Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-08-22
Two Hours Win brigham Young.


My friend DR.. Bernhisel, NJ. c., took me this
afternoon, by appointment to meet Brigham
Young, President of the Mormon Church, who
had expressed a willingness to receive me at
p. Nj. We were very cordially welcomed at the
door by the President, who led us into the Sec
ond story parlor of the largest of his houses (he
has three), where | was introduced to Heber Z.
Kimball, Gen. Wells, Gen Ferguson, A ALBERT
Darlington, Elias Smith, and several other
leading men in the Church, with two full-grown
sons OF the President. After some unimpurtant
conversation on general topics. | stated that
had come in quest of fuller knowledge spect-
ing the doctrines and polity of the Mormon
Church. and would like to ask some questions
bearing directly on these, if there were no OBJ
lection. President Young avowed his will
lingness to respond to all pertinent inquiries
and the conversation proceeded substantially as
follows:
H. Gam l to regard Mormonism $50 call
ed) as new religion, or as simply a new de-
velopment Of Christianity
B. Y.-We hold that there can be no true
Christian Church without priesthood directly
commissioned by and in immediate commrnica-
ton with the Son Of G cd and Savior of mankind.
Such church is that of the Latter Day Saints,
called by their enemies Mormons we know no
other that even pretends to have present and
direct revelations of Gods will.
II. G.-Then / am to understand that you re-
gard all other churches protesting to be Chris
tian as the Church of Rome regards all churches
not in communion with itseli--as schismatic,
heretical, and out of the way of salvation
B. Y-Yes, substantially
IL. G.-Apart from this, in what respect do
your doctrines differ essentially from those OF
our Orthodox Protestant Churches-the Bap-
l Z. ATatE f.
b. Y.--We hold the doctrines Of Christianity,
as revealed IN the Old and New Testaments-
also in the Book of Mormon, which teaches the
same cardi al truths, and those only.
II. G-Do you believe in the doctrine ol
the Trinity
! b we do but not exactly as it is hel(
| by other churches. We believe in the Father
the Son, and the Holy Ghost, as equal but not
dentical-not as one person [beingl. We be
eve in all the Bible teaches on this subject.
ii. G.-Do you believe in a personal devil
a distinct, conscious, spiritual being, whose
nature and acts are essentially malignant ant
evil
b we do
II. G.-Do you hold the doctrine of Eterna
! Punishment!
b. We do; though perhaps not exactly
as other churches do. We believe it as the
| Bible teaches it,
II. G.--I understand that you regard Bap-
tism by Immersion as essential
b. we do.
II G-Do you practice Infant Baptism
b. Y-No.
IL. G.-Do you make removal to these val
leys obligatory on your converts
b. Y. They would consider themseve
greatly agrieved If they were not invited hlhel
We hold TO such gathering together OF God
People as the Bible ioretells, and that this is th
place, and now is the time appointed for it
nsummaton.
II. G The predictions to which you reiC
gave usually, / think, been understood to ind
cote Jerusalem (Ur Judea) as the place of sue
therng.
haB Yves, for the Jews-not for others,
eaH G.-What is the position of your Churc
with respect to Slavery
b. We con sider it Of Divine institution
and not to be abolished until the curse pr,
nounced on Ham shall have been removed fro
his descendants
il. G.-Are any slaves now held in this TIE
ritory
b, Y.-Thero are.
II. G.-Do your Territorial laws uphold Sl
very
b. Y-ThOse laws are printed-you can rea
for yourself If slaves are brought here
those who owned them in the States, we {
not favor their escape from the service Of tho
owners
II. Gam to infor that Utah, if admit,
as a member Of the Federal Union, will be
Slave State
b. Y.-No; she will be Free State, 81
B very here would prove useless and unproftabl
regard It generally as a curse TO the master
myself hire many aborers and pay them ia
| i
b do better than subject myself to an obrigatil
to feed and clothe their families, to provide an
care for them in sickness and health. Utah
not adapted 10 slave Labor,
III G.--Let me now be enlightened with r
gard more especially to your church polity;
b understand that you require each member
r pay over one tenth Of all he produces or ear
, 10 the Church.
b. Y-That is requirement Of our fait
There is no compulsion as 10 the payment
Each member acts in the premises according