THE ORIGIN OF “THE REFORMATION:”—EXTRAORDINARY DOINGS OF THE SAINTS.
The popular idea of Mormonism is that the peculiar feature which
distinguishes it from all other Christian sects is Polygamy. To a certain
extent this is, of course, true; but it is only a partial statement of
the truth. If Polygamy were to be relinquished, it would still be found
that Mormonism had really very little in common with other sects, and
very much that was completely antagonistic to them.
The confession of faith published by Joseph Smith during his lifetime
would certainly deceive an uninitiated person; and it was in consequence
of the ambiguity of that very document that so many unsuspecting persons
were from the beginning of Mormonism led astray by the teachings of the
Missionaries. The convert was told that the Mormon faith proclaimed the
existence of one true God, but he was not told that Father Adam was
that deity, and that he is “like a well-to-do farmer.” He was told that
Christ was the Son of God, but he was not taught that the Virgin Mary
was “the lawful wife of God the Father,” and that “He intended after the
resurrection to take her again, as one of His own wives, to raise up
immortal spirits in eternity. He was told of faith in a Saviour, he was
not told that men were the only saviours of their wives, and that unless
a woman pleased her husband, and was obedient and was saved _by him_, she
could not be saved at all. He was told that the Saints believed in the
Holy Ghost, but he was not told that “The Holy Ghost is a man; he is one
of the sons of our Father and our God.... You think our Father and our
God is not a lively, sociable, and cheerful man; He is one of the most
lively men that ever lived!”
And yet, although such fearful and shocking blasphemy was, of course,
hidden from the convert whom it was desirable to impress with the idea
that Mormonism was only a development of Christianity, it was openly
taught in the sermons in the Tabernacle before thousands of people, and
inculcated in the writings of the highest authorities. The passages which
I have just quoted, were preached in public, were taken down in shorthand
were revised under the superintendence of Brigham Young or one of the
chief leaders, were then printed and published in Salt Lake City, and
afterwards reprinted in another form.
The verbal repetition of such blasphemy as this would be simply painful
and disgusting to any right-minded person. I shall therefore endeavour to
give an idea of some of these outrageous doctrines without entering too
closely into details. Should the reader, however, wish to search and see
for him self, I refer him to the _Journals of Discourses_, the files of
the Church papers, and the publications of the Mormon writers generally.
One of the first innovations upon the received faith of ordinary
Christians was the doctrine of Polytheism. There can be no doubt that,
even in Joseph’s time, that doctrine was taught, although, as in the
case of Polygamy, all knowledge of it was kept from every one but the
initiated—the “strong men” who could be entrusted with the inner secrets
of the church leaders. That such a doctrine, however, was beginning,
even then, to form part of the faith of the Saints, may be seen in the
following lines upon the occasion of the Prophet’s murder:—
“Unchanged in death, with a _Saviour’s_ love,
He pleads their cause in the courts above.
His home’s in the sky, _he dwells with the Gods_,
Far from the furious rage of mobs!
...
He died! he died for those he loved;
_He reigns!_ _He reigns_ in the realms above.”
Many other instances, even stronger than this, could easily be given.
The Mormon idea of the other world, while in some respects it differed
from the teachings of certain modern “Spiritualists,” was not altogether
dissimilar. The soul was said to be immortal, and it had three stages of
existence. The first was purely spiritual—the state of the soul _before_
it came into this world. Spirits in that condition were not perfect, they
must first take a fleshly body, and pass through the trials of life,
before they could attain to the highest state of existence. Hence it was
a solemn duty, as well as their highest privilege, for men to practise
polygamy:—their duty, as by this means, and by this alone, the yet
imperfect souls now waiting to come into this world could ever hope to be
admitted into the “Celestial Kingdom;”—and a privilege,—as all the souls
whom they thus assisted to emigrate would form their own “Kingdoms” in
eternity, over which, as kings and priests, they would reign for ever and
ever.
