The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-11

we beg of thee to prosper us, not indeed with
many numbers, but with contentment, and
with, minds pure in thy sight.
So in Lamont, as in Bolga of Opie Read,
the coming of every stranger is hailed
with curiosity and an inspection which
makes the stranger feel that perhaps he
is trying to initiate Christ, and which is
not satisfied until the business or pur-
pose of his visit is known to the leading
men OF the town. E--
The Town Lamont.
Lamont is town of fifteen hundred in
habitants. It Is the center of the faith,
but beyond that it is nothing. It is not
business point of any consequence. There
are no stores other than those absolutely
necessary to supply the needs of the peo-
pie resident in the town and surrounding
community. All the business is done by
and with members of the faith and an
outsider is treated almost as an inter-
loper -->~.-
Lamont is the seat of the church in
more ways than one 1t has the presi-
dent of the church association, the one
inspired prophet of God according to the
bequest of Joseph Smith, Sr. 1t has the
official organ of the church, '"The Saints
Herald and the printing Office where all
the pamphlets and tracts of the. faith are
published and mailed to all corners of
the globe. 1t has also a college under
church auspices, and a home for the aged,
the inmates Of which are Mormon.
The Man Smith.
Smith, prophet and seer, is SO years of
age. He is an Intelligent sincere man, but
his appearance bellies his profession Of
father confessor and suggests rather a
retired farmer in good circumstances or
prosperous country merchant. Smith
spends most of his time at his desk ans
a 1ir7n1 1aroo fro,
all parts of the world-for missionaries
so out from Lamont to the Pacific islands,
to the orient. Africa, the far north, and
every other place where there is chance
to gain converts to the faith, to say moth
ing of the numerous bands working in the
United States.
His other moments are filled with call
|, ers, and with editorials for his paper
Smith does not hesitate to say that Christ
is coming to Lamont in person. He says
Lamont is much better place than Jeru-
salem was or is to-day, and that as Christ
came to the seat Of learning and of power
to his first chosen people so will he come
again when he visits earth
Origin of the Church.
Mormonism comes from the name of
the man who is supposed to have writ ten
the account OF the faith upon two bronze
stones. Urin and Thummin In 1923
JoSepn oHnltn, Iatner OF the Smith, who
is now at Lamont and who was then
but IS years Of age, had a vision that he
would discover two bronze plates. which
should reveal to him the true religion.
-Four years afterwards, at Palmyra n
Y, he came across the plates exactly as
he had been told in the vision, With
them were two brilliant stones, set in
bows, and with these as spectacles he
translated the plates, making the orig
inal book of Mormon. The translation
was accomplished by Smith, with the aid
Of an assistant, Smith keeping blanket
between himself and assistant, in order
that the plates might not be subjected
to vulgar gaze.
In 1880 Smith established the first Nor
mon church. Shortly afterwards, the
faith was removed to Kirkland, O., where
some property of value was acquired.
Later on the Mornons came to Far West.
Mo-, and from there removed to Nauvoo,
Ill. Here Brigham Young, and others