SOME FACTS ABOUT MORMONISM by C. Frank Gates

The Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · December 4, 1879

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 54, No. 23

SOME FACTS ABOUT MORMONISM.

By C. Frank Gates

The prevalent feeling in regard to this iniquitous system, until very recently, has been one of contemptuous indifference. It was with such a feeling that I entered Salt Lake City on the third day of last July; but I left it with a feeling of deep anxiety for the future influence of Mormonism upon the welfare of our country. The facts which caused this change in my own feelings, I narrate, hoping that they may cause the same change in the minds of those who read them.

On the evening of the Sabbath following our national holiday, I sat on the brow of the hill, above the grave in which the body of the great Mormon lies, buried beneath two flat stones joined together by iron rods, with no word to tell the passer-by of Brigham Young’s place in the affections of his people. Before me lay the beautiful valley of the Salt Lake. I had already been twice to the Mormon Tabernacle, and listened to the defiant utterances of Pres. Taylor and others, with regard to our government; and now I listened with eager interest, while Rev. R. G. McNiece, pastor of the Presbyterian church, depicted for me the state of Mormonism.

Mormonism is not a dead institution. It is a thing of the present, as well as of the past, and is stronger to-day than ever before. There are 109,000 Mormons in Utah. Of these 33,000 are under eight years of age. All above this age are members of the “Church of Latter Day Saints.” Of these 76,000 members, 23,000 are officers; so that there are two officers out of every five men.

The Territory of Utah is divided into about twenty “stakes,” or districts, Salt Lake City being the central stake. These stakes are again divided into wards. There are 231 wards in the Territory, twenty-one of which are in Salt Lake City. Over each ward is placed a bishop and two counselors, and under them are deacons and teachers. It is the duty of these deacons and teachers to visit those who live in their respective wards, the wards being portioned off in districts for their convenience. Thus the control of the Mormon hierarchy over every member is complete. A telegraph runs from the endowment House, in Salt Lake City, through all the principal wards, passing through the houses of the bishops, and operated by members of their families.

The net proceeds of the tithing, for the year ending April, 1879, were $493,000. Prof. J. M. Coyner, principal of the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute, in an interesting pamphlet entitled, “Letters on Mormonism,” states that the income of the church from the tithing is about $1,000,000. All this money passes into the hands of the officers, and no report of it is ever rendered to the people.

These facts are enough to show the power and organization of the system. Now, one word as to the danger from it. The design of the Mormon church has long been to have Utah admitted as a State. This done, Mormonism would have full sway, electing its own rulers, and having a voice in the councils of the nation. Think of polygamy boasting triumphantly in Congress! There is danger that in another such time as followed the last presidential contest, their designs may succeed, and an entrance may be bought, for the sake of their votes. Once admitted as a State, they would make themselves felt. Their missionaries, to the number of about 300, are in foreign fields, and the number of immigrants brought in by them every year is in excess of 5,000. These converts, like those already in the Territory, are at the beck of the Mormon hierarchy. If a colony is to be established in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, New Mexico, or Colorado, the word goes forth, and men move like cattle driven by their overseers. If a sum of money is needed to secure political legislation, the command is uttered and the money is brought to Zion. If a force of men were

needed for any purpose, the click of the telegraph would summon them, as it did a few years ago, when a great demonstration was made in behalf of counselor Wells, imprisoned for contempt of court.

Two things, it seems to me, are necessary in attempting to suppress this great evil. First: the work of education should be pushed forward as rapidly and widely as possible. Education and Mormonism are deadly foes, and cannot live together. Education can save the Mormon children from treading in the footsteps of their parents, and it is doing so. The work of the denominational schools, in Salt Lake City, and in various places throughout the Territory, has been eminently successful, though as yet only a beginning has been made. The Mormons lose numbers from their ranks every year by apostasy, and the number of apostates is, I think, a growing one. But so long as the flood of immigration is allowed to pour in unchecked, it will more than counterbalance the outflow. Therefore, secondly, Mormon immigration must be stopped. Mormon missionaries must not be allowed any longer to seduce these ignorant people from their homes across the sea, with lying promises.

It is a fact that the immigrants are disappointed when they reach Mormon ground; many of them would not remain there if it were possible to get away, but no money is furnished for egress from the valley, and so they fall under the power of the hierarchy.

The complete despotism of the Mormon government is strengthened by the fact that their converts are taken from countries which are not impregnated with the free spirit of republicanism, and from the most ignorant classes to be found in those countries. Secretary Evarts has already taken the initiative in this direction, but, as yet, it seems to have had little effect. What is needed is a strong, earnest public sentiment on this subject, which shall make it impossible for our laws to be unenforced, and our rulers to join hands with the Mormons for the sake of furthering their own schemes. The God “who can have compassion on the ignorant” demands this of us; 130,000 people deprived of free schools are a living appeal to us; the honor of our country, whose laws are trampled under foot, and whose political prosperity is threatened, demands that we remove this foul spot from the body politic, that it may no longer be a sore festering before the eyes of the nations.—C. Frank Gates, in Advance of Oct. 30.