Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-16

BY THE REV. H. CLAY TRUMBTLL.
Knowing that people as shrewd as the Nor.
mons are not likely to undervalue the impor-
lance of training the young in their faith and
practice, sought, during recent visit to Utah,
to learn the facts as to the religious instruction
of children in that territory. Information was
freely gwen to me on every point concerning
which inquired, by all the Mormon officials
whom met, and both at Ogden and Salt Lake
City was invited to visit and inspect the Nor
mon Sunday schools, and to make addresses at
their regular sessions. The following are some
OF the results OF my inquiries and observations:
The Mormon Sunday school system is as COM
plete as every other agency for Mormon church
extension and indoctrination. Every ward in
each city and every settlement in the territory is
supposed to have its Sunday school, the super
intendent OF which is appointed by the president
of the district or the bishop of the ward. The
Sunday school sessions are usually in the morn
ing. In Salt Lake City they are the same hour
as the tabernacle service. In Ogden they precede
it, and the schools, on closing, are marched in
procession to the tabernacle to have part in
the worship there The Sunday school opening
exercises consist OF singing, prayer, and occa-
sionally of Bible reading. The classes are taught
in the Mormon catecmsm, the book of Mormon
and the Bible. The closing exercises are singing,
prayer, addresses, and sometimes general cate
chizing of the school from the desk.
No pains are spared fully to instruct the chill
dren in the Mormon doctrines and belief
"Jaques' Catcchism," in general use in the
schools, presents all the blasphemous claims of
"the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints"
as these people style themselves Presen ting
something of Bible truth, it runs through the
whole tissue of Mormon folly and falSehood
For example:
90 Has God given many revelations to men2
A. Yes, great number.
2 Where have we any account of his doing
A. In the Rible, the book of Mormon. the
hook of doctrines and covenants Ot hprn uh.
LEGATIONS of the church of Jesus Christ of latter
day saints.
Q. Name olc of these revelations recorded in
the Old Testament.
A. The Lord revealed himself to Abraham
and talked with him one man talks with an
other.-Gen xviii 10.
Q. Is there any account in the book of Nor
mon Of God revealing himself to mani
A. Yes. The Lord showed himself to the
brother Of Jared.-BOOk of Ether, j: s.
@. Is any account given, in any other publ
cation of the latter day saints, of God revealing
himself to any person in our day?
A. Yes. The Lord revealed himself and his
son Jesus Christ to Joseph Smith.-HStOrV,
Joseph Smith Times and Seasons, Vol. III, page
74S, etc.
Q. When and how was this dispensaton com.
menced2
A. About the year 1920, while Joseph Smith,
who then lived in Manchester, Ontario county,
New York, was praying TO the Lord to teach
opened unto him, two glorious persons de-
sceuding towards him, and one, pointing to
the other, said, this is my beloved son, hear
him.
Q. Who were these two persons?
A. God the father, and his son Jesus Christ.
Q, Did Joseph Smith, before his death, bestow
all the keys and powers of the holy priesthood
upon the twelve apostles?
A. Yes: every key that was necessary TO save
and exalt mankind in the celestial kingdom of
(fnd Mil SfUy Io1 Y
Q. What is the first presidency?
A. Three chosen from those who hold the
high priesthood and apostleShip, to preside over
and direct the affairs of the whole church. This
quorum consists of a president of the office
OF the high priesthood and two counselOrs
The duty OF the president is to preside over the
whole church, and to be a seer, a revelator,
translator, and prophet.-Doc. and Cor, H.,
II, ~.
Q. Who are the first presidency of the church?
A. Brigham Young, president; George A.
Smith, Daniel II. Wells counselors."
Besides the doctrines of the church, rules of
cumbersome of them quite sensible-are Civ
en- this catecism, for the chidGen's guidance.
Thus:
Q. What does the first paragraph or verse of
this word of wisdom teach us?
A. That it is not good to drink wine or strong
drinks, except in the sacrement of the Lords
supper, and then it should be homemade grape
wine; that it is not good to drink hot drinks,
are for the washing of the body, and that tobac-
co is an herb for bruises and sick cattle
O. Why is it not good 10 drink wine or strong
drink?
A. Because they excite men unnaturally, in
flame their stomachs, vitiate their appetites and
disorder their whole systems.
.. Why are not hot drinks good for man?
A. Because they relax and weaken the stOm-
ach and indeed the whole body.
O. Why is it not good to smoke or chew to-
bacco2
A. Because these habits are very filthy, and
tobacco is of a poisonous nature, and the use
OF it debases men,"
If there was nothing worse than such teach
ing in the Mormon catechism, it would be worthy
OF. more general circulation aud use The chill
dreu in the Sunday schools at Salt Lake Civ
are drilled in this catechism so that they stand
an examination in it admirably.
As for singing, the Mormon collections of
hymns, like those in vogue in other religious
bodies, contain something of trash with some
thing of uneXceptionable character. Some of
the best hymns Of Watts, the Wesleys, Mont.
gomery, and Cowper, appearin these collections;
while there is such dogGere from native manu-.
LECTURERS as would cause the critics Of modern
Sunday school music to stand aghaSt
iavorite, to the tune of Tramp, TrdDD de.
clares:
THAT the children may live long
And be beautiful and strong
Tea and coffee, and
Tobacco they despise;
Drink no liquor, and they eat
But very little meat,
They are seeking to be
Great and good and wise"
They, sing jubilantly to the tune, "Aunt
Sally?
'whil9 all the world is fretting about tho future
At loggerheads are getting, the sight is quite
sublime;
The Mormons they are growing in eyerythiug that's
good,
And Babylon is going down as they did in Noahs
Hood.
True saints rally; around the standard come
Away in ulah's valleys, our lovely mountain
home"
There's nothing can destroy us II we are firm and
true,
Tho wicked men among us, the Lord will trot them
through.
He will not leave grease spot TO mark the place
they trOd,
But hurl them to destruction beneath the iron rodp
In evidence OF their parental love and child
hood faith they sing:
''Ihe Mormon fathers love to see
Their Mormon families all agree;
The prattling infant on the knee
Cries, Daddy Pm a Mormon"
TO the tune Of king of the Cannihal
Islands" they sing boastfnlly and satiricay;
"Oh dear I'm sad, I've got the blues,
I've lately heard some dreadful news;
really trembe in my shoes
TITS all about the Mormons
For sure they are the strangest set
That ever IN this world were met;
They live in place called Deseret
In the midst of the Rocky mountains.
And Brigham Young, he Is their king
70 MN they tithes aud oGdrngs bring:
And he controls IN everything
In tho midst OF these awful Mormons.
! Those poor deluded people say