Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-01-01

nois. The Mormons, now driven from IL
linois, have carried their creed and their
zeal with them, to the remotest regions on
the Pacific. They are in Oregon, they are
!. Mexico; and at this moment, they govern
California.
!. For the Wisconsin Herald.
Nauvoo in 1914.
The river was very low, and our steamer
had to feel her way among the rocks of the
lower rapids. The passengers had to foot
it, but we were well repaid for this breach
of the laws of navigation, as it afforded US
an opportunity of an acquaintance with
Nauvoo and some of its wonders, at its
most interesting period Nauvoo differed
greatly from ST. Louis and other cities up
on the Mississippi. They are bat the a
gents of commerce, and traffic in hemp,
-four, tobacco, negroes and the like, but
Nauvoo dealt exclusively in revelations,
visions, wonders and other items of super
natural manufacture. Despite of all the
causes tending to produce identity of feeling
and opinion on this great thoroughfare, the
notions and aims of the latter day saints,
were as different from the neighbors, as If
you had suddenly entered on the diocese Of
the Grand Lama. Joe Smith wove the
bolt from whence the saints got their reli-
gious attire. He stole the warp and filling
from the castaway rags Of Judaism, Pagan
ism, Romanism, aud every other ism, and
improved and altered the fabric at his will.
The book of Mormonism was soon antigua
ted as a standard Of faith. Old revelations
lost their flavor as old yictuals, aud Joe
was compelled daily to crafty the appe-
tites of his followers with fresh dish of
supernatural dainties. ! heard an old sea
captain predict that perhaps in a hundred
years the book Of Mormon would command
eqnal respect with the bible Fie upon his
judgment, who could not see the difference
between the cedars OF Lebanon and the
worthless weeds Of Nauyoos 1t was fatal
to the book of Mormon, that it endeavored
TO ape the style of the bible. man might
as well presume to look in the face of God
and live. 1t betrays both arrogance and
ignorance in an author, to adopt style
which brings every page into comparison
with absolute perfection; the glow worm
will never gain as great notorety as the sun.
Ii is perhaps owing TO this unfortunate
choice of style, that the book of Mormon
is utterly unreadable. The writer in his
ridiculous effort to ape the authority, dig
nifty and majesty of sacred historians and
prophets, assumes an attitude as constran
ed as a Hindoo devotee, his head upturned
and his hands stretched heaven-ward, till
his muscles grow stiff, and his limbs revolt
and declare Independence of his will. o,
what stupidity, atleetation, dulness are
stuffed into eighty pages of this modern BIZ
bic! had not the courage TO proceed fur
Their. Who has read more of it! 4 liter
airy character il such il had, would certainly
secure for it some notoriety; but a. attempt
TO counterfeit the hand writing aud style of
the Almighty, has ruined what might have
been an interesting romance. The object
of the writer seems to be, 10 father the
North American savages. nolens voeus, on
old Abraham. When Jerusalem was be-
sieged by Northumberland, Jewish tami-
IN escaped, found their way TO the Atlantic,
built ship under divine direction, found
mariners compass made by some artisan IN
. Heaven. The tamily then embarked, and
climbed up from the deep upon the back of
North America. These were the ancestors
of King Philip, Tecumseh and Blaekhawk.
Here their descendants became numerous;
at first they worshipped God, but after
wards the devil But one faithful lsraelite
was left by the name of Mormon. BY d.
vine command he wrote the history of this
Jewish colony on plates of brass; hid them
in New York, where in the fulneSs of time,
Smith found them. Mormon was put to
unnecessary trouble; for after the plates
were found, i, required as much divine aid
to read the mysterious characters, as it
would TO have communicated the history
anew.
There were few ideas that received
general assent. The Morrnons generally
+ believed that Heaven was built Of three
stories. one over the other, and Hell of as
many. Their temple was vast hyerOglyph-
( ic, expressive Of this idea. The lower part
of this eelifice was surrounded by pillars, on
which were sculptured representations of
The neyv n,onn. above, about 50 feet from