pies, cake, roasted fowl, &c, or some drinkable, forming a regular in-door pic-nic. During the winter, they keep up theatrical exhibitions at Social Hall, and generaUy the perform ances are better sustained in all theh parts than in theatres in the Atlantic cities, though the principal part would not so well bear comparison. They lack in costume, but their music is good, and they have a scene-painter who would embellish theatres of much greater pretensions. But the misery of all their social and theatrical en tertainments is that they are too often made the places of assignation. At the theatre, the audience com bines the peculiar characteristics of the pit and third tier of eastern cities ; and as the room is imperfectly lighted, there are things said and done which would not bear a stronger light or a more definite description. Polygamy poisons every thing ; it seems to break down aU the barriers of female virtue. And how can it well be otherwise ? A dozen women, the common property of one man, some of them divorced from other men, lodged under the same roof, and often more than one UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 307 in tho same room, soon begin to feel that they might as well be the common property each of a dozen men. I have been in small huts where the man and his two wives lodged in the only room in the house. I was in a wretched hut, in a small viUage on Utah Lake, where the man and his two wives and grown-up daugh ter lodged in the same room, containing two beds : it was their parlor, kitchen, and bed-room. It was a manifest struggle between poverty and licentiousness, and there was filth enough to manure a garden. A child in Utah who knows his own father is wiser than common children — wiser even than his mother, who, in many instances, would be exceedingly puzzled to fix the paternity. BHIGHAM YOUNG'S ESTABLISHMENT. Polygamy is introducing a new style of building at Salt Lake City. A man with half a dozen wives builds, if he can, a long, low dweUing, having six entrances 308 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. from the outside ; and when he takes in a new wife, if able to do so, adds another apartment. The object is to keep the women and babies, as much as possible, DR. CLINTON'S HAREM. apart, and prevent those terrible cat-fights wliich some times occur, with all the accompaniments of Billings gate, torn caps, and broken broom-sticks. As the " di vine institution" extends, these buUdings increase, and in a few years the city wUl look like a coUection of barracks for the accommodation of soldiers. Some have separate buildings in parts ofthe city remote from each other, and others have farm-houses, and the wives are thus kept separate, the husband dividing liis time between them aU. Some funny scenes occur occasionally. Joseph Young, a brother of Brigham, had a wife who was more of a man than himself, and managed to ward off plurality for some time. But he belonged to the blood- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 3QQ royal, and was persuaded to make good his claim to royal privileges, by taking in a concubine from his own kitchen. This would seem to have settled the ques tion, but the virago made a fight of it ; she not only cleared the house of her rival, but effectually inter rupted the honey-moon by maintaining a close espion age upon the good man. One day, however, she was absent, and, returning sooner than expected, found the bride and groom in rather too intimate proximity to suit her fancy. She seized the broom-stick, and laid on with such good-will that the pair were glad to quit the house in a very embarrassing predicament — very. It cost Brother Young a dollar to buy a new broom ; and the veritable Sister Young, like the young fowler who came home empty-handed, if she did not abso lutely bring down her game, had the satisfaction, at least, of making the feathers fly. In the singularly made up population of Salt Lake Valley is a colony of Welsh, of whom the head man is Dan Ap Jones, and his wife is called the "Welsh Queen." Polygamy has made its inroads, too, upon these Britons, and a noted case is often related, in which the Welsh Queen figures as the principal per sonage. It seems that this queen claims a prodigious ly long pedigree, reaching back as far as Gwenwin, the " Wolf of Plinlimmon," in the time ofthe Crusades, and is a personage of more than ordinary importance. The " divine institution" had been kept a profound se cret from her Welsh majesty before she left her native mountains, though her dear Ap had got an inkling of how matters stood in this respect at Zion ; and being connected at least with royal blood, he had a slight 310 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. hankering after some of its privUeges. On the way over the Plains they encountered scattered parties of Mormon emigrants, from whom the princess ascertain ed, with some distinctness, the true state of things in the Valley of Salt. In connection with this inteUi- gence, her attention became disagreeably fixed upon some significant signs of intimacy between Ap and a servant-girl ; and, to cap the climax, the girl began to assume the airs of an equal. The Amazon " Nursed her wrath to keep it warm," until an overt act of treason took place, when, pouncing upon her victim unexpectedly, she tore her clothes from her body; and in the war of words which ensued, Queen No. 2 dropped from her mouth a set of teeth, which Dan, like a loving husband, had provided for her, but which Queen No. 1 stamped into the ground in her fury, utterly destroying their capacity for grinding any more food. Any number of anecdotes might be related Ulustra- tive ofthe same subject: one more must suffice. This was a tragi-comic scene, connected with no less a per sonage than W. W. Phelps, King's Jester, Almanac- maker, &o., &c. His wife, it seems, had given her con sent, as she thought, to his enlarging his domestic bor ders by taking in another helpmate ; but, after the deed was done, found herself»so goaded with jealousy, that the immortal W. W. was compelled to lodge the new-comer elsewhere than under the homestead roof. This allayed some of the irritation ; but still, when he was absent attending upon the new wife, the old one felt so much annoyed, that she was impelled to consti- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 3^ tute herself a spy upon theh actions. One night she stationed herself by the window of the apartment, where the lovers were too much engrossed with each other to pay any attention to intruders, but incautious ly leaning too heavily against the sash, the whole fell in, including her own person. Phelps ofthe male gen der, of course, bounced up in great alarm at the crash, and was much surprised to find Phelps No. 1 of the female gender prone upon the floor, with face and hands cut with broken bits of glass. The Mormon system adapts itself readily to popu lar superstitions, and infuses into them new life and activity. The reigning prophet is the only true medi um of a direct revelation from heaven ; but, notwith standing this, there are any number of dreams dream ed, and sights seen, of a supernatural character. The saints are surrounded by the spirits of the earth and the air ; their movements individually and collectively are regulated by an invisible and supernatural agency. Remarkable dreams, and quasi visions, and strange sights, and mysterious omens, are exceedingly com mon, and are related with grave solemnity. One man dreamed that a dead uncle appeared to him, and en treated that he would be baptized for him, which of course was a convincing argument in favor of the doc trine of baptism for the dead. Another was perfect ly sure that he had seen one of the three Lamanites spoken of in the Book of Mormon, who were to wander over the earth until the final consummation of all things — an idea borrowed undoubtedly from the popu lar notion ofthe "Wandering Jew." In their initiation into the Church, the novitiates are 312 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. invested with a mysterious garment called the endow ment robe, to which many virtues are ascribed. These curious robes may be seen on the clothes-line in the afternoon of every washing-day, and consist of a white garment, made up of common shirting, with strips and crosses of scarlet stitched in, emblematical of some of their temple mysteries. It is believed that Doctor Richards had on one of these robes, and thereby escaped unhurt at the Carthage jail ; and that Joseph and Hy rum neglected to put them on, and therefore lost their lives. The person thus invested is supposed to be safe against the arts of the devil to bring harm upon him, and in a condition to escape danger from shipwreck, disease, bullets, &c. Some of them are so imbued with this