Chapter 7 BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.

Organization of the Mormon Church.-Functions of the various Officers. The Two Priesthoods.-Mode of Treating Dissenters or "Apostates."-Divisions in the Church.-The Gladdenites.-History of the Morrisites.-The Josephites.-Return to the true Mormon Church.

In his capacity as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Brigham Young possesses and wields despotic power over "this people," and rules them by his single will, in all their affairs, both spiritual and temporal.

This is owing, not to any peculiarity in the church organization. Any organization which should recognize him as the absolute head of the church, and dispense with 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 responsibility, and all that remains is, to establish a grade of agents and mediums for the transmission of his will and wishes to the masses, and the system is complete.

Such a grade is fully established under the Mormon system.

First,-The First Presidency. This consists of three, chosen from those who hold the high-priesthood and apostleship, and its office is to preside over and direct the affairs of the whole church. It consists of a President and two Counsellors. The President is also Seer, Revelator, Translator, and Prophet. He rules in all spiritual and temporal affairs.

Secondly,-The Apostles. These are to build up, organize, and preside over churches, administer the ordinances, etc.

Thirdly,-The Seventies. The Quorums of the Seventies are to travel in all the world, preach the gospel, and administer its ordinances and blessings. There is, also, the Patriarch, whose duty is to bless the fatherless, to prophesy what shall befall them, etc.

Fourthly,-High-Priests and Elders. The High-Priest is to administer the ordinances, and preside over the Stakes of the church; that is, over the churches established abroad.

The Elders are to preach and to baptize; to ordain other Elders, also Priests, Teachers, and Deacons. All the foregoing officers are of the Melchisedec Priesthood.

Fifthly,-The Aaronic Priesthood, which includes the offices of Bishop, Priest, Teacher, and Deacon.

The Bishop presides over all the lesser offices of the Aaronic Priesthood, ministers in outward ordinances, conducts the temporal business of the church, and sits in judgment on transgressors.

The Priest is to preach, baptize, administer the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and visit and exhort the saints.

The Teacher is to watch over and strengthen the church, etc.

The Deacon is to assist the Teacher.

There is also a High Council, consisting of Twelve High-Priests, with a President. The office of the Council is to settle all important difficulties.

The Priesthood comes direct from Heaven, and was lost to man, until the keys of both orders of the Priesthood were given to Joseph Smith, by an angel from Heaven, in 1829. After the death of Smith, they came into the hands of Brigham Young.

From this resumé of the church organization, it will be seen that it is sufficient for the purpose. All these officers are but mediums for the transmission of the will of the President. Nor is it confined to spiritual affairs. Under the form of a church 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 of persons nearest the President, and under his immediate influence and control, in other relations in the same organization,-as High-Priests, etc.,-it will be seen that the check is only nominal, and forms no real protection to the rights of the people.

The orders of the Priesthood, to which these officers are respectively attached, are thus distinguished:-

The Melchisedec Priesthood hold the right of Presidency, receive revelations from Heaven, for the guidance of the church, and hold the keys of all its spiritual blessings.

The Aaronic Priesthood hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and have the right to administer in outward ordinances. This Priesthood must be filled by lineal descendants of Aaron.

It will be seen that the mission of all the officers of the Melchisedec Priesthood-the Apostles, High-Priests, Seventies, and Elders-is to propagate the gospel, and make converts; while the government of the church and of the people is committed to the Aaronic Priesthood.

Of these the chief is the Bishop, who is accordingly the civil and religious magistrate of the ward in which he resides.

There are other civil magistrates, whose duties are but little more than nominal, except in Salt Lake City, where the occasional large influx of "gentiles" who will not submit to this spiritual government, renders necessary an approximation to the forms of civil proceedings to which they have been accustomed.

The "saints" themselves are not expected to go before other than the ecclesiastical magistrates. When brought unwillingly before a civil magistrate, the same being a Mormon, the case receives a favorable consideration.

Rare exceptions may be cited where, from motives of policy, this rule is relaxed or departed from. For instance, in the winter of 1863-64, Jason Luce, a Mormon, was 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 perpetrated on the street, and the evidence was open and abundant. Much indignation existed among the miners, many of whom were congregated in Salt Lake City at the time.

