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THEMORMON PUZZLE;
THEMORMON PUZZLE;
AND HOW TO SOLVE IT. BY REV. R. W. BEERS, A.M., PASTOR OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ELKTON, MD. “A disposition to reserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman”— Edmund Burke. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1886, By FUNK & WAGNALLS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. To my Parents , TO WHOSE SELF-SACRIFICE AND DEVOTION I OWE SO MUCH, THIS VOLUME IS LOVINGLY Dedicated ....
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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
The following pages have at least the merit of being addressed to a subject of living interest to the American people. Perhaps with the single exception of the labor problem, the Mormon problem is the most important question before the people of our country at the present time. It is a problem which has thus far been unsolvable by the moralist, the statesman, and the politician. It still remains a Puzzle . No feasible plan has yet been hit upon for getting rid of it. From the past failures to so
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INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
“Search for the truth is the noblest occupation of man.”— Madame de Staël. “Never suppose yourself to understand the ignorance of another so long as you are ignorant of his understanding.”— Coleridge. ...
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INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
He was a sage and a seer who remarked concerning Mormonism: “It presents a problem which the wisest politician has failed to solve, and whose outcome lies in the mystery of the future.” It is acknowledged to be the Great Modern Abomination, the most pernicious heresy of this century; and yet in ten years from its origin its devotees numbered thousands, and Joseph Smith, its founder, predicted that it was to be the religious faith of the Western Continent. To-day its membership numbers its hundre
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PART I. HISTORY OF MORMONISM.
PART I. HISTORY OF MORMONISM.
“Examine history, for it is ‘Philosophy teaching by experience.’” — Carlyle. “’Tis strange, but true; for truth is always strange, Stranger than fiction.” Byron. ...
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CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER I.
Alleged origin of Mormonism—Joseph Smith’s early life—Finding the peek-stone—Visited by an angel—Received the golden plates—Was Smith a swindler or an enthusiast?—“Book of Mormon” published, and Mormon Church established—Smith’s first alleged miracle—Rigdon joins the Mormons—Mormonism compared to Mohammedanism. It is acknowledged by all who have given careful thought to the subject, that Mormonism presents us with a very extraordinary civilization and the most peculiar religion under the sun; bu
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CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II.
HISTORY OF MORMONISM ( continued ). The First Hegira from Palmyra to Kirtland—The first Temple—Rapid growth of the Mormon Church—Brigham Young and other missionaries sent to foreign lands—The name “Latter-day Saints” adopted—Smith and Rigdon compelled to flee from Kirtland— The Second Hegira —The “Danites” organized—Rapid increase of the Mormons in Missouri—Jealousy of the Missourians—Mormons driven across the Missouri River by a mob—Their property confiscated—Their leaders imprisoned. The First
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CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER III.
HISTORY OF MORMONISM ( continued ). The Third Hegira —Sufferings of the Mormons during their journey into Illinois—An account of the murder of Mormons—Influence of this persecution on the minds of Mormons at the present time— Nauvoo —Its location—Its growth—The second Mormon Temple begun—Other public buildings—Laziness whittled out of Nauvoo—Internal dissensions among the Mormons—Political troubles—Smith nominated for President of the United States—Warrants issued against the Mormon leaders—Cons
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CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER IV.
HISTORY OF MORMONISM ( concluded ). The Fourth Hegira —Young’s shrewd plan of a Western Kingdom—Nauvoo’s sad end—Journey of the Mormons to Council Bluffs—Young’s forethought—The trip of “The Pioneers” across the wilderness—The halt at Salt Lake Valley—Young leads the remaining Mormons from Council Bluffs to Salt Lake—Their entertainment during their march—Folly of the Illinoisans in driving them out into the wilderness—Probable result of tolerance of the Mormons—Life begun anew in Salt Lake Vall
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PART II. THE POLITICAL PUZZLE.
PART II. THE POLITICAL PUZZLE.
“The strange spectacle presented of a community, protected by a republican form of government, to which they owe allegiance, sustaining by their suffrages a principle and a belief which sets at naught that obligation of absolute obedience to the law of the land, which lies at the foundation of republican institutions.”— President Cleveland....
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CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER V.
Mormonism a Theocracy—Manœuvring for office the cause of the expulsion of the Mormons from Missouri and Nauvoo—The “State of Deseret” formed—Lands illegally obtained—Brigham’s movable house—Government officials compelled to flee—Federal troops sent—The oath of disloyalty—The Endowment rites—The American flag at half-mast—The control of the nation their aim—The political puzzle stated—Its causes—Necessity of Government action. The American nation seems to be slow to understand, and to all appeara
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CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VI.
THE POLITICAL PUZZLE ( continued ). The Possible Remedies —The military remedy—The Government responsible for the situation in Utah—The disfranchisement of polygamists—Federal trustees for the Mormon Church corporation—Confiscation of unlawful funds—False statements about Mormons—Letters from the two Bancrofts—The dissolution of the Emigrating Fund Company—The Federal Commission remedy—The Woodburn bill, or Idaho statute. The question at once arises, What remedies should we adopt to get rid of t
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CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VII.
