New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-02-24
LATEST FROM UTAH.
Death of an Eminent Mormon Saint.
Hand.Cart Trains in Wretehed Coudinon
ArnIcuLAR CONFESSION INTRODUCED,

TIE M,rmon Church has Lost one Of is main Pill
lar, BY the sudden death Of Jedediah NJ. Grant,
Second Counsellor Of Brigham Young, Mayor OF
this city, and member elect Of the Legislature.
He died a. about lO4 O'Clock on the night OF De-
ceuber /. and was buried this morning with all
the ho1 orr Of the Church. The disease with which
be was attacked seems to have been sort OF pneu
mo1is. twas DO; considered dangerous, as Brig
ham had promised that be would recover. His
death was, therefore, unexpected.
Mr. Grant was nstive Of Nes-Hampshire and
was about 40 years Of age at the time Of his de-
cease. OF moderate literary attainments, in winch
be erioyed somew hat the advantage Of his associates
in tie Pres dency be was one OF the most faIen'eo
men among the Mormons. Very sarcastic and
abusive in his discourses and perfect adept In the
school Of billiDgsgate, be was always noted as the
most bitter reyller Of the Gentiles. II was only
few Sundays ago that he denounced them most ylo-
lently and said that be ready to take his bowie
knife in hand aid chase them out Of the Territory;
but be has now gone 10 his last account, Leaving
seven dsconsoate widows and several children,
four Of whom are under eight weeks OF age TO
10 mourn bis loss.
Ifvelare TO believe the leaders Of the Church the
devil would not wait until he reached his dOmln-
ions but called on him lille he was sick. The fol-
lowing II the story which was vOucbed for by both
Brigham and Heber in their funeral dlscOurses this
morning. Just previous to his severe illness the
devil appeared to him III giant form, and severely
reprmanded him for his aouse of the Gentiles he
then aid held of him, shook the breath out of his
BODY, aid then threw him down, promising him
severe scOurgiug the next time he came. 1t Is said
that two witnesses were present at the time.
Brigham, however, further declares that just be-
fore his ath Jedediah fell into q trance and was
caught up into heaven and there saw things unlaw-
full to utter but which all tended TO prove the truth
Of Mormonism These stories are not hoax but
are really believed by the people. Heber Kimball
few Sundays since, in Boosting of the power and
holiness OF the Priesthood, said that Brigham was
God the Father he (Heber) was God the Son, aud
that Grant was God the Holy Ghost. Comment
upon such blas phemOus language is unnecessary
1t is not known who will succeed Grant, his sue
cessor being appointed by Brigham.
Another of the Hand.C Cart trains arrived here
last Sunday in a condition which beggars all de-
scription. Winter caught them in the mountains
destitute of clothing and provisions, and had not
the relief which was sent from here reached them,
every one of them would have persisted. As it is,
out of the 500 which started one fourth have died.
and more than 100 Of the remainder have lost their
hands or feet from the effects of the cold. When
they reached here there vet not so in the train
who could help themselves: the rest were slowed
in the bottoms Of the wagons which had been sent
for them, ragged and filthy beyond conception;
helpless and epairing they could or would not get
out Of the wagons to attend TO the calls OF nature,
and if the weather hsd not been intensely cold it
would have bred pestileDce. / never Imagined
such q scene. Heaven preserve me from witness
ing such another. AID ye. The Deseret Ne,es has
the efroptery TO tell the world that they came
through well.
.Iot rat hun raIz AL
poor deluded wretches in the mountains. few
days ago an express reached here from an OK train
which is csmped on Green River. Their cattle had
gwen out and they were bare of provisions being
obliged to feed on their dead cattle. Some forty
wagons, with provisions, have gone to their relief
TO endeayor, if possible, to get them into Fort
Bridges.
Tie weather has been very cold for month past,
and great deal of snow has fallen. The Winter
get in at least month earlier than last year, and
has been rs vet more severe. II it continues 80,
there will not be much stock left in these valleys
next Spring.
A reformation, as they call it, has been going on
among this people for few weeks past. The fact
is, the Mormon leaders began to see that the peo-
pie we're getting so outrageOusly bad and that DIS
affection spreading rapidly among hem,
that il was endapgeriog their own safety and the
prosperity of the @hurch. They accordingly de-
yised this plan of reformation, and called on the
people to confess their siDs, be baptized, and To-
pew their covenants or endowments, threatening 70
cut of all that refused to comply with this demand,
not only from the Church and Kingdom, but
from the earth" In the progress OF this reiorma-
ten, men were appointed 10 visit every house, aud
obtain, under oath, written answers 10 set OF
questions, copy of which / have obtained and
herewith incl, Sc. But the amount OF wickedness
brought to light by these answers appalled, even
the MorDons, ard they therefore changed this sys-
TEN, aud have adopted d more private and less au-
thentic way Of confession. / have been informed,
upon the most reliable authority that they have
the names Of 600 men and women in this city and
adjacent settlements who have confessed 10 the
crime of adultery. All that is necessary 70 obtain
absOutiCn from uese sins 10 ~ repent and be
baptized.
There have been already more than fifty applica-
tons msde to Brigham for divorces by women who
arrived in the first emgrant trains.
1t seems that on their arrival here, when they
were yet ignorant Of the ways of Zion great
many of TIE Mormon gentlemen came 10 them, aud
picking out those Of the women which suited them
Immediately made them their "spfitua s." but
there poor girls soon found out what il was TO live
with the saints as slaves, and now endeayor t.
obtain divorces; this will simply be jumping out
of the ryipg-pan into the fire " Tor they viii be
compelled 10 take. or be taken by, other man,
aid their condition VIII not be be,tered
THE QUESTIONS INTRODUCED BY BRIGHAM YOUNG
IN HIS NEW SYSTEM OF AuRCULAR COMES
SION.
Have you committed murder, by shedding innocent
blood or concerning thereto
Have you betrayed your brother sister in anything
Have you committed adultery. by having aug con.
pec.ien with woman that was not your wife Tor maa
that wss Lot your hu,bapdll
Have you cot bay where you had right to, or
turned animals into smother perscns fields without his
cSDsentl
Have You lied about or mslicously mi.rep,e.en.ed
aDy peIsonl
Have vog borne false witness agsinst YOU yhbori