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The Times
- 1846—19 November—p. 2—poem by Clwydfardd—sent by G. Dinam from Gallt-ceinwen
- 1847—4 November—p. 3—Woman in Newmarket & husband—DJ response—PJ 1847, pp. 185–89
- 1848—18 May—p. 7—attempted healing of the blind man in home of David Peters
- 1848—15 June—p. 6—Defense of the Saints—an article by Abel Evans
- 1848—29 June—p. 6—The “Saints” and the Times—collection needed for subscription
- 1848—29 June—p. 6—“Gwrandawr” Ffestiniog tells Abel Evans he has an empty head
- 1848—4 August—p. 3—Quote from Standard of Freedom about JS’s death
- 1848—14 December—p. 6—A Mormon Miracle!!! By T. ab Ieuan
- 1849—8 February—p. 7—Thomas Jeremy’s letter
- 1850—4 December—p. 3—Joseph Smith, the Fraud and His Religion
- 1851—28 May—Thomas Price after the conversion of Dewi Elfed
- 1851—18 June—p. 2—Mormon Feast—mtg held 2 March in London at the Freemason’s Tavern
- 1851—18 June—p. 2—The Saints in Llanrwst by A Humble One
- 1851—18 June—p. 2—Dewi Elfed Jones’s review of Price letter is refused space
- 1851—1 October—p. 3—Brotherhood of the Mormons in Merthyr Tydfil
- 1851—15 October—p. 2—The Mormons—Wm Phillips [Udgorn Seion, 18 Oct 1851, pp. 333–34]
- 1851—22 October—p. 1—The Mormons—early history
- 1851—29 October—p. 1—The Mormons—continued from 22 Oct issue
- 1851—17 December—p. 3—The Latter-day Saints—16-line poem by Dafydd Williams, Holyhead
- 1852—10 March—p. 3—Evan Howell letter from St. Louis (printed in 4 other periodicals)
- 1852—30 June—p. 1—visit of one of the “Seintiau” to Cerrigydrudion
- 1852—21 July—p. 2—Accidents—roof falls—See ZT 1852:243
- 1853—16 November—p. 2—letter of David Rees to the Bishop of Llandaff
- 1853—7 December—p. 3—from Deseret News—funny story of man who follows a woman
- 1857—25 March—p. 3—Llanelli—man gives up smoking/
insists that his wife give up tea - 1857—13 May—p. 3—Drummond resigns—from Orleans Courier 3 April
- 1857—24 June—p. 3—1 paragraph—Murder of Parley Pratt (the article has Orson)
- 1857—24 June—p. 3—1 paragraph—J. M. Grant dies leaving 7 widows
Times, 19 November 1846, p. 2
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Mr. Editor—The following skillful lines my friend Clwydfardd expressed while sitting in my home one afternoon. Since their topic bears a broad connection with these times, it is not unlikely that they will be acceptable in your Times. Yours, etc., G. Dinam, Gallt-ceinwen.
“You, Latter-day Saints,
I shall follow whilst I live,
If you can perform the miracles
Which our Lord’s Apostles did,
But this,—if you cannot—if you are deceivers,
If you are men without ability for the work,
I will not come one inch to follow you,
For hell will be the end of your journey.
In Wales you were heard preaching:
But yet not one miracle was seen;
According to every omen and sign,
Your name will fall to scorn:
The same thing [that happened] to Southcott and Courtney,
To Martha and Mary of the White Shawl,
Will happen to you, I believe,
Your “Latter Days” will come to an end.”
Times, 4 November 1847, p. 3
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Newmarket
The Mormons pay frequent visits to this place. It shows that the disciples of Joe Smith have a great liking for the place, and more of a desire to get the inhabitants of Newmarket from the reach of the destruction of the world to safe California, than to get the inhabitants of any other neighborhood in these parts. A woman was jabbering some nonsense here on Monday night. The application of soap and water on her skin and clothes would not have been out of place, as she had great need of it. The following Tuesday night this woman’s husband attacked a young girl in an isolated spot about a mile-and-a-half from the village. Very fortunately for the girl, someone happened to come past in the meantime, and so she was spared. He was followed and caught in a tavern. It is said that he had on him several sharp weapons and plasters. He tried to put plaster on the girl’s mouth to keep her from screaming, and in the struggle he missed the mark, and he put it on her cheek. He is now in the Flint jail “suffering persecution.” It will be seen whether the family of miracles succeed in getting an angel to open the doors of that jail, and to lead this “saint” out.
Times, 18 May 1848, p. 7
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The Spirit of Mary of the White Veil
Sir—Lest your correspondent Listener, in the previous Times, or anyone else, is uncertain as to the identity of the prophet that appeared in the areas of Ffestiniog, about last Easter, there is strong reason to believe that it was the spirit of Mary of the White Veil*, who was released from Gehenna to trouble the inhabitants of these parts. And according to the story we have of Mary, there is a great similarity between the one and the other. This spirit is similar to her in its principles, in its arbitrary high opinion of its divine mission, in attempting a task that it has no ability to do, namely to work miracles.
