The Mormon Prophet and His Harem

hoods.-Mode of Treating Dissenters or "Apostates."-Divisions in the Church.-The Glad

s, Brigham Young possesses and wields despotic power over "this people," and r

ith every system of checks and balances, would answer the same purpose. Once admit the necessity of a spiritual head, and fail to require from him any responsib

ly established unde

nd its office is to preside over and direct the affairs of the whole church. It consists of a President and two Counse

uild up, organize, and preside over ch

reach the gospel, and administer its ordinances and blessings. There is, also, the Pat

administer the ordinances, and preside over the Stakes of

er Elders, also Priests, Teachers, and Deacons. All th

which includes the offices of Bis

riesthood, ministers in outward ordinances, conducts the tempora

inister the sacrament of the Lord's S

tch over and strengt

s to assist

e High-Priests, with a President. The office of t

both orders of the Priesthood were given to Joseph Smith, by an angel from Heave

h organization, this system absorbs not only the religious, but all the civil and political liberty of the individual member. The High Council forms an apparent check on the power of the President; but when it is considered that this body is composed o

ich these officers are respectively

receive revelations from Heaven, for the guidance of the

gels, and have the right to administer in outward ordinances.

stles, High-Priests, Seventies, and Elders-is to propagate the gospel, and make converts;

accordingly the civil and religious mag

ity, where the occasional large influx of "gentiles" who will not submit to this spiritual government,

lesiastical magistrates. When brought unwillingly before a civil magistr

as tried, convicted, and shot, for the murder of a gentile in Salt Lake City. But the murder was of the most cruel and unprovoked character, the crime was perpetr

, for the murder of a gentile, it might be taken as evidence of an intention to do justice to all. As it is, it should be mar

their affairs, civil as well as religious, is well described in the following e

e of Twelve Apostles, Patriarchs, Quorums of Seventies, Counsellors, Presidents of 'Stakes,' Bishops, Elders, and Teachers; and last but not least, the Danites, or 'Destroying A

sin of the Great Head, are the shafts, driving-wheel, cog and spur-wheels, belts and pulleys of the great machine called the C

finger causes the whole train to move forward or back, or to switch off on the track of some new dogma, to which he lures on the unsuspecting passengers and precious freight, with the catchpenny whistle of 'Revelation!'

s constantly applied by Brigham, who thus drive

, but scattered throughout all Europe, and the 'Isles of the Seas,' who have ventured their all-their lives and fortunes, their bodies and souls-on the solution of that dearest of all pro

ve priesthoods, the following is Brigham's own explanation of the whole matter. I

he corner-stones of

ying. When I want any of that done I call on Brother Heber,-h

Bishop is the next standing authority in the Kingdom of God; therefore we set the Bishop at the second corner-stone of the building. The Melchisedec Priesthood, with the altar,

, Deacons, or Priests. The High-Priests' Quorum is a standing quorum, abiding at home. So is the Elders' Quorum. But the place of the Bishop is in the temporal affairs of the church.

ird stone, which the High-Priests and Elders laid; we take them under our wing to the North-East corner, which the Twelve and Seventies laid, and then again

fice to prevent disaffection in the church. This will a

odies of Mormons, since their arrival in Utah, to throw off their allegiance to Brigham Young. They have all b

ow in progress, and pro

by the Mormons, was headed by Gladden Bishop, in 1

is mode of dealing with apostates generally, may be gathered from t

disaffected spirits caused others to come in, worse than they, who would run out and bring in all the devils they possibly could. That has been the starting-point a

racter. When I went from meeting last Sabbath, my ears were saluted with an apostate, crying in the streets here. I want to know if any one of you who has got the spirit of Mormonism in you, the spirit that Joseph and Hyrum had, or that we have here, would say, 'Let us hear both sides of the question. Let us listen and prove all things.' What do you want to prove? Do you

urt persecution.' We have known Gladden Bishop for more than twenty years, and know him to be a poor, dirty curse. Here is sister Vilate Kimball, brother Heber's wife, has borne more from that man tha

and his wife? No. They stayed in St. Louis while we did it, peddling ribbons, and kissing the gentiles. I know what they have done h

Great commotion in the congregation, and a simultaneous burst of feeling, assenting to the declaration.] Now, you nasty apostates, clear out, or 'judgment will be laid to the line, and righteousnes

ates themselves that "they were not playing with shadows," but "it was the voice and the hand of the Almigh

e-knife thus from the pulpit unsheathed for their destruction. Many of the murders committed during the succeeding six or seven years were fully authorized by these instruct

t when the murder of some individual dissenter is brought to hi

ion to Young was made by Jos

quent history of the people cal

a settlement in Weber County, north of Salt Lake, to the Holy City. This was Joseph Morris, and the object of his

iving, he was now going to appeal to the President in person for protection. Morris had received, previous to this time, many r

esiding at South Weber. To him Morris communicated his views and projects, and made so favorable an

to the President at his res

r. Cook, on the Weber River, about

rs, now began to entertain favorable opinions of

endangered or infringed upon, determined to put Morris to death,

llford Woodruff, both Apostles, to investigate the matter. They appointed a general meeting at South Weber, an

of inquiry by demanding whether there was a man in the ward who professed to be a prophet? A

h it should bring upon them the most bitter persecution, and the loss of their lives. An old man named Watts arose, and in an inflammatory speech, recommended that the adherents of the new Prophet should be "cut off under the ch

