The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-20
THE MORMON CHURCH.
Anticipating the HreRking Up of babylon
J"seph smiths Son In.anc.

SALT LAkE, Oct. Judging from the pro-
ceedings OF tho Forty-cighth Semi Annual Con-
Terence Of the Church Of Jesus Christ OF Tutter
Day STUNTS. the Mormon system is in no danger
OF an immediate collapse. lnrsc number of
missionaries were appointed to various parts of
the world. including. about twenty i've 10 the
United States PENNSYLVANIA Is apparently re-
gardcd MS n field ripe for the harvest. for II is
specially set down ms the point Of destination
of two evanGcists. direct from headquarters
Finland and New Zealand are among tho dis
tant countrioe 10 which missionaries are sent.
and Scandinavia has tho largest, share next to
the United States. The impression that the
Mormons are wholly recruited from Europe
must be erroneous. as it is not reasonable to
suppose that the Latter Day Saints would
devote SO much money and so many mission
aries to North America II they did not reap
rro-elytes Many Of the converts are assisted
to Utah by perpetual emigration fund. and
about 81 OObOOp IL now due tor princl-
pal alonc by th2sr who have been helped
IN ihis WAY. Elder Darlington appealed
- all such debtors To- pay w promptly in order
I" make way for thousands Of others who We're
4nNiouslN awaiting m opportunity TO emigrate.
ic added that. ly the kindness of the trustee
% trust. rs IN. perpe tnal emigration fund owed
the church about GOOOOO. persons indebted
t. the fund might discharge their indebted
ness By labor on tho tcnp,e. or wherever the
church, would accept It. Elder Lorenzo Snow
goods OF home manufacture. and 1t would not
o. u great whiie until. ~ every town IN tho Ter
rtory. would b. heard the busy sound OF indus
Try" He added that " II the people will patron
lie and demand goods made Toy ourselves. the
importniious from abroad will cease before the
general breaking mp Of babylon and the time
WIN W" can no longer got goods from them.
The leading subject Of discussion IN the
by E'ders Orson Pratt and J. +. smi6 vita ti'T a
view OF obtaining possession OF the manuscript
4 m B22S, nj Il Mormon RPM in p9ssvs7ion Of
Nhtmcr WAS one Of the first followers OF Joseph
smith. ana one Of the persons who claimed To
have received "a revelation from heaven confirm
INK the divine authority of the work. Elder Pratt
described his interview with Whitmcr. who told
over again the story OF the alleged revelation
He said that rs Joseph Smith. Martin Harris
AMI himself We're together In secret prayer in u
grove after they had iluis lid prayer all ut once
u" whole vicinity around them was lighted up
with a Light more glorious in its appearance
tlrn tn" light ~ the sun. in the midst appeared
n glorious personage. cOunt.nnncrd like light
nlng, garments pur, ana white; he prtsentod
h'iorc them the plates from which the Book Of
Mormon WAS translated. and the urim and
ms colony III lourncying out OF Jerusalem to
this eontinent. This Icvelaiion was in the latter
part " June, 1879. The witnesses We're COM
mhndod 10 hear their testimony, to hgye their
testimony appended 10 the Book Of Mormon.
ana To- have II 70 10 the ends OF Tho whole
earth.
Elder Pratt. who was we'll acquainted with the
handwriting Of Oliver Cowdery-ihe scribe who
wrote the book from the dictation of Joseph
smith-pronounced the manuscript in Whit
mer's possession 70 be the original copy Elder
Hyde said that Whitmer refused to give the
book up lest the "shrewdness and cunning Of
the present elders should change the text and
there be- no original to detect the change" Tho
Elder did not seem tn De offended at this impu-
taton on the good faith of the Mormon priest
hood. hutadded that hr did not think IL Of much
moment whether they had possession Of the
manuscript or not
An impression seems 20 have gained ground
among the Saints that the visit u Elders Smith
nnd Pratt TO the States had been made
with view ~ inviting David Hyrum Smith
70 succeed Brigham Young as the Prophet
President Of the Church. David Is IA son Of
Joseph Smith the founder Of Mormonsm. by
his lawful wife. Emma. and was born u few
months altsr the murder Of the Prophet, 10
seph smith had stated shortly before his death
that OF Emma Smith should be born a son
who would succeed in the Presidency after u
season Of disturbance" and thousands OF the
Mptmons have long regarded David as predes-
tined to lend them back 10 JHcksOn County. No.
II the statement made by Elder j. I. Smith in
the CQniercure is true, that hope is crushed.
He said that David Smith WAS insane. and In an
/ insane asylum. and that there is no chance Of
his recovery. Ho added that no one had been
sent out into tie world. to David Smith, or to
any one else 10 persuade them 10 lead the
Church. and suggested that II was " not NJ all
probable that the Lord will 20 outside OF the
faithful long-suiiering. valiant men among his
people 70 md my through whom 10 serve his
will or 10 lead his people,"