Now, here you have an example that shows the arrogance of these blasphemers: last Easter Sunday, the Saints (?) had a special meeting in the home of David Peters, near the village of Ffestiniog, in which meeting they were going to work a miracle, namely to restore sight to a man who had lost one of his eyes because of a burning: the man could see with the other eye, and worked in one of the mines. He is about 30 years old, and he lost his eye when he was just a boy. But to return to the miracle. In order for the meeting to be orderly and effective, the head of the man was anointed with oil of some kind, while others performed the ceremonies they had, and the chief prophet was to perfect the miracle, apparently. They had every opportunity to make a good job of it this time, for the man himself was a saint, and believed. But despite it all, the fate of the poor man was very unfortunate, for he was obliged to say the opposite of what the blind man in the gospel said, “One thing I know, that, whereas I saw, now I am blind!” What a pity, what a pity! the cat ran to the other end of the bag. The saint is now totally blind, and it is a pity to say further that in all likeliness he will continue blind. The reader has been informed as to how the poor man lost one eye; as to how he lost the light of the other, let the world judge. We think, Mr. Editor, that the prophet had best return to his own country, to his own people, and to his own followers, and let him deceive those if he can. Let him leave the innocent people of Ffestiniog alone, and let him never again put his bungling hands on their precious eye-sight. How is it that men did not see the deceit and the audacity of these stupid pretenders?
Yours,
Elias
Tanygrisiau
*Mary was an old woman who came from Anglesey to this area during the last century, and she deceived many by saying that she was someone great. For her story, see Drych yr Amseroedd (Mirror of the Times), by the Reverend Robert Jones.
Times, 15 June 1848, p. 6
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(Correspondence—Not all ideas that appear in a publication which contains differing views are consistent with the personal opinions of the Editors; and one should not attribute to them the faults, any more than the virtues, in the style or the language of the Correspondents.)
Defense of the Saints
Mr. Editor—I read in the Times for May 4, the correspondence of someone who calls himself Listener from Ffestiniog, who had already given the correspondence heading “Noteworthy miracles of the Saints;” and I beseech your forbearance as I review the errors of that distorted piece of writing, so that the numerous readers of the Times can have the truth of that to which your correspondent refers. It is fair for even the “Saints” to receive truthful treatment.
First, he mentioned a woman from Criccieth. It is true for me to say that she ended up regaining her health, Mr. Listener. You know, if you were there, and others who were there know, that I have said her name, her husband’s name, and her residence, namely “Criccieth,” as you point out. And you remember my saying at that time that her name is Jane Roberts, and that her husband’s name is Hugh Roberts: and some of your friends acknowledged at the time that they were acquainted with her husband. So why do you deny that? There are hosts of witnesses, if you but ask them, besides the healed woman herself.
Second, “That he had cast out devils from a man in Rhosllanerchrugog:” and you assert “there was the same omission (namely failing to name him) in the Prophet in reporting this also.” I said as clearly as anything there that the name of the man is John Jones, or better known as “Jack the Tailor.” Although he has died, you can have his testimony about his healing from the living, and he married within nine days. I do not fear an inquiry about the things I reported; they are known: but remember that there are men sufficiently hostile toward us and our religion, in the various places, to misrepresent the fact, as you yourself do with your blasphemous ridicule, despite “feeling a tingling going through your bones,” as you allege.
Third, “He said that he placed his hands on an English boy, eleven years old, until he was so completely filled with the Spirit that he spoke in five languages right then and there!” Regarding this I have nothing to say but to testify earnestly that I uttered, to the extent of my knowledge, not a single word or syllable of any such thing. Let the other listeners put an end to the debate, for there were lovers of the truth there who were listening, as well as others also.
Fourth. I did not say that “they (namely the Saints) were baptizing from ten to thirty every week in Merthyr, etc.” That is your erroneous view. What I said was that the Saints were baptizing nine or ten some weeks in Merthyr, and that I had heard of their baptizing thirty in one week there.
I said, when you claim (I suppose) that the Saints had ceased to exist in Merthyr, etc., that there are over 600 in one branch, which is the undeniable truth, for there are over 700 members there now, although you are able to entice some hostile correspondent to claim the old, never-ending rigmarole that “They are dead,” “vanishing,” “have received the home stroke,” etc. The truth is completely to the contrary, as our church records prove as well as the persons themselves. But in that regard, let us obtain the truth, whatever it may be; that is our wish.
Next. Who has given me the title of “prophet”? Have you heard me claiming the title, or any of my brethren calling me that? No, not at all; your mocking blasphemy is what that is, in order to create prejudice against me. The next time you feel an itching to try to make your neighbors the object of public scorn because of their religion, tell the truth openly; and not only will you have no need to be ashamed to associate your name with this information, but I will not ever again be ashamed to see my name of christening instead of “prophet.” Who except you is always shouting for lack of names, while hiding your own name and mine as well?
One of your other misconceptions is that I said what I said “in a meeting,” suggesting that that is what I preached publicly: but you know otherwise, that all the other attentive listeners had gone away after the meeting ended, and a small number (yourself included, I believe), had returned to the same house where I was a short while after that, asking cunning questions which brought forth the witness that I gave to confirm what you denied; and you remember that I declared the intention of your heart at the time, namely, “that you wanted some topic to proclaim against us at the time;” and you cannot deny that any longer.
Also, I made known that I did not claim any praise because of the foregoing things, but that it was God, and not “the Saints,” who works miracles. It is He who imparts blessings in answer to the prayer of faith. Never again say, then, that I claim miraculous power, for I have never done so.
