upon Governor Dawson by Mormon Eowdies Three of them shot A Eival
Prophet to Brigham The "Morrisite" Community They disregard a Writ of
Habeas Corpus The Mormon Militia acting as a Posse Gomitatus Three Days'
Fighting The Prophet Morris, his Counsellor Banks, and two Women, killed
after the Surrender Arrival of new Federal Officers An early Difficulty Arrival
of the California Volunteers Establishment of Camp Douglas Brigham defies
the Law of Congress, and takes "an Elderly Young Woman" to Wife The
Prophet afraid of Arrest Citizens summoned to protect him Chief-Justice
Kinney arrests the Prophet for violating the Anti-Polygamic Law Brigham
gives Bail The Grand Jury find no Evidence that Brigham had married again
Trouble with the Federal Officials The Mormons invite them to leave the
Territory The Tabernacle and Mormon Press rejoice in the Calamities of the
Union General Connor and the Volunteers a Terror to Evil-Doers A Midnight
Scare Another False Prophecy Brigham predicts another Four Years of War
only Four Days before General Lee surrendered, 691
x i v CONTENTS.
CHAPTER LII.
AFTER THE WAR. Grand Procession of Mormons and Gentiles Prospective
p eace The Federal Officers and Mormon Dignitaries wine together The City
honours General Connor in the Social Hall The Prophets and the Gentile
Ladies decline attending the Ball Vice-President Colfax and Literary Friends
visit Zion The Interview with the Prophet The Hon. James M. Ashley sees
the Difficulty of convicting the Apostles for Polygamy He tells Tom Corwin's
Story of the "Eleven Jurors who had some of the Ham" A Gentile marries a
Mormon Elder's Second Wife Mr. Brassfield assassinated Great Excitement
among the Gentiles General Sherman gives Brigham a Hint that he will send
Troops to Zion Brigham hastens to assert his Innocence Contention over the
Warm Springs Dr. Robinson, the Contestant, is assassinated A Foul and
Dreadful Murder Brigham joins the Gentiles in offering a Reward for the Mur-
derersNo Detection Years after, Brigham withdraws his Reward Afraid of
tempting Men to Perjury Three Apostates charged with stealing a Cow-
Arrested, confined, two murdered in " attempting to escape "The Brethren
arrested for Murder, and escape Chief-Justice Titus grossly insulted, . 611
CHAPTEE LIII.
THE DAWNING OF FREEDOM. The Mercantile Struggle against Despotism
"Freezing out the Gentiles "Police Surveillance of Apostates' Stores The
Walker Brothers Brigham refuses a Check from them for $500 A Bishop told
to " cut away "Handed over to the Buffetings of Satan The Fight with Brig-
ham Fears of Violence Gentile Merchants offer to sell out at a Great Loss and
leave the City Brigham's Reply The Gentiles and Apostates under the Ban
Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution organized Trouble among the Mor-
mon Merchants Ruin of the Small Traders" The Seed of the Prophet Joseph"
go to Zion The Reorganized Church " Young Joseph "Alexander H. and
David Hyrum Smith in Utah Brigham's Jealousy The Sons of Joseph meet
with Success The " New Movement" The Utah Magazine Wonderful Revela-
tions of Messrs. Godbe and Harrison Voices from Heaven against Brigham
The Beginning of the Great Apostacy Godbe, Harrison and Kelsey expelled
from the Church The Magazine opens its Batteries upon the Prophet The Gen-
tiles and Liberal Mormons encourage the "Rebels" The " Reformers " start
a Newspaper They preach and write themselves into Spiritualism The Fet-
ters burst and the Gentile Merchants triumph Brigham's Power waning His
Sceptre broken, 622
CHAPTER LIV.
