The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-09-02
Horace Greeley and Brigham Young
Two Hours with the Mormon Prophet.

SALT LAKE CRY, Utah, July ID, 1885,
My friend DIR. Bernhisel, M. c., took me
this afternoon, by appointment, to meet
Brigham Young, President of the Mormon
Church, who had expressed willingness to
receive me at 2 P. NJ. We were very cor
daily welcomed at the door by the Pres-
dent, who led US into the second story par
lor of the largest Of his houses (he has three)
where was introduced to Heber G. Kim
bell, Gen. Wells, Gen. Furgerson, Albert
Darlington, Elias Smith and several other
leading members of The Church, with two
full grown sons of the President. After
some unimportant conversation 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 objection. Presi-
dent Young avowed his willingness to res
pond to all pertinent inquiries, the converse
ton proceeded as follows:
II. Gam I to regard Mormonism $50.
called) as new religion, or as simply new
development of Christianity?
B. Y.-We hold that there can be no
Christian Church without priesthood d.
rectly commissioned by and in immediate
communication with the Son of God and
Saviour of mankind. Such church is that
of the Latter-D Day Saints, called by their en-
emies Mormons we know no other that
even pretends to have present and direct
revelations of Gods will.
H. Citizen 1 am TO understand thatyou
regard all other churches protesting to be
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 respect
do your doctrines differ essentially from those
of our Orthodox Protestant Churches
Baptist or Methodist, for example?
B. we hold the doctrines of Christi.
anity, as revealed in the Old and New Tesla
ments-also in the book of Mormon, which
teaches the same cardinal truths; and those
only.
H. G DO you believe in the doctrine Of
the Trinity?
B. Y.-We do; but not exactly as it is
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 Bible teaches
on this subject.
H. G.--Do you believe in personal devil
-a,distinct, conscious, spiritual being, whose
nature and acts are essentially malignant and
evil
B. Y-We do.
II. G.-Do you hold the doctrine of Eter-
nal Punishment ?
B. Y.-We do; though perhaps not exact
ly as other churches do. We believe it as
the Bible teaches it.
II. G.-I understand that you regard
Baptism by Immersion 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 converts?
B. Y.-They would consider themselves
greatly aggrieved if they were not invited
hither. We hold to such gathering to-
gether of Gods People as the Bible foretells,
that this is the place and now is the time
appointed for its cOnsummatiOn.
II. G--The predictions to which you re-
fer have usually, think, been understood to
indicate Jerusalem Tor 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 Slavery?
b. we consider it of Divine institu.
ton, and not to be abolished until the
curse pronounced on Ham shall have been
removed from his descendants.
H. Care any slaves now held in this
Territory?
B. Y-There are.
H. G-Do your Territorial laws uphold
Slavery?
B. Y-Those 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 those owners.
H. Gam / to infer that Utah, if
admitted as a member of the Federal Union,
will be Slave State?
b. Y-No; she will be free State.
Slavery here would prove useless and up-
profitable. 1 regard it generally as curse
to the master. myself hire many laborers
and pay them fair wages; could not afford
to own them. Can do better than subject
myself to an obligation to feed and clothe
their families, to provide and care for them
in sickness and health. Utah is not adapted
to Slave Labor.
H. G-Let me now be enlightened with
regard more especially to your Church
polity: understand that you require each
member to pay over one tenth of all he
produces or earns to the Church.
B. Y.-That is requirement of our faith
There is no compulsion as to the payment.
Each member acts in the premises according
to his pleasure, under the direction of his
own conscience.
H. G.-What is done with the proceeds
of this tithing?
B. Y.-Part of it is devoted to building
temples and other places of worship; part
to helping the poor and needy converts on
their way to this country; and the largest
portion to the support of the poor among
the Saints.
II. G.-Is none of it paid to Bishops and
other dignitaries of the Church?
B. Y-Not one penny. No Bishop, nc
Elder, no Deacon, or other church officer
receives any compensation for his Official
services. A Bishop is often required to put
his hand in his own pocket and provide
therefrom for the poor of his charge, but hi
never receives anything for his services.
H. G.-Hew, then, do your ministers
live sa ....
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