Yours, humbly,
Abel Evans
Ffestiniog, June 6, 1848
Times, 29 June 1848—item 1
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The “Saints” and the Times
Sir—Since the Times talks somewhat about the “Saints” for the sake of others, let it say a word about them for its own sake. I am sorry that the old “earlier” prophet, namely the man who defended his brethren in your previous issue, has been dismissed (for he was once a prophet according to his own words); otherwise, I would ask him for the proper name of one of his brethren who gave up reading the Times over a year ago, but without yet seeing fit to pay for the issues he had received. Since all things are to be in common among them, it would not be a big thing for the branch of the church with more than six hundred members to take up a collection for fifteen or twenty shillings to help one of their number to pay his just debts. I shall leave that matter for now. I have an abundance of the “Saints’” tricks to reveal to you; and if ever your stock is scarce, send a word to
M—th
V. Fawr
Times, 29 June 1848—item 2
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“Defense of the Saints”
Mr. Editor—Permit me, through means of the Times, to defend my writing in light of the attack made against it, in the previous number, by Mr. Evans. He wishes for the readers of the Times to believe that my writing was “distorted,” and that he is a sincere seeker of truth; but I declare, and if I have life and health, I shall continue to declare, if need be, that I did not know the names of the persons for whom Mr. A. E. says he performed miracles until the previous issue of the Times came to hand. From start to finish, the “review” is the most slanderous declaration ever before seen. It would be too much respect for its author, a waste of ink, paper, and time, to go into detail about his distorted and deceitful phrases. Mr. A. E. is afraid to deny those things he said, although there are plenty of witnesses to prove that he said them. Now the Mormons are beginning to deny their miraculous power. Truly, it is time for them to do so, to their shame.
For goodness’ sake, Mr. Abel Evans, before putting your hands on either an English person or a Welsh person, do not blame others for reporting your stupidity, and put your hands on your own skull, for it appears to me that your head is quite senseless.
Yours,
A Listener
Ffestiniog
Times, 4 August 1848, p. 3
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Joseph Smith, the Mormon
In response to questions of a correspondent, the editor of the Standard of Freedom says the following: “We believe that Joseph Smith was shot. We understand from one of the publications in London that the full story of this wandering deceiver is at the press. The original manuscript of what was transformed into the Book of Mormon was written by a learned gentleman during a spell of illness to entertain himself and the friends who visited with him. After the death of the writer, it appears that the manuscript fell into the hands of Smith who thought it would a good adventure to fill an empty purse. Evidence of an extremely poor work is throughout the book. These things show us the worth of the Bible.”
Times, 14 December 1848, p. 6
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A Mormon Miracle!!!
Sir—We have been along the works in Gwent, being blessed frequently by those beings who call themselves “Saints,” with pleasant phrases, and lovely dishes of remarkable doctrines about miracles of every kind and nature; but generally, we are seeking proofs of them. But lest we condemn one denomination for their weaknesses, we ought to also have a look at their excellent qualities, and compare the two points with each other, so that a fair judgment can be made of the entire matter. In this neighborhood there is a person, called Will from the Dune (alias Will Hotchi), who makes claims for miracles with regard to himself and his brethren. One day, the venerable gentleman got it into his head to exchange a few rounds with his wife, and he, Mr. Miracles, demonstrated much greater strength than his Eve; and then a neighbor woman took the wife’s side, and she grabbed hold of the Saint’s head, and there ensued a fierce battle between them. He put his backside against her, and she put her backside against him; and then something the most similar to a miracle in this neighborhood took place. Johnny Cosac (one of the Saints) said that they did many things, but that was the only miracle he was aware of—the saint used arms of the flesh against the woman sinner! The writer of these lines now promises to obtain the whole account of the mysterious deceit of the Mormons, from someone who has been in their midst, and is determined to direct it all to the “Times” very soon. Who knows but what there will be word of more miracles in those pieces!
Cendl [Kendall]
T. ab Ieuan
The Times, 8 February 1849, p. 7
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“Defense of the Mormons”
SIR. Since I live in the town of Llanybydder, and am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ with those people who are called “Mormons,” I wish for you to provide space for the following defense, in light of the baseless tale that appeared in the Times, about us here as a religious denomination, January 11, 1849. The first lie that your correspondent tells is that we have a great apostle near us here. There is no one here who claims such a high office as that of apostle. Also, he says that we endeavor to deceive men as much as we can. It would not be untruthful to say that your correspondent “endeavors to deceive men as much as he can,” for “by their fruits ye shall know him.” With respect to what he says about a prayer meeting here, there is not one syllable of truth to it, nor any basis to such a lying tale of any such thing taking place in our meetings. Praying to the God of heaven is our work in our meetings, just as other denominations do. We are proud of getting to suffer the baseless mockery for such worship. If there were any truth in his tale, why did he not name the house where the prayer meeting took place? And why did he not name the persons who were there? And furthermore, why did he refrain from giving his proper name in the Times, if what he said about us is true?
I challenge him to name the house, the names of the persons who were in the meeting, and his own proper name. Your correspondent is like several others of his persecuting brothers, who have delivered lies about us too plain for any reasonable man to believe. Were there not more truth in our religion than in any other, we would not have to suffer all the unwarranted scorn that is published and said about us; but our Master said, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.”