idea, that in changing the garment, they wiU keep one leg in the old one until they invest the other with the new, lest the devil or some of his imps should ob tain a temporary advantage. Mrs. Catharine Lewis has given us some insight into the ceremonies of the first initiation — the following is condensed from a pamphlet written by her while the Saints were at Nauvoo : " She was taken to the Temple at Nauvoo, carried up three flights of stairs to the Hall of Initiation. There she was disrobed, washed, and anointed with great cer emony by females. After the washing, a blanket was put round her, and the priestess whispered a new name in her ear, which she was never to disclose. The next ceremony was the garden of Eden, where one person, representing God, creates a world, then makes man, takes a rib and forms a helpmeet for him. Then an other person, representing the devil, tempts Eve with UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 313 forbidden fruit ; then the men and women hide, be cause God is coming ; and so they go through a lot of mummery, including the flaming sword— -the men wearing nothing but white drawers with shirts over them, and white hnen caps. She was required to per form several ceremonies, such as drawing her hand across her throat as if in the act of cutting, and after ward learned that it would have been certain death to have resisted. The last sign was then given, accom panied with the incantation, ' Marrow in the bones, strength in the sinews, and virtue in the loins through out all generations.' Her clothes were then restored to her." This lady had the good fortune to escape from Nau voo before being initiated into the deeper mysteries. In these secret initiatory rites, a curse is invoked by each one upon him or herself in case of apostacy, and, in addition to this, the prophet is careful to fulminate an additional curse upon those who escape from his jurisdiction. These ecclesiastical thunders often prove more potent than would generally be believed- Many persons, who feel themselves robbed and oppressed by the authorities of the Church, and resolve time and again to escape from their unpleasant situation, are nevertheless restrained and kept in bondage by the su perstitious fear that they may in some way be brought under the curse. The discontented Mormon mind presents a singular bundle of contradictions. I have heard persons of this description speak freely of the manner in which they had been plundered of their property, and of the numberless rascalities of Brigham and his associates, and of the abominable and lament- 0 314 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. able effects of polygamy, and express their determina tion to leave the Territory ; and yet these same per sons, even after making some preparations for the jour ney, would remember the curse to which they stood exposed, and slide back into the lap of Mormonism, the passive slaves of this gross and filthy imposture. The leaders take unwearied pains to ascertain the sub sequent history of those who have apostatized, and publish in the pulpit and by the press cases in which they have met with misfortune, some of which — whether in the form of destruction of property by fire or otherwise, or untimely death — are supposed to have been produced by the direct agency of the Saints them selves. Among other singular institutions, they have a Pa triarch, whose business it is to bestow blessings. Tho blessing is given in writing to the applicant, who pays for the same one dollar and a half, of which one dollar belongs to the Patriarch, and the balance is paid to tho scribe for recording the document. This constitutes a revenue similar to that procured from the sale of in dulgences, or of masses in popish times. At an early period, the mantle of patriarchal inspiration fell upon Uncle John Smith — it now covers the shoulders of Un cle Joseph Smith. It seems to be necessary that the incumbent should be an uncle and a Smith : there is no danger of the failure of the latter, and it is sup posed the former will last the few years yet remain ing before the great terrestrial clock finally runs down. These blessings, like the endowment robes, are sup posed to possess wonderful virtues in protecting the subjects of them from misfortune. A simple fool, by UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 315 the name of Colborn, took great apparent satisfaction in exhibiting a blessing he had received from the ver itable John Smith, while in Nauvoo in 1835. It cov ered two pages, and promised him almost every thing, and, among them, freedom from poverty and disease. He had, previous to this, been trying to excite sympa thy by complaining of liis miserable state of poverty and disease ever since he came to the valley ; he was, nevertheless, fuUy persuaded that the blessing had been fulfilled to the very letter. Any number of conversions can be traced to the supposed performance of miracles, among which .the exercise of the gift of tongues is very conspicuous. One man stated that he was listening to a discourse by a Mormon elder, who aU at once let forth a perfect flood of language entirely new to him. It caused " a sud den thrill," as he described it, " from the back of his head down his back-bone ;" and, of course, he was con verted from that hour. Another compared it to a shock of electricity. These miraculous powers are generaUy taken upon trust. A Mormon lady related the case of an elder so ignorant that he could neither read nor write, who was a remarkably fluent preacher, and, could repeat the Bible from beginning to end without missing a word. On being asked how he obtained such a knowledge of the Bible, he answered that it was given him of the Spirit while he was preaching. This fellow afterward apostatized, but, notwithstanding, she stiU persisted in the most implicit faith in his supernatural knowledge. A Mrs. Western, an old and simple-minded lady, re lates that she was dissatisfied with all other doctrines 316 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. and preachings because no claim was made to the signs which are to follow those who believe, and that she was converted by the first Mormon sermon she heard because the elder claimed to be in the possession of these proofs of discipleship, and actually joined the Church with no other evidence that he possessed them except his own assertion. She reaUy believes she was healed twice miraculously, once by consecrated oil and the laying on of hands, and once by baptism ; and it was a great mystery to her that she could not be so healed at other times. It seems she was at one period very anxious to have a demonstration of the gift of tongues. Lodging one night with a woman who pre tended to the gift, her artful companion broke out in her sleep with a song in an unknown tongue, and, after an interval of genuine snoring, tuned up her pipes in English by way of translation. This, with other things, so completely fastened the simple-minded old lady, that the plurality system, though it greatly shocked her when introduced, did not drive her off. She now consoles herself that it was permitted to try the Church, and will eventuaUy be abofished. She became a convert at a time of Hfe when she could not be an object of desire to any of the Latter-day ba shaws, and has escaped contamination from the worst poUutions of Mormonism. So generaUy diffused is the notion that our bodies are tabernacles for pre-existing spirits to enter into, that mothers pretend to surmise from what particular tribe their children come from. One lady gravely stated that her little Ruth came from the tribe of Joseph. " She is a selfish little thing," said she, UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 317 " and, you know, Joseph knew how to feather his own nest." The Mormons justify slavery, and would be slave holders upon religious principle if in their power. It will be recollected that, in the grand council of the gods convened to dehberate on the salvation of the human race, the devil and his adherents raised a fac tious opposition to Christ, and were defeated, cursed, and banished. They believe that the spirit of one of this crew entered into the tabernacle called Cain and committed the first murder, and that the negroes are descendants of Cain, and furnish tabernacles for these pre-existing devils. They believe that they have a black skin because they are under a curse, and that it is perfectly 'right for those having white skins to carry the celestial sentence into execution by enslaving them. I asked one of the elders how this sable pedigree es caped the flood : his answer was, that Ham's wife was a descendant of Cain, and was saved in the ark, and that the same curse was subsequently pronounced upon Ham. 318 UTAH AND THE MORMON S. CHAPTER