The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-03-31
MORAIONIsM AT HOME.

Mormonism Is the conundrum of the century.
Such a medley Of superstition and shrewdness.
cism and worldly wisdom the world has never
seen. Recent events have SO brought this
strange faith and peculiar people into the focus
of public attention that correct information
concerning the Church of Jesus Christ Of Lat
ter Day Saints cannot be inopportune.
Inquiries concerning Mormonism cluster
around three points-creed. religious life and
ethical results.
1. The Creed-Mormonism processes to be a
restrode form of the gospel. 1t claims that
universal Christendom had departed from apos-
tolic doctrine and practice, and hence God
called Joseph Smith to be the prophet and
great high priest Of a new dispensation.
Through him has been re-established the Mel
chisedek and Aaronic priesthoods. AS no sac
rifces are offered, not even the sacrifice of the
mass. as in the Catholic church. the functions
of the priesthood are to exercise authority and
to be the channel through which alone saving
grace can flow to the people.
There can be no salvation without immersion,
administered by one of the priestly order. and
complete obedience to it's commands in all
things. The doctrine OF immediate revela-
ton" is the corner stone Of the system. The
Bible is but one of many revelations. 1t re-
in the Eastern. hemisphere, while the Book Of
Mormon was a revelation to the early inhabi-
tants OF the Western continent. But, more i'm
portant than either is the Book of Doctrines
and Covenants, containing revelations to Jo-
seph Smith and other modern seers.
Each succeeding head Of the church receives
feVelaLlO0S from Ilme 10 IlWc anu the lAIeT
revelations supersede those previously given If
in any particular they disagree. Hence, po-
lygamy, though forbidden by the Book of Nor
mon, was commanded to Joseph Smith, then
"suspended' through President woodruff, and
may be at any time re-established by a later
communication to some inspired head of the
church.
Baptism for the dead is a prominent doc
trtne of the sect. AS there can be no saliva
ton but by Immersion, administered by a
priest, the generations who have died without
fh1fo rite aro held in a ph0St1v nril0n until
some friendly soul on earth shall undergo VII
carious baptism in their name. President
Woodruf1. shortly before ne death. stated
ago he had been baptized in one of the Utah
temples in the names Of George Washington,
Thomas Jefferson and many others Of the faith
worthless had been freed from their imprison-
ment and introduced into the heavenly state.
This superstition gives the priesthood a fear
full power over the people, for they are made to
believe that not only their own salvation but
that Of their departed kindred depends upon
their obedience to the church.
They believe in many gods; that God, the
Father. was once q man and still is q body
of flesh and, bones. They teach that we have
q heavenly Mother as we'll ss g heavenly
Father Of spirits? They believe that Adam
was the "Ancient of Days. that he is our
tatner az and 5r God; that x'th Ey Sim IVES rom = celestial SssSsal Ttfs;
also believe that all faithful saints will ulti-
mately become gods.
s. Ps1ygs;m fs. mas b be % sSr1sss1y described Tss as =. an
Of glory to which q saint may attain in heaven
will be determined by the numbero Of his chill
dren. as these will form the family. or tribe.
over which he will reign. Hence. 1t is i'm
portant that every facility bs allowed him
to secure q numerous offspring. As the mar
riage relation will continue in heaven. with
the same privileges and results as attach to
it here, the much-married saint will enjoy a
perpetual advantage over his poor, monogam-
GUS brother.
n anato n <ha docfr,na and nra ct,co ~ no,v~.
amy it is taught and generally believed that
Jesus Christ was the polygamous husband Of
the Bethany Sisters and Of Mary Magdalene.
and probably Of others.
As salvation depends upon such things as
baptism, the laying on of hands. obedience
TO-; to the he PRIEST 3d. Rsy me m.s Of t tithss and and. dc" do
there is no demand for those inward changes
on which the Christian faith insists. As re-
CARDS religious emotion: the Mormon church
barrenness.
The true test Of q religion is its effect upon
character and conduct. Judged by this stand
ard. Mormonism must be pronounced q con-
spicuous failure. The moral tone Of Mormon
ism Is far below that which prevails in aver
age Protestant communities. Profanity = 2
no bar to odicial position in the church. Thu
editor Of Living Issues, . highly respected citt-
zen Of Salt Lake City, WIG has recently With
drawn from the Mormon church, signalized his
withdrawal by publishing an open letter to
President Angus N. Cannon. In which he says:
you could lay your fingers on high. priests,
seventies and elders, who are to be found In,
gaming bells, who let their premises for houses
Of ill-fame and for saloons. Drinking, swear
ing and bad language are 90 common that when
. good brother turns up who abstains from al
these he u Q curiosity and q marvel.
when twenty-one members OF your STATS afs
ranged to furnish q grand brothel on CONNER
cial street, we never heard your protest. Six
teen years ago. when the editor Of Living II.
sues came to Salt Lake. he found the saloon.
the gaming he'll and the brothel Ia full swing.
AZ that time no antl-Nor1non had ever beentin
the city council, no non-Norrnon had ever heen
elected to the Legislature"
-Richard wake a ehsldon sd.tion q Tepsaka
Capital. gg