My duty is to defend our character as a religious denomination here, and also to convince my fellow men of the false accusations that are said about our dear religion. I know that it is better to leave us alone than to spread unfounded lies about us, lest they be fighting against God. I know that I have the true religion, which is disposed toward making everyone happy; therefore, let our false accuser repent, and call back his lying tales which he has told about us, so that he also may take hold of the one true religion.
Yours humbly,
THOMAS JEREMY.
Llanybydder, February 2.
The Times, 4 December 1850, p. 3
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Joseph Smith, the Fraud, and His Religion
Inasmuch as the followers of Smith are very diligent these days in Anglesey and other places to spread their deceitful filth, perhaps it would be beneficial to open the eyes of the unaware about them; yes, and open their own eyes also, for I believe that the greater part of them are groping in the mists of darkness with respect to that which they are so zealously supporting.
Either the “Saints” are deceiving themselves, or they are impudent imposters taking advantage of the ignorance of the common folk to deceive them. After reading the following, I think that every unbiased reader must come to the decision that Smith was one of the most shameless ever; and that his religion is one of the most oppressive, abhorrent, and dangerous hodgepodges ever known. There is no point in spending time, ink, and paper, to discuss the tenets of this strange sect, for that would cause us to circumnavigate needlessly in order to arrive at our intended purpose in this article, which is to prove clearly that the religion of the “Latter-day Saints” is deceit and trash. In order to reach the end of the road, we shall discuss the founder and the foundation of the religion under scrutiny. As is well known, the name of the founder of the “Mormon” religion was Joseph Smith. This man was the prophet, apostle, and everything in this religion. His occupation when he invented the deceit was that of digging for money in the land of the United States of America. Some believed that much booty had been buried in the coastal areas of the United States by pirates and others, and there were many who pretended to have found said booty by sorcery, and among them Smith distinguished himself. As he was at this task, according to his own story, he had revelations from heaven, so it is no wonder that his followers were so fond of the mention of revelations. He says that on one occasion he had retired to a grove of trees to pray, asking God to guide him to the religion that he should join; while he was thus praying, and pleading, he saw a radiant light above him, and immediately he was taken up into the midst of it. The he saw two heavenly beings, who told him that all his sins were forgiven, and also that the whole world was in religious error; and they said further that the truth would be revealed to him at in due time. In another vision he was told that the Indians of America were a remnant of the children of Israel, and that at one time there had been prophets in their midst, and also that their records had been hidden in a secret place from the ungodly. A third vision informed him that the records had been hidden in a cave near Palmyra. Joseph went to look for them, and soon he was told where he could find a stone chest, which contained golden plates, seven inches wide and eight inches long, about the thickness of common tin. On these plates were the contents of the Book of Mormon, which, they said, was the name of the one who had hidden the plates; but later it was learned that the meaning of the word Mormon is deceit. But let us go on with Smith’s ludicrous tale. He did receive permission to take the golden plates away until he learned the latest language of the Egyptians, in which language they were engraved. At last, in September 1827, the prophet was considered sufficiently conversant in the language of the plates, and thus he took them away—he translated them into English, and in the year of 1830, nearly twenty-one years ago, they were published. This is the time, say the “Saints,” that their prophet, Joseph Smith, received the “eternal gospel” from the angel mentioned in the Book of Revelation, flying in the midst of heaven. Who is enough of a scientist to set out the bounds of such impudence? The appearance of this book caused considerable commotion, as can be imagined, and its contents were received by many of the low and ignorant class. Following this, a sect was formed which was named the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” In order to spread his heresies, Smith was assisted by his father, and men by the name of Rigdon, Harris, and others. At first, very little attention was given to the deceit; but since it was having a negative effect on the ignorant and poor class, some of the respected citizens of Palmyra and Manchester, places where the Smiths lived, signed an affidavit as to their character, part of which was as follows:
Palmyra, New York, December 4, 1833: “We the undersigned, because of our acquaintance with the Smith family, have no hesitation in saying, that we consider them destitute of that moral character, which ought to entitle them to confidence. They were particularly famous for visionary projects, and they spent much of their time digging for money in the earth. Joseph Smith, Senior, and his son Joseph, were considered entirely destitute of moral character, and were guilty of vicious habits. In reference to those who have embraced Mormonism in this neighborhood, we are compelled to say, were very visionary, and destitute of character.” Then follow fifty-one written signatures. So much for the character of the founder of the religion of the “Saints.” Would the Holy Spirit give revelations to such an un-holy man? No, the Holy Spirit must have a holy place to dwell, and a holy person to give revelation to, if he sees that best. Perhaps not everyone is aware that the “Saints” have their own Bible; and this is the reason why they speak of the insufficiency of our Bible as revelation. The name of their Bible is Mormon, which is about the same size as the Old Testament, and it contains two stories. The first story mentions some people who are called Nephites, a part of the tribe of Joseph, who left Jerusalem under the leadership of a prophet by the name of Nephi; and in a miraculous way they landed in America. According to the account, these Nephites established the Indian race. Years after these men settled in America, they found the record of a nation named the Jaredites, who went to America about the time of the building of the Tower of Babel, but who by then had vanished. As can be gathered, this record often mentions “My servant Joseph Smith.” The chief objective of the Mormon deceit is to elevate Smith as the excellent head and infallible leader of the sect.