XIX. Manner of making Converts. — Doctor Cox. — English Converts. — Con tinual Loss of Members. — Dissensions. — Gladdenism. — Apparent Decline of Mormonism. — Decrease of Population. — Present Charac ter of its Missionaries. — Conclusion. The Mormons have had great success in making converts by the boldness of theh pretensions, and tho hardihood of their manner of recommending them. Doctor Cox, in his " Interviews," gives us a very char acteristic instance of an attempt to convert him on the part of two of Joseph's missionaries. They called one Sabbath morning, and in a very solemn and imposing manner addressed him as " Brother Cox, a man of God, a friend of truth, a lover of righteousness, and a preach er of the Gospel," and announced that they had been sent on a special mission to him ; and that he was to become a Latter-day Saint, and rise to great eminence in the new Zion. The doctor called for some mirac ulous demonstration by way of credential, which they declined exhibiting just then, although they claimed the power to do so. The Saints possess great cunning in adapting themselves to the peculiar temperaments and idiosyncracies of individuals ; but in this instance they mistook their man. The interview ran into a dialogue, which warmed into animation, of which the following — No. 1 representing the Doctor, and 2 and 3 his visitors — will give the reader some idea : 1. " I shall not sth another step in this business tiU UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 319 I see the evidence on which you rely, as self-vaunted envoys extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary from the court of the King of kings, to sustain your apostolicity and vindicate your claims. Here, then, I take my stand, and call for evidence — for proof. How am I to know, gentlemen, that you are not impostors ?" 3. "You had better take care, sir, what you say. The evidence may come sooner than you desire, and as you do not expect, and what you will not relish, sure enough ! I would just warn you to beware !" 1. " You mean that the evidence may surprise me, coming in the way and style of some divine judgment ?" 3. "Yes, sir, I do ; and I hereby warn you against it." 2. " Oh ! if it should come now, what would be come — " 1. "Very well, gentlemen, I am ready, and quite content. Send a good rousing judgment along — a lit tle touch of earthquake, some thunder and lightning, cholera morbus, palsy, volcano, avalanche, nightmare, gout, ship fever, neuralgia, or any thing else you please ; yes, little or much of it, gentlemen, and the sooner the better, as I am ready, if you are, and quite disposed to be accommodating." 3. " Sir, are you forgetting yourself all the time ?" 1. " Not at all ; I am only remembering you. Let us have some of the evidence. Come ! your testimo nials, your seals, your signs, gentlemen." 2. " Why, I never saw or heard such a man as you !" 1. " Nor I ever read or conceived before of such men or such apostles, exactly, as are you." 2. "I fear you are a hardened old — " 320 UTAH ANDTHE MORMONS. 3. " Yes, and blinded, too, with darkness." 1. "Why, surely there seems to be considerable darkness in my study — more than common this after noon — and I wish there were more ah, since light seems so scarce, and heat so oppressive in it." 3. " Sir, to tell you plainly, you are a hardened man and a hypocrite — given up— reprobate." 2. " Oh, how dark — dark — dark you are !" 3. " Yes, you are a hypocrite, a liar, sir ; and I know — " 1. " Stay just a moment. Pray, be quite calm. I can refute all that instantly on the authority of two apostles. Instead of liar, hypocrite, reprobate, I am, you remember, ' Brother Cox, a man of God, a friend of truth, a lover of righteousness, and a preacher of the Gospel.' This is a great honor — quite a high and a memorable endorsement. It is, at least, the exalted character I had a few hours since. If I have it not yet, but have grown so bad all at once, as you now de nounce me, it must be because I have been some time in your company." The affair ended in a very unequivocal hint for the intruders to quit the premises, which they did, mutter ing all sorts of maledictions. But where one experi ment like that of Doctor Cox failed, hundreds of others succeeded, until the increasing numbers of their com munity became an inducement to join it, irrespective of any religious convictions. The facility with which they have made converts in Great Britain has created surprise, but it is very easily accounted for. In the first place, with all her light and knowledge, there is in our mother country a lament- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 32I able mass of ignorance. Mr. Dickens, in his Household Words, says on this subject : " It has been calculated that there are in England and Wales six mUlion per sons who can neither read nor write; that is to say, about one third of the population, including, of course, infants ; but, of all the children between five and four teen, more than one half attend no place of public in struction. These statements, compiled by M'Kay from official and other authentic sources, for his work on the social condition and education of the poor in England and Europe,, would be hard to believe, if we had not to encounter, in our every-day Hfe, degrees of illiteracy which would be startling if we were not thoroughly used to it. We can not pass through the streets, we can not enter a place of public assembly, or ramble in the fields, without the gloomy shadow of ignorance sweeping over us." In the next place, thousands, who have no fixed re ligious faith, are discontented with theh condition, and anxious to emigrate to this country, and very willingly take advantage of the opportunity of having their ex penses paid by the "Emigrating Fund Company." Deseret is described to them as a perfect paradise ; and that which makes this Eden doubly attractive is, that each one can have as much as he needs without pay ing a cent for it. The more pretending and ambitious class of these converts are greatly elated, too, with the idea of becoming priests, bishops, &c, which, in Eng land, are stations of importance. These foreign emi grants, after they get to Utah, make the most obedient subjects, because they are accustomed to tithing, and other features of an ecclesiastical dominion ; they glide 02 322 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. easUy into all the wild and absurd notions of Mormon ism, and are more easily kept in debt to the " Public Works," and consequently in entire dependence upon the Church. As poor as they live in Utah, they still fare better than formerly, and are contented in this respect. This is the general rule, which has its nu merous exceptions. A sail-maker and boat-builder, both Englishmen, left in discontent for California in the spring of 1853, because it had been represented to them that the commerce of Great -Salt Lake was so extensive as to furnish them continual employment, which they found to be a sheer falsehood. The Mormon rulers take great pains to have it be lieved that theh community is continually and rapid ly increasing. This, however, is a very great mistake. There has always been a curious state of accumula tion and loss going on with them, and the loss is at pres ent probably the largest part of the account. There is no society in the world in which there are so few per manent members, in proportion to the converts origin ally made. Many of the new-born Saints very soon lose the soda-water enthusiasm which is first experi enced, and fall away ; many, who have zeal enough to commence the mighty pilgrimage toward the modern Zion, cool off, and lodge like drift-wood by the way. Each emigrating body tapers off, something like the army of Peter the Hermit in the first great crusade. Orson Pratt, in " The Seer," states the number of ex communications in the British Islands at 1776 for the half year ending June 30, 1853. They have, in reality, more backsliders and apostates, and are divided into more sects, for the length of time since theh com- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 323 mencement, than any other known religious denomina tion. Any one who has ever seen a miniature whirl wind upon a dusty plain, and attentively watched its gyrations, catching up the dust, straws, leaves, and other loose materials, and gradually increasing in bulk and altitude untU it is composed of a whirling and somewhat dangerous column of heterogeneous mat ter, throwing off and gathering up, until it somewhat suddenly subsides, can gain some idea of the associa tion and operation of those peculiar elements which originated and have sustained Mormonism ; and it needs no great degree of prophet-sagacity to foresee its subsidence in like manner. This disposition to fall away does not end