The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-09-07
Misttllaneous.
HORACE GREELEY In UTAH.
TWO HOURS WITH BRIG
HAM YOUNG.

SALT LAKE CITY Utah, July l3, 1859.
My friend, Dr. Bernhisel, M. c., took me
this afternoon, by appointment, to meet
Brigham Young President of the Mormon
Church, who had expressed q willingness
to receive me at p. M. We were cor
daily welcomed at the door by the Pres
ident who led us into the second story
parlor of the largest of his houses Che has
three where | was introduced to He
Der G. Kimball, Gen. Wells, Gen.
Ferguson, Albert Darlington, Eleasar
Smith, and several leading men of the
Church, with two full-grown sons of the
President. After some unimportant con-
velsation on general topics, [ stated that
[ had come in quest of fuller knowledge
respecting the doctrines and polity of the
Mormon Church, and would like to ask
some questions bearing directly on these
if there were no objections. President
Young arowed bis willingness to respond
to all pertinent inquiries, and the con-
versation proceeded substantially as fol-
lows:
II. Gam to regard Mormonism
$50 called) as a new religion, or as SIM
ply new development of Christianity?
B. Y.-We hold that there can be no
true Christian Church without a priest
hood directly commissioned by an imme-
date communication with the Son of God
and Savior of Mankind. Such Church
is that of the Latter-Day Saints, called by
their enemies Mormons; we know of no
otheHthat even pretends to have pre-
sent and direct revelation of Gods will.
III. Citizen am to understand that
you regard all other churches protesting
to he Christian as the Church of Rome
regards all churches not in communion
with itself-as schismatic, heretical, and
out of the way of salvation!
B. Yves, substantially.
H. G.-Apart from this, in what re-
spect do your doctrines differ essentially
from those of our Orthodox Protestant
Churches-tlc Baptist or Methodist, for
example?
B. we hold the doctrines OF
Christianity, as revealed in the Old and
New Testaments-also in the Book of
Mormon, which teaches the same cardin-
al truths, and those only.
H. G.-Do you believe in the doctrine
of Trinity.
B. WE do; but not exactly as it
is held by our churches. We believe in
the Father, the Son,and the Holy Ghost,
as equal, but not identical-nct as other
persons bcings.l We believe in all the
Bible teaches on this subject.
H. G.-Do you believe in q personal
devil-a distinct, concious, spiritual being,
whose nature and acts are essentially
malignant and evil?
B. WE do.
II. G.-Do you hold the doctrine Of
Eternal Punishment?
B. we do; though perhaps not
exactly as other churches do. We be-
lieve it as the Bible teaches it.
H. CT understand that you regard
Baptism by Immersion as essential.
B. WE do.
H. G.-Do you practice Infant Bap-
tism?
B. Y.-No.
H. G.-Do you make removal to
these valleys obligatory on your con-
verts?
B. Y.--They would consider them
selves greatly aggrieved if they were not
invited hither. We hold to such gath
ering together of Gods People as the BIZ
bic foretells, and that this is the place and
now is the time appointed for its consum-
nation.
III. G.-The predictions to which you
refer have usually, think, been under
stood to indicate Jerusalem for Judea) as
the place of such gathering.
B. Yves, for the Jews-not for
others.
H. G.-What is the position of your
Church with respect to Slavery9
B. Y.-We consider it of Divine insti-
tuition, and not to be abolished until the
curse pronounced on Ham shall have
been removed from the descendants.
Fl. Care any slaves now held in
this Territory?
B. Y.-There are.
III. G.-Do your Territorial laws up
hold Slavery?
B. Y.-Those laws are printed-you
can read for yourself. If slaves arc