The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-05-17
THE MORMON CHURCH.
An Interesting Interview With Elder
Eli A. POLAND.
Information Concerning the Customs
and Creeds Of the .dormons.

The Sentinel was pleased Saturday to re-
ceive call from Eli A. POLAND, an Elder in
the Mormon Church-a missionary of that
organization to this State. The Elder is a
very pleasant, intelligent gentleman, and
during his brief visit the following informa-
ton was CLEANED concerning the Church:
Reporter-Have you any Church at Gov
ington?
Elder-No regular organized branch, but
we have some few members there. Have a
branch of the Church at Johnsonville.
Rep.-Do you enforce the laws of your
Church upon your members in regard to the
plural wife system?
Eld.-We have no law requiring our mem
bers to have more than one wife. in the sense
that some suppose that because a person
may be member of our Church. Only GER
tain members of our faith can have the
privilege of increasing his marriage rela-
tons.
Rep.-What qualifications are requisite in
order that he may have an extra wife?
Eld.-He must be an honest, an upright
person, one whose character is above re-
proach, and able to support such relation
ship.
Kep.-What are you going TO do now?
You know Congress has passed laws prohib-
itiDg your practices?
Eld.-We expect to obey the law as far as
lays in our power.
Rep Are the reports true which are cir
culated in regard to your people?
Eld.-No, they are not warranted by the
facts in the case. / have lived in Salt Lake
City seventeen years, and had to leave home
10 learn of the character of the people, and
am happy to say we are industrious and
peaceable, pursuing the even tenor of our
way.
Rep.-You believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ, suppose, the same as other Chris
tians?
Eld.-Yes; that is, we believe that through
His atonement all mankind may he saved
by obedience to the laws of the Gospel.
Rep.-What qualifications or laws do you
have?
Eld-We believe that person must have
faith in Christ and repent of his sins, think
that he should be baptized and have hands
laid upon him by one holding the priest
hood or a delegated authority from God.
Rep.-Where do you get your authority?
Eld.-We claim that Peter, James and
John conferred it upon J. Smith and others.
Rep.-We don't consider that this is nee
essary. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is all
sufficient.
Eld-Yes, but we belle re that if the for
mer-day saints, in the time when the
Saviour ministered on the earth, that the
ordinances that He enjoined upon the peo-
pie are still binding, and if we propose to be
His followers We should do His works, other
wise we are not entitled 10 the blessings
which belong to the Church.
Rep.-I believe that we need not comply
only so far as TO answer a good conscience,
You know that the thief went with Jesus.
Eld.-YOu must remember, however, that
he did not go to Heaven, for the Apostle
says that he went 10 preach to the spirits in
prison, which were disobedient sometime i'm
the days of Noah, and we believe that he
had to comply with the ordinances before he
entered the Kingdom of Heaven, and that a
vcari0us ordinance is necessary. The Apes
tie said else why are We baptized for the dead
if the dead raise not at all? Taking the say
ings into consideration we deem it necessary
to also do such vicarious work in order that
every man may hear the plan of salvation.
Rep. We differ, of course, in these points.
How are YOU doing or what success are you
meeting with?
Eld.-Doing very veil, and meeting with
some success. We have five elders in this
State. We travel without any salary for our
preaching, for this did the ancient disciples.
The Elder gave us the following as the ar
ticles of faith of his Church:
1. We believe in God the Eternal Father, and
in his Son, Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost.
2, We believe that men will be punished for
s. We believe that through the atODemest of
Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience
to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
T. We believe that these ordinances are: First, |
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second. Repent
ance; third. Baptism by immersion for the re-
mission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for
the Gift Of the Holy Ghost
5. We believe that man must be called OF God, |
by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands"
by those who are in authority, to preach the Cos
pei and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that ex-
listed in the primitive Church, viz: apostles, |
prophets, pastors, teachers evangelists etc.
Z. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, |
revelation. visions, healing, Interpretation OF
tongues, etc.
SWe believe the Bible to be the word of God, as
far as ii is translated correctly; we also believe
the Book of Mormon TO be the word of God.
o. We believe all that God has revealed, all that |
He does now reveal, and we believe that He will |
yet reveal many great and important things per |
tanning to the kingd ON OF God.
10 We believe IN the literal gathering of Israel
and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes That |
Zion will be built upon this continent. That
Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and
that the earth will be renewed aud receive its |
paradise glory.
IL. We claim the privilege of worshiping Al |
mighty God according to the dictates of our con- |
science, and allow all men the same privilege let
them worship how, where o. what they may.
II. We believe in being subject to Kings Presi- |
dents, rulers and magistrates. III 0beying honor |
ing and sustaipinS the law.
H. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, be-
nevOlent, virtHOus and in doing good to all men; |
indeed we may say that we follow the admOnitiOn |
of Paul. I'VE believe all things, we hope all |
things :" we have endured many things, and |
hope to be able to endure all things. II there is
any thing virtuous, lovely or of good report or |
praiseworthy, we seek after these things
Joseph Smith.