The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-01-15
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
MormOniSm.

To the Editor of the Republican,:
After Rigdon left the church trouble
arose. Brigham led his flock to Salt
Lake where he landed in 1877. Here
they were on the boundaries of Mexico
safe from the Babylonist government of
the United States. But the Mexican
war soon brought them under the United
States, but so far removed from the
centre of operations that they have been
entrenched in the mountains for more
than half century. He had things his
own way to justify the habits of the
priesthood. Brigham had a revelation
making polygamy condition of eXalta-
ton in the next world. 1t is marvellous
at what convenient times these reveal
tons were received. THY just suited
the purposes of the old rascal.
To give it sacredness and to add force,
it was dated back to l843 and ascrihed
to Joe Smith the martyred prophet.
Travel across the continent was increas-
ing and isolation was threatened. They
must keep the Gentiles out and prevent
apostacy. so Brigham invented the doc
trine of BLOOD atonement," that is the
right to kill man to save his soul. 1t
was a convenient way to get rid of a
Gentle or apostate. AS result of this
reformation the Mountain Meadow mas
sacre in Southern Utah in 1857 was en-
acted when 20 peaceful emigrants
were slaughtered and their horses, wag
ons, moneys, clothes, etc, were couhs-
Gated to enrich the church and it did it.
by thousands of dollars. To give it the
appearance of being done by the Indi-
ans, the murderorS were disguised as
Indians. The massacre in the valley of
Rio Virgin; the outrage on the Brans-
field boys; the murder of the MorrisiteS
and the assassination of the Parishes
show that the Infamous doctrine was
appliedto destroy outsiders.
The order of Enoch was a device of
the prophet which required them to have
all things in common, by which innocent
victims were victlmiZed and the priests
were enriched. By and by new era
dawned under governmental protection.
Gentle miners began to develope the re-
sources of the country; the Union Pa
cific railroad reached Utah and capital
began to pour in, civilization came IN
contact with Mormonism.
When it was territory the hand of
the Nations authority was felt The
President of the United States appoint
ed the executive and judiciary officers,
and acts of the legislature were subject
to veto of the Gentle governor and
Congress.
Gentiles were increasing among them,
apostates were thinning their ranks
and the Mormon hierarchy was threat
ened. 1t seemed to be lettering. 1hey
could not hold their own against Chris
tianity. 1t must get converts from
abroad.
This was its only hope. The power of
| the priesthood was getting weaker
They must save their loved system the
heirachey by some means. True to its
nature, which is treacherous and decep-
| tive, they pretended to quit or abar don
polygamy and promised to be good, de-
cent people and abide by the law, and 50
they induced Congress TO admit Utah as
State. So soon as they got control of
the state government they forgot tleir
good promises and renewed the practice
of polygamy and flung an insult in the
face of the United States, by electing
polygamist to Congress.
The story of the plates and of Trim
and Thuminim were invented to account
for the divine origin of the book. Nor
mons regard it as superior to the Bible.
They claim it was translated by nspira-
ton and so is free from error. The
Pearl of Great Price is series of spec
lal revelation from God, through Joe
Smith, for the guidance of the people
of this age. This last is the most bind
ing of all because given especially to
| them.
The Mormon church believes the Pres
ident of the church is prophet, seer and
revelator of the church throughout the
world. He is the mouth-piece of God
and as such he gets such revelations
! from God, from day to day, as the peo-