The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1895-02-07
THE NEW MORMONlSM.
Changes From tho beginning TO the Com
nletiOn of the Temple.

pletion of the Temple.
Mormonism has been revised and improv-
ed since the foundation stone of the big
temple in Salt Lake City dedicated recently
was laid 40 years ago It's gods have been
thinned out Its apostles, prophets and
priests are of less account than formerly
Its Golden Book" is far less revered than
it used to be. 1t is less fanatical and better
tempered than it was Its hostility to the
civil power has disappeared Its adherents
have ceased to be bellicose ever since they
were subjugated by the Federal army. Its
presumption has been reduced since the
federal courts laid hands upon the church
property. Its superstitiousness is on the
wane. Its young people have been lib
eralized by intercourse with the Gen
tiles" who now live in the territory.
1t has felt the influence of certain acts of
the territorial Legislatures; it has been af-
fected by the "Gentile" press, the public
school system and the Christian clergy; it
has been influenced by the growth Of popu-
lar enlightenment; it has not for years pos
sessed the advantages Of that isolation
which it once commanded in Utah, and,
more important than other things, it has
discarded the system of Polygamy, which
is the abomination Of desolation and was
brought into especial prominence by Brig
ham Young, who was the president of the
church from the time of the lynching Of
Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism,
until his own death in 1877.
1t is the important fact in the transfer
nation Of Mormonism that polygamy is
not now sanctioned by its leaders or prac-
ticed under its license. In this respect
Mormonism has adapted itself to circum-
stances under the mandate of a power
which it could not resist, which was en-
bodied in the federal government, acting
through congress, the courts and the army,
by the authority Of the American people,
who were determined upon the suppression
of polygamy. When the antipolygamy
laws were enacted the Mormon leaders de-
clared that they would not obey them, as
polygamy had been sanctioned by a revela-
ton from heaven, but they soon found that
congress had provided penalties for disobe-
dience, with the enforcement of which
heaven did not interfere
They next tried to evade the laws, but
the difficulty of evading them proved to be
as great as that Of resisting them. At last
relief came to them through new and very
convenient revelation from heaven to the
effect that it was not thenceforth necessary
to practice polygamy, which had been pro-
hibited by the government of the United
States. 1t was but few years ago that
official announcement was made through
the church presidency, in conformity both
with inspiration and the laws of congress
that polygamy would not thereafter exist
among Mormons Mormonism is religion
that has varied resources, some Of which
are always available about the time they
are needed, at the call of the leaders, to the
satisfaction of their adhefents, and this fact
could not be better illustrated than when
Woodruff enjoyed an antipolygamio reve
lation in perfect conformity with our anti
polygamic legislation.
1t is but just to say, however, that the
Mormons are at this time observing the
marital laws as well as other laws, and
that the polygamic practices Of past years
are now almost completely ended in Utah
There is abundant evidence of the truth o.
this statement, and it is satisfactory to the
legal authorities of the territory. The rem
nant of aged Mormons may not have dis
carded their supertluous wives, yet pay al
necessary outward respect to the new ordel
of things.
In truth Mormonism has been much ant
in many ways fixed up since Brigham
9oung's death. Now, in these times, will
some of its old blotches doctored away, will
a part of its smudge cleared off or painted
over, with the partial reparaton of its sys
tenn through the administration of fedora
remedies, with the growth Of reason in it,
mind, and with such new tangled clothe!
as it has got, it looks less ugly than i
looked 40 wears or 20 or even 10 years n on -
New York Sun.