BRIGHAM YOUNG. His Father's Family His Early Life and Occupation Brig-
ham's Faith The " Gift of Tongues "" Brother Brigham" opposed to Mani-
festations of the "Gift" His Ideas of Unreasoning Obedience The Prophet at
Home The " Trustee in Trust" The Prophet's Wives His Favourites Brig-
ham's Domestic Life His Habits and Traits of Character His Hours of Business
The Prophet in his Office Extraordinary Influence with the People Unheard-
of Claims to Dictation in Secular Affairs Lovers to ask Brigham's Permission to
love Troublesome Elders sent on Mission Ordered to go to " Dixie" Mission
to the Indians How the " Lamanites " were to be made a " White and Delight-
" some People" Heber's Hint to the Missionaries, and how they took it Brig-
ham on his Travels The "Royal Blood of Young "Reception of the Prophet
CONTENTS. x.v
the Saints "The Lion of the Lord" in his Glory The Saints listen
to the Prophet His Style of Preaching The Prophet's Successor Brigham
the Second Founding a Dynasty Nepotism greater than Birthright and Priest-
hood The Precedent given by Brigham George A. Smith, Brigham's Rightful
Successor Apostle George Q. Cannon A Mission to Jerusalem Influence of
the Railroad Influx of Gentiles Brigham's Lost Opportunities Great Wealth
of the Prophet How Brigham balanced his Account with the Church How the
Prophet got rich The Probable Future of Mormonism at Ms Death, . . 646
CHAPTER LY.
THE TEREITOEY OF UTAH. Its Boundaries and Character The Lakes Super-
ficial Area The Settlements Population Excess of Male Inhabitants Mules
voting for Delegates to Congress ! " Getting up" Petitions The Militia The
Nauvoo Legion The Federal Governors A Stormy Political Meeting Gov-
ernor Shaffer's Difficulties Change of Officers A Proclamation Resolute Con-
duct of the Governor His Last Official Act Conflict between Mormon Officials
and Federal Officers Delegate Hooper justifies Polygamy in Congress Dr.
Newman discusses Polygamy with Orson Pratt Appointment of Chief-Justice
McKean His Legal Decisions The Hawkins Case Decisions reserved by the
Supreme Court Brigham's Anxiety for a State Government, . . . 671
CHAPTER LYI.
SALT LAKE CITY. Its Situation and Beauty Its Railway Communication
"Water Supply Great and Increasing Improvement The Tabernacle Brigham
the Architect of Zion Inspiring the Prophet with an Idea The Great Organ
The Tabernacle Services Results of the Influx of Gentiles Brigham's Com-
mercial Street Christian Churches in Utah Their Work and Influence The
Episcopal Church Christian Schools Brigham's Opinion of Gentile Instruc-
tion The Methodist Teacher's Difficulties Polygamy opposed by Mr. Mc-
Leod The Liberal Institute Lectures in Zion Evidences of Prosperity
Progress of Civilization in Utah, . 691
CHAPTER LYII.
THE MINES OF UTAH.
THE POTOSI OF THE WEST. Early Anticipations of the Treasures of Utah-
Ore discovered in the Mountains First Discovery of Argentiferous Galena En-
terprise of General P. E. Connor The United States Soldiers " prospect" for
Mines Mr. Eli B. Kelsey lectures on the Wealth of Utah Incorporation of the
West Jordan Mining Company First Srnelting-Furnace erected at Stockton
Rush Valley Smelting Company formed Waiting for the Railroad First Ship-
ments of Ore The Utah Central Railroad Rich Ores in Ophir District Silver-
opolis Valuable Mines in East Canon Colonel E. D. Buel's Works in Cot-
tonwood Numerous Furnaces erected Results of Inexperience First Mill in
Utah Extraordinary Success Large Shipments of Bullion and Ores The Emma
Mine Formation of Veins of Ore The Action of Water and Volcanic Force
Statistics of the Emma Mine Its Immense Value Bonanzas Extraordinary
Dividends to Proprietors Southern Mines True Fissure-Veins Their Im-
portance Solfataric Action The Mineral* Springs The Staples of the Utah
ivi CONTENTS.
Mines Silver and Lead Gold in Bingham Canon Gold in Sevier Kiver
Quartz Mines Gold near Ogden Iron and Lead Ores Supply of Fuel Gradual
Improvements Scarcity of Wood Discoveries of Coal Building Material-
Importance of a Valid " Title "Development of Locations Contested Claims-
Commissioner Drummond's Decision The Vast Mineral Eesources of Utah Im-
portance of the Territory Its Beauty, Wealth, Capabilities, and Claims to At-
tention, 709
APPENDIX, 785
INDEX, . . , .747
ILLUSTEATIONS.
