The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-22
MORMON RITES.
Device for Sending Unbaptized Dead
to Heaven.


to Heaven.
Salt Lake Letter in Philadelphia Led
ger.
Unique celebrations were recently
held here, when the family of Brigham
Young was gathered for the observance
of his birthday, as we'll as to hear re-
ports of the work done by an associa-
ton that has been formed by the
descendants of the Mormon prophet
and his brothers. This celebration has
become to be one of the events of
the year in Utah.
1t is estima ted that at the party given
here on June l more than 800 of the de-
scendants of the second Morgan propn-
ct were gathered. His sons and daugh-
ters-who numbered ty-six-have
generally reared large families, and
and near to meet and take up the work
that the family is to do according to
the Mormon creed. Some came from
the Mormon settlements in Canada,
others from Mexico, and still others
from the region between. Several of
the widows of the prophet were also
present, although most of these sur
Vivors are becoming feeble with age.
The interesting feature Of the annual
of the family organization, which is to
do baptismal work for the ancestors
of Brigham Young. 1t is cardinal
doctrine of the Mormon Church that
no person can reach the highest of the
kingdoms in the after life unless he or
she is baptized by one of the priests
of the church. In order to provide
for the time existing between the with
drawal of the true gospel from the
1ftH in m "a hn-
ology, in about 400 A. D.-and its re-
turn through Joseph Smith in the
early part of the last century, it was
revealed" to Smith that a descendant
of any person who was dead could be
baptized in his or her name, and SO
make the record complete.
1t is the Mormon belief that the splr-
its of unbaptized persons are held in
the celestial or terrestrial kingdoms
the lower Kingdoms in the other world
awaiting the action of their descend
ants to permit them to ascend into the
celestial" kingdom, which is reserved
for the elect. Consequently, the lead
ers of the Young family, several years
ago, undertook to trace back their an
cestry as far as they could go, and
provide for all whose relationship could
be shown an entry into the highest
of the other worlds.
They have gone to the early part of
the eighteenth century already, learn
ing that the first ancestor of Brigham
Young, who came to America, was
resident of the Providence Plantations
being one of the earlier settlers. Other
ancestors served in the Indian wars
and one fought with distinction in the
war of the Revolution. Efforts are
now being made to trace the relation
ship across the Atlantic and carry the
family records as far as possible into
England, the plan being to go back to
400 A. D., if any records can be found,
which. of course, is out Of the ques-
ton, In view of the state of England
about that time.
Whenever a new ancestor is found.
one of the members of the family, who
is engaged in what is known rs the
temple work. goes to the big temple
IN this city and passes through various
peculiar ceremonies akin to those of
the endowment" so called, by which
a novice is initiated into the mysteries
of the church. This worker takes the
name of the person for whom the lite
is to be performed, is anointed with
oil and baptized, and then goes through
various secret ceremonies.
The workers in the final degrees as
cends into a room representing the
terrestrial kingdom. This is paint
ed Enthusiastically to represent a condi-
ton OF disorder in the world, with birds
and beasts fighting, storms blowing,
and disaster on every hand Another
room represents the celestial" king
dom where peace reigns, but still one
is bound to earthly things. The
celestial" room IS a handsomely fitted
up place, hung with costly fabrics and
ablaze with light. with the ceiling COW
cred with clusters of fruits and vines
arranged to give the idea that here one
gamers all the rewards of the world
The work of the Young family is be-
ing duplicated by various other fanni
lies in Mormondom, and the baptlsnal
rites at the various temples tax their
capacity.