PREFACE.

Mormonism is a subject which has been handled by many authors. Some have written in its favor, with prayerful hearts, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit as their honest convictions were recorded; while others have declared against the Mormons and the man who was the instrument, in the hands of God, of founding their faith. A few of the latter class have been honest in their attacks, believing, perhaps, that they were doing the Lord's will in opposing it; but the majority have been actuated by hatred in all they have said on the subject.

The author of this work has endeavored to present, in plain and simple words, the faith of the Latter-day Saints, with a desire to aid and interest the young men of Mormondom, who have had no missionary experience, and to fit them to make known their belief to the nations of the earth, should they be called upon for that purpose.

If this book shall benefit them, and give others a better conception of the Latter-day Saints and their religion, the object in publishing it will have been attained.

THE AUTHOR.

OGDEN, February, 1893.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE OLD AND THE NEW.

The Changes In the Sunny South, since the War. Hospitality of the Southerner. His Traits of Character. Politics and Religion. Purpose of the Description.

CHAPTER II.

A NEW ARRIVAL IN THE TOWN.

The Town of Westminster. Harmony Place, the Hotel of the Marshalls. Guests and their social Methods. Mr. Charles Durant, the New Arrival from the West. Introduction to the Family and Visitors.

CHAPTER III.

NEW ACQUAINTANCES AND AN AGREEABLE DISCUSSION.

An Evening on the veranda. A Variety of Subjects Discussed. Politics and Religion. Christian America. Do People Practice their Religious Professions? Priests Addicted to Money-getting rather than to Soul-getting. The Stranger Interested. Proposed Discussion. Search after Truth. A Quotation from the Prayer Book. A Difference Concerning the Godhead. Erroneous Conception of God. Oneness of the Father and the Son. Three Separate Identities, United as One in all Things. Character of Each. A God with Body, Parts and Passions. Mysteries Explained. "Good Night."

CHAPTER IV.

GAINING AND LOSING FAVOR.

Entirely at Home. Another Evening on the Veranda. The Reverend, the Stranger, and Churches. The Baptism of Christ. Baptism by Immersion. Necessity of this Ordinance. The Savior's Example. Who are True Christians? Laying on of Hands. The Reverend Retires from the Argument. Continued Discussion. The Gospel and its Necessity. Men must Answer for their own Sins. The Double Effect of the Atonement of Christ. Conditions of Salvation. A Definition of Faith. First Step Alone Is not Sufficient for Salvation. Scripture Explained. Romans, Chapter X. The Stranger's Errand.

CHAPTER V.

FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE FIRST PRINCIPLES.

The Second Step that should be Taken by the Convert to Christianity. True Repentance, its End and Aim. Forgiveness of Sin, How obtained. Mode, Meaning, and Significance of Baptism. Who are fit Candidates for this Ordinance? Little Children exempt. What shall we do to be saved? The Answer of Paul. The Holy Ghost, How conferred. The Signs Following. Conditions of Salvation named. "Show Me Where True Christians Live." Who is authorized to Baptize? The Need of Authorized Officers. A Sign of the True Church. Teachers must be called of God "The Falling Away" Foretold. Christians turned Heathen, The Gospel to be restored. Prophecies Concerning this Event. The Restoration through Revelation to Man. Promises to the Believer. A Lecture Arranged for.

CHAPTER VI.

TRUTH AGAIN DEFEATS FALSEHOOD.

A Pleasant Conversation. Missionary Hymn. Perfect Happiness, True Enjoyment, How Obtained. The Medium Course, Sensible Christianity. The Reverend Once More. His peculiar Surprise. "Are You from Salt Lake City?" The Stranger is a Latter-day Saint, or Mormon. A Discomfited Minister. Some Falsehoods Exposed. The Articles of Faith.

CHAPTER VII.

Durant's Experience in Westminster. His Labors. Meeting in the Town Hall. Sincere Congratulations. Fears of a Mob.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE PROPHET JOSEPH'S STATEMENT.

Once More on the Veranda. Answering Questions. Information from the Right Source. Complete Statement of the Early Rise and Progress of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by the Prophet, Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon. The Testimony of Three Witnesses. And also the Testimony of Eight Witnesses. Concerning the Restoration of the Gospel. Striking Illustration. Departure from Westminster.