MM
1. BRIGHAM YOUNG- Steel-plate Engraving \Frontispiece.}
2. JOSEPH SMITH'S FIRST VISION 1
3. PREACHING IN THE HIGHWAYS 2
4. DISCOVERY OF THE GOLD PLATES 19
5. MARTIN HARRIS, THE PROPHET'S SCRIBE 22
6. FAC-SIMILE OF A PORTION OF THE BOOK OF MORMON 23,24
7. THE FIRST MORMON BAPTISM 29
8. ORGANIZATION OF THE MORMON CHURCH 31,32
9. TARRED AND FEATHERED 42
10. "THE LORD'S" ARMY MARCHING TO THE DELIVERANCE OF ZION... 53, 54
11. THE TEMPLE AT KIRTLAND, OHIO 62
12. THE APOSTLE HEBER C. KIMBALL 69
13. THE PROPHET BANKERS ON THE WING 73
14. MORMON TROUBLES IN MISSOURI BEGIN 81
15. MASSACRE OF MORMONS AT HAUN'S MILL 97,98
16. THE PROPHET'S FLIGHT FROM MISSOURI -. . 118
17. THE HOME OF THE SAINTS IN ILLINOIS 121, 132
18. LIEUT.-GEN. JOSEPH SMITH (Prophet, Seer, and Revelator) 131,132
19. ORRIN PORTER ROCKWELL 141
20. THE PROPHET SURRENDERS TO THE LAW 152
21. ASSASSINATION OF JOSEPH SMITH 161, 162
22. THE APOSTLE TAYLOR 166
23. "THE END" 168
24. "THE ELECT LADY" MRS. EMMA SMITH 188
25. SIDNEY RIGDON 206
26. BURNING MORMON HOUSES 216
27. THE EXODUS FROM NAUVOO 219,220
28. RUINS OF THE TEMPLE 226
29. THE BATTALION BALL 246
30. THE PIONEERS 251,252
81. MAP OF SALT LAKE VALLEY 257,258
32. THE BEGINNING OF THE REFORMATION 293
33. REFORMING A HERETIC... 297
34. THE HAND-CART EMIGRANTS IN A STORM 809,310
35. PASSING THROUGH IOWA ... 315
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAO
36. "CAME TO ME AND BEGGED BREAD" 825
37. THE OLD MAN JAMES 329
38. WHAT OF THE PROMISES? 830
39. JOHN CHISLETT 332
40. CROSSING THE PLATTE RIVER 335
41. THE UNITED STATES EXPEDITION TO UTAH 343,344
42. BRIGHAM'S "DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE" 351
43. ECHO CANON THE MORMON DEFENCES T 863
44. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL D. H. WELLS 367
45. BURNING GOVERNMENT TRAINS 368
46. THE CAMP OF DEATH 370
47. WINTER SCENE UNITED STATES TROOPS HAULING WOOD 378
48. TRIUMPHAL MARCH OF UNITED STATES TROOPS THROUGH SALT
LAKE CITY 387,388
49. THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE 425,426
50. BROTHER KANOSH, THE INDIAN CHIEF 436
51. ROAD FROM FILLMORE TO MOUNTAIN MEADOWS [Map] 443
52. ORSON HYDE, PRESIDENT OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES 483
53. THE APOSTLE ORSON PRATT 497
54. DIAGRAM OF THE CELESTIAL KINGDOM 506
55. EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS, NO. 1 511, 512
56. " " NO. H 514,515
57. " " NO. HE 517, 518
58. PLATES FOUND IN KINDERHOOK, OHIO 549,550
59. SHOOTING A RIVAL PROPHET 589,590
60. MAJOR-GENERAL P.EDWARD CONNOR 608
61. ASSASSINATION OF DR. J. KING ROBINSON 619
62. J. ROBINSON WALKER 624
63. JOSEPH SMITH, THE PROPHET'S SON 629
64. BRIGHAM YOUNG ON HIS TRAVELS 647,648
65. BRIGHAM YOUNG'S HOME 651
66. AUTOGRAPH LETTER OF BRIGHAM YOUNG 655,656
67. THE APOSTLE GEORGE A. SMITH 661
68. " " BRIGHAM YOUNG, JUNIOR 662
69. " " GEORGE Q. CANNON 664
70. MAP OF UTAH TERRITORY 669, 670
71. SALT LAKE CITY 689,690
72. THE MORMON TABERNACLE 695
73. THE SALT LAKE TEMPLE 699,700
74 ST. MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 703
75. THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF UTAH 707
76. BINGHAM CANON 709,710
77. LITTLE COTTONWOOD 717,718
78. THE PIONEER MILL 721,722
79. THE EMMA MINE 725,726
INTRODUCTION.
