THE MORMONS.
We have perused a pretty long and prob-ably a true account of this singular people and their location in Mount Zion, contained in a letter published in the Christian Watch-man from C. Bixley, and dated Independ-ence, Jackson county, Mo. Oct. 11, 1832, the very seat of the new Jerusalem. His account of their situation and projects is not very flattening. About four or five hundred Mormons, men, women and child-ren, have collected at Zion. Their posses-sions are small compared with their num-bers, being only about four sections of land. Twenty acres is the portion assigned for each family to improve, but they to hold no property should they leave the community. Their creed appears to have undergone but little change. Originally members of al-most every sect, they cordially unite in de-testing all, save Mormons. They all pre-tend to the gift of miracles, of tongues, of healing their sick, visions, &c, though, like all other modern miracles, often told but never seen Their prophet, Smith, is now busy in restoring the present Bible to its primitive purity, and in adding some lost books of great importance. A new reve-lation is also forthcoming. Elder Ridgdon pretty well known in this vicinity as an arch apostate, is now the first, best, and greatest preacher of Mount Zion. The Mormons still profess to talk with angels, visit the third heavens, and converse with Christ. We believe their society numbers some-thing more than one hundred souls in this county, many of whom intend removing to Mount Zion in the Spring. Mormonism was introduced by a few illiterate disciples of Joseph Smith, in the summer of 1831.
Wherever Mormonism obtained a foot-ing, it spread like wild fire. Scores were awakened, converted, baptised, and en-dowed with the holy spirit in a few hours at a single meeting, in the midst of shout-ings, wailings, fallings, contortions, tran-ces, visions, speaking in unknown tongues, and prophcying, that require the pen of a Trollope to describe. The timid were frightened, the credulous believed, and we were frequently eye witnesses to scenes of strange and unnatural conduct of Mormons professedly under the influence of the most stable and incredulous. But the storm pas-sed—a calm followed—reason triumphed—and Mormonism waned.
As a curiosity, we have carefully exam-ined the Golden Bible, and pronounce it not even a "cunningly devised fable."—Every page bears the impress of its human authorship. Though free from vulgar ob-scenities, it is an abused collection of dull, stupid and foolishly improbable stories, which no person, unless under the influence of powerfully excited feelings, can mistake for truth and inspiration. With its au-thorities, the Book of Mormon cannot sur-vive this generation. The next will re-member it, only to smile at the credulity of the present.—Ohio Atlas.