CHAPTER IX.

THAT MORMON AGAIN.

A New Member of the Marshall Family. Meeting an Esteemed Friend. A Delayed Breakfast. A Promised Return. Anxious to Meet the Missionary. Effect of the Elder's Testimony. Danger of Being converted to Mormonism. An Informal Meeting Place.

CHAPTER X.

THE MISSIONARY'S RETURN.

Once More with his Friends. Experience While Away. Account of a Terrible Mobbing. Peculiar Feelings Attending the Formation of New Friendships. Opportunity to introduce a New Principle. The Doctrine of Pre-Existence. A Beautiful Poem. Proofs from the Scriptures. The Truth is Reasonable. A Walk through the Village. "The World my Home."

CHAPTER XI.

A PLEASANT INTERVIEW.

An Evening Gathering. Remarks on the Faith of the Latter-day Saints. What they Believe. A Literal Resurrection. The Teachings of Jesus and the Scriptures on this Subject. Illustrations. Now Accepted Facts were Once Incomprehensible. Great Truths Yet Unrevealed. The story of the Silver Cup. Death-bed Repentance. The Repentant Malefactor did not go to Heaven with the Savior. The Subject explained. Where and What is Paradise? Preaching to Departed Spirits. Baptism for the Dead. The Welding Link Between the Fathers and their Children. Testimony of a Prophecy Fulfilled. Organization of the Church of Christ. The Holy Priesthood. Officers of the Melchisedek and the Aaronic Priesthoods.

CHAPTER XII.

A BAPTISM AND A CONVERSATION ON MARRIAGE.

Importance of Baptism. Necessity of Earnest Preparation. Form of the Ordinance Given. Quotations Showing the Gathering to be In Strict Harmony with the Bible. The Marriage Covenant is Eternal. The Union of Adam and Eve. What is meant by Marriage as Ordained of God? Necessity of Authority.

CHAPTER XIII.

ABOUT THE MORMONS.

A Trip to Utah. Consideration that Led the Mormons to Settle that Territory. The Death of the Prophet Joseph, How it Occurred. Its Effect on the Saints. How Brigham Young Became Leader of the People. The Exodus from Nauvoo. Testimony of Historians. Good by. Off for the West. Arrival in Salt Lake City. A Happy Meeting. A Doctrinal Sermon.

CHAPTER XIV.

MR. BROWN'S LETTER TO THE MARSHALLS.

The Great West. Along the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. By the Denver & Rio Grande over the Rockies. Scenes Along the Line. Over the Wasatch into Utah. Delightful Views. Area, Population and Resources of the Territory. In Salt Lake City. The Tabernacle and the Temple. Ecclesiastical Divisions. Natural Attractions. Education. A Living Faith. Fair Minded People. President Wilford Woodruff. Greetings.

CHAPTER XV.

CONCLUSION.

A Word Before we Separate. Important Questions. "What if the Message be True." "Read, Listen, Investigate." "Know this, that Every Soul is Free."

APPENDIX.

WHAT BRIGHAM YOUNG SAID.

Quotations from the Sermons of President Brigham Young.

CHAPTER I.

THE OLD AND THE NEW.

There are few if any cities or towns of any consequence in the vast territory known to poesy as the Sunny South, that do not speak in every street corner, in almost every building, and even through the individuals themselves, of the wondrous changes wrought by the great civil war. Those who knew that Sunny South before the sanguinary struggle, and have since looked upon it, will most readily appreciate the force of this statement; while those who have not seen it, need only be told that where villages existed then, now thriving towns arise, or bustling municipalities; elegant mansions have supplanted log huts or other indifferent abodes of men; the railway has displaced the stage coach for all time; newspapers abound where before these were almost unknown, and—greatest boon of all—the auction block, whereon human merchandise was publicly vended, exists only as a memory which itself is rapidly vanishing before the pressure of modern progress and a better civilization. In one respect at least, however, there has been

little, if any, change, and that is in regard to the best feature of all among the many that are commendable in the true Southerner—the stranger or wayfarer is received with the same unaffected hospitality as of yore, and is at liberty, within reasonable limits, to avail himself of all the conveniences and enjoyments of whatever home he may find himself the guest.