If this had not been the first instance in the history of Utah of the execution of a Mormon, under judgment of a Mormon court, 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 marked to their credit; and it is only to be hoped that subsequent events may not prove it to have been an act of policy merely.

The machinery of the Mormon Church, through which the people are governed in all their affairs, civil as well as religious, is well described in the following extract from the Salt Lake Correspondence of the "Chicago Tribune" of May, 1863:-

"The machinery of the church consists of Brigham, who is greatly pleased and flattered by the blasphemous title of the 'Lord's Anointed,' the Second and Third Presidents, College of Twelve Apostles, Patriarchs, Quorums of Seventies, Counsellors, Presidents of 'Stakes,' Bishops, Elders, and Teachers; and last but not least, the Danites, or 'Destroying Angels,' who are scattered throughout the Territory, and who superintend the temporal and spiritual affairs of the people in every city, village, 'stake,' and hamlet in the same.

"These various organizations and persons, from the Second President to the red-haired Danite, who is simply the employed assassin of the Great Head, are the shafts, driving-wheel, cog and spur-wheels, belts and pulleys of the great machine called the Church, and as such are made to perform their various functions with a precision and fitness of things, that is wonderful indeed.

. . . "Brigham, like a skilful engineer, stands on the platform of his locomotive, with hand placed upon the lever, sheltered in the caboose, with peep-holes in front, on the right and on the left, and the crook of whose 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!' which is most persistently sounded when he hears the restive murmurings of those who may catch but a premonitory glimpse of the awful precipice to which he is hurrying them on, as to a terrible and eternal destruction."

The motive-power is religious delusion, which is constantly applied by Brigham, who thus drives along the whole combination with fearful power.

"And in that train may be found all that makes up the hopes and fears, the joys and sorrows, the love and hatred, of that 'moral and physical phenomenon,' the Mormon Church,-not only here, 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 problems to their minds, the ultimate triumph of the 'Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' (as it is blasphemously called) over all governments, powers, and principalities of earth!"

In reference to the organization of the church, and the functions of the respective priesthoods, the following is Brigham's own explanation of the whole matter. In this exhibit will be seen how little importance he attaches to the High Council.

Speaking of laying the corner-stones of the Temple, he says:-

"I am not a visionary man, neither am I given much to prophesying. When I want any of that done I call on Brother Heber,-he is my prophet; he loves to prophesy, and I love to hear him.

"Now, who do we set, in the first place, to lay the chief, the South-East corner-stone? We begin with the First Presidency, and the Apostleship. Who comes next in the church? The 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, fixtures, and furniture, belonging thereto, is situated on the East, and the Aaronic Priesthood belongs on the West; consequently the Presiding Bishop laid the second corner-stone.

"The High-Priests' Quorum, do they come next in order? No, not any more than the Elders, nor the Elders any more than the High Council, nor the High Council any more than the Teachers, 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. So, then, what shall we say? Why, out of due respect to the High-Priesthood, which is nothing more than right and reasonable, we say to the High-Priests, 'Lay the third corner-stone.'

"We started at the South-East corner, with the Apostleship; then the lesser, Aaronic Priesthood, laid the second stone; we bring them in our ranks to the third 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 join the Apostleship. It circumscribes every other priesthood, for it is the Priesthood of Melchisedec, which is after the order of the Son of God."[119:A]

But all this arrangement and subordination does not suffice to prevent disaffection in the church. This will arise, and results in differences, schisms, and divisions.

Not to notice smaller matters of difference, three systematic and organized attempts have been made by large bodies of Mormons, since their arrival in Utah, to throw off their allegiance to Brigham Young. They have all been met and treated by him with a fierce bitterness, indicating how thoroughly he is alarmed by such movements.

The third of these is now in progress, and promises to be successful.

The first of the "apostasies," as they are called by the Mormons, was headed by Gladden Bishop, in 1852-53, and his followers were called "Gladdenites."

