Daily Iowa State Democrat., 1859-08-28

TWO HOURS WITH BRIGHAM yous


TWO HOURS WITH BRIGHAM YOUNG.
SALT LAKE CRY, Utah, July Is, 1859.
My friend, DR.. Bernhissl, N. c., took
me this afternoon, by appointment, to
meet. Brigham Young, President of the
Mormon church, who hsd expressed .
willingness TO receive me at p. m.
We were very cordially welcomed at
the door by the President, who led us
into the second story parlor Of the lar
gest Of his house las he has three),
where / was introduced to Heber G.
Kimball, Gea. Wells, Gen. Ferguson,
Albert Darlington, Elias Smith and
several other leading men in the
church, with two full grown sons OF
the President. After some nnimport-
ant conversation on general topics, l
stated that had come in quest of fuller
knowledge respecting the doctrines
and policy Of the Mormon church, and
would like to ask some questions
bearing directly on these if there we're
no objection. President Young avow-
eb his Willingness to respond to all per-
tinent inquiries. The conversati IN
proceeded substantially as follows:
II. Gam | to regard Mormonism
so called) as new religion. or as simp-
ly q new Development Of Christianity!
B. WE hold that there can be
no true christian church without q
priesthood directly commissioned by
and in immediate communication with
the Son of God and Saviour of man
kind. Such a church is that Of the
Latter Day Saints, called bv their
enemies Mormons we know no other
that even pretends TO have present and
direct revelations of Gods will.
II. Citizen ! am to understand
that all other churches protesting to be
Christians as the Church of Rome re-
CARDS all churches not in common with
itself-as schismatic, heretical, and out
OF the way Of salvation
B. Yves, substantially.
Fl. G.-Apart from this, in what
respect do your doctrines differ essen.
TALLY from those Of our orthodox
Protestant churches-the Baptist OF
Methodist, for example!
B. Y.-We hold the doctrines of
Christisdity, as revealed in the Old and
New Testaments, also in the Book ot
Mormon, which teaches the same car
dinsl truths, and those only.
H. G.-Do you believe in the doc
trine of the Trinity
b. Y.-We do not exactly as it is
held by other churches. We believe
in the Father, the Son and the Holy
Ghost, as equal, but not ideLtical-not
as one person (being). We believe in
all the Bible teaches us on this subject.
Il. G.-Do you believe in a person
al devil-a distinct conscious spiritual
being, whose nature aud acts are essen
TALLY malignant and evil
b Y.-We dc.
II. G.-Do you hold the doctrine OF
eternal punishment!
B. Y.-Wc do; though perhaps
not exactly as other churches do. We
believe it rs the bible teaches it.
Fl. G.-I understand that you re-
gard baptism by immersion as essential.
B. WE do.
IL. G.-Do You practice infant bap-
tism.
B. Y.-No.
II. G.-Do you make removal to
these valleys obligatory on your con-
verts.
B. Y.-They would consider them
selves greatly agrieved if they
were not invited hither. We hold
to such a gathering together ol
Gods people As the Bible foretells, and
that this is the place and now is the
time appointed for its consumation.
II. G.-The predictions to which
you refer have usually, l think. been
understood to indicate Jerusalem (or
Judea) as the place of such gathering.
b. Y.--Yes for the Jews-not fol
others.
II. G.-What is the position Of your
church with respect to slaveryl
Is. Y.-We consider it Of Divine in.
stitution, and not to be abolished until
the curse pronounced upon Ham shall
have been removed from his descend
ants.
H: Care there any slaves now
held in this Territory?
B. Y:-There are:
Il. G.-Do your Territorial laws up
hold slavery!
b. Y.-These laws are printed, you
can read for yourself. If slaves are
brought here by those who owned
them in the States, we do not favor
their escape from the service Of their
owners:
b. Gam ! to infer that Utah. II
admitted - member of the federal
Union will be slave State
B. Y.-No /; she will be : free State.
Slavery here would prove useless and
Improbable. ] regard it generally "a
. curse TO the masters. l myself hire
many laborers and pay them fair wages;
! could not afford 70 own them: / can
do better than subject myself 10 take
care Of them in sickncse and health,
Utah b not adapted to alava lahor.
=. 0.-Let me now be enlightened
With regard more especially 70 your
church polity; l understand that you
require each mamhsr to pay over one.
tenth OF al he produces or sarus 70
the church.
- Y-Ihat isa requirsmsut of or
,sasa. .hs There i no eonpalsios y to
sss payment Each member sets 10
sss y. E ps.nias. mt aseesdisg . s. plsasur.,
usoss Ne dictates q ID ovn an.