Notwithstanding their hospitality, the people of the South are usually disposed to be suspicious of strangers until well acquainted with them, and they are overly watchful, jealous and even irritable when once a real or fancied cause for vigilance arises. Inheriting traditions and propensities which are inseparable from the climate and the race, they brook no interference with their peculiar views, and anything savoring of intolerance or bigotry concerning a cherished Southernism is summarily suppressed if it can be; apart from this, it matters little what the visitor believes or practices in a general way. In politics they incline largely one way, possibly for the reason that to do otherwise would, as they look upon it, threaten them with the domination of the black race, and this of all things they will not have, no matter by what means it is prevented. In religion they are protestant with heavy leaning towards the Baptist doctrines, not always free from narrowness, yett fairly tolerant—many evincing a willingness

to listen, and demanding a right to believe or disbelieve, as their judgment may dictate.

Those who are unacquainted with the situation would be inclined to say at this point. What a grand field for missionary work! And so it is; but the great mistake of supposing that the South is deficient in the matter of Christian endeavor or ecclesiastical institutions, must not be made. Far from that! On the contrary, perhaps religious feeling is more generally diffused, guarded, and defended as herein expressed, than in any other section of the civilized world; but it is not of the kind from which riots and persecutions grow for no other reason than that it is opposed.

There is much else south of the imaginary dividing line of North and South that might be spoken of to interest, but which will not be referred to except incidentally in the succeeding chapters. What we have said is for the purpose of giving only so much of a description of the country and people as is necessary to make our little narrative, the incidents of which are laid there, more easily understood. As this book deals principally with actual occurrences, and people in real life, such a foundation seems to be entirely proper.

CHAPTER II.

A NEW ARRIVAL IN THE TOWN.

A town pleasantly situated in the south-western part of Tennessee, the name of which for the present shall be Westminster, was at the time of which we write one of the most cosmopolitan places imaginable for its size—that is, for a southern town. It contained probably two thousand regular inhabitants, but these were constantly augmented, it being at times a rallying point for tourists from every clime, and the temporary abode of men who, in the aggregate, during a season, came well-nigh representing every shade of opinion, if not every phase of character.

A quiet little hotel, or perhaps it would be better to say a residence, with accommodations for a limited number of guests, was situated near the outskirts, and so pleasant in all respects were the location, surroundings and appointments, that its name, Harmony Place, did not seem at all inappropriate. In two important respects it was unlike any other hostelry in the town—there was no bar, and the guests all had an air of respectability in keeping with the house itself. It was kept by a planter, in ordinary financial circumstances, whose name was Marshall; he was assisted in his duties by a colored roustabout of uncertain ancestry, a circumscribed present, and a future wholly undefined. Mr. Marshall's wife, and daughter Claire, did their part by generously entertaining the visitors. There were at the time of which we write three guests—a lawyer named Brown, who had established himself at Westminster; a doctor calling himself Slocum, who was giving the town a trial with a view to locating in it if the patronage warranted; and a tourist whose name was given as Reverend Fitzallen,

and whose object seemed to be the pursuit of health, pleasure and information, and incidentally, the dissemination of the gospel according to his faith. Naturally, with so limited a circle of patrons, each having been there for some length of time, the associations all around were more like those in a family than such as exist between landlord and guests. An evening in the parlor with everybody but the Ethiopian present, the daughter singing to her own accompaniment on the piano, while the doctor turned the music for her, was often enjoyed, and there was rarely if ever a discordant circumstance to mar the serenity of these occasions.

It was early in September, 189—, the most enjoyable part of the year in Westminster. A man, who was readily distinguishable from the town-folk, not only by his strange face but by his attire, and by that indescribable air which appears the more plainly the more a stranger tries to discard or conceal it, made his way leisurely to the gate fronting Harmony Place, and continued his way up the walk leading to the door. He was met by Mrs. Marshall and informed, in response to his inquiry, that he could obtain lodgings there. The colored man took the guest's valise and led the way to a room on the second floor. After washing himself and brushing off the dust from his clothes, the stranger reappeared in the sitting room, and taking up a paper waited the announcement that refreshments were ready, which was not long in coming.