Some idea of the manner in which they were met by Brigham, and of his mode of dealing with apostates generally, may be gathered from the following extracts from a sermon preached by him in March, 1853:-

"I will ask, What has produced your persecutions and sorrow? What has been the starting-point of all your afflictions? They began with apostates in your midst; those 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 and grand cause of all our difficulties, every time we were driven. I am coming to this place,-I am coming nearer home. . . . Do we see apostates among us now? We do.

"When a man comes right out like an independent devil, and says, 'Damn Mormonism and all the Mormons,' and is off with himself to California, I say he is a gentleman by the side of a nasty, sneaking apostate, who is opposed to nothing but Christianity. I say to the former, 'Go in peace, sir, and prosper if you can.' But we have a set of spirits here, worse than such a character. 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 want to prove that an old apostate, who has been cut off from the church thirteen times for lying, is anything worthy of notice? I heard that a certain picture-maker in this city, when the boys would have moved away the wagon in which this apostate was standing, became violent with them, saying, 'Let this man alone; these are saints that you are persecuting.' [Sneeringly.]

"We want such men to go to California, or anywhere they choose. I say to those persons, 'You must not court persecution here, lest you get so much of it you will not know what to do with it. Do not court 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 than any other woman on earth could bear; but she won't bear it again. I say again, you Gladdenites, do not court persecution, or you will get more than you want, and it will come quicker than you want it.

"I say to you, Bishops, do not allow them to preach in your wards. Who broke the roads to these valleys? Did this little nasty Smith, 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 here,-they have asked exorbitant prices for their nasty, stinking ribbons. [Voices, 'That's true.'] We broke the roads to this country.

"Now, you Gladdenites, keep your tongues still, lest sudden destruction come upon you. I say, rather than that apostates should flourish here, I will unsheathe my bowie-knife, and conquer or die. [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 righteousness to the plummet.' [Voices generally, 'Go it, go it.'] If you say it is all right, raise your hands. [All hands up.] Let us call upon the Lord to assist us in this and every other good work."[121:A]

In the same discourse he commanded the Bishops to "kick these men out of their wards," and warned the apostates themselves that "they were not playing with shadows," but "it was the voice and the hand of the Almighty they were trying to play with, and they would find themselves mistaken if they thought to the contrary."

In accordance with this bloody teaching, many unfortunate apostates who were unwilling or unable to leave the country, "bit the dust." They felt the literal edge of the bowie-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 instructions; and yet Brigham, unable to deny that they had been committed, has openly boasted that his enemies have been unable to trace any of them to him, and fasten them upon him.

He unsheathes the bowie-knife, and issues a general mandate; but when the murder of some individual dissenter is brought to his door, he turns away and says, "Thou canst not say, I did it."

The second organized opposition to Young was made by Joseph Morris and his followers.

The rise and progress and subsequent history of the people called "Morrisites," is as follows:-

On the 19th of November, 1860, a man dressed in ordinary working-clothes wended his way on foot from Slatersville, a settlement in Weber County, north of Salt Lake, to the Holy City. This was Joseph Morris, and the object of his visit was to deliver to Brigham Young two letters which he had written, under the supposed influence of the Spirit.

It seems that for some reason the life of Morris had been threatened, and having been driven from the place where he had been living, he was now going to appeal to the President in person for protection. Morris had received, previous to this time, many revelations, some of which looked to a purification of the church,-all of which he had communicated to Brigham and the Apostles.

On his way to Salt Lake he met John Cook, brother of Richard Cook, at that time a Mormon Bishop, presiding at South Weber. To him Morris communicated his views and projects, and made so favorable an impression that both the Cooks soon afterward espoused his cause, and became his zealous supporters.

Morris delivered his letters to the President at his residence, but received no reply.

He then proceeded to the house of Mr. Cook, on the Weber River, about thirty miles northward from the city.

Not only the Cooks, but a number of their neighbors, now began to entertain favorable opinions of the claim of their new acquaintance to inspiration.

Others who conceived that the divine right of Brigham was being endangered or infringed upon, determined to put Morris to death, or drive him from their midst. But Bishop Cook stood in the way.