" Nothing extenuate,
Nor set down aught in malice."
THE purpose of the Author of this volume is to issue a book
that will be of interest to the reading public, and of service to
the people of whom it treats : the former ask for such informa-
tion, and the latter cannot properly object to being understood
as they really are.
In addition to his own personal experience, the works that
have been previously written on Mormonism, both by friends
and foes, have been carefully studied and collated. The con-
tents of this book may, therefore, be regarded as an impartial
summary of what can be said respecting the faith of the " Mor-
" mon Saints," by one who had the fellowship of the Church
for over a quarter of a century, who occupied a public position
in that relationship, enjoyed familiar intimacy with the apos-
tles and leading elders, and for a dozen years had daily inter-
course with Brigham Young.
The Author has no pet theories to advance, no revelations
to announce, no personal animosity to satisfy. He has simply
outgrown the past, and utterly disbelieves Brigham Young's
recent claim to the possession of " a Priesthood that is Infal-
" lible," and the assumption that the Mormon Church is the
exclusive and only true Church of Christ upon the earth,
xx INTRODUCTION.
and membership therein the only passport to the presence
of God.
Having contributed both by tongue and pen, from the ros-
trum and by the press, with the best years of his life and with
whatever talents he possessed, to teach the Mormon faith while
he believed it, he now considers it due equally to the Mormons
as to the public to exhibit what that earnest people have ac-
complished, and thus exemplify the ease with which a reli-
giously-disposed community may naturally mistake the legiti-
mate results of united faith and labour for the special mark of
Divine guidance.
The change which the Author has experienced in his views
of Mormonism has not been the work of a day or a year, has
not resulted from any personal injury ; neither is it due to any
special gifts or miraculous conversion. There are to-day thou-
sands of persons in the Mormon communion in Utah, travelling
in the same direction, without that living faith in the an-
nounced mission of their Church which they once possessed.
They still cling to it with anxious solicitude, hoping for some
deliverance ; knowing not what to expect, yet realizing that
"something must come." Hence the readiness with which
many have listened to those who claim to have received new
revelations and new missions among themselves.
While the tendency of the age has been to accept " revealed
" truths " on account of their own intrinsic value only, and not
from the assumption of their authority, the Mormon Church
has travelled in the very opposite direction, and has resusci-
tated the Jewish prophets to support the teachings of modern
apostles.
In the examination of Mormonism, the student will meet
the reproduction of nearly every principle, doctrine and usage
to be found on record from Genesis to Eevelation if not in
practice, at least in acknowledgment ; and where the practice
INTRODUCTION. xxi
is in abeyance, it is not its wrong but its expediency that fur-
nishes the justification of its momentary neglect.
Before the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lin-
coln, slavery as well as polygamy existed in Utah. The na-
tion, by the stern arbitrament of the sword, settled the one, and
the other is now in controversy. Both institutions, in the
Mormon faith, are ordinances of God.
No antiquity, however, is respected by the Moipnon teach-
er, unless it is harmonious with the inspirations of the modern
priesthood. This is exemplified in the unceasing use of the
Old Testament in support of polygamy, the " Blood Atone-
" ment," [i. e., shedding of the saintly sinner's blood as an
atonement for adultery or apostacy] and kindred teaching,
while the New Testament is unceremoniously set aside when
it militates against the establishment of " a literal kingdom of
" God " upon the earth.
