The Mormon Puzzle, And How To Solve It Part 10

The majority of persons are more interested, it seems, in the political and social aspects of the Mormon question than in the purely religious; and this is only natural, because events of a political nature are usually more stirring than any other, and mult.i.tudes of people can grow indignant over violations of the law of the land, who at the same time have no deep-seated abhorrence of sin _per se_. The war against polygamy is undoubtedly of great interest to the average citizen; and the Christian himself cannot help sympathizing with the vigorous work of enforcing the law against polygamy, even though he may not always be in sympathy with the spirit of those who make the political phase paramount to every other.

The religious aspects of the question must ever have the pre-eminence in the Christian's mind, because the eternal destinies of thousands of souls are involved in this great heresy, and because Mormonism will continue to have strength and vitality as a religious system, even though it be stripped of its objectionable political and social features. The rank and file of the people are devoted to their creed. They sincerely believe themselves to be the real conservators of the faith once delivered to the Saints. They are fortified by a system of theology as plausible to the darkened understanding as it is pleasing to the natural heart. They are living under a covenant of works, upon which they have staked their all, and they have a hope of abundant rewards in the future. Their conception of the divine law is narrow and inadequate, because their notions respecting G.o.d are cramped and carnal. Gross error has become thoroughly rooted in the minds of the people.

As we have already seen in treating of the political and social aspects of Mormonism, _its real power lies in its doctrines_. It is the Mormon's constant boast that nothing can shake the sure foundations of his faith.

He has a sincere conviction that his doctrines are invulnerable; but, although the strength of Mormonism does lie in its doctrines, perhaps not one hundredth of the people of our land know anything about their religious tenets, save the doctrine of polygamy.

Let us, therefore, endeavor to get some idea of Mormonism as a religious system--a system of doctrines and precepts; and in doing so let us consider, in the first place,

I. THE SOURCES OF THEIR DOCTRINES.

Mormonism rests not upon human reason as its first great source, but upon divine revelation. It is not a system of _philosophy_, therefore, but a system of _religion_; for Professor Kostlin says: "Without revelation there can be no religion; and it is a fact which should not be overlooked that even those who, on account of their idea of G.o.d, absolutely reject the idea of a direct, divine revelation, recognizing nothing but Nature in her material existence and mechanical working, cannot help applying to Nature expressions and conceptions which tend to raise her above the dumb necessity, and const.i.tute her a higher being, capable of moral relations; nor can they for a longer period escape a feeling of thirst after revelations of the secret depths of that being, which they then strive to attain by ways more or less mystical and magical." (Schaff-Herzog's "Encyclopaedia of Religious Knowledge," Vol. III., page 2021.) And in accordance with that statement, the editor of the _Independent_, in an editorial note published April 8th, 1886, says: "The history of this world shows that in respect to the subject of religion, the supernatural is to human thought and feeling really the natural. We search that history in vain for a religious system that has stamped itself upon the faith and practice of men, operating upon them as a controlling power of comfort and hope, and organizing itself into their personal and social life by forms, usages, and modes of worship, and at the same time professedly based on the discoveries and authority of unaided human reason. Philosophies in abundance have been the products of such reason, but religious systems never. All the idolatries of antiquity claimed to be supernatural, and the same is true of all the forms of modern heathenism. Such is the a.s.sumed character of Mohammedanism and Mormonism.... The world never has had, and, judging by the past, never will have a religious system without this element. It does not want, and will not accept, a religion that claims for itself no higher basis than that of mere reason."

"_Thus saith the Lord_" is the one claim of all the religious systems of the world. Accordingly we find that the adherents of all the great religions have their sacred books, which they venerate as revelations from heaven, from whence they claim their doctrines have emanated. The Brahmin has his Vedas; the Buddhist has his Tripitaka; the Zoroastrian has his Avesta; the Jew has the Law and the Prophets; the Christian has the Old and New Testaments; the Mohammedan has the Koran. In like manner, the Mormon has the "_Book of Mormon_." But the Book of Mormon is not the only inspired book of the Latter-Day Saints. They adopt the Bible, the "Book of Mormon," and the "Book of Doctrine and Covenants," as their inspired Scriptures; and these are the sources of their doctrines.

1. _The Mormon Bible._--By those not familiar with Mormon literature, the Mormon Bible and the "Book of Mormon" are frequently confounded. The former, however, is simply our English version of the Scriptures, with such modifications and distortions as Joseph Smith, the inspired translator, saw fit to make. He twisted some pa.s.sages in Genesis so as to turn statements connected with the life of the patriarch Joseph into prophecies relating to a great prophet called Joseph, who should come forth in the latter days--referring to himself. He even had the audacity to make interpolations in Christ's Sermon on the Mount; but our Bible, as translated by Smith and interpreted by him and his successors, is accepted by every Mormon as inspired, and is to be found in every Mormon Church.

