Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-09-26
Breaking Up of Mormondom.

A train, consisting Of about one hundred per
sons, with twenty wagons, passed through this
place on Friday last on their return from Utah
to the States. They formed pert of a company of
two hundred persons and forty teams but some
distance back the remainder took the road for
Leavenworth. They left Salt Lake about the
20th Of April. and were on the road little over
two months. They bore the appearance of per-
sons who had seen much trouble and privation.
being reduced in body and detected in mind A
more pitiable set of persons we never beheld.-
They reoiced that they had at last reached a
land where they could once more live at ease.
The account of their experience in Utah was
touching IN the extreme. In the narration Of
what they endured they seemed TO approach the
subject with reluctance and feelings Of horror in
calling to mind their sutferings but in the course
of their remarks would invariably become ami
mated, and break out in expressions OF indigna-
tion at the cruelty and oppression they had en-
dured
They declared the whole system to be but a
grand scheme Of robbery and sensuality on the
part of those in authority. 1t is not by direct
compulson, they stated, that the property of
their followers is taken, but by means of religious
enthusiasm. This is inspired by the promise Of
great spiritual rewards, and by setting before
/ them the example Of Scripture character: that as
job received an increase above all his former
possessions 50 should they, by their sclf-sacri
iclng, reap an increased reward. both OF spiritual
perty was exhausted then the policy Of their
rulers would change, and their conduct would be
such as TO say, Get away il you can If any one
should become dissatisfied and desire to leave.
they were publicly denounced, and the whole
church forbidden to purchase any property they
might wish to dispose Of. From that day they
would be subjected to the insults Of the entire
community if not absolute danger Of their lives
One person stated that in order to get away he
had to sell his farm. clandestincly at that for
sixty dollars They reported that one man went
out with $4,000, and was returning in the train
with his team only, and had not enough TO eat
Another, who had a farm worth $1,000, sold it
for thirtyfye dollars. A man by the name Of
Geo Brooks, Gf we recollect aright) who had
considerable grain and goods stored in his house.
had the sides Of bis house literally stove in and
his property all carried off, he only escaping
with his life.
When the train first approached, we inquired
whether they were from California or Utah. An
cid man whe was standing near replied, We are
from beautiful Zion' What is your opinion Of
Zon:we inquired. His reply was, i went once
in s9Sfch Of Zion but will never go out agaiu
tilNI know where it is to be found. 1t is the
iworst Zion that l ever set my foot into.'
In speaking with one quite intelligent young
man, he stated that be had been there nearly four
years, and that the reason he did not leave soon
er, was because he hoped it would be getting
better He remarked that if he should meet
train going through, he would do all that he
could to persuade them not to go but if they
persisted, he could only leave them to fud out
the reality by sad experience. The company re-
port that four or five hundred men were going to
leave this spring, and are probably on the road
by this time.-PLattsm0Wb (Ntbraska) JeDirso-
nlQH.