The breathings of every anguish-burthened soul among the
Hebrews, in its longing for the restoration of monarchy and
glory to Israel, are accepted as Divine inspiration and revela-
tion pointing directly to the times in which we live. That
disturbing dream of the King of Babylon, interpreted by
Daniel, has been a perennial fountain of living waters to the
Mormon preacher. The anxious monarch and the heaven-gift-
ed interpreter may not have anticipated in that hour of solici-
tude in the land of Shinar, that " the stone cut out of the
" mountains without hands," which was to " break in pieces
" the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold " of the
" great image " of the king's dream, was to find its fulfilment
in the discovery of the stone box containing the plates of the
Book of Mormon, by Joseph Smith, in western New York, in
the year of grace 1820 ! It requires considerable faith to ac-
cept the statement that the migrations of the Mormons from
Fayette County, New York, to Kirtland, Ohio ; thence to Jack-
son County, Missouri ; to Nauvoo, Illinois ; on to the Rocky
xxii INTRODUCTION.
Mountains ; spreading over the Great Basin ; and the Church
sending thence its missionaries to the nations, was the rolling
forth of the " stone " of prophecy, which was to " become a
" great mountain and fill the whole earth." *
The dim light of a far distant past, added to their own
revelations, preserves among the Mormons a perpetual conflict
between barbarism and civilization, for the people are, in head
and heart, far in advance of their religious teachings. Hence
the frequent " apostacy."
~No faith could well be more liberal than written Mormon-
ism. In the beginning of its mission it was a beautiful ideal
to those thoroughly imbued with its inspiration ; yet no pro-
fessors of religion in the nineteenth century could be more bit-
terly bigoted than the rigidly orthodox and ignorant among
the Mormons to-day. "Without intending it, probably, and,
it may be, even without realizing it, as others do who differ
from them, their profession and their practice have been the
very antipodes of each other. In moments of creed-writing
they are liberal and broadly cosmopolitan in sentiment, warmly
inviting to "fair freedom's feast," away up in the Rocky
Mountains
" Christian sects and pagan,
Pope, and Protestant, and Priest,
Worshippers of God or Dagon.f "
But when once the Plains have been traversed, there the
reception of, and intercourse with, the religious stranger have
been like the chilling breezes of the frigid zone. After all, this
very paradox is harmonious and consistent even in its contra-
dictions. The written invitation is the breathing of their souls'
best and divinest impulses the Deity of their nature recogniz-
ing one common parentage in the family of man, reaching
forth the hand of fellowship to humanity everywhere ; but, in
the practical part, in intercourse with mankind, it is the tram-
* Divine Authenticity, pp. 85-6. f Hymn Book, page 103.
INTRODUCTION. xxiii
pled worm still in agony, the remembrance of " persecutions "
that chills every forward, generous impulse and withers the
soul with the baneful teaching that " he that is not for us is
44 against us."
Through the first twenty years of their occupancy of the
Territory of Utah, the advanced and liberal minds among them
hoped for a change from the ostracizing teachings of the Taber-
nacle, but it was almost hoping against hope. A brighter
day, however, is dawning, when the barriers that have forbid-
den intercourse with the rest of the world, because of differ-
ences of faith, will be gently lowered and a better understand-
ing prevail between the favoured Saints and the unbelieving
Gentiles, and in some respects the former will be the greater
gainers by the change. " JSTo feud," says the shrewd and witty
Sydney Smith, " can withstand social intercourse."
Throughout this work there will be found no disposition to
pander to the charge of "wilful imposture" against Joseph
Smith or Brigham Young. The facts of their history, to the
Author's mind, do not warrant that conclusion. Men who
publicly utter predictions which time must verify or prove
false within the scope of their own natural lives, are entitled
to the credit of honestly believing in their own mission. It is
safe and sound philosophy to admit that men can be, and are
frequently as zealous in the propagation of an error as of a
truth ; or what shall be said of the great " army of martyrs,"
of whom not one in a thousand ever reached the stake, the
rack, or the guillotine for an absolute verity ?