He was somewhat above medium height, well proportioned, not unusually well dressed, but still appeared presentable in good society, and had a countenance which, while not decidedly handsome, was regular and of that caste which attracts attention; his voice was quite pleasant, his natural conversational faculty proved to be good, and he was so well fortified with current facts and all the pleasantries of the day, that before the meal was over he was quite in harmony with the hostess, who was not only happy to answer any question he asked, but look advantage of every opportunity to propound queries for herself. Within an hour from the time of arrival, the new guest seemed to be nearly as well acquainted as if he had been an inmate of the house for a month at least. This ability of rapidly forming acquaintance is very rare; and particularly in the case of travelers, no amount of money or graces can recompense its absence. Those who possess it do not need an extended reference to its usefulness to be made aware thereof, while those who

are not in possession of it can never be made fully to understand its value by means of cold type and white paper.

The landlady has learned the name of the latest arrival before the reader has—it is Charles Durant, aged thirty, and he comes from the West—a rather indefinite abiding place to those of us who are residents of, or are familiar with, that division of our country. It is satisfactory, however, to a majority of our eastern and southern brethren who have never placed feet upon the shores of the Missouri, or crossed its waters, and who seem to entertain a vague idea that Westerners all come from one place, and are all alike in most respects.

Later in the day Durant took a stroll through the suburbs of the town, and returning was introduced to Mr. Marshall, to the guests, as they appeared one by one, with all of whom he was soon on the most cordial terms, and finally to the young lady, the sole representative on earth of her devoted parents, who, being twenty years of age, as pretty as a dream, well informed, and altogether attractive, was not likely to bear their name much longer, albeit at this time reveling in "maiden meditation, fancy free."

It was truly an interesting circle and the interest did not abate in the least by reason of the latest arrival.

CHAPTER III.

NEW ACQUAINTANCES AND AN AGREEABLE DISCUSSION.

The evening of the first day that marked the stranger's advent into Westminster saw the entire personnel of Harmony Place on the veranda; the new moon smiled benignly upon them, the evening was cool and the "ripe harvest of the new-mown hay" gave to the air a "sweet and wholesome odor." One subject after another was taken up, discussed and disposed of, or at least laid aside to give way to some other, and in each and all of them our hero (for such we may as well commence to recognize him) took a part, and exhibited a fund of information and an aptitude of presentation which gave him the preference without a contest whenever he chose to speak. This became more and more frequent as the night wore on, for there was no disguising the fact that he was, like the others, already one of the household. If any one of the party wondered what it was that he had come for, how he expected to get it, or how long he was to stay, the conjecture never found expression; for they all experienced so much of general satisfaction in hearing him,

and took such genuine pleasure in his word-painting of western scenes and events, that they were all willing to have him stay indefinitely. He was literally chosen as one of their number without opposition, and the mere matters of detail regarding his purposes might be left to the future or be entirely undiscovered; he was now decidedly the architect of his own fortune so far as retaining the good will of that little group was concerned.

The conversation proceeded from point to point until the topics of the quiet gathering assumed more the aspect of an intellectual melange than anything else; the Sepoy rebellion made way for the Dakota blizzard, the signal failure of the first laying of the Atlantic cable was shelved to make place for Webster's artistic destruction of Dr. Parkman, and Cromwell's career of conquests and crimes was followed by a brief discussion of the science and practice of silver mining. (Variety and scope enough, surely!) It must be noticeable that the two subjects which agitate us nationally and sometimes locally more than any others—politics and religion—had so far escaped; they had not, however, been unthought of, and presently the latter was begun by the minister saying:

"Representing to some extent as I do, the church, I am compelled to admit that in the matters of organization, discipline and places of worship, America is thoroughly Christianized. Look at the profusion of church buildings wherever you go. To me such rivalry is gratifying in the extreme, representing as it does the highest type of good citizenship."

"I partially concur with you," said the lawyer, "and yet I belong to no church at all—do not, in fact, endorse Christianity as a department of civilized life."

"Why, how is this?" said Fitzallen, "I thought nearly everybody in this country must be orthodox to some extent at least."

"Not so with me, I assure you," the other replied, "and the strangest part of it is that my 'peculiar views,' as you may call them, are not the result of neglect or indifference, but are rather caused by investigation and the peculiar explanations, or rather lack of explanations, of those who make the dissemination of religious views their calling."

"In other words you are an unbeliever."

"Exactly."

"Not totally, I trust."