Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-07-04
BRATTLEBORO, W., JULY A, 1857.

HC VI IbtttIS IpOH tlle uUSedIeu
part were SMALL and beautifully engraved
The whole book exhibited many marks of an
tiquity in its construction, as well as much
skill in the art of engraving" With these
plates were also found two transparent stones,
set in a bow-the Trim aud THunlnim Of the
ancients, by whose aid the seers prophesied
and received revelations. To all these treas
ures of the past, Mr. Joseph Smith, Jr., an
unleuered and visionary gentleman then living
with his family in Ontario County, was direc-
ted "by an angel Of the Lord" BY diligent
efforts lie rescued the precious plates, and again
by divine direction set about the work of trans
lating into the vulgar tongue the treasures of
wisdom they contained. From this event sprang
the sect of the Mormons-perhaps the most
remarkable class of people in all respects, that
the world has yet had occasion to place among
the remarks of so-caled religious fanatics -
The votaries who will always be found ready
to gather about standard bearer whose visions
partake Of spiritual mystery, soon congregated
about Joseph Smith, and hence the formation
of the Mormon Church. Gradually enlarging
It's bounds, the new community emigrated, still
under Smiths guidance, to a temporary loca-
tion in the township Of Kirkland, in Ohio /;
removed thence, after a brief tarry, TO Jackson
County, in Missouri; and while in this latter
place, were "divinely directed to build a
magnificent Temple, the pattern Of which was
to revealed from on high. The corner stone
OF such an edifce was accordingly laid, but
the new sect was driven from the State by an
enraged mob before its completion and the ex-
odus to Nauvoo followed The events at
Nauvoo are fresh in the recollection of all. -
In 1874, the Mormons were again driven out,
but not before their famous Temple had been
erected. They were a second time mobbed
the military were called out. and the prophet
Joseph Smith and his brother Hyram were
taken from Jail and executed Then came the
final exodus to Utah.
Second, the Religion of the Mormons.
Taking the Book of Mormon as the ac-
knowledged authority in matters of religious
faith among this people, we find the Mormon
religion a mixture of Jewish tradition, Christian
theology, and Pagan rites. The Book Of
Mormon" is a work constructed very mach
after the model of the Old Testament-divided
into books, chapters, and verses The open
ing is ''the First Book of Neph his Reign
and Ministry" The last is "tne Book of
Moronl, which narrates the experiences Of
that writer in completing this famous record,
and comprises sundry letters written to him
by his father, Mormon. As therein set forth,
the Mormon faith is briefly as follows; l. A
belief in the doctrine of original sin. .. 4
belief in the existence Of God. g. A belief
in the doctrine of redemption by Christ, and
of his personal appearance and suffering on
the earth A. belief in spiritual Visions
s. A belief in predestination. 6. A belief in
the duty of baptism. 7, and lastly: that the
Of Mormon is The chosen race, intended by
the Almighty 10 conquer and occupy the tchole
earth.
Third, the Mormon Government.
The government of the Mormons is vested
in a Patriarch, President and twelve A pos
ties, or Elders. Their system is one of pure
proselytism Their emissaries 90 abroad into
all hands, penetrate all quarters of the globe,
establish headquarters of the Mormon faith :;
publish Mormon newspapers, periodicals., and
controversial works found Mormon churches :;
expound doctrine seek out information of the
tendencies of the public sentiment and report
P''EiNSo W NHc olllllhdl anu ltUlpoIdl HtduA Ol
the church. The existing President is the IA
nous Brigham Young, and we shall presently
produce extracts from Official publications of
the Mormons, to demonstrate the nature of the
arbitrary power which is at this day exercised
by that individual over the members of the
"Church of Latter-Day Saints" The Elders
are dispersed over the earth, in quarters where
they seem 10 be needed. For some two years
past Elder Taylor, a gentleman of so years,
and of remarkably pleasing and suasive address,
has presided over the interests f''the Church"
in this vicinity, having his office in New York.
Two years ago, weekly newspaper was es-
tablished in that city, under his supervision,
taking the title Of The Mormon This paper
is still issued regularly. There is similar
publication in San Francisco. The church in
the United States is divided into two "conferen-
ces," the constitution Of which is not unlike
that of the Methodist Episcopal church confer
ences. Meetings are called at regular inter-
walls, at which the spiritual and temporal con-
dlton of the church is accurately set forth by
accredited delegates, and minutes of the pro-
ceedings are forwarded to the Presidency in
Utan, The system of government is perfect
in one respect at leasl-it exercises so vigilent
an inspection of the current of events that the
political, moral, and social condition of the
world is known at headquarters with the great.
est possible accuracy and indications of the
popular sentiment in regard to the Mormons
themselves are watched with untiring assiduity
The comments of the public press are especial
ly gathered up and preserved with jealous care.
l he machinery 10 effect these works is COM
plicated and curious.
Fourth, what the Mormons are doing.
The present Mormon population in the Ter
ritory OF Utah is estimated at from eighty to
one hundred thousand persons. The chief au-
thority over these people is vested, as we have
already stated, in Brigham Young. Young
Brother Brigham is the title by which he is
known among the Saints-exercises a strict
supervision over the society which he governs,
and his government is that of an autocrat.-
lie sets the example of poygamy in its widest
from, having score OF wives and progeny al
most innumerable. All reports of the prog
ress of the Mormon church are duly passed to
him, and such portions of the information re-
ceived as he deems il proper for the Saints TO