Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-03-25
From Our Special Correspondent.
SALT LAKE, Utah, March Is, 1893.

EDITOR WORLD: The word polygamy
has become so closely associated with the
word Mormon that the outside world has
come to look on the word az of inter-
changeable meaning, or at least to think
that the doctrine of plural marriage was
the rock upon which Mormonism was
built. This, however, is not the case.
Polygamy is only one of many doctrines
of the church, and the only one on which
the entire Mormon church is not united.
The entire Mormon church believe in
a personal material God, progression at
ter death, immersion, baptism essential
to salvation, baptism for the dead, no
located hell and no located heaven. that
the gospel is restored on earth; that the
Bible is not complete and several other
points of more or less Importance.
Mormon is the name of prophet who
is supposed to have lived over 1000 years
ago, and to have written the last series of
books which, when finally collected were
honored with the name of Mormon, just
as the Old Testament might have been
honored with the name Of Malachi had it
early been applied to that collection, or
the New Testament that of Revelation.
Those who were crsdulous enough to &C
cept the testimony offered by the finders
of this book, that it contained divine rev.
citation, called themselves Mormons, or
rather were called that. Their full legal
name is "The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints" They allege that it
is this church and no other which Christ
will recognize when he makes His next
official tour to the earth to wind up mat
tiers here and close accounts on this
planet.
This collection of writings called 'The
Book of Mormon" contains very few, if
any, doctrinal points. It is merely the
history of two tribes that left the eastern
continent about 600 B. c., and landed
sometime after on the western shores of
this continent-one about the coast Of
Chill the other near Lower California.
According to the narrative the COM
pany that landed near Chill was compos-
ed of Lehi, his four sons, named Nephi,
Lamar, Lemeul and Sam, together with
one Forum, sort of slave, and another
family consisting of parents and five
daughters. OF course the five daughters
married the four sons and Forum. It
seems that before leaving Jerusalem
Nephi was instructed by God, whoever
and whatever it is, to secure certain
golden plates that were in the vaults of
the secretary OF the treasury to the king
of that city. A gentleman named Labau
was unfortunate enough to hold there
sponsible position of treasurer at this
time. Nephi, in obedience to instruc-
ton, appeared before Labau and made
formal demand for the goods. In the
alteration that ensued Nephi's sword
pierced Labau's heart and Labau's head
was carried of as trophy by Nephi.
Nephi then by intimidating the lower
clerks secured the coveted plates. These
plates contained the history of the fami-
lies previous to their leaving Jerusalem.
Soon after landing on the continent
the various tribes that soon sprang up
began to push north and soon to clash.
This book of Mormon describes the
conflicts Of these tribes. At last, some
where in New York, great battle was
fought, which resulted in totally exter-
the opposing armies.
The last chapter Of this work was add
cd by Mormon and hid in the bill of Co
The plates it is said were gold
and the language used was Hebrew.
Other relics were also buried with the
plates. Here these plates remained all
through the weary centuries until finally
the angel Maroni appeared to Mr.. Joseph |
Smith and revealed to him the location
of these valuable manuscripts.
Joseph Smith, Oliver Cawdory, David
Whitmer and Martin Harris are the only |
,nes that have ever seen these plates for
he angel after giving Smith an opportu-
1ity to translate them carried them away
again, so the tale goes.
On the advent of Joe Smith the author
If Gullivers Travels is obliged to ac-
that he was not born to be
lar anyway. Joseph Smith undoubtedly
had an original mind and he certainly
had almost an infallible Judgment Of hu-