at Great Salt Lake Valley. Hundreds, after they arrive at that hitherto esteemed goal of all their wishes, find them selves bitterly disappointed in the anticipations and hopes previously formed, and seek every opportunity to make their way to Cahfornia. The leaders are very anxious to gain sufficient population to raise the Ter ritory to the rank of a state ; and on this, as well as other grounds, throw every obstacle in the way of those who are disposed to leave them. California has ac quired, in their dialect, the delightful sobriquet of Hell, and the pulpit and the press thunder forth their anathemas against aU Saints who are turning their faces in that direction. At the near approach of every spring, which is more especiaUy the season of emigra tion to the great Western El Dorado, the most untir ing efforts are made to prevent their numbers from di minishing. In addition to direct and indirect obsta cles thrown in the way of individuals, an appeal is gen- 324 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. erally made to the Saints collectively by the "Coun cil," oi which the foUowing, from the one published in the Deseret News oi February 19, 1853, wiU exhibit the anxiety felt lest the Mormon ship should be desert ed by her crew. " A Word to the Saints. " ' Yes ! I think I shall go south, probably to the Ranche. As I am counseled to go south, I have con- . eluded, perhaps, that this will be the best for me.' " This is the story of many, as it is frequently told, and comes to my ears ; and it is upon this point that I wish to speak. " Do I counsel the brethren to go to California, south or north ? Not unless they want to go. If there is any man, woman, or child, who desires to go to that country, in preference to casting his or their lot among the Saints — who feels so little interest in the cause of truth as to be wiUing, after being delivered from the Great Babylon, to again encounter the whirlpools of sin and wickedness for the sake of gold — who prefers to dwell in the tents of wickedness than to tarry among the Saints — to any and all such persons, I say, go; for Heaven's sake, for our sake, and for the sake of the gold which you desire before all other gods, go ! But to all others — to all such as have embraced the Gospel for the love which they bear toward it — who love right eousness and truth, and who desire the peace of Jeru salem and the prosperity of Zion, stay ! hold ! con sider what you are doing, and remember that here, in these valleys, are the chambers of the Lord for his people for a season. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 325 " Let no influence tempt you away, or seduce you from the path of duty. As you value your religion, which you have become the participants of through the chaimel of the holy and eternal priesthood of the Almighty, which in these last days he has seen fit to bestow upon mankind — as you value the excellence and the glory of the institutions of the people of God' — • as you value your own salvation and exaltation, and that of your kindred according to the flesh, as well as the redemption of your dead, listen to the counselings of the servants of God, and abide among his saints, until you are sent away to the nations which lieth in darkness. Until you shall be chosen as heralds of sal vation, to go forth with majesty and power of the eter nal priesthood, remain, and assist in preparing for the great and mighty gathering of the Saints — assist in the construction of a holy temple, which is to be built in the tops ofthe mountains to the name ofthe mighty God of Jacob, in which you can learn those ordinan ces necessary for the salvation of your dead, and can obtain your endowment, and the blessings which shaU secure your exaltation in the kingdom of our God, even to a place among the gods of eternity." A stranger going among them wUl be told over and over again that they are the most harmonious and united people ever gathered into a community. The contrary is the fact. Internal dissensions and schisms have existed among them aU the way through. The immortal Joseph himself was often driven to his very wit's end to prevent fragments from flying off in a tan gent and making themselves independent of the main body. After the death of Smith, there was much strife 326 UTAH AND TIIE MORMONS. for the succession, and the election of Brigham Young occasioned a great deal of heart-burning with the dis appointed candidates. At the breaking up at Nauvoo, a considerable number split off, under the leadership of one Strang, and are now Strangites, on Beaver Isl and, in one of our northern lakes. Another body went into Texas under Lyman Wight. Brewster led off another squad somewhere else. The divisions in this way are said to number six or seven. Brigham man aged to slide more easily into the superstition and idio- syncracies of the Saints, and led tho mass to Great Salt Lake ; but he, too, has his troubles from this source, and is now more especially plagued with Gladdenism, so called from Gladden Bishop, who pro fanely claims to be as much superior to Joseph Smith as our Lord was to John the Baptist. This Gladden gave Joseph much trouble ; was cut off from the Church, and taken back, and rebaptized nine times; but, proving obstinate in heresy, was finaUy given over to the buffetings of Satan for a thousand years. This sect is small, but spreading in the very seat of Mormon power, and is the more dangerous and troub lesome because composed of the more fanatical of the Saints. Fanaticism is generaUy honest, but always dangerous, because no one can foresee in what direc tion its burning focus may be turned. I met with, and became acquainted with, some of these fanatics, and have no reason to doubt their honesty in the belief that Gladden Bishop is the Lord in his second coming. One of them told me, with every appearance of sincer ity, that an angel was present at his birth, and that the name Gladden was never before given to a human UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 327 being, and signified that he would make glad the hearts of his people. It may weU be suspected that Joseph intended to take this important step himself, and expand from the germ of a prophet into the full bloom of a god. In his last sermon he said, " I can enter into tho mysteries ; I can enter largely into the oternal worlds." He could have proved his way clear from the Bible and the Book of Mormon just as easily as the Mormons prove any thing, and all the dupes and most of the knaves would have followed him. But Gladden anticipated him, and death cut short his aspirations for divine honors. A man by the name of Smith — which, like that of the king, is " a tower of strength" — was busy making converts in the winter of 1852-3, with such success that Brigham and his nobility became seriously alarm ed. Instead, however, of treating the subject with ridicule, they resorted to the very doubtful expedient of persecution. Smith, the Gladdenite, repudiates polygamy, and charges the present hierarchy with a departure from the Book of Mormon in this, as well as in other par ticulars. He has great tenacity of purpose, and is, withal, stimulated by hostifity toward the leaders, on account of having been stripped by them of his prop erty. On Sunday, the 20th of March, 1853, he at tempted to preach in the street in front of the CouncU House, in pursuance of a previous notice, but the meeting, though perfectly orderly, was dispersed by the city marshal. Nothing daunted, he made another appointment for the same place on the following Sab bath ; but the marshal again appeared, took Smith into 328 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. custody, and detained him until he promised to make no further attempt to preach on that day. On tho same day, Brigham preached in the Tabernacle, and opened his batteries upon the heretics with grape and canister. The following are some of the choice speci mens of pulpit eloquence produced by the inspiration of the occasion : " When a man comes right out as an independent devil, and says, ' Damn Mormonism and all the Mor mons,' and is off with himself, not to Texas, but to California (you know it used to be to Texas), I say he is a gentleman by the side of a nasty, sneaking apostate, who is opposed to nothing but Christianity ; I say to him, Go in peace, sir ; go, and prosper, if you can. But we have got a set of spirits here worse than such a character. When I went from meeting last Sab bath, my ears were saluted with an apostate crying in the streets here. We want such men to go to Califor nia, or any where they choose. I say to those persons, You must not court persecution here, lest you get so much of it you will not know what to do with it. Do not court persecution. We have known Gladden Bish op for more than