2. _The "Book of Mormon"_ is the next source of their doctrines, and is the more modern revelation, and therefore takes precedence over the Bible.

The supernatural origin of the book, according to the Mormon belief, we have already given in Chapter I.

Mormon, after whom the book is called, was the last of the sacred prophets of ancient America. He was the leader of a race called the Nephites, and perished in a battle between his own race and the Lamanites in A.D. 420.

Both Nephites and Lamanites were descendants from the family of Lehi, an Israelite of the tribe of Mana.s.seh, who emigrated from Jerusalem to America during the reign of King Zedekiah, 600 B.C.

The wars between these two races form the great bulk of the book. In the year A.D. 420 the decisive battle was fought at c.u.mmorah, in Western New York. The Nephites were exterminated, with the exception of a few individuals. Mormon, their leader, was slain, and with him 230,000. The descendants of the victorious Lamanites are the North American Indians.

The "Book of Mormon" is said to be the condensed record of the history, faith, and prophecies of the ancient inhabitants of America, made on golden plates by the prophet Mormon. These plates he intrusted to his son Moroni, who survived the awful battle of extermination. He was the last of the Nephites to die, but before dying he sealed up the golden plates on which all these events were written and hid them in the Hill c.u.mmorah, the very site of the final battle between the Nephites and Lamanites; and there Joseph Smith, guided by the spirit of Moroni himself, found them in 1827, took them to his home, translated them by means of his magical spectacles, and had them printed under the t.i.tle "_The Book of Mormon_."

It is certainly a unique work. It is a collection of sixteen separate or distinct books professing to be written at different periods by different prophets. Its style is in imitation of the Bible, and it incorporates about three hundred pa.s.sages directly from the Holy Scriptures.

Among the records of the book are accounts of three different migrations to the American Continent: 1. A colony from the Tower of Babel soon after the flood, which was led by Jared, and which in time became a great nation, but was destroyed for their sins. 2. A colony led by Lehi from Jerusalem, which gave rise to the Nephites and Lamanites. 3. A number of Israelites who came from Jerusalem about eleven years after Lehi.

The book also declares that a supernatural light which lasted three days and three nights informed the inhabitants of America of the birth of Christ, and later a terrible earthquake announced His crucifixion; and three days afterward Jesus Himself appeared, descending out of heaven into the chief city of the Nephites in the sight of the people, to whom He exhibited His wounded side and the prints of the nails in His hands and feet. He remained with them forty days, and repeated to them His Sermon on the Mount, and appointed twelve American apostles, and gave them orders regarding baptism and His holy communion.

This book was the foundation of Mormonism; and Sidney Rigdon said: "The 'Book of Mormon' is to govern the Millennial Church;" but whatever may have been its uses to the Saints in the beginning of their career, it has had little to do with their practices for many years, save as a text-book.

3. _The "Book of Doctrine and Covenants."_--Another source of Mormon doctrine--and a more fruitful source than the Book of Mormon--is the "Book of Doctrine and Covenants." This is a collection of all the multifarious revelations that Joseph Smith claimed to receive and which he promulgated, together with the only revelation put forth by Brigham Young--the one which he set forth at Council Bluffs in 1847 to inspire and guide the Saints in their projected western pilgrimage through the wilderness.

4. _Living Oracles._--The fourth source of Mormon doctrine is what has well been called the "Living Oracles," the divine communications made continually to the priesthood. Theoretically the Mormons hold the Bible and their two sacred books to be the inspired Scriptures for their guidance: the Old Testament, as addressed particularly to the Jewish Church; the New Testament to the Judaic and European Christian Church; the "Book of Mormon" to the Church of America, and the "Book of Doctrine and Covenants" to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. But practically, authority and guidance for them emanate from their living leaders, and few of either chiefs or ma.s.ses read any of the three sacred books in order to know and follow the recorded teachings.

Thus Mormonism, through its belief in a continual revelation to the priesthood, especially the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles, has marvellous ability to change itself to meet every emergency.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE RELIGIOUS PUZZLE (_continued_).

MORMON DOCTRINES--Their idea of G.o.d--Plurality of G.o.ds--Mormon Sunday-school hymn concerning Smith--The pre-existence of souls--The doctrine of Polygamy--Practised on the plea of self-sacrifice and ambition--Necessity of preaching their gospel to all--Preaching to the dead--Baptismal regeneration--Baptism for the dead--Mormon priesthood necessary to salvation--Melchizedek and Aaronic priesthoods--Mormon Endowments--Blood Atonement--Doctrine of "The Fulness of Times."