The second stage of the soul’s existence is the mortal; with which we all
are sadly well acquainted. The third is the condition subsequent to the
Resurrection, when they believe the flesh and bones will form the raised
body, but the blood will not be there; for the blood is the principle
of corrupt life, and therefore another spirit supplies its place in
heaven. That Christ partook of some broiled fish and part of a honeycomb
is evident from Holy Scripture; the Mormons therefore teach that heaven
will be very much the same as earth, only considerably improved. We shall
not marry there or be given in marriage; hence it is necessary for us
to marry here, and to marry as much as we can, for then in heaven a man
will take the wives whom he married on earth, or who have been sealed to
him by proxy; they will be his queens, and their children will be his
subjects. We shall eat, and drink, and feast, and spend a happy time
generally. We shall henceforth never die; hence we shall ourselves be
gods!
It was in the pre-existent state, the Mormons teach, that the work of
salvation was first planned; but not after the fashion believed by all
Christians. A grand celestial council was held, at which all the Sons
of God appeared. Michael, the father of all, presided, and stated that
he proposed to create a new world, of which he proceeded to give some
details. His first begotten then arose, and made a speech, in which he
proposed that Michael, his father, should go down to the world, when
created, with Eve, his mother, and do there much after the fashion of
what is related of our first parents in the Book of Genesis; he himself
would descend some thousands of years subsequently, and would lead his
erring brethren back, and save them _from_ their sins. Lucifer, the
second son, then stood forth and unfolded _his_ plan. Jealous of the
popularity of his elder brother, he proposed to save men _in_ their sins.
Great discussion ensued, in which the unnumbered family of heaven divided
into three parties; one under each of the two elder sons, and the third
standing neutral. After a terrible conflict, Lucifer, the second son, was
defeated, and, with all his followers, was driven out of heaven. They
descended into the abyss, where they founded the infernal kingdom, of
which Lucifer became the chief. He was henceforth known as the Devil.
Adam created his world, and carried out his part of the plan; and in due
time the eldest son, who conquered in heaven, took upon him the form of
flesh, dwelt among men, and was known as their Redeemer. The spirits
who stood neutral during the fight subsequently took upon them forms of
flesh, entering into the children of Ham, and were known as negroes.
Therefore it is, that although the American Indians and all other races
are eligible for the Mormon priesthood, the negro alone could never
attain to that high dignity.
On the 9th of April, 1852, Brigham Young publicly announced that,—
“When our father Adam came into the Garden of Eden, he came into it with
a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped
to make and organize this world. He is Michael the Archangel, the Ancient
of Days, about whom holy men have written and spoken. He is our ‘Father
and our God,’ and the only god with whom we have to do.”
This public declaration gave great offence, and led to the apostacy of
many. Nevertheless, Brigham Young thinks that just as Adam came down to
Eden and subsequently became a god, in like manner he also himself will
attain to the godhead. Heber C. Kimball, zealous to go a step further,
declared that Brigham _was_ “God,” and that he, Kimball, stood toward
him in the same relation as the Third Person in the Blessed Trinity does
towards the First.
It will hence be seen that subordination is one of the first principles
of the Mormon faith, and this even in the Church organization of the
Saints has been distinctively shown. For the purposes for which it exists
the Mormon hierarchy could not be surpassed. Of the Priesthood there are
two orders—the Melchisedec and the Aaronic; of which the former ranks
first and highest. The lowest rank in the Church is the “Deacon;” he
looks after the places of meeting, takes up collections, and attends to
other similar duties. Next comes the “Teacher.” He visits the Saints and
takes note of their standing, and reports the same: weakness of faith,
or backwardness in paying tithing, is never overlooked by him. After
him is the “Priest,” and above him is the Elder whose office it is to
preach, baptize, and lay on hands. All these belong to the order of
the Aaronic—or the Levitical priesthood. “Bishops” are simply Church
officers having local jurisdiction.
The lowest grade in the Melchisedec Priesthood is the “Elder.” He
administers in all the ordinances of the Church. Above him there is
no higher rank as respects the priesthood, but in respect to office
there are various gradations, as, for example, the “High Priests,” the
“Seventies,” and “Bishops,” who occupy positions of authority, although
both go on missions, and also the Apostles. The “Apostles” were chosen in
imitation of the “Twelve” appointed by Christ; and in the same way the
“Seventies,” in imitation of the _seventy_ disciples sent forth to preach
and work miracles. They claim rank next to the Twelve. The “Quorum of the
Apostles” is presided over by the eldest of their number; the “Quorums of
Seventies” are each composed of seventy Elders with a “President” and six
“Counsellors.” The number of “quorums” is unlimited; and over them all
collectively is another president and six counsellors.