The Book of Mormon is full of theft and deceit. Its style is similar to that of the Holy Bible in order to appear simpler and more credible. This book is also full of obvious inconsistencies. It says that the American Indians were Jews to begin with; but it is well known that the skin of the Indians is red, while the color of the skin of the Jews is white. What is the reason for this difference in the color of the skin? In order to explain this inconsistency, the inspired volume of the “Saints” says that the color of the skin of the Indians was changed as a punishment for their sins. That’s a good one, isn’t it?
The Mormons reveal a great deal of ignorance also. The prophet Nephi says that contention arose on the voyage to America, and that he was bound; “and after they loosed me,” he says, “I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it.” Now, is not every citizen aware that the compass had not been invented at that time? Therefore, it must be that the old prophet is guilty of saying something that we call a lie, and it is obvious that the inventor of the story did not know what a good compass was. The second tale is a confirmation of the events that are mentioned in the New Testament. It is said that Jesus Christ appeared to the Nephites following his resurrection from the dead, and he said to them, “Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the son of God; I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” Is this quotation not full of theft? But as for Joseph Smith, he was not, in all likelihood, able to compose such a book. The one who composed the Book of Mormon was a priest by the name of Solomon Spaulding; he gave up his office as a minister of the gospel in order to establish a business in Cherry Vale, New York; but he failed with his business after the first year, and to amuse himself in the face of his failure, he proceeded to compose a kind of novel. The topic he took was the ten lost tribes of Israel. He wrote his book in the style of the compositions of the Hebrews in order to make it more entertaining. In 1812 he took the manuscript to a printer by the name of Lambdin, who lived in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; but Spaulding died before making an agreement with the printer, and soon after that Lambdin died. He loaned the book to someone by the name of Sidney Rigdon, who showed it to Smith, and they came to the decision after counseling together, to publish it to the world as a revelation from God!! The book answered the purpose perfectly with a few changes. This is the Bible of the “Saints;” for Spaulding’s wife, brother, and friends testified to having heard parts of it read to them. In order to justify the deceit, the story of the golden plates was invented, since they knew that paper could not have survived so long in the cave which claimed to have found them. Smith made Sidney Rigdon his scribe, and no one but him and a few others had the privilege of seeing the precious plates.
[Here ten lines of the scanned copy of this newspaper article are missing as the writer begins his account of the Rev. Henry Caswall’s 1842 visit with Joseph Smith.]
“I met Smith at a short distance from his dwelling; he is a coarse and uncouth person in aspect, and his countenance exhibits a curious mixture of the knave and the clown; his hands are large and fat, and on one of his fingers was a gold ring with an inscription on it. His age is about 35. I did not see his eyes, since he is not like an honest man who raises his chin and shows his face clearly. He led the way to his house, accompanied by elders, bishops, and preachers, and other Mormon dignitaries. On entering the house, chairs were provided for the prophet and myself, while the others remained standing. I handed the book to the prophet and begged him to explain its contents. He asked me if I had any idea of its meaning. I replied that I believed it to be a Greek Psalter. ‘No, it is not a Greek book,’ he said, ‘except perhaps a few words. What isn’t Greek, is Egyptian, and what isn’t Egyptian, is Greek. This book is very valuable. It is a dictionary of the Egyptian language.’ When the Mormons heard this, they said with a surprise, ‘We said that our prophet would give you satisfaction; none but our prophet can explain these mysteries.’” This is enough to show the ignorance of Smith, when he took a book written in the Greek language for one in the Egyptian language. These are the main things in the life of the founder of the sect “The Latter-day Saints.” He died several years ago, shot by a mob in California, although other deceivers said that there was no one who could put him to death. Now, reader, do not the things noted about this man show beyond any doubt that he was an impudent and brazen-faced fraud? And must not those who believe his trash have been blinded by superstition and fanaticism, and also must they not be fools to the extreme by working to spread such lying rubbish and by trying to convert others to a religion that is condemned by reason, not to mention the word of God?
If the “Saints” wish for people to believe them, let them prove what they claim—if they claim that they have been endowed with spiritual gifts, let them show that by working miracles. The apostles did this in the presence of the sun and the eye of light. No one doubted their miraculous gifts, etc. So if the Mormons claim to have miraculous gifts among them, let them show that by bring the world to believe. Thus, having experienced the Mormon “spirit,” we must conclude that it is not of God, and therefore we cannot believe it without some manifestations other than those we have received. I have used too much space and time already, so I must be still and profess myself as a defender of all truth, and a full-throated hater of all deceit.
Monmouth.
W. T. T.
The Times, 28 May 1851
[Not on NLW website]
“Latter-day Saints” in Aberdare
Sir—In your number for May 14th there is a piece which professes to give the account of “a minister with the Baptists in Aberdare becoming one of the saints,” etc. I am sorry that some false accuser who is careless with the truth has deceived you into using your commendable paper to spread such unfounded lies. In another way, through mercy, here is the truth. The church of the Baptists in Aberdare as well as the minister, support the doctrine that is consistent with divinity. They are the same view and practices which existed in the early years. The present chapel belongs to the Baptists, and we are building a new chapel, which will be just as safe in the possession of the respected denomination to which we belong. These things are quite well known throughout these neighborhoods, and they are no doubt known to the correspondent, and therefore we must attribute to the minister and the church of the Baptists in Aberdare, that which he considers to be such foolishness. But it is likely that your correspondent has fashioned his tale on the back of something that took place in Aberaman, an area which is about two miles from this place. The facts of that which took place in Aberaman, are as follows:
About three years ago a small church of the Baptists was formed in that place. After a short while a man by the name of David Jones became minister there. This David is a preacher second to none in these parts since he commonly succeeds in preaching to the people of the chapels. He has done so two or three times, and thus he possesses the gift of sharing. About seven months ago, because of a saintly view and sermons, the life and the practices of David and the few that were with him, their case was brought to the attention of the quarterly meeting of the Baptists in Glamorgan, and on the acknowledgment of David Jones concerning several accusations which were brought against him, he and his people were excommunicated from the union of the Baptists in the County; and from then until the present time there has been no relationship whatsoever between the Baptists and them. Ever since the true objective of this wolf in sheep’s clothing came to light, the greatest part of the people left with him, many of which have joined with the churches in Aberdare and Cwmbach.