Having thus considered the sources of Mormon doctrine--the ways in which G.o.d has revealed His will and purposes unto them--let us consider in the second place some of their

II. DOCTRINES AND PRACTICES.

1. _Their idea of G.o.d is materialistic._ While they profess to believe the Trinity, they say that G.o.d was once a man, who has advanced in intelligence and power so much that now He may be called perfect; but He has still the form and figure of a man.

One of the standard Mormon works is called a "Key to the Science of Theology," written by Parley P. Pratt, who, while he lived, was one of the Twelve Apostles. It is now used as a text-book among the people. In confirmation of the statement that they hold grossly corporeal ideas concerning G.o.d, it says: "G.o.d has an organized individual tabernacle embodied in material form and composed of material substance, in the likeness of man, and possessing every organ, limb, and physical part that man possesses."

Christ, too, is believed to have been the offspring of the material union on the plains of Palestine of G.o.d and the Virgin Mary. Yet Christ is believed to have had a previous existence, and His worship is enjoined as Lord of all. The Holy Ghost, or Paraclete, is also material. Thus do they lower the divinity to humanity instead of lifting up humanity to the divinity.

2. Another doctrine is that of _Plurality of G.o.ds_.

Though there is one G.o.d supreme, there are many other beings ent.i.tled to the name because possessed of the attributes of G.o.d, such as creative power. All these G.o.ds were once men, and all men are potential G.o.ds. The book of Parley Pratt, already quoted, says: "It will be recollected that the last chapter recognizes a family of G.o.ds, or, in other words, a species of beings who have physical tabernacles of flesh and bones in the form of man, but so constructed as to be capable of eternal life.... A general a.s.sembly, quorum, or grand council of the G.o.ds, with their president at their head, const.i.tute the designing and creating power....

Wisdom inspires the G.o.ds to multiply their species and to lay the foundation for all the forms of life to increase in numbers, and for each to enjoy himself in the sphere to which he is adapted."

Adam is said to be the G.o.d of Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ the G.o.d of Joseph Smith, and Joseph Smith the G.o.d of this generation. They teach their children that Joseph Smith is their G.o.d, and their little ones hear more of him than they do of Jesus. Even in their hymns is this great error taught. I will give one of the hymns found in their "Primary Hymn-Book,"

which is sung by the children in the Mormon Sunday-schools, called by them "Primary a.s.sociations." It is as follows:

"The seer, the seer, Joseph the seer!

I'll sing of the Prophet ever dear; His equal now cannot be found By searching the wide world around.

With G.o.ds he soared in the realms of day, And men he taught the heavenly way.

The earthly Sun, the Heavenly Sun!

I love to dwell on his memory dear; The chosen of G.o.d and the friend of man-- He brought the Priesthood back again; He gazed on the past; on the present, too, And opened the heavenly world to view.

"Of n.o.ble seed, of heavenly birth, He came to bless the sons of earth.

With keys by the Almighty given He opened the full rich stores of heaven.

O'er the world that was wrapt in sable night, Like the sun he spread his golden light.

He strove, oh, how he strove to stay The stream of crime in its reckless way; With a mighty mind and a n.o.ble aim, He urged the wayward to reclaim; 'Mid the foaming billows of angry strife He stood at the helm of the ship of life.

The Saints, the Saints, his only pride!

For them he lived, for them he died.

Their joys were his--their sorrows, too; He loved the Saints and he loved Nauvoo.

Unchanged by death, with a Saviour's love He pleads their cause in the courts above.

The seer, the seer, Joseph the seer!

Oh, how I love his memory dear The just and wise, the pure and free, A father he was and is to me.

Let friends now rage in their dark hour, No matter--he is beyond their power.

"He's free! He's free! the Prophet's free!

He is where he will ever be Beyond the reach of mobs and strife.

He rests unharmed, in endless life; His home's in the sky, he dwells with the G.o.ds, Far from the furious rage of mobs.

He died, he died for those he loved-- He reigns, he reigns in the realms above!

He waits with the just who have gone before To welcome the saints to Zion's sh.o.r.e.

Shout, shout, ye Saints! this boon is given-- We'll meet our martyred seer in heaven."

Thus are the Mormon children early taught to think of Joseph Smith as their Saviour, and as divine. Brigham Young, too, was regarded as G.o.d by some of his followers even before his death; and no doubt before long, when they forget to some extent his misdeeds that have been brought to light since his death, they will deify him as well as Joseph Smith.

Indeed, they teach that all Mormons may, by obedience and holiness, become G.o.ds in the celestial world, and people and rule a kingdom forever. Helped by polygamy, men may become makers of worlds like this, of which Adam was the fashioner; and in those worlds their posterity become the creatures over whom they bear sway.