The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-06-16
The Mormons..salt Lake valley.

The Deseet News, Of April 9th, contains
the "Fifth General Epistleyo the Latter
Day Saints, ffoth Salt Lake valley, to the
Saints scattered throughout the earth This
Epistle is, as usual, full of offensive and H.
diculous fanatical and hypocfiiical nonsense,
still 1t contains much statistical information
concerning the prosperity and productive
ness Of this people and country.
This Epistle Of the Saints, iubilates over
the extension of Mormanism to all lands-=in
Europe, Asia, Africa, the East and West
Indies and America--this extension and rap
id gathering of the Saints is proclaimed as a
token OF the Meslah's near approach. Then,
again the "Saints" declare that civil dissen-
tions, the cholera, quarrels among Christian
sects, earthquakes, whirlwinds, hurricanes,
tornadoes, &C., are sure signs that the "sec-
ond coming Of Christ is at hand" Leaving
heavenly thsorizing, the Saints come down
TO earth. They say the winter has been mild
and very little snow-several grain and lum-
Der mills have been built. Shingles have
been made, threshing machines put into use,
the Council-house nearly finished-the warm
spring bath completed, the tithing-store in
use, a pottery nearly finished, a woolen fac
.ory to be erected, and china ware and cutlery
manufactured.
In March the farmers sowed their wheat.
A colony of Mormons has been formed at
Iron county, $50 miles south of Salt Lake
city-a few familiesand 100 men, with teams,
seeds and tools were sent out December 7th
last, and when last heard from they had a
field Of 1000 acres, 400 of it sown, plenty
of water, wood, iron ore, alum, and prospects
of coal.
The "Quorum Of Seventies" have agreed to
erect great Rotunda in Salt Lake City, to
be called the Seventies Hall of Science
Gov. Young is trustee and superintendent.
About 300 emigrants wintered with the
Saints" and left for the gold diggings in
the spring.
A settlement is to be formed in the south
ern part Of California, not far from San Die
60, and $50 wagons under the charge Of El-
ders Lyman and Charles Ritch, started in
March for the place. A continuous line Of
stations or places of refreshment 10 the Pa
cific on this route, is to be established. Phe
city is being formed into blocks, instead Of
wards, shade trees are planted, school houses
built, and measures taken to prevent depre.
dations by California emigrants,
The Epistle informs us that the "twelyt
apostles are abroad" except two. Orsor
Hyde is in Iowa; Pratt is on his way to thu
Society, and Sandwich Islands and Chilli
Orson Pratte is in the States, but expecte,
home; Taylor was at Bouloyne, France
translating and publishing; Snow has visit
ed the Italian States, and is now located il
Switzerland; Erastus Snow is in Copenhagen
and the "good work is prospering in Sweden
Denmark, Norway, Germany, and all tina
region" Richards is presiding over tn
"Church" in the British Isles, his Office bein
in Liverpool; Smith is presiding in iro
County, and the two RIGS are en- route
establish settlement near San Diego.
i Finally, the Epistle exhorts the Saints il
the United States and Canada, "if the
wish to see the work Of the Lord prosper" t
arise as one man, and come to Deseret
"wfere they can do more for Zion in on
year than they can in many years wher
they are"
Although the "Saints" speak in loud term
of satisfaction with thir present happy con
dition, it is impossible that such a commu
nifty can long prosper, and if nothing els
{ is to work their destruction, licentiousnes
must accomplish it. Spiritual wife-dom
which is nothing less than unbridled licen
tlousness, is a part on their system, alihoug
there may be good examples of morality
But fanaticism, humbug, and misfortun
must have its day, and then reap its bette
reward.