In this emergency President Young was appealed to, who sent two high ecclesiastics, Messrs. John Taylor and Willford Woodruff, both Apostles, to investigate the matter. They appointed a general meeting at South Weber, and invited the Bishops of the surrounding settlements, with as many of their people as possibly could, to attend.

The meeting convened on the 11th of February, 1861, and the delegates commenced their court of inquiry by demanding whether there was a man in the ward who professed to be a prophet? And whether there were any individuals who entertained him, or professed faith in his claims?

To the astonishment and consternation of the Mormons, seventeen of the believers, with Bishop Cook at their head, arose and declared that they would enjoy and defend the right of conscience, by adhering to their new faith, though 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 chin," and laid away in the brush; at the same time accompanying his words with a motion of the hand, drawing it across his throat. This, he said, was what ought to be done, according to his understanding of the laws of the church.

After some further discussion, in which Watts was boldly rebuked by Cook for the utterance of such sentiments, the question was put to the parties on trial, 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 to be such, and said those who believed to the contrary must be excommunicated from the church. They were then subjected to the process of excommunication.

It will be noticed that the right of Brigham to preside over the church as its temporal head, was not questioned by Morris or his followers.

From this time the followers of Morris increased in numbers with wonderful rapidity.

On the 6th of April, 1861, five persons were baptized into the new church in the Weber River. On the same day of the same month, thirty-one years previous, the Mormon Church had been instituted by the baptism of six persons. Encouraged by this augury, a church was organized, and the work commenced in earnest. Converts flocked to them from all parts of the Territory.

In three months the new church numbered about three hundred persons. Its highest number did not exceed five hundred.

In the mean time difficulties arose between them and the surrounding Mormons. The Morrisites refused to train as militia. Heavy fines were imposed in consequence, and much property sold on execution for their payment.

These fines and exactions were increased until the Morrisites refused longer to submit to them. A number of fines of $60 each had been imposed. When the sheriff appeared and proposed to arrest those who would not or could not pay, he was resisted. Further proceedings were then suspended for the present.

In the spring of 1862 a team, consisting of two yoke of cattle, which had been sent to mill from the Morrisite settlement, was, together with a load of flour, seized 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 his satisfaction. The Morrisites, standing in immediate need of the flour, sent a posse of men, and took not only the flour, but Jones and two associates prisoners.

Application was now made to Chief Justice Kinney, who immediately issued writs for the arrest of the leading Morrisites, and writs of habeas corpus for the Mormons held in custody.

These writs being disregarded, a posse of several hundred men, headed by Robert T. Burton, sheriff of Salt Lake County, well armed and equipped, and having several pieces of cannon, were sent to execute the writs, and enforce obedience. This force was augmented on the way by volunteers, and additional arms, until they approached the settlement of the Morrisites, with a force of about a thousand well-armed men, and five pieces of artillery.

Early on the morning of the 13th of June, some of the posse appeared on the heights above South Weber settlement, and took possession of the Morrisites' cow-herd, killing 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,-calling upon them to come out and deliver themselves up, according to the requirements of the writs in his hands, and warning them of the consequences, if they refused.

This not being responded to, about an hour later the posse, most of whom had been hitherto out of sight, commenced to defile over the bluffs, and to occupy a prominent position commanding the camp.

Morris now called a meeting of those within the fort. Scarcely had they assembled, when a cannon-ball came into the congregation, killed two women, and wounded a girl. From this time cannonading and musketry fire was continued with but little intermission.

The camp consisted of a few houses built of willows, like basket-work, and plastered, and of tents, and covered wagons. Still the fight was kept up by these deluded 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 white flag was raised, and the whole camp surrendered. The Morrisites stacked their arms, under guard of a detail from the posse, who had by this time entered the fort.

Amidst much confusion, the men and women were separated, and large numbers of the men were placed under arrest. Morris, and a leader by the name of Banks were shot in cold blood; also two of the women. All these were killed after the Morrisites were unarmed, and their arms in the possession of the sheriff. The posse had two men killed. The Morrisites ten in all.

