The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-12-12
LATTER.DAY SAINTS.
Mormonism I'm Its Purity.


So much of interest has of late been
expressed on the subject of the Nor
mons, especially those now settling in
Colorado, that the Tribune has made
some special researches, with q view of
Obtaining correct information regarding
their claims and faith, and the follow
ing is believed to be thoroughly relia-
BILE, having been cleaned most carefully
from various authentic sources:
In the first place, then, the "Reor-
ganized Church of Jesus Christ of Lat
ter Day Saints" claims to be an
entirely distinct and separate or
ganization from the church of Salt
Lake, and its members are often
termed Josephites," in contradistinc-
ton to the Brighamites of Utah.
The first member of this church to
come to Colorado was Elder f. Warm
ky, from Nebraska, who reached Den
YER in November, 1874, and on Jan.
of the following year started the first
Colorado organization with twelve
members, and in May of the same year
another branch was put in operation at
Hutchinson, Jefferson county, which is
still in active existence, the Denver one
having died out. The total member
ship in the State is very small, not ex-
ceeding seventy-fve or 100, but it is
gradually growing, and in few years
will, in all probability, number q very
largely increased total.
This split from Salt Lake Mormon
ism occurred at, or soon after, the death
of the old original Joseph Smith, and
was caused by the introduction of
polygamy into the doctrines of the
church, as well as the usurpation of the
Presidency by Brigham Young, who, at
the time, was merely the head of the
twelve apostles. Joseph Smith, Just
before his death, is reported to have
said that if Brigham ever got control of
the church he would lead it to hell, and
Joseph gagged Brigham very closely.
1t must be borne in mind that the
Josephites claim to be the only true,
unadulterated Mormon Church, and that
the Brighamites are spurious imita-
ton, full of damning heresies and abom-
Unable doctrines. They claim to be
identically the same as when Joseph
Smith first started the machinery on
the 9th of April, 1896, and it was not
until after the death of Joseph and his
brother Hyrum, at Carthage, Ill, on
the 9th of June, 1914, that the Brigham
branch took shape and form.
Under the Presidency of Smith the
church became corporate body, and
adopted as constitution, or form of
church government and discipline, the
Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the
book of doctrines and covenants, the
latter being added i'll August, 1885, the
first two having been the foundation of
faith from the beginning and the es-
sential points of faith, as set forth by
their leaders, are closely allied to the
general belief of the Gentle churches
They believe in the Trinity, and in the
atonement of Christ; that man viii be
punished for his own sins, and not be-
cause of Adams transgressions; and
that salvation is to be gained by strict
obedience to the laws and ordinances of
the gospel, enumerating them as : First,
faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ;
second repentance; third, baptism by
immersion for the remission of sins;
fourth, laying on of hands for the gift
of the Holy Spirit; fifth, belief in the
of the body; and, sixth,
belief in the doctrine of eternal
judgment. Further, they believe
that man must be called of God
and ordained by the laying on of hands
of those who are in authority, to entitle
him to preach; that the organization
should be the same as Of the primitive
church, viz: Apostles, prophets, pas
tors, teachers, evangelists, helps and
governments that in the Bible is con-
tanned the word of God, so far as it is
translated correctly, the Book of Nor
mon supplying the balance; that mar
riage is ordained of God, and that there
should be but one companion in we'd
lock for either man or woman: that the
doctrines of a plurality, and commu
nifty of wives are heresies, and are OPP
posed to the law of Cod the right to
worship Almighty God in such man
ner as the conscience os each may
approve, provided that such worship
does not enjoin disregard of the whole
some rights of others.
The great essential point of differ
ence from the Utah bigamists is the
decided stand taken against polygamy,
and this they found upon the teachings
of the three books that form their con-
stitutiop.