twenty years, and know him to be a poor, dirty curse. Here is Sister Vilate Kimball, Brother Heber's wife, has borne more from that man than any other woman on earth could bear ; but she won't bear it again. I say again, You Gladdenites, do not court persecution, or you will get more than you want, and it will come quicker than you want it. I say to you bishops, Do not allow them to preach in your wards. Who broke the roads to these valleys ? did this little nasty Smith and his wife ? No ; they UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 329 stayed in St. Louis while we did it, peddling ribbons and kissing the Gentiles. I know what they have done here ; they have asked exorbitant prices for their nasty, stinking ribbons [voices, ' That's true']. We broke the roads to this country. Now, you Gladden- ites, keep your tongues still, lest sudden destruction come upon ydu. " I will tell you a dream that I had last night. I dreamed that I was in the midst of a people who were dressed in rags and tatters ; they had turbans upon their heads, and these were also hanging in tatters. The rags were of many colors, and, when the people moved, they were all in motion. Their object in this appeared to be to attract attention. Said they to me, ' We are Mormons, Brother Brigham.' ' No, you are not,' I replied. ' But we have been,' said they, and began to jump, and caper about, and dance, and their rags of many colors were all in motion to attract the attention of the people. I said, ' You are no Saints ; you are a disgrace to them.' Said they, 'We have been Mormons.' By-and-by along came some mob- ocrats, and they greeted them with ' How do you do, sir ? I am happy to see you.' They kept on that way for an hour. I felt ashamed of them, for they were, in my eyes, a disgrace to Mormonism. Then I saw two ruffians, whom I knew to be mobbers and murder ers, and they crept into a bed where one of my wives and children were. I said, ' You that call yourselves brethren, tell me, is this the fashion among you ?' They said , ' 0, they are good men — they are gentlemen.' With that, I took my large bowie knife, that I used to wear as a bosom-pin in Nauvoo, and cut one of their throats 330 UTAH AND TIIE MORMONS. from ear to ear, saying, ' Go to hell across lots.' Tho other one said, ' You dare not serve me so.' I instant ly sprang at him, seized him by the hair of the head, and, bringing him down, cut his throat and sent him after his comrade ; then told them both, if they would behave themselves, they should yet live, but if they did not, I would unjoint their necks. At*this I awoke. " I say, rather than that apostates shall flourish here, I will unsheath my bowie knife, and conquer or dio. (Great commotion in the congregation, and a simul taneous burst of feeling assenting to the declaration.) Now, you nasty apostates, clear out, or judgment wUl be put to the line, and righteousness to the plummet. (Voices generally, ' Go it, go it.') If you say it is right, raise your hands. (All hands up.) Let us call upon the Lord to assist us in this and every good work." No better evidence of the success of the new sect need be produced. His excellency would never have made so sublime a display of courage involving the dreadful alternative of "victory or death," nor been disturbed in his very dreams at the invasion of the sanctity of his harem, had he not been strongly excited in regard to the spread of Gladdenism. This discourse, so characteristic of its author, was rapturously received, and was as well adapted to the taste and scope of tho Mormon mind as any the Saints ever hear. Brigham was succeeded by Parley P. Pratt, who has more decency of language, as well as more subtlety of genius, combined with much complacency of manner ; but even he was on this occasion aroused up to a fight ing condition. After showing that all the persecutions UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 331 ever suffered by the Latter-day innocents proceeded directly or indirectly from apostates, he said : " Sooner than be subjected to a repetition of these wrongs, I, for one, would rather march out to-day and be shot down. These are my feelings, and have been for some time. Talk about liberty of conscience! Have not men liberty of conscience here ? Yes ; the Pres byterians, Methodists, Quakers, &c, have here the lib erty to worship God in their own way, and so has every man in the world. People have the privilege of apostatizing from this Church, and of worshiping dev ils, snakes, toads, or geese, if they please — only let their neighbors alone. But they have not the privilege to disturb the peace, or to endanger life or liberty ; that is the idea. If they will take that privilege, I need not repeat their doom ; it has been told here to-day. They have been faithfully warned." He proved, to his entire satisfaction and that of his audience, that the Mormon mind had become so full of truth, that, like Salt Lake, it could hold no more in solution, and that liberty of speech to the Gladdenites is only another name for the persecution of the Saints. "We have truths already developed, unfulfilled by us, unacted upon. There are more truths poured out from the eternal fountain already than our minds can contain, or than we have places and preparations to carry out. And yet we are called upon to prove — Avhat ? Whether an egg that was known to be rot ten fifteen years ago has really improved by reason of age ! ! ! " ' You are going to be destroyed,' say they ; ' de struction awaits this city ." Well, what if we are ? 332 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. We are as able to be destroyed as any people living. What care we whether we are destroyed or not ? These old tabernacles will die of themselves, if let alone. " It is policy not to wait till you are killed, but act on the defensive while you still live. I have said enough on this subject." The Constitution of the United States guarantees to all liberty of speech, and the Saints claim to be much attached to that instrument, alleging even that it was given by inspiration ; but somehow the Mormon spec tacles are of a quality which prevents them from see ing this particular provision. Every man at Salt Lake Valley is in the full enjoyment of this liberty only so far as he preaches Mormonism as understood by " Coun cil." On Sunday, the 27th of March, the subject was again resumed at the Tabernacle by Elder Erastus Snow, in a sermon distinguished by its profanity and brutal ferocity. This was not reported for the Deseret News, and the substance of it can only be stated from memory. He began with the most sickening and ful some adulation of the bashaw of forty tails who at present occupies the high and mighty position of the prophet ofthe Lord in " these last days;" after which, by way of lashing himself into a fury, he poured forth a torrent of invective against the Gentiles. He then took up the Gladdenites, and hoped the Lord would curse and destroy them. He plainly told the audience that whoever should be the executioners of divine jus tice in this case, and slay the Gladdenites, their wives and children, from the face of the earth, would receive a bright crown of glory. The injunction to assassinate UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 333 these sectaries was open and undisguised, and repeated in a variety of forms, and, what is more to be lament ed, was approvingly responded to by the audience. It was a sphere of murder, plain, palpable, frightful, and sickening. The picture was one which, once seen, can never be effaced from the mind — a preacher in the pulpit ferociously enjoining the murder of men, wom en, and children, for a difference of opinion, and 2000 faces intently gazing upon him with fanatical appro bation. The regions ofthe damned could scarcely pre sent a scene more truly diabolical. A Gentile emigrant present stood it as long as he could, but finally left the Tabernacle with compressed lips and clenched fist, and evidently under an uncontrollable fit of indignant ex citement. This is Mormonism ! These are the people who have made the world ring with the. persecutions ofthe Gentiles! Elder Snow was succeeded by Amasa Lyman, one of the twelve, a rubicund, smooth-faced debauchee, who spends most of his time in San Bernardino, Cali fornia, and has concubines at convenient stations be tween that and the Mormon capital. His language and manner were less violent and more dignified, but quite as significant. He reminded the members of the Church of their covenant obligations, and strongly urged that this was an occasion in which particular members were to perform the duties allotted to them ; alluding evidently to the " Danites," or " Brothers of Gideon," a band of organized ruffians of which men tion, has already been made, whose duty it