The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-11-09

three miles east,) and visited Sal
Lake, either at Saltair or Garfield
Beach, and has noted that the people
look well-fed and comfortable, usually
writes home that ''the Mormons are
just like other folks" Now, it was
because they are not like other people
that they went to Utah, and for that
reason Utah was kept a territory
under the direct control Of the Fede'
raj authority, long after its population
and wealth entitled it to statehood.
1t is only shallow person who
fancies that what we believe is Of lit
tie moment. Our conduct is con-
sciously or unconsciously constantly
modified by what we believe. The be,
lief Of the Mormons made their con,
duct uncomfortable to the people OF
Ohio, where they first formed church,
at Kirkland. Driven out Of Ohio,
they made their way to western Mis-
souri, where, after a little, the people
drove them away, unable to endure
their presence, and they found refuge
in Hancock County, Illinois. There
their leader, Joseph Smith, was shot,
in 1874, and from thence they were
driven into an exodus to what was
then a savage wilderness.
I have never heard word of Scrip
ture read in any Mormon meeting |
ever attended in Utah. The "Book
Of Mormon, and more especially
book called "The Book of Doctrine
and Covenants, is constantly quoted.
These books, they believe, contain in
spired messages from God. The
Mormon catechism for children teaches
there are "many GODS For US "there
is one god' Adam, our father. AS
he, by the multitude Of his descen.
dants, has become god to this
planet, so every Mormon man who has
many wives and children IN this world
will become god at the resurrection.
He will then be given star to dwell
in, and there, With his children, his
family will continue to increase in
numbers and glory forever.
For people not Mormons there is no
hereafter. To be saved, one must be
immersed by duly qualified Mormon
elder; and as immersion is saving
ordinance, one may be baptized for all
the dead members Of his family, who
had not the privilege Of hearing of the
gospel Of Joseph Smith. Nay, it is a,
duty to be baptized for all the dead Of
one's family, for not only will they by
the act be saved, but they will increase
the retinue OF the patriarch at the
last day. People go to Europe and
search old records, and the tombstones
in the ancient churches and burying
grounds for the names of their rela-
tives, and spend days and even weeks
in the temples (there are four in Utah)
being immersed for the dead. For
each immersion there is fee Of two
dollars, and people who do not attend
to this duty have their names read
out at the Sunday service, and are
even severely disciplined by being de-
prived Of water for their gardens OF
fields, or by having their neighbors
refuse to either buy from them or sell
them anything until they obey.
The heads Of the church are believed
to be in direct communication with
Heaven. Therefore, all commands Of
the church must be obeyed, as the
voice Of God. There are three men at
the head of the church. They form
what is called "The First Presidency, !"
and represent, it is whispered, "The
Trinity" Mormon books say they
represent Peter, James and John, the
Savior's disciples. After them come
the twelve apostles. Of this number
the head of the Three is, by virtue OF
his Office, one, and his vote at any
time counts more than the other
eleven. After the twelve comes the
Patriarch. He has many subordinates.
Their Office is to bless the people. The
blessings are always written out, and
are considered ''lucky TO have" Each
costs two dollars. Then come the
presidents Of the seventies. There
are over eighty seventies in Utah, and
each seventy has seven presidents.
Besides these officers, there are high
priests and bishops, teachers and
deacops, SO that every Mormon man
holds an Office Of some degree in the
church. Even the boys of ten and
upwards are organized into circles and
have their officers. Each family is
visited every week, and ''couuseled'
about it's affairs. A Mormon may no.
move from one ward of q city te