Sabbath Day, April 20, David closed the door of the chapel against the few followers who until then had continued with him. He did so completely without warning, and he refused to give a single reason for his behavior. But the following Wednesday evening the practical explanation of the matter became clear by his opening the place to a pack of saints. The following Sabbath he and four others were baptized by a little Saint from Merthyr. And after all this, there is not a great number in the “all” that your correspondent mentions.
As everyone can see, there is not the slightest connection between David, or his four followers, and the Baptists; and no one in his right mind in this neighborhood considers them as being Baptists, rather they are seen as a kind of nondescripts. Thus, it is an injustice to the respectable denomination of the Baptists to link the above weak-headed and dissolute simpletons with them.
I can assure you that for the Baptists of Aberdare it would be just as well to be linked with the sons of perdition, as to acknowledge the slightest relationship with the godless, unprincipled, disreputable, uneducated, worthless, lying, blasphemous, presumptuous, hateful, satanic wretches called “Latter-day Saints.” And although they are now boastful and puffed up, and one would think upon hearing them that they are going to take hold of all the country and all its contents, I prefer to believe Paul about them when he portrays them to Timothy, 2 Tim. 3:6, 9.
This briefly, at this time.
Yours, etc.,
Thomas Price
Minister of the Baptists
Aberdare
May 19th
The Times, 18 June 1851, p. 2—item 1
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That the Review of the Saint “Dewi Elfed Jones” on the letter of the Reverend T. Price, Aberdare, is already in print, as evidenced by the copy sent to me, is sufficient reason for us to refuse space for it in The Times; also its contents are such as to put before us the necessity of opening up a debate that would provide perfect boredom to our readers.
The Times, 18 June 1851, p. 2—item 2
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Mormon Feast
Tuesday, the 2nd of this month, the deceitful wretches who call themselves Latter-day Saints held a conference feast in the Freemason’s Tavern, London, with Elder Eli B. Kelsey, President of the Conference in the Chair.
A little before the appointed hour of beginning the work of the day of coming together, namely at 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon, about 1,100 gathered to the building. Each had to purchase a one-shilling ticket before gaining entrance, but cakes were given out as a repayment for the price of the ticket. In addition to the chief elders of the “Saints” in the United Kingdom, there were present several “brethren” from America, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden.
As soon as the congregation was brought to order in the prepared seating, the presiding authority of the day led the initial procession. It was composed of the presidents of the twelve branches, and each one had a long staff in his hand. Following after them were twenty-four young women dressed in white muslin, with their hair adorned with blue ribbons, and twenty-four young men wearing blue shoulder patches. They marched once around the congregation, and then they took their appointed seats. Then the second procession came forward, which contained the following: The “twelve apostles” or the “fathers of Israel”—old gray-haired men, each one with a staff; twelve young men wearing large blue shoulder patches, and each one carrying a Bible in his right hand and a Book of Mormon in his left; and then twelve young women, taller and more attractive than the previous ones, dressed in white muslin, wearing shoulder patches and on the head of his one was a wreath of roses, and a bunch of roses were carried in the hands of one and the other. The entire crowd arose to greet the procession, which one after the other proceeded around the hall. Then remarkable hymns of self-praise were sung, and the 6th chapter of Nephi in the Book of Mormon was read, and the 11th chapter of the gospel of John in the New Testament by the Chaplain, who also prayed. After this, Elder Cook, one of the “fathers,” delivered an address declaring the allegiance of the “Saints” to the crown and the throne of Queen Victoria.
Mr. John Hyde delivered an address giving the history of the beginning and growth of Mormonism in America and in the United Kingdom, and we think that a summary of it would be considered interesting to the majority of our readers. With an eye on America, he said that the profound ignorance and the superstition that existed there clearly reveal that the spirit which baptized one body has fled, and that the time of the beginning of the seventh dispensation of fulness and mercy for man has come, and as a result, on the 21st of September 1823 the Lord saw fit to send an angel to Joseph Smith, a native of Sharon, to tell him that his sins had been forgiven, and that God had elected to establish his church and usher in the day of preparation for the millennium of Jesus Christ. The angel revealed many things, such as the origin of the American Indians, and the existence and location of some plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated after that, and the purposes that God had for them.
[At this point there are several partial or missing lines in this article.]