is to exe cute the mandates of the council, " right or wrong." In the mean time, Smith had appointed a meeting 334 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. at his own house for this same Sabbath, and, as the hour approached, a band of young men assembled around his door, and collected a quantity of stones ready for use ; and as the Gladdenites came to attend the meeting, and entered the house, a long, six-foot, scowling Danite, by the name of Cummings, in obe dience to his " covenant obligations," took them by the collar and led them out, with threats of extermination. After these demonstrations, it was generally supposed by the resident Gentiles that Smith would mysterious ly disappear, as obnoxious men sometimes do in this remote region ; but the leaders either concluded that such a finale, after so much parade, might attract the attention of the general government, or that their threats would awe the heretics into submission. Be this as it may, Gladdenism is feeding upon persecu tion and increasing its converts, and it may prove to be one of the appointed means, under Providence, of breaking the Mormon community into stiU smaller fragments. Mormonism has probably passed its culminating point, and may reasonably be regarded as in the after noon of its existence. So great are the continual drains upon them, that the present population of Utah can only bo increased, or even kept up, by emigration. Pri or to the summer of 1852, the existence of polygamy had been carefully concealed from the mass of the Saints residing abroad, and it was the belief of many at Salt Lake City that its promulgation would discour age further emigration. Whatever may be the cause — whether the public an nouncement and justification of polygamy, or the ab- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 335 sence of Gentile persecution, or because the concern is wearing out of itself, a comparison of their numbers at different dates wiU show an evident decline. When Joseph was at the height of his power at Nauvoo, his disciples in different parts of the earth were supposed to number about 200,000 (including the families of actual members, confined almost wholly to Great Brit ain and the United States). The Mormons themselves boasted a much larger figure. In the Deseret Almanac for 1853, the numbers are stated at 150,000 ; but how one half of this is made up it is difficult to see. Tak ing 30,000 as the population of Utah, as given by the same authority, and adding thereto 28,640, the num ber which Orson Pratt gives for the British Isles, after taking out for deaths and excommunicated persons, and we have, in round numbers, less than 59,000, which leaves a balance of about 91,000 to be made up from the United States, Sandwich Islands, &c. ; and it is not probable that one eighth of that number can be figured up, with the aid of Strangites and other schismatics. In Great Britain, the grand total in 1851 was given at 30,747. In 1853 Orson Pratt gives it as foUows : " The Statistical Report of the Church of the Saints in the British Islands, for the half year ending June 30, 1853, gives the following total: 53 conferences, 737 branches, 40 seventies, 10 high-priests, 2578 eld ers, 1854 priests, 1416 teachers, 834 deacons, 1776 ex communicated, 274' dead, 1722 emigrated, 2601 bap tized ; total, 30,690." Deducting excommunications, emigrants, and deaths, we have 26,918. This, if not a decided falling off, 336 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. shows at least a stand-still in a theatre of operations heretofore remarkable for successful proselytism. Again, the Deseret Almanac for 1853 gives "a little over 30,000" as the then population of Utah. Orson Pratt states it in his " Seer" at from " thirty to thirty- five thousand." Some of the Gentile residents sup posed there might be between twenty-five and thirty thousand ; my own observation fixed it at 25,000. It appears from the minutes of the October Conference (1853) that the Mormon population was 18,206. This does not include the vUlage of Toele, in Toele county, nor Mountainville, in Utah county ; but the population of both would not exceed 300, adding which would make 18,506, showing a decrease of about 5000 since the winter of 1853. While the numbers aheady gathered are on the de crease, causes similar to those which have produced this result are also at work which must seriously in terfere with the accession of new converts, especiaUy from civilized countries. Polygamy has proved to be the Pandora's box from which these troublesome plagues have gone forth on their errand of mischief, and it would seem that Hope itself had been permitted to escape. Owing to dissensions which have grown out of this institution, the missionary establishment has become much less effective, and, consequently, the pro gress of conversion is much more tardy than formerlv. When the Governor or one of his favorites casts a long ing eye upon the Bathsheba of a more humble brother, who is unwilling to give her up, it gives rise to collis ions, jealousies, and hate, which more or less ruffle the surface of Mormon harmony. In these cases, the hus- UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 337 band is generaUy sent on a distant mission, that the poacher upon his grounds may be rid of his opposition. A case occurred in the fall of 1852. One Wells, the Superintendent of the Public Works, and, withal, a species of right-hand man, conceived a violent passion for the sister of one of his six wives, who happened to be married to another man. The husband was forth with appointed on a mission to Siam ; but, fully un derstanding tiie true reason of his selection for so dis tant a post, he refused to go. This recusancy, how ever, did not save his wife, who, duiing the ensuing winter, was transferred to the harem of the favorite. Again, men who are disposed to be turbulent, and who may exercise an influence dangerous to the reign ing prophet, are sent to distant parts of the globe, to keep them out of the way. Some, too, who have be come miserable sots, and otherwise burdensome, are sent off, in the hope that they will die or reform. Two were appointed to the mission in China in the spring of 1853, one of whom was a wretched inebriate. These men went to California, on their way to theh post, in the same train with us. At the sink of Mary's River, near the commencement of the forty-mile desert, was one of those troublesome liquor stations which are be ginning to cluster the route, and at this place both of these messengers of mercy became beastly drunk ; and one of them, bemg quarrelsome in his cups, got into a fight, and carried the unequivocal marks of Hie en counter in his face for some days. Missionaries who are thus appointed more as a mat ter of policy at home than in reference to their effi ciency abroad, do not carry with them the same zeal P 338 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. which distinguished the early Mormons. They have, too, a more difficult task to perform. They have not only to overcome the repugnance so strongly felt in all Chilstian countries to polygamy, but to explain why they have heretofore carried on a system of deception in regard to its previous existence. From these and other causes, it is not very likely that a larger number of Saints than the present population of Utah will ever be organized into a distinct community, and these, it may weU be foreseen, subject to a loss which can not be repaired, must graduaUy sink away and become lost in a better population. The American, therefore, who is proud of his country, may reasonably hope that the Union is not destined to be disgraced by the admission of a state in which the licentious prac tices of Jewry and heathendom are made a part of its religious institutions. UTAH AND THE MORMONS. 