The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-11-03
ABOUT THE MoRMoNs.
Two distinct Sccts of Latter Day Saints"
4 Brief History.

There arc two distinct sccts commonly
called Mormons, neither of whom recognize
the name, but both of whom call themselves
the "thurch of Jesus Christ of Latter Dav
Saints" They both originated with joseph
Smith in the year $3.50. Tho church under
Joseph Smiths leadership suffered pcrsccll-
tion because they seemed to he misunderstood
by the people. In the United States many of
them were killed and their homes burned by
mcrcilcss mobs. In the year 1874 Joseph, his
brother Ilvrum. John Taylor and one Rich
ards, nearing they were to he arrested for
treason, surrendered at Nauvoo and were
promised Il fair trial. They We're confined in
Carthage Jail. a mob gathered around and
forced their way into the Jail, firing showers
OF balls ut the prisoners cells. In attcmpt-
ing to escape liyrum was shot dead, Taylor
was shot i'll the leg and another ball struck
his watch, knocked him down and lie rolled
under the bed, tho mob still firing at him,
cutting from his hip II piece of flesh us large
as IL mans hand. Joseph attempted to jump
out of tho window, but two balls pierced him
and he fell dead In the excitement which
followed TAYLOR and Richards escaped.
AT this time the church had membership
of about 25,0OO Their leader now lcing
dead, many different ones put in their claims
to the leadership, Brigham Young among the
number. llcdi,l not have much success Mt
first, and out of the 5000 only 10000 ac
ccptcl him as tlcir'lcadcr. With these and
other prosclytcS Inc went to the Great Salt
Lake VALLEY, and there, some eight years
after the death of Joseph Smith, lie insti-
'uird, among other evils, polygamy and
blood atoncmcmt, the latter of which con-
sisted in killing any member whom they
thought likely tn aposta,iac so that he might
die in the faith and thus be saved. The
history of the other organization bearing the
same name is not so we'll known. AT the
death of Joseph Smith thousands of his pco-
pie accepted no one us Their leader. In the
years 1870 to ls1,, jason W. Briggs and
Zenas Curly cndcavorc'l To get the tlisl,andel
le"plo together, but neither claimed leader
ship They taught tho same doctrine that
Joseph Smith taught.
April 6, 1860, at II conference held ut Am
boy, Joseph Smith, the son of their late
president, was placed at the head of affairs,
where he remains to this day. Previous TO
his accepting tho presidency of the church,
lie hal studied law and was practicing his
profession at Nanvoo, for which i,Ia;.o he was
also Il justice of the peace. After the organ-
izltion there was some trouble between them
and the Brighamitcsns To who was the owner
of II temple worth about $4,000, built ut
kirtlanl o., previous to the death of Joseph
Smith, ST.. They went to the courts about
tho matter and judgment was given in favor
of the Josephitcs-it being proven that they
wcro the true church and that tho brigham
ties had largely departed from the faith
Tho Josephites We're Incorporated by the
United States in the year 1870, and are now
growing very fast, numbering about $1,000.
al. ID. s." in Detroit FREQ Press