The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-06-07
From Utah.
SALT LAKE, UTAH,
Nav "a, 1888.
. WGlI vi
home

May "a, 1883.
To the Editors of the Standard:
After long and til 3some trip OF
seven days travel, we reached Zion,
that famous clty-the halfway
house" Of the Great West, and the
home Of that more than peculiar re-
ligious sect-The Mormon. Beauti-
full for situation she certainly is, ly-
ing in the grand arena Of that vast
amphitheater formed by the Wah-
satch Mountains, whose snow capped
peaks form quite contrast with the
hot and dusty streets here in the city.
Of course the greatest as well as the
first point of interest with me, as
with every one else, is to see the Nor
mon temples, Tabernacle, and other
points Of historical interest. The
Tabernacle, Assembly Hall, and
Great Temple, are in one square, call
ed Temple Block; and a stranger can
soon learn the streets, for they are all
numbered from that block, viz: those
on the east, 1st East Temple, 2nd
East Temple, etc.; those south, 1st
South Temple, End South Temple,
etc.; north and west are the same.
On 1st South Temple Street in the
first block east Of Temple Block are
situated the Lion House and Beehive,
too we'll known to be here described.
Opposite to them is the palatial resi-
dence of the President, John Taylor.
The grave Of Brigham Young, the
Mecca of all Marmons, was duly visi-
ted, and though we were at the last
earthly resting place of that mighty
hierarch(?),
Few and short were the prayers we said
And spoke not word of sorrow
for we thought
Little he'll reck if they let him sleep
In the grave where'' his people shave laid him."
He Is buried in a small lot, sur
rounded by stone wall five or six
feet high, and the grave itself is sur
rounded by an iron fence firmly set
in great granite slab that covers the
grave. The body snatchers would
not get his body in a hurry. The
work on the Temple is progressing
finely at present, though the founda-
ton was begun in 1858. From the
foundation up it is solid grey granite
Of the finest quality, it is about 80
or 100 feet high now, and must go
about 20 feet higher before the square
is completed; then comes the roof
and spires. Well, some one, Brig
ham or Joseph, has prophesied that
some great event shall take place Ill
their history before the completion of
the Temple. The Gentiles and Nor
mons both think so, the former that
Mormonism will receive its death
blow from the United States Govern
ment, and the latter, that there will
be civil war, in which they will be
the victors. The present outlook is
favorable to and in sympathy with
the Gentle view Of the question, for
here in this city, the leading business
men are anti-Mormon; 1st East Tenn
pie Street is Main Street, and upon it
are situated more business houses
than upon any other one street in the
city; upon it also are the Post Office,
two Banks and the leading hotels, the
greatest number Of which are con-
trolled and owned in fact by Gentiles.
Well | have been told by the leading
men of influence that the enterpris
ing, pushing business men Of the city
and Territory are anti-Mormon, the
majority Of the people though, are
Mormons; out Of the $4,000 inhabi-
tants Of this city, only about 5000 are
not Mormon. 1t is really pity that
such beautiful spot as this should
be so disgraced by man; situated so
advantageously, so neatly laid out,
and arranged; its wide shaded streets,
with the cutters on both sides always
filled and running with clear pure
mountain water and every thing
beautiful, enjoyable and healthful,
yet marred by the presence of that
awful, frightful delusion-Polygamy
Some powerful influence however
has already been brought to bean
against it, by the introduction Of the
Gentle element, and their churches
The Methodists have society here OF
about S5, few Of whom are apostates
from Marmonism; one young man by
the name Of Franklin, noted workeI
among the Scandanavians here, came
from Norway Mormon. Th'
, Methodist Mission under the superin