The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-11-03

Gentle couldo btaiu justice in the Nauvoo
courts. The property of the people of
Illinois was stolen from them, and traces
of it were obtained at Nauvoo. Men of
influence and talent row deserted the
standard Of the prophet, denouncing him
rs an impostor, debauchee, and tyrant-
Women impeached him of attempted
wrong, whilst the miserably subterfuge re-
sorted to by him, that he did it Just to sec
IT they were virtuous, only exaspcrated
those families which he had sought to dis
honor. The Expositor having published
list of the prophets debaucheries, and
those of his friends, party of Mormons
attacked the printing office, broke the
press to pieces, and scattered the type in
the streets. This attack was resented on
the part of the people, and justice having
been refused, the Governor of the State
was appealed to, and Joseph and Hyrum,
his brother, together with DIR. Richards
and John Taylor, were lodged in Carthage
jail.
The citizens of Carthage now conspir-
cd together to attack the Jail, and take
justice into their own hands. Early on
the morning Of the 9th of June, 1874,
they assaulted the door of the room in
which the prisoners were incarcerated.-
Richards and Taylor, lying on the floor,
made stretch across the room, the feet
of one against the shoulders of the other
and kept the door from fully opening
Guns were thrust in and discharged, and
Joseph, with revolver, returned two shots,
lifting one man in the elbow. A bali
struch Hyrum, the patriarch, and he fell,
exclaiming, 81 am killedm-to which
Joseph replied, "Oh, brother Hyrum!'-
The prophet then threw up the window,
and, in the act of leaping through, was
killed by balls fired from the outside, say
ing, as he fell, 30 Lord, my G; dm. The
people in the hall forced into the room
and wounded Taylor; the other escaped
"without a hole in his robe"
After the death of Joseph, the struggle
for the leadership followed, and Brigham
Young was elected. The prosecuting
spirit did not cease with tie death of the
prophet. Nothing would satisfy the peo-
PIE OF Illinois but the expulsion of the
Mormons from Nauvoo aud the surround
ing country. 1t was announced, bv revel-
alton, that the whole church must retire
into the wilderness to grew into multi
tude aloof from the haunts OF civilization.
The Valley of the Great Salt Lake was
selected for settlement, and on the 2lst
OF July, ls47, the pioneer party arrived,
and on the Oath the Church Presidency,
which latter day is now their grand epoch.
continued 10 prosper. ihey have by their
industry fertilized barren region, and
made "two spires Of grass to grow where
only one grew before" And there they
are bidding defiance to their prosecutors,
and ready to fight for their rude rocks and
snowy lands. They demand a recognition
Of their independence as State, on the
ground that they know better than all the
world besides what is suited to their con-
dition. They are apeculiar people. "They
have formed everything on the model Of
republican State, adopted constitution,
liberal, free, and tolerant Of conscience in
religion, and have criminal code which
applies to their peculiar situation and
feelings" and it is not to be presumed that
lawyers and judges, however eminent in
their profession at home, can understand
or appreciate the statutes of this wild
country. Gentle judges are, therefore, re-
garded by all Mormons as an unjust i'm
position, and they are resolved on resist
ing all such foreign interference.
Experience has shown that Mormonism
cannot exist in these States. Itmust con-
quer or die. The Mormon settlement is
at present rendered harmless by its geo.
graphical position. The Valley of the
Great Salt Lake is situated midway be-
tween the Mississippi States and Califor-
mia, and is hemmed in on all sides by in
hospitable tracts of country upwards of a
thousand miles in extent. 1t is, in fact, a
three months journey, with the present
conveniences for travelling, from the near
est civilized community to the Mormon
settlement.
We have given an outline of the histori-
cal picture Of Mormonism drawn by our
author, and we shall now take glance at
a few interesting peculiarities in the Nor
mon theology.
TheMormons worship Trinity, or rath-
er duality of persons in the Godhead.
God the father is an infinitely perfect man;
Jesus Christ is the Son OF God by the
Virgin Mary, and the Holy Spirit is the
one mind possessing and acting in the
Father and the Son. Passages are quot
ted from, their own works to show that
such are in reality their views.
"Fist, God himself, who sits enthroned
in yonder heavens, is man like unto one
Of yourselves, that is the great secret
If the veil was sent to-day, and the great
God who holds this world in its orbit, and
.upholds all things by His power, if yon
were to see Him to-day, you would see
Him in all the person, image, and very
torn as man; for Adam was created in
the very fashion and image Of God; Adam
received instruction, walked, talked, and
conversed with Him, as one man talks
and communes with another"
e. o.k..t e.. Al