339 CONCLUSION. Early in May, 1853, we bade adieu to Great Salt Lake City with a degree of pleasure which the reader, if he has had the patience to peruse the foregoing pa ges, will readily appreciate, and started for California, homeward bound. We joined a large cattle-train be longing to Messrs. Livhigston and Khkhead, under the charge of Captain Howard Egan, an experienced mountaineer. We traveled along the eastern shore of Great Salt Lake, and around its northern extremity ; looked into Oregon; climbed over the Goose Creek Mountains ; threaded our way down the Mary's River to its sink ; passed into Carson's VaUey, and up its river to its sources in the great Sierra Nevada ; gazed with wonder upon the sublime panorama of lofty mountain peaks and tremendous chasms to be seen from the summit of that mighty range ; and, finally, descended from these snowy regions into the Italian climate of Cafifornia. When we reached the valley of the Mary, the ordi nary emigrant road was found to be impassable, by reason of the river floods, and our train was conducted with great skill for some distance along the base of the Humboldt Mountains, and from thence obliquely to the river, making a divergence of about one hundred and fifty miles. This led us over irregular highlands and through frightful gorges— a region, torn by earth quakes, and scorched by volcanic fires, wliich had never 340 UTAH AND THE MORMONS. before been traversed by a white man. Such a journey was of course made up of numerous incidents which can not be forgotten, and especially to be remem bered may be mentioned the numberless kindnesses received from the proprietor (Mr. L.), the conductor, and every member of the train ; -the freely -tendered hospitalities of Colonel Reese, whose establishment in Carson's Valley reminds one of the comforts and con veniences of eastern fife ; and the friendly aid of Mr. Edwin Woolly, the conductor of the Mormon train, of fered to, and gratefuUy received by, a small party of us who had impatiently separated from our friends, and were about entering the rugged defiles of the great Sierra. But, however interesting all these incidents may be to the parties concerned, the reader, in view of the multiplicity of published travels, will readUy excuse in this instance a more minute detail. APPENDIX. REVELATION GIVEN TO JOSEPH SMITH, NAUVOO, JULY 12th, 1843. Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Joseph, that in asmuch as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ; as also Moses, David, and Solomon, my servants, as touching the prin ciple and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines : Be hold ! and lo, I am the Lord thy God, and will answer theo as touching this matter : therefore prepare thy heart to receive and obey the in structions which I am about to give unto you ; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same ; for behold ! I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant, and if yc abide not that covenant, then are ye damned ; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory ; for all who will have a blessing at my hands shall ahide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as was instituted from before the foundations of the world ; and as pertaining to the new and ever lasting covenant, it was instituted for the fullness of my glory ; and he that receiveth a fullness thereof, must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God. And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these : All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made, and en tered into, and sealed, by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that, too, most holy, by revelation and commandment, through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead ; for all contracts that are not made unto this end, have an end when men are dead. 342 APPENDIX. Behold ! mine house is u. house of order, saith tho Lord God, and not a house of confusion. Will I accept of an offering, saith the Lord, that is not made in my name 1 Or will I receive at your hands that which I have not appointed 1 And will I appoint unto you, saith the Lord, except it be by law, even as I and my Father ordained unto you, before the world was 1 I am the Lord thy God, and I give unto you this commandment, that no man shall come unto the Father but by me, or by my word, which is my law, saith the Lord ; and every thing that is in the world, whether it be ordained of men, by thrones, or principalities, or powers, or things of name, whatsoever they may be, that are not by me, or by my word, saith the Lord, shall be thrown down, and shall not remain after men are dead, neither in nor after the resurrection, saith the Lord your God ; for whatsoever things remain- cth are by me, and whatsoever things are not by me, shall be shaken and destroyed. Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me, nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world, and she with him, their covenant and marriage is not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world ; therefore they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world ; therefore, when they are out of the world, they neither marry nor arc given in marriage, but are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory ; for these angels did not abide my law, therefore they can not be enlarged, but remain separately, and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity, and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever. And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife, and make a covenant with her for time and for all eternity, if that covenant is not by me or by my word, which is my law, and is not sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, through him whom I have anointed and ap pointed unto this power, then it is not valid, neither of force when they are out of the world, because they are not joined by me, saith the Lord, neither by my word ; when they are out of the world, it can not be received there, because the angels and the gods are appointed there, by whom they can not pass ; they can not, therefore, inherit my glory, for my house is a house of order, saith the Lord God. And.again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anoint- APPENDIX. 343 cd, unto whom I have appointed this power and tho keys of this priest hood, and it shall be said unto them, Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection ; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resur rection ; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths, then shall it be written in the Lamb's Book of Life that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed inno cent blood ; and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them in time and through all eternity ; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world, and they shall pass by the angels and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fullness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever. Then shall they be gods, because they have no end ; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue ; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them. Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my law, ye can not attain to this glory; for strait 'is the gate, and narrow the way, that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world, neither do ye know me. But if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know mc, and shall receive your exaltation, that where I am, ye shall be also. This is eternal lives, to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent. I am he. Receive ye, therefore, my law. Broad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the death, and many there are that go in thereat, because they receive me not, neither do they abide in my law. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man marry a wife according to my word, and they are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise according to mine appointment, and he or she shall commit any sin or transgression ofthe new and everlasting covenant whatever, and all manner of blas phemies, and if they commit no murder, wherein they shed innocent blood, yet they shall come forth in the first resurrection, and enter into their exaltation ; but they shall be destroyed in the flesh, and shall be delivered unto the bufferings of Satan, unto the day of redemption,^ saith the Lord God. The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall not be forgiven in the world nor out ofthe world, is in that ye commit murder, wherein 344 APPENDIX, ye shed innocent blood, and assent unto my death, after ye have re ceived my new and everlasting covenant, saith the Lord God ; and he that abideth not this law can in no wise enter into my glory, but shall be damned, saith the Lord. I am the Lord thy God, and will give unto thee the law of my holy priesthood, as was ordained by me and my Father before the world v/as. Abraham received all things, whatsoever he received, by revela tion and commandment, by my word, saith the Lord, and hath entered into his exaltation, and sitteth upon his throne. Abraham received promises concerning his seed, and of the fruit of his loins — from whose loins ye are, viz., my servant Joseph — which were to continue so long as they were in the world ; and as touching Abraham and his seed out of the world, they should continue ; both in the world and out of the world should they continue as innumerable as the stars ; or, if ye were to count the sand upon the sea-shore, ye could not number them. This promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham, and the promise was made unto Abraham, and by this law are the continuation of the works of my Father, wherein he glorifieth himself. Go