Part Four

"Sir.-I knew little about the Mormons previous to my arrival among them. Living at a great distance from the theatre of their operations, all my knowledge of them was derived from the testimony of others. I knew indeed that they were a deluded-but I thought them to be a persecuted people. I was disposed to censure the inhabitants of Missouri and Illinois, for the part they took in driving them out of their respective states. Some of the people in Vermillion [sic], Ohio, will bear me record, that during the time of the great excitement, consequent upon driving the Mormons form Nauvoo, I publicly declared my conviction, that those measures were both implitic and unjust, and Jo Smith was truly a murdered man. I make this remark that the reader may understand that I did not go into the valley with my mind overcharged with prejudice against the Mormons-that I was neither an actor nor sympathizer with those who imbued their hands in the blood of that prince of imposters-Jo Smith. A great deal had been said in our part of the country, about their abominable practices, but I believed there was much exaggeration, if not misrepresentation. That these leaders were licentious I had no doubt, for it is in accordance with history that such is the character of all imposters. But I also thought that to their followers and to the world they would put on a virtuous garb, and maintain outwardly the appearance of decency at least. Such a state of open, unblushing, beastly impurity and vileness as I found to actually exist among them, I had never dreamed of, and did not suppose could possibly exist among civilized beings. Although from my earliest infancy I had been taught the doctrine of human depravity, I had never expected to witness, on this earth, such glaring development of it."
Yes, sir, let it be known that here, in christian America-in a land of Sabbaths and bibles, there exists a large community practicing deeds, openly, in the face of the sun, which one cannot even speak of without shame."
The marriage institution-an institution framed by Jehovah himself, and worthy his perfections-...This institution the Mormons have trampled under foot, and in its place have reared a system of concubinage of as vile a character as ever debased a ruined man and woman, body and soul, for time and eternity."
"...the Mormons-young and old, high and low, male and female, are by far the most profane people I ever met with. In a life of more than forty years, I never heard so much profane swearing as during the few months I spent in that wretched, mountain-walled prison." (A Winter with the Mormons, David L. Bigler, The Tanner Trust Fund, 2001, pgs, 61-70)

1 comments:

Anonymous May 27, 2010 at 8:33 AM  

Funny how they have gone from one extreme to the other--about sex, about swearing...

About Me

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Michigan, United States
I spent a lot of time deciding if I should write this blog or not. I'm not a great writer and I'm not going to pretend to be. I need to share what I have learned and I might not make some people happy with what I am saying. This blog is a way for me to release the thoughts and feelings that come with knowing I grew up in the wrong religion. A healing process if you will.

How To Read This Blog

Please start with the month of February 2007 and read backwards. This is the most effective way to understand, in order, why I say what I do.

Handmaidens Creed

1.I believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit as one God without beginning or end.
2.I believe the Bible to be the Holy Inspired word of God with full truth and righteousness. No other writing is.
3.I believe that the work of the Lord comes first. Before any temporal thing or person.
4.I believe that grace is a gift and Christ gives that gift freely to all who believe.
5.I believe that the beauty of a woman is contained inside of her and not by what she looks like on the outside.
6.I believe that marriage is sacred and represents the Godhead on earth; two are one just as three are one.
7.I believe that love is more powerful than any other power. Remember, God is love.
8.I believe that tithing is not a part of God's new covenant, free will offerings are. And that doesn't mean just money.
9.I believe that the Aaronic, Levitical, and Melchizedek priesthoods are abolished and Christs Holy Priesthood whom Christ is the "Great High Priest" is eternal.
10.I believe that every believer is a priest in the "Priesthood of Believers".
11.I believe that when two are one, nobody is to separate the one.
12.I believe that Christ is the only way to heaven.
13.I believe that our bodies are temples, not man made buildings.
14.I believe that liars make fools out of others and the liar hates the fool.
15.I believe that all believers are in authority to preach the gospel.
16.I believe that the word 'organization' to describe Christs body is evil and has no place with God.
17.I believe the Americas are not the land of Zion and Christ will return to His origonal land-Israel in the Middle East.
18.I believe that God has set out correct ways of worshiping Him, not man.
19.I believe in holding to the truths of the Bible and not mans understanding of it.
20.I believe that the world is full of evil and Satan can easily gain control over the minds of those who do not profess Christ of the Bible to be their only Messiah.
21.I believe that Saints are those who know the real Savior, Jesus Christ, of whom the Bible speaks of; not the jesus of a cult.