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Gentiles, how much "glory must surround his head in the presence of his many wives and his many children." Surely here is a "gathering of spirits."

In the eternity they hold there are many worlds and many gods, and that each world has a head god, and a son next in command, but that over all is one chief, who is the father of all the little gods; and that he, too, "is the father of Jesus Christ in the only way known in nature, just as John Smith, senior, is the father of John Smith, junior."

The theory of creation and of the Garden of Eden, as well as Darwin's "Descent of Man," giving the origin of our ancestors in oysters, slugs, and apes, are all rejected by the saints, who claim that "when the earth was prepared, there came from an upper world a son of God, with his beloved spouse, and thus a colony from heaven, it may be from the sun, was transplanted on our soil." This theory is synonymous with the view recently promulgated by the learned professor in Edinburgh, Scotland, who declares that there are no germs of human creative life on our globe, and that, after "careful study of the subject of creation and the race," he concludes that our ancestors came from some of the globes above us, and made their terrestrial descent upon an areolite. It is not mentioned whether other emigrants are to follow, or whether the sudden contact of the metal aerial horse with the earth gave the riders a vivid and unpleasant realization of terra firma. Doubtless the Mormon theory is as correct as any other version of this subject, and any of the others are as correct as that of the Mormon view.

Mormons and the few others who may reach heaven are to appear “in the flesh," and, surrounded by their

wives and children, sing perpetually to their prophet. Baptism by immersion is a sacrament. Brigham himself has been twice in the "plunge," and the sins of all converts are floated on the "waters of regeneration;" and upon the appearance of an influx of Gentile immigrants, lascivious men from California, or grasshoppers, all saints that are considered "shaky" get a dip.

The composition and order of the "godhead" are Eloheim, Jehovah, Adam, Christ, and Joseph Smith. From this "head centre" issue the inspirational light that led the saints from New York to Nauvoo, and thence to the "promised land" in the vicinity of Great Salt lake.

A plentiful supply of prophecy, power of the Holy Ghost, inspiration, gospels, signs, wonders, mystic powers, visions, faith, atonement, regeneration, spirits, angels, saints, revelations, testimony, healing by laying on of hands, anointments, holy cils, patriarchs, remissions, bishops, teachers, evangelists, purgations, ascensions, descensions, dreams, callings, priesthoods, sacraments, orders, progressions, gifts of tongues, consecrations, and miracles are woven through the doctrines of the Mormon faith to render it palatable to the most visionary of mortals, while the practical workings of polygamy have strong attractions for the more materialistic. Christ, the Mormons say, was but a man as others, having in his brief lifetime set his followers the injunction of multiplication by having five wives himself, among whom were Mary and Martha.

Polygamy at first was not a part of the Mormon faith. Joseph did not find any revelation of its necessity on the golden plates, and in the Book of Mormon such a practice is fiercely denounced. In the second

chapter of the work is found a warning to the Nephites:

"But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For this people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the Scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms because of the things that were written concerning David and Solomon, his son. They, truly, had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord. Wherefore, hearken unto the word of the Lord, for there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife, and concubines he shall have. none; for I, the Lord God, delighteth in the chastity of woman."

With the Mormons, as with other mortals, even pro phecies and revelations are controlled or altered by circumstances; so, while at Nauvoo, the increase of beautiful young women so inspired Joseph, Brigham, and other saints, that a new revelation was deemed necessary. The prophet sought it and it came, fully denying the injunction in the Book of Mormon, and going back to the harems of "the servants of the Lord" for a justification of concubinage and incest. Joseph received the new revelation at Nauvoo, on the 12th of July, 1843; and in the Deseret News extra, of the 14th of September, 1852, at Salt Lake City, it was first publicly proclaimed to the "people;" the bishops and elders having first selected the fairest of their flocks for their own use.

The "revelation" in part reads:

"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Joseph, that asmuch as you have inquired at my hands to know wherein I, the Lord, justified my servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David, and Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having many wives and concubines; behold and lo, I am the Lord, and will answer thee as touching this matter."

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Brigham Young,

HEAD OF THE MORMON CHURCH, AND A PORTION OF HIS WIVES AND CHILDREN.

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