Whatever judgment may be passed upon the faith and
personal lives of the Mormon Prophet and his successor, there
will be a general recognition of a divine purpose in their his-
tory. Under their leadership the Mormon people have aided
to conquer the western desert and to transform a barren and
desolate region of a hitherto u unknown country " into a land
that seems destined at no distant day to teem with millions of
xxiv INTRODUCTION.
human beings, and which promises to stand preeminent among
the conquests of the republic. It is doubtful whether any col-
lective body of other citizens unmoved by religious impulses
would ever have traversed the sandy desert and sage-plains,
and have lived an age of martyrdom in reclaiming them, as the
Mormons have in Utah. But this has been accomplished, and
it was accomplished by faith. That was the Providence of the
Saints, and it must be conceded that as a means subservient to
an end, the Mormon element has been u.sed in the Rocky
Mountain region by the Almighty Ruler for developing the
best interests of the nation, and for the benefit of the world at
large.
Should this work contribute to encourage the feeble, doubt-
ing Mormons to persevere in the domain of thought, to culti-
vate the reflex of the Deity within their own humanity, to
trust more to the whisperings of the " still, small voice " than
to the dogmas of men ; and thus aid the downcast, sorrowing,
and oppressed, to reach the peace and happiness of true liberty
and manly independence, the Author will feel that his labour
has not been in vain.
It will be a matter of sincere regret, if, in the following
pages, any statement has been made that is incorrect in fact or
unfair in inference ; but errors should there be any to which
attention may be called, will be carefully eliminated from a
future edition.
INCEPTION OF MORMONISM JOSEPH SMITH'S FIRST VISION.
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAINTS,
^CHAPTER I.
MOEMONISM EXPLAINED. The First Faith Biblical Spiritual Enthusiasm of
the Elders Establishment of a Literal Kingdom predicted Polygamy not in
the Origianl Programme Mormon Errors attributable to the System and Lead-
ers Argument of the Miraculous Power of Healing Difficulty experienced in
leaving the Mormon Church Assumption of Infallible Priesthood Mormonism
summed up.
THE faith of the Latter-Day Saints was in the beginning
strictly confined to Biblical doctrines, and the preaching of the
first elders was something like a resuscitation of the dispensa-
tion committed to the apostolic fishermen of Galilee. With
the acceptance of what they deemed the new revelation of
Christ, there was no sacrifice too great to make, and no self-
abnegation with which they would not strive to adorn their
lives. Primitive Mormonism was to the youthful disciples the
fulness of the everlasting gospel, with all the blessings, gifts
and powers enjoyed by the early Christian Church, and all the
promises of glory and honour in the world to come that in-
spired the first disciples of Christ.
The first elders were peculiarly adapted for the singular
work which they had to perform. They were earnest, fiercely
enthusiastic, and believers in everything that had ever been
written about " visions," " dreams," " the ministering of an-
u gels," " gifts of the spirit, tongues, and interpretation of
" tongues," " healings," and " miracles." They wandered
" without purse or scrip " from village to village and from city
to city, preaching in the public highways, at the firesides or in
the pulpits wherever they had opportunity testifying and
singing :
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAINTS.
" The Spirit of God like a fire is burning !
The Latter-day glory begins to come forth ;
The visions and blessings of old are returning,
The Angels are coming to visit the earth.
We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven
Hosannah, hosannah to God and the Lamb !
Let glory to them in the highest be given,
Henceforth and for ever : Amen and Amen ! " *
Half a dozen such verses as these inspired with sentiments
that ranged from Adam to the time when " Jesus descends
" with his chariots of fire," sung with Stentorian lungs, threw
over their audiences
an influence such as
they had never before
experienced. " The
" work was of God."
The barren, specula-
tive, carefully pre-
pared sermons of fifty
weeks in the year
chilled in the pres-
ence of the energy
and demonstration of
the Mormon elders ;
the latter had no dead issues to deal with ; their -Prophet was a
live subject. In this manner Mormonism was first announced.
It was the feeling of the soul, and not the reasoning of the mind.
It was robust believing, not calm, intellectual understanding ;
and thus by natural sequence " the number of the disciples
" grew and multiplied." It was an emotional faith in both
speaker and hearer. They felt that God was with them, and
" feeling" at such moments sets all argument at rest.