THE POLITICAL PUZZLE ( concluded ). Objections to proposed remedies— Gladstone on “Coercion”—A NEW PLAN ADVOCATED — The Abolition of Female Suffrage — A National Colonization Scheme —Natural resources of Utah—Superiority of the colonization plan over others— The establishment of National Free Schools —Ignorance the keystone of Mormon despotism—Public schools in Utah used for Mormon purposes—Proposed Federal Superintendent of schools in Utah—Territorial schools too few—Necessity of Government act
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PART III. THE SOCIAL PUZZLE.
PART III. THE SOCIAL PUZZLE.
“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.”— Inscription on the Old Liberty Bell. “The strength, the perpetuity, and the destiny of the nation, rest upon our homes.”— President Cleveland. ...
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CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER VIII.
Polygamy only one of the Mormon social evils—Their social system a system of bondage —Contrary to natural law—Contrary to the spirit of the age— Personal Bondage of the Mormons—Missionaries must go on duty—Dictation of the priesthood with regard to boarders and rents—Immigrants under their control—All members subject to Church orders—Power of the Church over daily business—Mormon mining contractors— Mental Bondage of the Mormons—Converts illiterate—The Mormon Church the opponent of free educatio
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CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER IX.
THE SOCIAL PUZZLE ( continued ). Moral Bondage of the Mormons—Implicit obedience to the priesthood enjoined— Crimes committed at their command—Murders—The Mountain Meadows Massacre—Lee’s confession—A Mormon carpenter’s confession—Theft—Falsehood—Perjury—Why was polygamy promulgated?—Why is polygamy practised? Deplorable as the condition of the Mormon is, as already depicted in the preceding chapter, that is not the worst that is to be said of their social condition. They are not only in personal
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CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER X.
THE SOCIAL PUZZLE ( continued ). Reasons why Mormon slavery is maintained —Hope of earthly gain—Complete organization of the Mormon Church—Prospect of promotion in office as a bribe—Fear of earthly loss—System of espionage—Apostasy formerly punished by death—Mode of inflicting the punishment—Social ostracism—Religious conviction the mainstay of the Mormon social system. Having already shown that the Mormon social system is a system of slavery so complete as to bind with its fetters body, mind, a
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CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XI.
THE SOCIAL PUZZLE ( concluded ). The solution of the Social Puzzle —Mormon slavery and negro slavery compared—The duty of the Government to break up Mormon slavery—The remedy the same as for the political evils of Mormonism—Brigham Young opposed to immigration of Gentiles—A growing spirit of restlessness—Necessity of surrounding the youth with an atmosphere of freedom— Personal Bondage of the Mormons overcome by Gentile colonization—Social ostracism no longer dreaded— Mental Bondage overcome by
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PART IV. THE RELIGIOUS PUZZLE.
PART IV. THE RELIGIOUS PUZZLE.
“The true grandeur of nations is in those qualities which constitute the true greatness of the individual.”— Charles Sumner. “A Christian is the highest style of man.”— Young’s Night Thoughts. “There was never law, or sect, or opinion did so magnify goodness as the Christian religion doth.”— Lord Bacon. ...
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CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XII.
The religious aspects of Mormonism paramount—General ignorance concerning the Mormon religious system— Sources of their Doctrines —Revelation, not reason, the primary source—All religions founded on revelation—Sacred books—The Mormon Bible—The “Book of Mormon”—Migrations of Jews to America—Visit of Jesus to America—“Book of Doctrine and Covenants”—The “Living Oracles.” The majority of persons are more interested, it seems, in the political and social aspects of the Mormon question than in the pu
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CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE RELIGIOUS PUZZLE ( continued ). Mormon Doctrines —Their idea of God—Plurality of gods—Mormon Sunday-school hymn concerning Smith—The pre-existence of souls—The doctrine of Polygamy—Practised on the plea of self-sacrifice and ambition—Necessity of preaching their gospel to all—Preaching to the dead—Baptismal regeneration—Baptism for the dead—Mormon priesthood necessary to salvation—Melchizedek and Aaronic priesthoods—Mormon Endowments—Blood Atonement—Doctrine of “The Fulness of Times.” Having
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CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE RELIGIOUS PUZZLE ( continued ). Professor Coyner’s analysis of Mormonism— Rev. Dr. McNiece’s analysis—Reasons for the growth and tenacity of Mormonism—The Christian element its chief source of strength—No Mormon converts from heathenism—Protestantism the source of its recruits—Bible doctrines in the Mormon “Catechism for Children”—The Mormon Articles of Faith—The Mormon heresy compared with Gnosticism in the early Christian Church—A clue to the solution of the religious puzzle. From the enum
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CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XV.
THE RELIGIOUS PUZZLE ( concluded ). The character of efforts hitherto put forth to solve the puzzle—What has been accomplished—The plan somewhere defective—Mormonism to be reformed, not destroyed—Why Mormons will not listen to Christian missionaries—Moody and Sankey’s meetings in Salt Lake City— The Deseret Evening News on Bishop Tuttle’s sermon—Mormonism a perversion of Christianity—The educational and colonization scheme best fitted to reform it—Proved by comparing Roman Catholicism in the Uni
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