The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-03-17
mormOns in Carroll.

T. A. Williams and Joshua Homer, elders
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints, were entertained by your correspon-
dent, ofTyrone, Nd, on the evening OF March
l2tb, at which time the following account OF
the belief was given, and the origin OF Nor
monism was discussed; Joseph Smith, the
founder of the sect, was "a native Of Vermont
state, and was born in the year lso5. lie
afterward removed to New York state, where,
at the age of Is, while the neighborhood IN
which he lived was engaged in religious re-
vival, lie claimed, in answer to prayer, to nave
had visitation of heavenly messengers, who
informed him that in the near future he was
to be made an instrument in the hands Of God
to re establish the everlasting Gospel, which
is spoken of by John in Revelations II, u.
At the age of - he received from the hands
of messengers of God record OF the ancient
inhabitants of the continent of America, from
the confusion of tongues 1.-THE Tower OF Babel
| to 420 years after the birth of Christ. 1t IS
history of the hand dealings of God with the
descendants of the tribe of Joseph. who was
sold into Egypt, of which the native Indian OF
the present day is a remnant, and gives inll
account of the coming OF Jesus Christ. after
his death and ascension, TO the American con-
tinent, and setting up his Gospel among the
people of America the same as at Palestine.
This same Joseph Smith also testified that he
received the power and authority to preach
and administer in the ordinances OF the Gos-
pei by ordination at the hands of John the
Baptist, and Apostles Peter, James and John,
who conferred it upon him in the year 1873.
The articles of faith are as follows: We
believe in God the eternal Father, and in his
son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
We believe that men will be punished for
their own sins, and not for Adam S transgres-
sions We believe that through the atone
ment of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by
obedience to the laws and ordinances of the
gospel. We believe that these ordinances
are, first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ;
second, repentancei third, baptism by I'M
mersion for the remission OF sins; fourth, lay
ing on of hands for the gift of the Holy
Ghost. We believe that man must be call
ed of God by 'sprophecy and by the laying on
of hands, by those who are in authority to
preach the gospel and administer in the or
dinance thereof We believe in the same
organization that existed in the primitive
church, viz: Apostles, prophets, pastors,
teachers, evangelsts, etc. We believe in the
gifts of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions,
healing, Interpretation of tongues. We be-
lieve the bible to be the word Of God, as far
as it its translated correctly.
We also believe the book of Mormon to be
the word of God. We believe all that God
believe that he will yet reveal many great and
important things pertaining to the kingdom of
God We believe in the literal gathering of
Israel, and in the restoration of the ten
tribes; that Zion will be built upon this con-
tinent; that Christ will reign personally upon
the earth, and that the earth will be renewed
and receive its paradistic glory. We claim
the privilege of worshiping Almighty God ac
cording to the dictates of our own conscience,
and allow all men the same privilege, let
them worship how, where or what they may.
We believe in being subject TO kings, presi-
dents, rulers and magistrates, in obeying,
honoring and sustaining the law. We believe
in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent,
virtuous, and in doing good to all men; in
deed, we may say we follow the admonitions
of Paul, 1--WE believe in all things, we hope in
all things" We have endured many things,
and hope to be able to endure all things. If
there is anything virtuous, lovely or of
good report or praiseworthy, we seek after
these things.
The preachers travel as did the ancient
disciples-without purse and scrip-and hav-
ing freely received freely preach the Gospel,
and look to that life to come for their reward.
They report some 500 missionaries similarly
engaged throughout the Christian and heather
world The priesthood ofthe Mormon Church
is organized into the following quorum-The
presidency, the ~ apostles, the high eoun-
ellis, the seventies, high priests, elders, priests,
teachers and deacons. Infant baptism is
condemned, but the children of the saints
are considered old enough at years to be
baptized Baptism for the dead is practiced,
living person being publicly baptized as the
representative of one or more deceased per
sons. Washington, Franklin and other
famous persons have thus been VIGOROUSLY
baptized into the church. The Mormon
Church was formally established at Manches-
ter, Ontario county, New York, in April,
1880. They emigrated to Great Salt Lake
Valley, in Utah Territory, where they have
built up large and fiourishing community.
AT home and abroad they are supposed to
number over 200, 900 souls.