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MORMONISM.

Extracts from a pamphlet entitled MORMONISM EXPOSED, continued from our last.

CHAPTER II.

The distinguishing doctrines of Mormonism, and the manner in which they have been acted out.

THE only way in which the advocates of this delusion could make converts, would be by teaching some truths in common with other Christians. Hence we find when first visiting a place for the purpose of making converts, they preach and enforce many Christian precepts, like ordinary Christians, leaving entirely out of sight the peculiar notions which distinguish them from others. The following are some of them:

1.-Mormons profess to act under the infallible inspiration of God, and to have power to work miracles.

"Without these gifts [prophecy, miracles, healing, and all other gifts] the saints cannot be perfected; the work of the ministry cannot proceed; the body of Christ cannot be edified."

Voice of Warning, pp. 118, 119.

“And as I said unto mine apostles, even so I say unto you; for ye are mine apostles-therefore, as I said unto mine apostles I say unto you again, that every soul who believeth on your word, and is baptized with water for the remission of sins, shall receive the Holy Ghost; and these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils-heal the sick-open the eyes of the blind-unstop the ears of the deaf-and if any man shall administer poison unto them it shall not hurt them."-Doctrines and Covenants, p. 92.

II.-Mormons are pledged to work miracles when required to do so. "Require not miracles, except I shall command you, except casting out devils, healing the sick, and against poisonous serpents, and against deadly poisons; and these things ye shall not do except it be required of you, by them who desire it, that the scriptures might be fulfilled."-Doctrines and Covenants, p. 112.

III.-Mormons profess to have intercourse with the angels of God, and affirm that they frequently see them, and have messages from God through them.

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See the account of the origin of the Book of Mormon, before quoted.

IV.-Mormons claim to be the only true church; all other churches are of Antichrist, and exposed to God's eternal displeasure.

"Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth. called upon my servant, Joseph Smith, Jr., and spake unto him from heaven, and give unto him commandments."

"After having received the record of the Nephites, yea, even my servant, Joseph Smith, Jr., might have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon; and also to those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church,-the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.-Doc. and Cov., page 76.

V.-Mormons say that God has sent down from heaven a city called the New Jerusalem, and located it in the western boundaries of Missouri, where he requires all his followers to go, under the pain of his wrath. And, it is a fundamental principle with them, that if they cannot buy the land, they are to obtain it by the sword.

"America is a chosen land of the Lord, above every other land; it is the place of the New Jerusalem, which has come down from God out of heaven, upon the earth."-Voice of Warning, p. 179.

"This is the will of God concerning his saints, that they shall assemble themselves together unto the land of Zion. Behold the land of Zion, I the Lord holdeth it in my own hauds; notwithstanding, I. the Lord, rendereth unto Cesar the things which are Cesar's. Wherefore, I, the Lord, willeth that you shall purchase the lands, that you may have advantage over the world, that you may have claim of the world, that they may not be stirred up unto anger; for Satan putteth it into their hearts to anger against you, and to the shedding of blood. Wherefore the land of Zion shall not be obtained but by purcbase, or by blood; otherwise there is none inheritance for you."

Doctrines and Covenants, p. 143. "A revelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and six elders, as they united their hearts and lifted up their voices on high, for the gathering of his saints to stand on Mount Zion, which shall be the city of the New Jerusalem; which shall be built, beginning at the Temple Lot, appointed by the finger of the Lord, in the western boundaries of Missouri."-Ib. page 566.

"And that it was the place of the New Jerusalem which should come down out of heaven, and the holy sanctuary of the Lord."

Book of Mormon, page 566. VI.-Mormons affirm that their books were written, and that the Book of Mormon was translated by the inspiration of God; and that they are of equal authority with the Holy Scriptures.

The book called "Doctrines and Covenants," it seems, received the approbation of the Mormon General Assembly, August 17, 1835.— Twelve Mormons bear the following testimony to its divine authority:

"We, therefore, feel willing to bear testimony to all the world of mankind, that the Lord hath borne record to our souls, through the Holy Ghost shed forth upon us, that these commandments were given by inspiration of God, and are profitable for all men, and are verily true."Doctrines and Covenants, page 256.

"They shail speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and what they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, shall be SCRIPTURE"-lb. p. 148

VII.-Mormons pretend to have power to give the Holy Ghost to those on whom they lay their hands for this purpose.

"Behold, verily, verily, I say unto my servant, Sidney Rigdon,-I give unto thee a commandment, that thou shalt baptize with water, and they shall receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, even as the Apostles of old.”—Doctrines and Covenants, page 116.

VIII.-Mormonism threatens all who reject it with eternal damnation. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, they who believe not on your word, and are not baptized by water, in my name, for the remission of sins,

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&c., shall be damned. And this revelution unto you, and commandment, is in force from this very hour, upon all the world." Doctrines and Covenants, page 92.

IX.-Mormonism most wickedly assumes to alter the conditions of forgiveness and salvation.

"And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned."-Book of Mormon, page 478.

"Behold, I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children needeth baptism, is in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity: for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell."

Ibid, page 582. The curse of God is denounced upon all who reject the nonsense contained in the book of Mormon:

"And he that shall deny these things let him be accursed.”

Ibid, page 546.

"Therefore, all who receive the priesthood receive the oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be renounced; but whoso breaketh this covenant, after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come."-Doc and Cov. page 91.

"And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all; and they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the book of Mormon."-lb. p. 91. "He that kills shall not have forgiveness in this world, nor in the world to come."-Ib. p. 121.

X.-Mormonism demands money as the condition of discipleship, under the penalty of eternal damnation.

