The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-04-14
SAND & GRAVEL.
"Pen Picture Of Mormonism."


During my travels in Mississippi I
met with Rev. NJ. L. Oswalt, former
Mormon elder, but now a Baptist
preacher. He: married into Mormon
family in Mississippi when quite
young. In 1879 he was induced to
| JOIN their church without examining
| their doctrines. In 1880 he moved
with number of Mormon families
from Mississippi to Mormon settle
ment in the Rocky Mountains of Col
orado, 5000 feet feet above sea level.
Here he was made an elder. When he
got hold of their book of Doctrines and
Covenant" his eyes we're opened by
it's absurdities and blasphemies, taught
as direct revelations from God to their
successive prophets. Each successor
of Joe Smith is believed to be proph-
ct, who receives special revelations
from God for the guidance of the Lat
terday Saints. Though 1t may contra
dict former revelation. the last Bull
issued by this prophet is binding on
all Mormons as the latest decree OF
i God, Hence YOU can never know into
what absurdities Mormonism will run.
1t simply depends upon the will or
whlm of their prophet as to what Bull
he may issue as the special degree Of
heaven.
Instead of the Paradise promised
them by the Mormon elders who took
them to the Rocky Mountains, they
! found it, as wag described it, mine
months winter and three months late
IN the fall" Hence the Mississippi
Mormons in few years we're disgust
} ed and moved back to prevent starva-
ton or freezing out.
By reading their hook of "Doctrine
and Covenants" Elder Oswalt became
+ satisfied that Mormonism was false.
When he got back to his old home and
friends he joined Baptist church and
, was finally ordained to the ministry.
He is now zealously preaching as pas
tor of several churches.
Elder Oswalt showed me the book
, of Doctrine and Covenants" and
: pointed out chapters and verses from
!, which he had quoted in his pamphlet.
. On reading these find the Mormons
, teach and believe in the transmlgra-
s t,on Of souls, just as do the Buddhists
. of China, and the evolutionists or ad-
vanced CD thinkers, or backward think
4 ers of America.
: Like some of the older heathens
: abroad, and some of the younger
j heathens In America, the Mormons
n teach the "eternlty of matter" In
l. connection with this, they teaclr thai
IS all spirit Is matter. Here is Joe Smithi
l. revelation on this point Gail spirit il
h matter, but it is more fine or pure and
d can only be dlscerned by purer eyes.
,. Doct. and Covenants, sec. l3l, par. Z.
If They even go so far as to teach mys
o teries in their temple service, that ever
e their own members, who have neve
e taken their temple degrees, know moth
Q ing about. This is like the Elusinlal
mysteries of the ancient heather
IF Greeks. Mormons have a "sealin'
% ceremony" in these mysteries, b.
' which man, though he have VIII
=. or wives. can be sealed to another VIC
n man to be his wife in heaven. Henc
!. they teach polygamy IN heaven, jus
70 a. do the Mohammedans. Like tn
N Pope OF Rome the Mormon presiden
!. or prophet claims to hold the keys G
,e the kingdom, and is more strictly OF
N eyed than the Pope.
:" Here is what Elder Oswald says O
,e this head "While his laws cannot no.
Is be fully enforced, being in oppositio
tn to the laws of our government, W
he they (their presidents) prophesy tbs
ne the time will come when they wi
~ have full control OF. the governmer
of the United States, and then the
can carefully enforce their laws"
as Like the Catholics, they teach that
re good Mormon must not think for hlr
ed self in matters of religion, but mu
a implicitly obey their leader, who &c
nd mis- orders direct from heaven. Lii
ole the Jews, they have -adopted~tithing
* everything a man makes for the suppc
ad- of their elders and their mission wor
ely They even go luther, and in additi'
YER to one-tenth of their crops. they clai
ace one-tenth OF their time for chur