. . . Within eight months, seven hundred members gathered in a conference in that town [Preston], rejoicing in the power and privileges of the gospel. In a relatively short period of time there were several counties, including York, Chester, Lancaster, Stafford, Worcester, and Hereford, have received and heard the servants of God. The church increased in number so much that after three years of it was reported in an 1840 conference that it contained 3,626 members and 383 priesthood holders, making a total of 4,019 “saints.” But such a triumphant success was not restricted just to England, for Scotland enjoyed, Ireland was caused to rejoice, and Wales testified by its thousands of the way the church had increased in those places. In Scotland the conference of Edinburgh has 1,500 members, and the conference of Glasgow represents 2,063 members. In 1851 there were over 3,530 who had obeyed the commands of heaven, and there were additional thousands who had migrated to the community of the Saints. With regard to Ireland, Dublin did not hear the principles of truth until 1850, but he was happy to say that a small branch had been established there. But in Wales their success had been even more majestic and glorious. In 1851 between officials and members their number was 4,848. The statistics for the United Kingdom for last January showed that there are here 42 Branches, 606 branches, 22 seventies, 12 high priests, 1,751 Elders, 1,590 priests, 1,226 teachers, 682 deacons, and 25,454 members, making a total of 30,747 “Saints.” During the past fourteen years over 50,000 were baptized in England, out of which close to 17,999 have emigrated to Zion.
After singing, the meeting was addressed by one of the young women, and another young woman from Birmingham sang an adaptation of Henry Russell’s song to the tune, “I’m afloat, I’m afloat.” Those words were changed to I’m a saint, I’m a saint, and truly, the words and the spirit of the song were adapted and used for the Mormon service. A pirate pouring out his feelings on board his vessel reveals that the hero of H. Russell is not subject to rule, law, kingdom, or king, and we could almost say that the “saint” had adopted a remarkably appropriate character for himself—that the man who shouts “I’m afloat” is on the same ground as the one who cries out, to the point of deafening his listeners, I’m a saint. They are “birds of the feather who flock together.”
The Conference was addressed by the Elders from France and Italy, and it was quite late when they were dismissed by the chaplain.
The Times, 18 June 1851, p. 2—item 3
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The Saints in Llanrwst
Three men under the name of Saints appeared in our town Thursday afternoon, the 4th of this month. A prayer was given and then one of them arose to address the crowd, with a Bible in his hand, but his topic was not in that; therefore, he was so destitute of effectiveness on the crowd, in a spiritual way, as if he had been a soldier facing his enemies with a wooden sword. He went forth by degrading all the denominations, and he said that the only true church of the Lord Jesus Christ, is the Latter-day Saints. He mentioned in his lecture that they, and they alone, have the right and power to heal the sick, and to cast out devils. I do not think that the old boy was so foolish as to take his orders from madmen of this kind.
The second one stood up, a small creature who was rather dull in his knowledge of their doctrine. He said that he, like the crowd, did not believe the Saints at the outset; but he looked carefully into the Bible, and he perceived that the Saints are the only true church on the earth, and that he is a living witness about that. If some of this kind were to come to enlighten the country, it would be the blind leading the blind.
The third was a first-rate shouter; the barrel was empty every time he spoke loudly. Thus, because of the emptiness in his head his mouth sounded huge; and because I could not stand his howling, I went away.
There is no one in this town who believes the doctrine of these deceivers, neither is there anyone likely to do so. For the doctrine in the New Testament has been planted, through the instrumentality of the Sunday School, in the youth of Llanrwst and the neighborhood.
A Humble One
The Times, 1 October 1851, p. 3
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Brotherly Love of the Mormons in Merthyr Tydfil
Sir—I shall be grateful to you if the following is allowed to appear in the Times, in order to show to the country what unbrotherly and cruel treatment the Latter-day Saints have given to one of their brethren, as will be seen, and in order to warn everyone to keep away from them. A few weeks ago, one of their brotherhood here was taken very ill. He lived to the side of the Tramroad, near Twyn-yr-odyn; and at the outset of his illness his Mormon brethren visited him quite regularly; and, according to their custom, they performed some ceremonies to restore his health; but after they had failed to minister any benefit to him, some withdrew from him completely, and began to ridicule him. On one occasion, one of them came to the house where he lived, and asked scornfully, “Where is the old tailor here? How is he doing?” with a loud laugh after that; and thus he continued in his mocking for a long time. But the time that the greatest unbrotherliness was shown him was Monday, September the 1st. The sick man was living with a widow lady, but more correctly the widow kept his house; and she herself was also one of the Mormons. After he had gotten much worse, his mother came from Rhymney, about five miles away, to visit him; (but she was not a Mormon;) and when she saw those Mormons, they became merciless; and the one who kept house for him said to him that neither he nor his mother could stay there, and she tried her best to get him out of the house, but since it was his house, she failed in her objective. When she saw that, she left him and went to the one who had mockingly inquired about the old tailor. But no wonder that that “saint” rejoiced in his illness, for he owed him a sum of money for making a suit of clothing for him. But to return to the changing situation: on the Monday mentioned, the Mormon widow carried everything from the house, except for the wooden bed which belonged to a nearby neighbor; and on the ropes of the bed, with nothing on top of him or underneath him, the poor man lay all that night. When he told her to leave his belongings with him, she said to him, “If you say another word to me, I will hit you with this shovel!” which was in her hand at the time. In this condition, without food or drink, or even a bed to sleep on, this man who, when he was healthy, was a well-known preacher in their midst, was left with nothing but the bare walls around him. Those who went to visit him on Tuesday found him trying to eat a red herring, with nothing else to be had. Now he has been given notice by the landlady, also a Mormon, to vacate the house; and he lives at present only through the mercy of the neighbors, without a single Mormon to give him so much as a drop of water. I hope this will be a warning, lest anyone be so foolish as to trust the mercy of these ungodly and arrogant deceivers, those who are known quite appropriately as the Latter-day Satanists.