"Whoso receiveth you, receiveth me, and the same will feed you, and clothe you, and give you money-and he who doeth not these things is not my disciple."-Doc. and Cov. p. 93.

Here it will be seen that giving money to the Mormon leaders is a condition of discipleship, and all who are not Mormon disciples are doomed to hell!

XI.—One grand design of Mormonism is to fill the pockets of its advocates with money.

"It must needs be that ye save all the money that ye can, and that ye gain all ye can in righteousness."-Doc. and Cov. page 191.

It is wisdom in me that my servant Martin Harris should be an example unto the church, in laying his moneys before the bishop of the church. And also this is a law unto every man that cometh unto this land, to receive an inheritance; and he sball do with his moneys according as the law directs.". s."-Ib. p. 138.

From the next extract, which is addressed to one Titus Billings, the grand object of Mormonism appears in full view,

And let all the moneys which can be spared, it mattereth not unto me whether it be little or much, be sent up unto the land of Zion, unte those I have appointed to receive it.”—Ib. p. 143.

Here it is again. Money, money, money:

"And let all those [preachers] who have no families, who receive moneys, send it up unto the bishop of Zion, or unto the bishop in Ohio,

that it may be consecrated for the bringing forth of the revelations, and the printing thereof, and establishing Zion."

No "revelations" can be brought forth without money. The "New Jerusalem" cannot come down from heaven without money. Here it is again:

"Behold, this is my will, obtaining moneys even as I have directed."-Ib. p. 133-4.

"He that sendeth up treasures unto the land of Zion, shall receive an inheritance in this world. And his work shall follow him. And also a reward in the world to come."-lb. p. 144.

And we must believe that the foregoing language is from the mouth of the infinite God, under the penalty of eternal damnation!

Look also to the following, said to be the words of the Most High: "I command that thou shalt not covet thine own property, but impart it freely to the printing of the Book of Mormon, which contains the truths of the word of God.”—Ib. p. 175.

"Impart a portion of thy property; yea, even part of thy lands, and all save the support of thy family.”—Ib. p. 176.

The next extract is not only important, as it plainly shows the true Mormon solicitude about money, but it reveals an important fact with regard to Oliver Cowdery, one of the eleven witnesses upon whose ipse dixit we are commanded to believe the Book of Mormon:

"Hearken unto me, saith the Lord your God, for my servant Oliver Cowdery's sake. It is not wisdom in me that he should be entrusted with the moneys which he shall carry up unto the land of Zion, except one go with him who is true and faithful. Wherefore, I, the Lord, willeth that my servant, John Whitmar, shall go with my servant, Oliver Cowdery."-Ib p. 138.

Does the reader still doubt as to the grand design of Smith and his associates? Read the following:

It is meet that my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun., should have a house built in which to live and translate. And, again, it is meet that my servant, Sidney Rigdon, should live as seemeth him good, inasmuch as he keepeth my commandments."-Ib. p. 189.

And from the following it will be seen that Joseph Smith excuses himself from work, and has provided himselt with "whatsoever he needeth." And this regulation is not only to last while he lives, but he is to hold his office in the world to come!

"Provide for him food and raiment, and whatsoever he needeth.". Ib. p. 126.

And in temporal labor thou [Smith] shalt not have strength, for this is not thy calling."-lb. p. 112.

"Verily, I say unto you [Joseph Smith, Jun.] the keys of the kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in this world, neither in the world to come."-Ib p. 114.

Nor is this all. A new revelation" has recently "come forth": from this impostor, in which he not only makes provision for himself during life, but also for his family connexions after him, forever! This revelation is dated January 19, 1841, and has appeared in the papers of the day. It orders the building of a boarding-house

"And now, I say unto you, as pertaining to my boarding-house, which I commanded you to build for the boarding of strangers; let it

be built unto my name, and let my name be named upon it, and let my servant Joseph and his house have places therein from generation to generation. For this anointing have I put upon his head, that his blessing shall also be put upon the heads of his posterity after him, and as I said unto Abraham concerning the kindreds of the earth, even so I say unto my servant Joseph, In thee and in thy seed shall the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

"Therefore, let my servant Joseph, and his seed after him, have place in that house from generation to generation for ever and ever, saith the Lord, and let the name of that house be called the Nauvoo House."

A Presbyterian clergyman, from the neighborhood of Smith's residence, informs us that the impostor walks with a golden headed cane, and dresses in the finest style. A distinguished member of the sect informed him that Smith was now possessed of more than $100,000. How much further could fanaticism go?

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

MILLENNIUM.

THE COMING OF THE LORD-No. XIX.

IF, according to friend Miller, the Lord will come next year, or "immediately," according to others, how can such scriptures as these be verified?

1. "They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks." This indicates that after wars shall have ceased and the peace of Messiah's reign shall have become universal, swords and spears shall be fabricated no more; and that the demand for ploughs and pruning-hooks will survive the demand for the implements of war. Now if the world ends next year, or immediately, then we shall no more need ploughshares and pruning-hooks than swords and spears. Nor will it help the matter to view the last thousand years as one day of judgment, and thus make the Millennium and the day of judgment identical: for in the day of judgment they will no inore need ploughs and pruning-hooks than swords and lances.

2. "Babylon the Great is fallen!" say the weeping merchants while they survey her smoking ruins. They lament that the market for their wares has ceased forever. But if the world terminate immedi ately, Babylon never falls, unless Babylon means the whole worldJerusalem and Babylon, the gorgeous palaces, the solemn temples, the lofty towers, the great globe itself shall dissolve into ruin at the same moment, Babylon, then, never falls if the world ends next year

3. Again, Satan is never "bound for a thousand years" if the world end next year. There will be no nations to deceive; and, indeed,

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