After the Morrisites had been taken prisoners, their houses were searched and plundered, and property, consisting of watches, jewelry, clothing, &c., taken, to the amount of many hundreds of dollars.

The prisoners were taken to Salt Lake City, and placed under bonds by Judge Kinney for their appearance at his court. They were afterwards tried, and large numbers of them were fined and imprisoned. All of those imprisoned were afterward pardoned and released by Governor Harding.

Thus ended "the Morrisite War." The Morrisites were now "scattered and peeled," and so remained until May, 1863. At that time Gen. Connor established a military post at Soda Springs, a beautiful place at the northern bend of Bear 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. The result was, that about eighty families, consisting of over two hundred persons, nearly all Morrisites, availed themselves of this offer,-removed, with their goods and household gods, and established themselves at Soda Springs.

This settlement continues to exist and flourish, and may now be looked upon, it is to be hoped, as a permanent point where the weary emigrant may pause and rest on his long journey over the Plains, and be free from the whims, exactions, and dangers of Mormonism. The place is now in Idaho Territory, and returned eighty-one votes at the territorial election of 1864.

Although the court and juries were fast to bring to punishment those who had resisted the writs, yet Burton, the leader of the posse, who shot four persons after they had surrendered, was not even indicted by a Mormon grand jury. The evidence was laid before them, but without avail.

The following affidavit of a man of much respectability, now residing at Soda Springs, shows what was the conduct of Burton on the occasion alluded to:-

"United States of America,

Territory of Utah.

ss.

"Alexander Dow, of said Territory, being duly sworn, says:

"In the spring of 1861, I joined the Morrisites, and was present when Joseph Morris was killed. The Morrisites had surrendered, a white flag was flying, and the arms were all grounded and guarded by a large number of the posse.

"Robert T. Burton and Judson L. Stoddard rode in amongst the Morrisites. Burton was much excited. He said, 'Where is the man? I don't know him.' Stoddard replied, 'That's him,' pointing to Morris. Burton rode his horse upon Morris, and 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 principles,'-he had scarcely got the words out of his mouth before Burton fired his revolver. The ball passed in his neck or shoulder. Burton exclaimed, 'There's your Prophet.' He fired again, saying, 'What do you think of your Prophet now?'

"Burton then turned suddenly and shot Banks, who was standing five or six paces distant. Banks fell. Mrs. Bowman, wife of James Bowman, came running up, crying, 'Oh! you 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 her dead also. Burton could easily have taken Morris and Banks prisoners, if he had tried. I was standing but a few feet from Burton all this time. And further saith not.

"Alexander Dow.

"Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 18th day of April, A. D. 1863.

"Charles B. Waite,

"Associate Just., U. T."

This Burton is the same man who is now the Collector of Internal Revenue for Utah Territory!

The next movement, and one which promises seriously to interfere with the schemes of Brigham Young, is under the auspices of the Mormon Church East, or the "Josephites," as they are called, in contradistinction to the "Brighamites."

Joseph Smith, the son of the Prophet, resides at Nauvoo, in Illinois, near where his father was put to death. He claims to be the head of the true Mormon Church, and of course repudiates Young for the same position. He is opposed to polygamy, is loyal to the Government and laws of the United States, and is said to be a good and worthy citizen.

For several years there have been indications of a "breaking up" among the followers of the Pretender, Brigham, and a rallying around the standard of the legitimate House of Joseph. In the States, those who have gone back to their first love are to be numbered by thousands.

In Utah the progress of disintegration, and of secession from the church as there organized, is slower, and accompanied by more danger.

But in July, 1863, the "fulness of time" having come, the movement was commenced in earnest, and a system of proselyting inaugurated, which has already drawn hundreds of deluded people back to their duty to themselves and their country, and which even now threatens the power of Brigham so strongly that it seems almost tottering to its fall.

During the latter part of the month mentioned, E. C. Briggs and Alexander McCord, two missionaries, sent by the Church East, for that purpose, arrived in Salt Lake, and announced themselves as harbingers of a better gospel,-as messengers of the true Church of Christ on earth. Taking their lives in their hands, they had crossed the Plains alone, and the Lord had protected and sustained them.

