The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-09-07
Greeley Among the MOrmOns.
SALT LAKE CITY, July 13, 1859.

ii0 .h'S "iloih ihooh, ~oJ appoiutuehe, W
meet Brigham Young, President of the
Mormon Church, who expressed will
lingness to receive me at 9 p M. We
were very cordially welcomed at the door
by the President, who led US into the
second story parlor in the largest of his
houses Che has three,) where L was intro
duced to Herber G.. Kimball, Gen. w ellis,
Gen. Ferguson, Albert Darlington, Elias
Smith, and several other leading men in
the Church, with Two full-grown sons of
the President. After some important
conversation on general topics, stated
that had come in quest Of fuller know
ledge respecting the doctrines and polity
of the Mormon Church. and would like to
ask some questions Bearing directly or these
if there were no objection. President
Young avowed his willingness to respond
to all pertinent inquiries, the conversation
proceeded substantially as follows:
G. Am l to regard Mormonism (so-cal-
led) as a new religion, or as simply new
development of Christianity? !,
Y. We hold that there can be no true
Christian Church without priesthood
directly commissioned by and in immedi-
ate 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 no other
that even pretends to have present and
and direct revelations of Gods will
G. Then l am to under stand that you
regard the other churches protesting to be
Christian as the Church OF Rome regards
all churches not in communion with itself
as schismatic, heretica., and out of the
way of salvation?
Y. Yes, substantially.
G. Apart from this, in what respect
do your doctrines differ essentially from
those OF our Orthodox Protestant Church
es-the Baptist or Methodist for exam
pie? ----..r.
Y. We hold the doctrines of Christi
anity, as revealed in the Old and New Tes-
taments-also in the Book of Mormon,
which teaches the same cardinal truths and
those only
I G. Do you believe in the doctrine ol
the Trinity? :sasi
Y. We do; but not exactly as it i:
held by other churches. We believe in
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost
as equal, but not identical-not as one
person [being. We believe in all the Bl
BILE teaches on this subject
G. Do you believe in a personal devi
"a distinct, conscious, spiritual being
whose nature and acts are essentially ma
lignant and evil?
Y. We do.
g. Do you hold the doctrine of Eter
) nal Punishment.
Y. We do; though perhaps not ex
l actly as other churches do. We believ
, it as the Bible teaches it. -
. G.. l understand that you regard Bap
tism by Immersion as essential,
!, Y. We do t
! G, Do you practice Iufart Bap
, tism? H
Y. No
r G. Do you make removal to thes
: valleys obligatory to your converts?
: Y. They would consider themselve
d greatly aggrieved if they were not lnvite
}, hither. We hold to such gathering te
gether of Gods People as the Bib
: foretels, and that this is the place, and no
}, is the time appointed for its consums
s tion. ....
# G. The predictions to which you n
S fer have usually, think, been ,understoo
d to indicate Jerusalem Cor Judea) as tt
l place of such gathering.
Y. Yes, for the Jews-not for etf
q ers.
d G. What is the position ofyour churc
u with repect to Slavery?
'r Y. We consider it of divine institl
d tion, and not to be abolished until Il
curse pronounced on Ham shall have bee
removed from his decendants.s
&. Are any slaves now held in tn
:" Territory?
Y. There are.
= . G. Do your Territorial laws upho'
h Slavery?
: Y. These laws arc printed-you ca
: read for yourself. If slaves are brougl
y here by those who owned them in the Stat
!, we do not favor their escape from the Sc
y y vice of their owners.
GG G. Am I to infer that Utah, If az
l mitted as member of the Federal Unie
- will be Slave State?
Y. No; she will be Free State
Slavery here would prove useless and III
= profitable. Iregard it generally as a cur
to the masters. l myself hire many Il
borers and pay them fair wages; l cou
II not afford to own them. l can do bett
20 than subject myself to an obligation
is feed and clothe their families, to provi,
es and care for them in sickness and .healt
of Utah is not adapted to Slave Labor.
ID G.. Let me now be enlightened wi
g regard more especially to your Chur
st policy: understand that you require ca
member to pay over one>tenth of all
produces or earns to the church.
is Y. That is a requirement Of o
Ie faith. There Is no compulsion as to t
% payment. Each member acts in t
IA -. -