Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-09
TRAVELLING MORMONS.


county, Utah. They came in on Monday
morning over the o. R. & G. railroad, and
expect to remain several days; this, how
ever, is contingent upon how they may be
received.
The two elders called upon The EN-
oUlRER Monday afternoon and presented
their cards, containing information as to
names and addresses as above. Elder
was the principal spokes-
man. After the formality of introduc-
ton, etc., he said:
"The first thing we do upon our arrival
in town, is to call upon the ministers OF
the various churches, and then upon the
men, after which we try to
get acquainted with the people generally.
We have just been to the county clerk to
see about getting the use of the court
house for few nights; but the clerk
informs us that the building is in charge
of the supervisor, who will not be here
until tomorrow"
On the back of the cards which had
been handed to him by the elders, the
reporter found the following under the
heading of ARTICLES of Faith of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints"
l. We believe in God, the Eternal Faith
er, and in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in
the Holy Ghost.
Q, We believe that men will be punished
for their own sins, and not for Adams
8. We believe that, through the atone
ment of Christ, all mankind may, be
saved, by obedience to the laws and or
dinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that these ordinances are
First, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ ;
second, Repentance third, Baptism by
for the remission of sins
fourth, Laying on of hands for the Gift
of the Holy Ghost.
S. We believe that man must be called
of God, by prophecy, and by the laying
on of hands," by those who are in author
ity, to preach the gospel and administer
in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization
that existed in the primitive church,
apostles, prophets, pastors, teach
ers, evangelists, etc.
7. We believe in the gift OF tongues,
pTOpuCCy3 tONCloIlohy ftoiNot N-ANN5,
of tongues, etc:
8. We believe the Bible to be the word
of God, as far as it is translated correctly
we alsolbelieve the Book of Mormon to be
the word Of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed,
all that He does now reveal, and we be-
lieve that he will yet reveal many great
and important things pertaining to the
Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering
of Israel and in the restoration OF the Ten
Tribes. That Zion will be built upon this
continent. That Christ will reign person
ally upon the earth, and that the earth
will be renewed and receive its paradise
acal glory. :.
IL. We claim the privilege of worship
ing Almighty God according to the die
tates of our conscience, and allow all men
the same privilege, let them worship how,
where or what they may.
II. We believe in being subjects to
kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates,
in Obeying, honoring and sustaining the
law.
l3. We believe in being honest, true,
chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing
good to all men indeed, we may say that
we follow the admonition of Paul, "We
believe all things, we hope 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 ethings.-JosEPH SMITH.
After a perusal of the foregoing, the
reporter asked: "But do you people not
also believe in polygamy?"
"That is very natural question:" said
Elder Chamberlain, with a pleasant smile,
''and one, perhaps, which we are called
upon to answer oftener than any other.
No, sir; we do not believe in polygamy,
and I'll venture to say that there is not as
much polygamy in Utah as there is in
South Carolina. True, polygamy was
authorized in our creed. But
when it was prohibited by statute, and
that statute was sustained by the United
States supreme court, it was abandoned.
AS matter of fact, not more than two
per cent. of our people have ever prac-
ticed polygamy, and now there is not
in Utah. Polygamy being a
crime against the civil law, it is, as q
crime, invariably punished by excommu-
nication from the church.
Continuing on the same line, Elder
said that at no time could a
marriage be contracted ex.
cept with the consent of the wife or wives
married, and that there was only
one building in Utah in which the ceremo-
ny could be performed. That was the tenn
pie. While the temple was under con-
struction, be said there was a temporary
building for the purpose. On one occa-
sion, after the anti-polygamy law had
been passed, a polygamous marriage
ceremony was performed in this structure.
The offender was convicted, and to pre-
vent recurrence of the crime, the build
ing was torn down. AS to whether OF
not such marriage could now be recog-
nized by the church if solemnized in the
temple itself, the reporter failed to ask,
and Elder Chamberlain did not say.
"What is your Book Of MormonT"
the reporter next asked.
1--WE believe" said Elder Chamberlain,
''that this country was once peopled by a
highly civilized race, descended from
Jews who left Jerusalem before the days
of Nebuchadnezzar. These Jews came
across the Pacific ocean and landed on the
coast of Chill, and from them sprang two
races. One grew more civilized and the
other drifted into barbarism. The civil
lied race gradually made its way up
through South and Central America and
NJ exico, building cities and extending its
civilization as it went. The Book OF
Mormon is the history of these people
Just as is the Bible the history Of the
ews. 1t tells how they prospered when
they did what God told them to do, how
they were punished when they were dis
obedient, and how, for their sins, they
were finally destroyed, the remnant be-
ing finally merged in with the Indians"
'There is nothing in the Book Of Nor