The highest authority in the Church is the “First Presidency;” the three
members of which at present are Brigham Young, George A. Smith, and
Daniel H. Wells,—who are said to represent on earth the three Persons of
the Blessed Trinity!
As, from “President” Young down to the most illiterate “Elder,” every
one is supposed to be specially inspired, and to be immediately guided
by the gift of the Holy Ghost, education is utterly unnecessary to the
members of the Mormon priesthood; in fact, it has always been looked upon
as an impediment to its possessor. _Obedience_ is considered the highest
qualification, and it was the strict enforcement of obedience on the part
of the ordinary people and the lower grades of the priesthood towards the
higher that alone could have made possible that state of affairs which
existed during the “Reformation.” Hence also it is that Brigham Young and
the leaders are rightly held responsible for the deeds of violence and
fanaticism which their followers may perpetrate; for it is well known
that _no_ Mormon, in a matter of grave importance, would dare to act upon
his own responsibility, and without he felt sure that what he did would
meet with the approbation of those in authority.
There is another class of Church officer which I had very nearly
forgotten—the Patriarchs. The chief of these is called “The Presiding
Patriarch _over_ the Church;” the rest are “Patriarchs _in_ the Church.”
The office of these dignitaries is to bless the people and to be paid
for their blessings. The price of good blessings is variable. Not long
ago, when money was scarce and payments were made in produce, two dollars
was considered reasonable; and if several were wanted for the same
family, a reduction was made. Hyrum Smith, the original Prophet’s eldest
brother, was the first Patriarch; and to him succeeded “Uncle John,”
as he was popularly called, the eldest brother of Brigham. The present
Patriarch is the son of Hyrum; still a young man, who obtained his office
by inheritance—and this, I believe, is about the only office in the
Church which Brother Brigham has permitted the Smith family to inherit or
enjoy.
The idea of reviving the old Jewish polity was always uppermost in
the minds of the Mormons. Hence they revived the Priesthood and
High-priesthood in their various forms; a magnificent temple was built in
Nauvoo, just as another temple is now being erected at Salt Lake City;
and so far did they go that it was even determined that the ancient
sacrifices should eventually be restored.
It is alleged that in Nauvoo, among the Mormons, a secret body of men
had been chosen, who were enrolled, under the most frightful oaths, to
avenge every wrong which might be perpetrated against the Saints. This
band was said to have originated with Sidney Rigdon and Dr. Sampson
Avard, and, as I have somewhere else mentioned, Thomas B. Marsh and Hyde
the present chief of the Apostles both made affidavit that such was the
case, and that the band was sworn to commit the most shocking acts of
vengeance,—and surely Marsh and Hyde ought to know. Various names were
chosen for this “death society.” First the members were called Daughters
of Zion [_from_ Micah iv. 13]. But as it sounded rather ridiculous to
speak of bearded ruffians as “daughters,” that name was abandoned, and
the title “Avenging Angels” substituted; and that, with some other names
then temporarily used, were subsequently dropped for the name “Danites”
[_from_ Genesis xlix. 17], which has since been retained;—not by the
Mormons, for they have ever denied the existence of any such band, but by
the Gentiles.
It matters very little what the name of such a society might be, so long
as it existed at all; and that it does, and has, existed in _some_ form
cannot reasonably be denied. There probably is not at the present time
any formally enrolled society, but it is quite certain that for many
years past if “The Church” had only dropped a hint that any man’s blood
ought to be shed, that man would have had a very short tenure of his
life. Even Brigham himself said publicly:
“If men come here and do not behave themselves, they will not only find
the Danites, whom they talk so much about, biting the horses’ heels, but
the scoundrels will find something biting _their_ heels. In my plain
remarks I simply call things by their own names.”