It may be supposed that their arrival caused considerable excitement at Salt Lake City.

Briggs called on Young and acquainted him with the nature of his "mission." The Prophet became very angry; refused him the use of the Tabernacle, or any other building in 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 himself of this polite hint to leave; and notwithstanding these thunders from the Vatican, he went boldly to work, and "daily ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

He talked with the people, visited them at their houses, prayed with them, and sang with them.

The effect was electrical. Singly, by dozens, and by scores, the people began to fall off from the great apostasy, and to return to the mother-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 which none dared to disobey. One house, that of a gentile, was still open to them, and there they held their meetings, which were well attended.

Before spring their numbers had increased to over three hundred. About half of that number returned across the Plains in the spring of 1864, and so strong was the excitement, and so bitter the persecution and enmity of the "saints" toward this comparatively handful of seceders from Brigham's authority and dominions, that Gen. Connor deemed it necessary and advisable to send a strong escort with them as far as Green River, about 145 miles.

Besides this number who departed for the region of the rising sun, large numbers of the westward-bound emigration were stopped, and having their eyes opened by missionaries of the same stamp, were induced to withhold their steps, at least until another season.

The Josephites in Salt Lake, although the subjects of bitter and unrelenting persecution from the Mormons, found favor and protection from Gen. Connor and the military under his command.

They will doubtless continue to flourish and increase, and it is possible that in this way Utah may be brought to loyalty and good citizenship, without bloodshed or commotion. It is but a possibility, however, as Brigham will not see himself thus undermined without desperate efforts to prevent it.

In Europe whole churches have already changed, or "gone over," from the apostasy of Brigham to the old church, with Joseph at its head.

Briggs is President of the Twelve Apostles, and is admirably fitted for the work before him. He is a man of great energy and heroism, and takes hold of his mighty task as though it were but the work of a summer day. Nowhere can be found a better exemplification of the self-sacrifice and sublime heroism of the Christians of the Middle Ages.

The following are the Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, under the presidency of Joseph Smith, son of Joseph the Martyr:-

"We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

"We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgressions.

"We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the Laws and ordinances of the gospel.

"We believe that these ordinances are: 1st. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 2d. Repentance; 3d. Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 4th. Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit; 5th. The Lord's Supper.

"We believe that men must be called of God, by inspiration, and by laying on of hands by those who are duly commissioned to preach the gospel, and administer in the ordinances thereof.

"We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, viz.: Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, Evangelists, &c.

"We believe in the powers and gifts of the everlasting gospel, viz., the gift of faith, discoursing of spirits, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, tongues and the interpretation of tongues, wisdom, charity, brotherly love, &c.

"We believe the word of God recorded in the Bible; we also believe the word of God recorded in the Book of Mormon, and in all other good books.

"We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many more great and important things, pertaining to the kingdom of God and Messiah's second coming.

"We believe in the literal gathering of Israel, and in the restoration of the ten tribes; that Zion will be established upon the Western Continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth a thousand years; and that the earth will be renewed, and receive its paradisaical glory.

"We believe in the literal resurrection of the body; that the dead in Christ will rise first, and that the rest of the dead do not live again until the thousand years are expired.

"We believe in being subject to kings, queens, presidents, rulers, and magistrates; in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

"We believe in being virtuous, chaste, temperate, benevolent, and in doing good to all men.

"We believe that the church in Utah, under the presidency of Brigham Young, have apostatized from the true order of the gospel.

"We believe that the doctrines of polygamy, human sacrifice, or killing men to save them, Adam being God, Utah being Zion, or the gathering place for the saints, are doctrines of devils, instituted by wicked men, for the accomplishment of their own lustful desires, and with a view to their personal aggrandizement.

"We believe in being true and loyal to the Government of the United States, and have no sympathy or fellowship for the treasonable practices or wicked abominations indorsed by Brigham Young and his followers."

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FOOTNOTES:

[119:A] April 6, 1863. Journ. of Dis., Vol. I. p. 135.

[121:A] March 27, 1853. Jour. of Dis., Vol. I. p. 82.

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