Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-11-07
TOTALLY DISsIMILAR.

There have been several attempts by
writer's for the eastern press 10 draw
comparisons between the pretended
Elijah III. John Alexander Dowie, and
the Prophet OF the Nineteenth century,
Joseph Smith. There Is nothing in COM
mon between the two very dlsslnilar
characters, nor is there any identity In
their respective doctrines although
there Is little II any doubt that Dowie
once made a study Of "Mormonism,'
and endeavored 80 adopt some of its
ideas and discipline in his own system,
without really understanding either the
principles or the organization OF the
Church which he attempted to plaglar-
lie.
We have been asked several times,
n Dowie was ever a member OF the
Mormon Church We understand that
he was not. But II is claimed that
otter leaving Australia, he spent some
tim Iii Salt Lake City aud caught up
some things that "Mormonlsm" seemed
to him to suggest, which he used in
his founding OF the Chicago Zion" and
IN organizing the society Of which he
is called the Superintendent, but Of
which he is really the absolute master.
However, the two systems are totally
dissimilar both In form and in spirit.
The Dowie notion about Elijah is
hostile to Mormon" doctrine, II Is
based on the theory Of "reincarnation'
which "Mormonism' denounoes as
false. Joseph Smith taught the em-
inently Christian doctrine OF the liter
al resurrection from the dead, agreeing
with the Apostle Paul that each indl-
vldual will be raised but every man In
HIS own order" and TO every
seed his own body" on Dowle's no.
tion, Elijah will have three bodies. on
Joseph Smiths doctrine, Elijah has his
own body now, having been translated
so that he did not taste of death. John
the Baptist mlnstered In "the spirit
and power OF Elias and so did the
Prophet Joseph Smith, but neither Of
them claimed to be Elijah In person.
Ascending ,to> the testimony of the
Latter-day Prophet and Seer, John the
Baptist came to him and oliver Cow
derry on May 10, 1929, and ordained
them TO the authority Of the Priesthood
of Aaron, OF which he held the keys
when the forerunner of Christ. Elijah
appeared TO them in the Kirkland Tenn
pie. April 3. 1886. The event. following
other heavenly manifestations on that
day Is thus described In Doctrine and
Covenants Sec. 10, v. 1916
after this vision had closed another
great and glorious vision burst upon
us, for Elijah the prophet who was taxi
en- to heaven without tasting death,
stood before us and said
Behold, the time has fully come,
which was spoken OF by Malachi, testi-
flying that he (Elijam should be sent
before the great and dreadful day OF
the Lord should come,
ITO turn the hearts Of the fathers TO
the children and the children to the
fathers, lest the whole earth be smt-
ten with curse.
Therefore the keys of this dispense
ton are committed into your hands,
and by this We may know that the
great and dreadful day Of the Lord Is
near even at the doors
The doctrine OF preaching to the faith
ers who are Spirits In prison" and OF
baptism for the dead, the living chill
dren acting as proxy for them. was
revealed in the ministry Of Elijah to
Joseph Smith, and while prominent
feature of "Mormonlsm," IL not includ-
ed or comprehended in Dowesm nor
In any OF the other man-made creeds
OF modern christendom. In Mormon"
Temples there are daily practical Illus
trations OF the result OF the mission of
Elijah as set forth in Malachi iv; ., 6.
John the Baptist, whom Dowic calls
Elijah IL, was not Elijah at all, nor
was Elijah Joseph Smith, but each had
his own personality and will have his
own Identity here and hereafter. Moses,
who also appeared on the same day in
cedYiland Temple, came with Elijah
brougland His three Apostles on the
shippe TRANSPORTATION. They had
ws,a each their special appoint
antino the spirit and power thereof
develGerred upon Joseph Smith, as
tine 'neal> of "the dlspensaton Of the
fulness N times"
John a, Dowle, who tried to repudi-
ate his parentage, was born IN Scot
land, and his father lives to mourn over
the folly and ingratitude Of his son,
the pretended Elijah, Joseph Smiths
father was an honorcd patriarch In the
Church organized by his son, and died
in full faith of that sons divine mis-
sion.
Joseph Smith was a genial, natural
loving man among men with no atfecta-
ton. mock sanctty or aping OF ecclesl-
hstlcai sectarlan dignities, roblngs or
ceremonials. His prophetic career com
menced In his boyhood, aud he was
guided by direct revelation all his
days, copying nothing from the relig-
ious world and putting no new wine
In old bottles" and he sealed his tes-
umony with his Blood The contrasts