THE MORMONS.
From a census report lately made to the Mormon Bishops it appears that the total population of the Territory is 18,114. Of these about two-thirds are members, and about one-fifth are persons in authority.—The number of persons on Missions is 138, or one out of every 131 of the population.—What sect can beat that?
Brigham Young said in his address to the General Conference—
Excuse me for saying devil; I do not of-ten use the old gentleman's name in vain, and if I do it, it is always in the pulpit, where I do all my swearing. I make this apology, because it is considered a sin to say devil, and it grates on refined ears.
And Orson Hyde, President of the Apos-tles, delivered the following bit of religious philosophy—
Remember, that God our; heavenly Fath-er was perhaps once a child and mortal like we ourselves, and rose step by step in the scale of progress, in the school of advance-ment; has moved forward and overcome until he has arrived at the point where he now is. "Is this really possible?" Why, my dear friends, how would you like to be governed by a ruler who had not been through all the vicissitudes of life that is common to mortals?” If he had not suffer-ed, how could he sympathise with the dis-tress of others? If he himself had not en-dured the same, how could he sympathise and be touched with the feelings of our in-firmities? He could not, unless he himself had passed through the same ordeal and overcome step by step. If this is the case, it accounts for the reason why we do not see him; He is too pure a Being to show him-self to the eyes of mortals; he has over-come and goes no more out, but he is the temple of my God and is a pillar there.
19th Century Mormon Article Newspaper Index