ye, therefore, and do the works of Abraham ; enter ye into my law, and ye shall be saved. But if yc enter not into my law, ye can not receive the promises of my Father, which he made unto Abraham. God commanded Abraham, and Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to wife. And why did she do it 7 Because this was the law, and from Hagar sprang many people. This, therefore, was fulfilling, among other things, the promises. Was Abraham, therefore, under condemna tion! Verily, I say unto you, Nay; for the Lord commanded it. Abraham was commanded to offer his son Isaac ; nevertheless, it was written, Thou shalt not kill. Abraham, however, did not refuse, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness. Abraham received concubines, and they bare him children, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law ; as Isaac also, and Jacob, did none other things than that which they were commanded ; and because they did none other things than that which they were commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones ; and are not angels, but are gods. David also received many wives and concubines, as also Solomon, and Moses my servant, as also many others of my servants, from the beginning of creation until this time, and in nothing did they sin, save in those things which they received not of me. appendix: 345 David's wives and concubines were given unto him of me by the hand of Nathan my servant, and others of the prophets who had the keys of this power ; and in none of these things did he sin against me, save in the case of Uriah and his wife ; and, therefore, he hath fallen from his exaltation, and received his portion ; and he shall not inherit them out of the world, for I gave them unto another, saith the Lord. I am the Lord thy God, and I gave unto thee, my servant Joseph, an appointment, and restore all things ; ask what ye will, and it shall be given unto you, according to my word ; and as ye have asked con cerning adultery, verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man receiveth a wife in the new and everlasting covenant, and if she bo with another man, and I have not appointed unto her by the holy anointing, she hath committed adultery, and shall bo destroyed. If she be not in the new and everlasting covenant, and she be with another man, she has com mitted adultery ; and if her husband be with another woman, and he was under a vow, he hath broken his vow, and hath committed adultery ; and if she hath not committed adultery, but is innocent, and hath not broken her vow, and she knoweth it, and I reveal it unto you, my servant Joseph, then shall you have power, by the power of my holy priesthood, to take her, and give her unto him that hath not committed adultery, but hath been faithful ; for he shall be made ruler over many ; for I have conferred upon you the keys and power of the priesthood, wherein I restore all things, and make known unto you all things in due time. And verily, verily, I say unto you, that whatsoever you seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven ; and whatsoever you bind on earth, in my name and by my word, saith the Lord, it shall be eternally bound in the heavens ; and whosesoever sins you remit on earth, shall be re mitted eternally in the heavens ; and whosesoever sins you retain on earth, shall be retained in heaven. And again, verily, I say, whomsoever you bless, I will bless ; and whomsoever you curse, I will curse, saith the Lord ; for I, the Lord, am thy God. And again, verily, I say unto you, my servant Joseph, that whatso ever you give on earth, and to whomsoever you give any one on earth, by my word and according to my law, it shall be visited with blessings and not cursings, and with my power, saith the Lord, and shall be without condemnation on earth and in heaven, for I am the Lord thy God, and will be with thee even unto the end ofthe world, and through all eternity ; for verily I seal upon you your exaltation, and prepare a P2 YALE ^ 346 APPENDIX. throne for you in the kingdom of my Father, with Abraham your father. Behold ! I have seen your sacrifices, and will forgive all your sins ; I have seen your sacrifices, in obedience to that which I have told you ; go, therefore, and I make a way for your escape, as I accepted the of fering of Abraham, of his son Isaac. Verily, I say unto you, a commandment I give unto mine handmaid, Emma Smith, your wife, whom I have given unto you, that she stay herself, and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her ; for I did it, saith the Lord, to prove you all, as I did Abraham, and that I might require an offering at your hand by covenant and sacrifice ; and let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me ; and those who are not pure, and have said they were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God ; for I am the Lord thy God, and ye shall obey my voice ; and I give unto my servant Joseph that he shall be made ruler over many things, for he hath been faithful over a few things, and from henceforth I will strengthen him. And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment, she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord, for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her if she abide not in my law ; but if she will not abide this commandment, then shall my servant Joseph do all things for her, as he hath said ; and I will bless him, and multiply him, and give unto him an hundred-fold in this world, of fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, houses and lands, wives and children, and crowns of eternal lives in the eternal worlds. And again, verily, I say, let mine handmaid forgive my servant Joseph his trespasses, and then shall she be forgiven her trespasses, wherein she hath trespassed against me ; and I, the Lord thy God, will bless her, and multiply her, and make her heart to rejoice. And again, I say, let not my servant Joseph put his property out of his hands, lest an enemy come and destroy him— for Satan seeketh to destroy — for I am the Lord thy God, and he is my servant ; and be hold ! and lo, I am with him, as I was with Abraham thy father, even unto his exaltation and glory. Now, as touching the law of the priesthood, there are many things pertaining thereunto. Verily, if a man be called of my Father, as was Aaron, by mine own voice, and by the voice of him that sent me, and I have endowed him with the keys of the power of this priesthood, if he do any thing in my name, and according to my law, and by my word, he will not commit sin, and I will justify him. Let no one, APPENDIX. 347 therefore, set on my servant Joseph, for I will justify him ; for he shall do the sacrifice which I require at his hands, for his transgressions, saith the Lord your God. / And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood : if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent ; and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he j ustified ; ho can not commit adultery, for they are given unto him ; for he can not commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him, and to none else ; and if he have ten virgins given unto him by this law, he can not commit adultery, for they be long to him, and they are given unto him ; therefore is he justified. But if one or either of the ten virgins, after sho is espoused, shall be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be destroyed ; for they arc given unto him to multiply and replenish the earth, accord ing to my commandment, and to fulfill the promise which was given by my Father before the foundation of the world, and for their exaltation in the eternal worlds, that they may bear the souls of men ; for herein is the work of my Father continued, that he may be glorified. And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, if any man have a wife who holds the keys of this power, and he teaches unto her the law of my priesthood as pertaining to these things, then shall she believe and administer unto him, or she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord your God ; for I will destroy her ; for I will magnify my name upon all those who receive and abide in my law. Therefore it shall be lawful in me, if she receive not this law, for him to receive all things whatsoever I, the Lord liis God, will give unto him, because she did not believe and administer unto him according to my word ; and she then becomes the transgressor, and he is exempt from the law of Sarah, who admin istered unto Abraham according to the law, when I commanded Abra ham to take Hagar to wife. And now, as pertaining to this law, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will reveal more unto you hereafter, there fore let this suffice for the present. Behold ! I am Alpha and Omega. Amen. THE END. ¦ ims,