Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-01
Institution which has branches
throughout all Mormondom.

But the interest OF the city centerS
in Temple square. This square is sur
rounded by high wall and contains
the assembly hall, the tabernacle. and
the temple. The assembly hall is oc-
eupied for various purposes, it was
used while | was there for an irriga-
ton congress. 1t seats about $500
people. The tabernacle is a much
more interesting point. This is quite
an architectural marvel 1t resem-
bles the bottom of a great upturned
boat. 1t is capable of easily seating
5000 people. The roof is so construct
ed as to require no posts for it's sup
port, being self-supporting. This
makes the acoustical properties al
most perfect. The man in charge sent
ME to the farthest part o. the gallery
and then dropepd pin Gu the rail at
the other end, which l heard distinct
ly. could also hear a whisper per-
fectly. This tabernacle is where the
great afternoon assembly of the peo-
pie meets. In the morning they at
tend their several parish, or district
churches into which the city is divid-
ed. Then in the afternoon the whole
company gather in the tabernacle, and
listen to the great organ which is one
of the finest on the continent, hear the
great chorus, which is unexcelled, and
listen to a sermon by some represent
ative speaker.
But more interesting than any,
thing else is the temple. This is one
of the most costly and magnificent
structures on the continent. st. Pat
rick's Cathedral in New York is said
| IN hn ifc rivy fD
this continent. 1t is built wholly of
snow-white granite from the Cotton
wood Canon. Standing on one of The
loftiest points of the city it can be
seen for fifty miles up and down the
valley. 1t is two hundred feet long
a hundred feet wide, hundred feet
high, with four towers, one on each
corner 220 feet in height One of
these is crowned with an image of the
angel Moroni, the angel that revealed
to Smith the whereabouts of the hid.
den plates of Mormon. This temple is
said to be most magnificently finished
/ and equipped inside but for that you
must take the word of the Mormon, as
no gentle foot ever desecrates it's holy
/ precincts. 1t is used for ceremonies
such as marriages, baptisms and such
The entire cost of this temple is said
to be $4,000,000. 1t was forty years
in construction, having been begun in
| April, 1858, and completed April, 1898
Across the street from the temple
square is the tithing house and near
that the bee hive and lion house, the
residences of Brigham Young and the
center of his harem With such i'm
posing structures it is not surprising
that a mighty hold is gotten on this
people, who as a class are not above
the ordinary intelligence, indeed are
far below it. 1t gives one the feeling
of solidity and permanence in the in.
stitution, which it has without a
doubt. If anyone thinks that Mormon
| ism is only passing freak in the
world of religious fads he may as we'll
disabuse his mind at that point for it
| is fourishing institution, spreading
with most remarkable rapidity.
Let us look little more closely at
some of the peculiarities of the
| Mormon faith to ascertain whether it
may be looked upon complacently or
not. Let me suggest that it is sys
/ tenn Of polytheism of the most repul
sive sort. Here are three Of its funda,
! mental tenets. There are many gods
/ All gods are polygamists. The head
of every polygamous family will in
| eternity come to be a god and have q
celestial kingdom, the extent and glory
of which will be proportionate to the
number of his wives and children.
| The orthodox Mormon believes that
Jesus was polygamist, that Mary
and Martha and probably Mary Mag
delene were his wives They teach
that every saint that is commanded to
SO will be damned. Here is little
book which l bought from a slip OF a
girl, perhaps 16 years OF age behind
the counter OF Zion Cooperative Mer-
chantile Institution. 1t is entitled
''The Bible and Polygamy," or Does
the Bible Sanction Polygamy." Let
me read some extracts. 1t starts with
the doctrine OF celestial marriages:
| Marriage for eternity was the order
of God instituted on our globe as early
as the garden Of Eden" God accord
ing to the faith of the latter day
saints, has ordained that the highest
order and class of being should exist
in the capacity of husbands and
wives. They then trace the institu-
tlon throughout the old dlSpensation
showing him the great saints have
been polygamists. 1t is admitted that
the Christian church fell away from
this faith for time but it was again
restored through the prophet Joseph
Smith. In the fore part of 1882 10
seph Smith told individuals in the
church that he had inquired of the
Lord concerning the principle of the
plurality of wives, and had received
for answer that the principle was the
true one, but that the time had not
lyet come for it's practice. Some
twelve years after that time the reve-
lation on celestial marriage was re-
vealed" Then came the Lords
time for this holy and ennobling prin-
ciple to be practiced again among this
people" l may say it was the prac-
tice of this revelation that SO stirred
their neighbors in Illinois and Mis-
souri, against the Mormons and drove
them to the desert where they
might carry on the diabolical practice
unmolested.
This address, which is by Orson
Pratt, closes with the high sounding
words: In this land of liberty in re-
ligious worship, let us boldly proclaim
,;e.l,+ - I,