Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-11-30
Salt Lake City Letter.


SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. November 10.
In my private correspondence | am
asked one question more frequently than
all Others: What is the state of feeling
among the MormoDs; how do they stand
affected toward the United States Govern
ment7 1t is difficult to give quite sat
isfactory answer. It must be remem-
bered in starting that at least seven
eighths of all these people are foreigners,
and that of the lowest and most ignorant
class that they came direct from Europe
to Utah, and know absolutely nothing OF
the States and their people; that they
merely have Mormonism grated on to
Eurepeanism, and cannot be expected to
become nationalized like their country
men who settle in the East. Whatever
distinctively American feeling they have
must then be looked for in the influences
here and the teachings of the church.
Those influences and teachings are all
anti American. Mormonism teaches
three doctrines directly opposed to the
spirit of the Constitution and our institu
tions.
|. The union of Church and State, or
rather the complete absorption of the
State in the Church; that the former is q
mere appendage to the latter for conve-
nence sake, and may be dropped when
ever convenience no longer calls for a
State organization. ..T-.N
2. The shedding of a mans blood for
the remission of his sins, even sins
against the church. This is sometimes
denied and sometimes advocated, but
that it is doctrine Of the Mormon
Church is now beyond doubt. Brigham
openly says that the only reason why it
is not more generally advocated is that
it is "too strong doctrine for the weak
in faith; the people are not fully. pre-
pared for it" etc. Unwilling to leave
this matter doubtful in any mind, l clip
the following extracts from published
sermons, the first from those of Jedediah
M. Grant, delivered in the Tabernacle:
Brethren and sisters, we want you to
repent and forsake your SINS Aud you
that have committed sins that cannot be
forgiven through baptism, let your blood
be shed, and let the smoke ascend, that
the incense thereof may come up before
God, as atonement for your sins, and
that the sinners il Zion may be afraid"
-Deseret Ne,es, October l, 1856.
I'VE have been trying long enough
with these people, and l go in for letting
the sword of the Almighty be unsheathed,
not only in word but in deed. Ibid.
~ say there are men and women here
that / would advise to go to the
President Immediately, and ask him to
appoint committee to attend to their
case, and then let place be selected and
let that committee shed their blood
Dsseret News, September, 1856.
Which was indorsed by Brigham as fol-
lows:
There are sins men commit for which
they cannot receive forgiveness in this
world, or in that which is to come, and
if they bad their eyes open to see their
condition they would be perfectly willing
to have their blood split upon the
ground, that the smoke thereof might
ascend to Heaven as an Offering for their
sins; whereas, if such is not the case,
they will stick to them and remain upon
them in the spirit world. / know when
you hear my brethren talk about cutting
people of from the earth, you consider it
strong doctrine. 1t is to save them, not
TO destroy them. II IL true tnat the
blood Of the Son Of God was shed for our
sins, but meu can commit some sins
which il can never remit.
"As il was in ancient days, so is It in
our days; the Law is precisely the same.
There are sins that the blood Of lamb
or q calf cannot remit, but they must be
atoned for by the blood OF man. That
is the reason vhy men talk 10 you IS they
do from this stand. They understand
the doctrine and throw out few words
about it-"-Deseref Ners, Oct l, 1856
Such is the Mormon doctrine, and those
Who have been sacrificed under il are not
limited 10 tens nor jet 70 hundreds This
Is one Of the features Of Mormonism l
==s SLOW 10 beiisvs; four weeks 20 |
smiled a. the idea, nor did / believe Il
without overwhelming proof; bat 70 put
shs matter beyond doubt, more han one