It is beyond a doubt that, notwithstanding all the social changes and
improvements of late years, the secret police of Salt Lake City are in
matters of crime, as well as _in fact_, though not perhaps nominally,
the successors of the original “death society;”—many of its members are
known to have committed grievous crimes and to have repeatedly dyed their
hands in blood. The shocking deeds that every now and then are divulged
to the world are all of their doing, and no resident of Salt Lake City,
whether Mormon or Gentile, although he might prudently decline to state
his opinions, would in his mind question the fact that it is fear of
consequences, and only because the Saints are “on their good behaviour”
in the sight of the Federal Government, that the hands of these wretches
are withheld from a continuance of their old enormities.
As might be supposed, the establishment of a secret band of men
professedly ready at a moment to steal, to shed blood, or commit any
crime at the command of their leaders, created great excitement in the
whole State of Missouri, and especially in the vicinity of the Mormon
Settlements.
Like the Ishmaelites of old, the hands of the Saints were against every
man, and every man’s hand was against them. They were taught that they
were “a chosen nation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people”—the “Sword
of the Lord and of Gideon” was to be theirs; they were to go forth
conquering and to conquer; and the Gentiles were to be trodden down
beneath their feet.
As might be expected, trouble immediately arose; the people of Missouri
outraged the Mormons, and the Mormons in return outraged them. Murders,
thefts, and the most shameful atrocities were of daily occurrence, and
the history of those terrible doings would fill a good-sized volume.
Suffice it to say, that the excitement continued and increased, reprisals
being made on both sides; finally the mob was triumphant, and after
committing many fearful excesses it was organized into a militia—the
leading men in authority declaring that the Mormons must either leave the
State or else they must be extirpated by the sword.
Notwithstanding all this, the Mormons, at all times an industrious
people, were in one sense successful and prosperous; the morality,
however, of some of their leading men was to say the least very
questionable. It was openly argued that the silver and gold were the
Lord’s, and so were the cattle on a thousand hills. The Scripture says
that God has given His people all things richly to enjoy. The Saints were
the people of God:—He had given _them_ all the wealth and substance of
the earth, and therefore it was no sin for them to help themselves; they
were but taking their own. To overreach or defraud their enemies was
facetiously called by the Mormons “milking the Gentiles.”
Their city called Nauvoo—The Beautiful,—a name given by the Prophet
Joseph and supposed to be of celestial origin, was well laid out and well
built, a costly Temple was nearly complete, and the leaders, at least,
began to show signs of wealth and prosperity. This however was but a
lull before the storm. Writs upon various charges against Joseph and
the leading Elders had always been floating about, and the serving of
some of the later ones had only been prevented by technical difficulties
or the personal fears of the Sheriff. To enter Nauvoo for the purpose
of arresting the Prophet was like bearding the lion in his den; for by
this time a splendidly equipped and drilled militia regiments under the
name of Nauvoo Legion had been organized, and Joseph had been elected
Lieutenant-General. The regiment consisted solely of well-tried Mormons
who were devotedly attached to their leader; besides which, the whole of
the population of the city was at his call at a moment’s notice.
Into the city of the Saints, as far as was possible to prevent it, no
Gentile was allowed to intrude. It was at risk of life and property that
any one ventured. One oddly original mode of driving out the devoted
stranger is worthy of mention—it was called “_whittling_ a man out of
the town!” Opposite the victim’s door a number of men and overgrown
boys would take up their quarters, each armed with a stout stick of
wood and a huge knife. No sooner did the Gentile appear than the whole
horde gathered in a circle round him. Not a word was uttered, but each
man grasping firmly his stick in his left hand, pointed its other end
to within a few inches of the victim’s face, while with the knife in
his right hand he sliced a shaving out of the wood in such a way as to
bring the point of the knife almost against the face of the unfortunate
man. Wherever he turned they attended him, always preserving the
strictest silence, and never actually touching him. The intolerable
sensation caused by the “whittling” of this strange body-guard, who were
in attendance day and night, and the unpleasantness of seeing half a
score of sharp knives flashing perpetually within an inch of his nose,
generally subdued the strongest-minded Gentile;—few could endure it for
more than a day or so at the utmost: they were glad to leave—“_Whittled
out_ of the town!”