, whether they believed that Brigham Young was a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. They all answered in the negative. Mr. Taylor testified that he knew Brigham

o preside over the church as its temporal head

of Morris increased in numb

month, thirty-one years previous, the Mormon Church had been instituted by the baptism of six persons. Encouraged by this

d about three hundred persons. Its hig

mons. The Morrisites refused to train as militia. Heavy fines were impos

ber of fines of $60 each had been imposed. When the sheriff appeared and proposed to arrest those who

and retained by one William Jones, who threatened in like manner to retain all that should be sent until some difficulties between him and them should be settled to

ately issued writs for the arrest of the leading Morrisites,

d having several pieces of cannon, were sent to execute the writs, and enforce obedience. This force was augmented on the way by volunteers, and ad

ling such as they desired for beef. During the morning, Sheriff Burton sent a proclamation to the leaders within the Morrisite "fort,"-for such they had constructed,-

of whom had been hitherto out of sight, commenced to defile over

en a cannon-ball came into the congregation, killed two women, and wounded a girl. Fr

people for three days, during all which time, fighting with the energy of desperation, they held this immense force at bay. On the evening of the third day, a whit

nd a leader by the name of Banks were shot in cold blood; also two of the women. All these were killed after the Morrisit

earched and plundered, and property, consisting of watches, jewelr

appearance at his court. They were afterwards tried, and large numbers of them were fined and

River, about 175 miles north of Salt Lake City. Before starting with his expedition, Gen. Connor gave notice that all persons wishing to go up and form a settlement at that point, would be furnished by him with transportation. T

the weary emigrant may pause and rest on his long journey over the Plains, and be free from the whims, exactions, and dan

s, yet Burton, the leader of the posse, who shot four persons after they had surrendered, was

ility, now residing at Soda Springs, shows what wa

States o

ory of

s

said Territory, bei

h Morris was killed. The Morrisites had surrendered, a white flag was flyin

nd commanded him to give himself up in the name of the Lord. Morris replied, 'No, never, never.' Morris said he wanted to speak to the people. Burton said, 'Be d-d quick about it.' Morris said, 'Brethren, I've taught you true princip

u blood-thirsty wretch.' Burton said, 'No one shall tell me that and live,' and shot her dead. A Danish woman then came running up to Morris, crying, and Burton shot he

ander

o before me, this 18th

es B.

te Just.

o is now the Collector of Inte

emes of Brigham Young, is under the auspices of the Mormon Church East, or th

aims to be the head of the true Mormon Church, and of course repudiates Young for the same position. He is opposed

Pretender, Brigham, and a rallying around the standard of the legitimate House of Joseph.

f secession from the church as there organize

lyting inaugurated, which has already drawn hundreds of deluded people back to their duty to themselves and their

at purpose, arrived in Salt Lake, and announced themselves as harbingers of a better gospel,-as messengers of the true Church of Ch

arrival caused considerable

the city; forbade him preaching to the people, and said if he remained in the city, he (Young) would not be responsible for his personal safety. Briggs declined to avail

ted them at their houses, praye

church. Persecution commenced from the first day of his labors. He and McCord were forbidden all the houses of the city, by an order of Brigham

strong was the excitement, and so bitter the persecution and enmity of the "saints" toward this comparatively handful of seceders from Brigham's a

e westward-bound emigration were stopped, and having their eyes opened by missionaries

nd unrelenting persecution from the Mormons, found favor and p

be brought to loyalty and good citizenship, without bloodshed or commotion. It is but a possibilit

, or "gone over," from the apostasy of Brigha

energy and heroism, and takes hold of his mighty task as though it were but the work of a summer day. Nowhere ca

h of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, under the pr

al Father, and his Son Jesus

unished for their own sins, an

hrist, all mankind may be saved by obedienc

; 2d. Repentance; 3d. Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 4th.

nd by laying on of hands by those who are duly commissioned t

sted in the primitive church, viz.: Apostles,

of faith, discoursing of spirits, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, to

le; we also believe the word of God recorded in

and we believe that he will yet reveal many more great and important

Zion will be established upon the Western Continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the

he dead in Christ will rise first, and that the rest of the

ns, presidents, rulers, and magistrates; in

chaste, temperate, benevolent

the presidency of Brigham Young, have apo

Utah being Zion, or the gathering place for the saints, are doctrines of devils, instituted by wicked me

tates, and have no sympathy or fellowship for the treasonable practic

TNO

863. Journ. of Dis

1853. Jour. of D