The evil day, however, at last came. The Prophet, fearing arrest, fled,
but was persuaded to return and deliver himself up. The charge against
him was one for which reasonable bail could be taken; bail was offered,
accepted, and the prisoners discharged. Before leaving court, however,
the Prophet and his brother Hyrum, the Patriarch, were arrested upon
a trumped-up charge of treason, a charge for which it was impossible
that bail should be taken; they were therefore committed to custody in
Carthage jail, under solemn promise from Governor Ford of Illinois that
the State should be answerable for their personal protection. The same
day, however, a mob of over one hundred men, assisted, it is said, by the
militia who were left in charge, burst into the jail and assassinated the
Prophet and his brother.
As might be supposed, this outrage by no means weakened the Mormon cause;
their Prophet was now a martyr, and his name became more powerful after
death than it could possibly have been had he lived. It was, however,
clearer than ever that nothing could now reconcile the people of Illinois
to the Mormons, and the latter seriously began to think of leaving that
State in a body as they had formerly left Missouri.
The terrible doings of those times I have no idea of relating just now;
I simply allude to them in order that the reader may understand how,
in the excitement produced in that border-warfare, it was possible for
such strange events as afterwards transpired in Utah to originate. I may
simply add, that the Temple being completed, and the first “Endowments”
given there, the people gathered up what little property they could
rescue from the mob, and under the guidance of Brigham Young, and amidst
privations, sufferings, and outrages of the most painful character, left
the city which they had founded in Illinois, and set out for the Rocky
Mountains, where, beside the Great Salt Lake, they founded their modern
Zion.
Free now from the violence of mobs and Gentile enmity, it might have been
supposed that the hatred which had so long been part of the Mormon faith
would have died a natural death. The contrary, however, was the case. The
Mexican war was then raging, and, _en route_ to the Rocky Mountains, the
Mormons had received a proposal from the Federal Government that they
should supply a regiment, upon highly advantageous conditions, to join
the United States troops which were then operating in California. This
suggestion was kindly made, for it was thought that the Mormon regiment
thus raised would in reality be only marching their own way in going
to California, and that the outfits, pay, arms, &c., which were to be
theirs, after the year for which they were enrolled had expired, would be
of essential service to them. It was like paying men liberally for making
a journey for their own benefit.
Notwithstanding all this, Brigham Young and the leaders represented the
transaction in quite another light, and the people were taught that an
engagement, into which they had entered of their own free will, and from
which they had derived substantial advantages, was an act of heartless
cruelty and despotic tyranny on the part of the Government. This feeling
was fostered, until at length the Saints as a body regarded themselves
as a wronged and outraged people, and considered every Gentile, in fact
the whole nation, as their natural enemies. This was perhaps all the more
singular, since, after the vast tract of country, of which Utah forms
a part, had, at the end of the war, been wrested from Mexico, Brigham
Young had been appointed by President Millard Fillmore the first Governor
and Indian Agent of the territory; he was therefore in Federal pay, and
bound, as long as he retained office, to support the Government, or at
the very least not to stir up disaffection.
Trouble soon arose between Governor Young and the Mormons on one side and
the Judges and United States courts and officials on the other. Once an
armed mob burst into the Supreme Court, and forced the Judge then sitting
to adjourn; at another time a _bonfire_ was made of the books and papers
of the District Courts; then a Judge on the bench was threatened with
personal outrage; and subsequently a _posse_ summoned by legal(!) process
“encamped” for a whole fortnight over against another _posse_ summoned
without legal process, the two bodies burning with bitter hatred and
breathing out threatenings and slaughter. Such a state of affairs could
not, of course, last long. On the one side the wildest statements were
publicly made against the Government; threats which, uttered by a little
band of pioneers against a mighty nation, were perfectly ridiculous,
stirred up the hearts of the Saints. On the other hand it was pretty
certain that Federal troops would have to be sent out to Utah to preserve
the peace of the Territory. The Federal Government was nevertheless
defied, abused, and derided, and the people, thoroughly blinded by their
fanaticism, did not for a moment doubt that, should Governor Young
“declare war,” the United States troops would vanish before the “Armies”
of the Saints like chaff upon the threshing-floor. So absurd does all
this appear that I should really hardly venture to repeat it were it
not that every one in Utah—Mormon and Gentile—knows that I am really
understating facts rather than otherwise. Very soon came a crisis in
Mormon history, for which all the wild sayings and unlawful doings had
been so long paving the way:—“THE REFORMATION” was destined to be the
crowning point of Saintly folly and Saintly sin.