David Jones
Tramroad, Merthyr
The Times, 15 October 1851, p. 2
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The Mormons
Mr. Editor—Be so honest as to receive a defense as well as accusations relating to the Latter-day Saints, by providing space for the following:
At present some of the publications of the country are making quite a commotion about the polygamy of the Mormons. They claim to have received a letter from someone who discovered that President Brigham Young has about twenty-five wives; and some say that Capt. D. Jones also has the same number, while others testify that he has two, and that one of them is a “spiritual wife,” which he took from Carmarthenshire. The person who says this is an eye witness, say the publications; but they are afraid to give his name. The polygamy of the Saints in an old story, and everyone can know that it is a lie just like its devil father. We think that the “spiritual wife” is Mrs. Lewis, formerly from Kidwelly, who emigrated at the same time as Capt. Jones, leaving her husband and her sister behind to settle some legal matters, which were still unfinished at the time of the emigration; and since Mrs. Lewis had arranged for space on a ship for her family, and to prepare everything, her husband and her sister agreed to remain behind until the next emigration, in order to receive some other money that was coming to them. Her husband and her sister ended up emigrating with the first ship after her; and we understand that they have joined with the family in the Valley. This is not the first lie about Brigham Young and Capt. Jones, neither will it be the last. Those who wish to know with certainty in relation to the truth, let them read the following from the “Doctrine and Covenants,” page 300—“Inasmuch as the church of Christ has been shamed as being guilty of the transgression of adultery and polygamy, we proclaim that we believe that one man should have but one wife, and one woman but one husband, except in the case of death, when the one and the other are at liberty to marry a second time.” Read also Doctrine and Covenants, page 115—“Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else; and he that looketh upon a woman to lust after her shall deny the faith, and shall not have the Spirit; and if he repents not he shall be cast out. Thou shalt not commit adultery; and he that committeth adultery, and repenteth not, shall be cast out; but he that has committed adultery and repents with all his heart, and forsaketh it, and doeth it no more, thou shalt forgive; but if he doeth it again, he shall not be forgiven, but shall be cast out.” Read also, page 300—“Marriage should be performed with prayer and thanksgiving; and in the performance, the persons who are to be married are to stand side by side to one another, the man on the right hand, and the woman on the left, and an address will be given by the one performing the marriage as he is directed by the Holy Ghost; and if there are no lawful objections, he can say, calling each one by name, ‘You two agree to be friends with one another, as husband and wife, respecting the lawful rights of this condition; that is, to keep yourself entirely for one another, and away from all others, throughout your lives.” And after they answer, “We do,” they can be proclaimed husband and wife, (and not, husband and wives) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the power of the laws of the land and the authority that he possesses; may God increase his blessings and keep you to fulfill your covenants from now on and through eternity. Amen.” Polygamy is something that is not tolerated in the church, and neither the president nor anyone else is to practice it. It is contrary to the confession of our faith. I have been in this church for eight years, and I have never heard such a teaching, and it is a pity that we are wrongly treated, and we are determined not to suffer more. We have respect for you and your publication, as long as it contains truth, but the lies that are in it are repugnant to us, and we counsel you to prevent such writings of your correspondents lest you yourself receive grief because of them.
Yours sincerely,
William Phillips
14, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil
[Note of the editor:] There we are being “so honest” as to provide space for the above letter; and in our next issue we shall give the historical account of the beginning of the Mormons, taken from the Welsh Woman for the current month. Also we intend to give translations from time to time of the principles of these men, for the purpose of exposing their frightful heresies. It is pointless for Mr. Phillips to think of frightening the Editors with his empty threats; they know perfectly well concerning their rights, and they will defend the freedom of the press to publish facts, and pass judgment on them as well.—Editor.
The Times, 22 October 1851, p. 1
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The Mormons
In the year 1825, there was a small family of farmers by the name of Smith living close to the town of Palmyra, in the state of New York. There was not a good word said about them in the neighborhood, for they were known for being in debt, and for neglecting their responsibilities. Joseph, one of the sons, who could read without much difficulty, but who wrote very poorly and who understood only a little of the rules of arithmetic, was the founder of Mormonism jointly with a typesetter by the name of Sidney Rigdon. There is not much available of the early history of the two founders. The account that Smith gave is as follows: He fell at once into a condition of darkness and affliction of thought, something similar to the Wesleyans before their “call.” He was confused between the different Christian opinions, and he could not obtain comfort or peace of mind. In the midst of this turmoil, he turned to praying aloud and in earnest, kneeling in the fields and the trees, and after continuing to do this for some time, his prayers were answered by the appearance of a bright light in the sky, which descended gradually until it covered him, at which point he found himself standing face to face opposite two supernatural beings, to whom he posed the question, “Which was the correct and true religion in the world?” The answer was that all the existing doctrines were false, but that the true doctrine and the final dispensation of Christianity would be revealed to him at a future time. He received several visits at this particular place (he claims), and finally it was revealed to him that the North American Indians are remnants of the Israelites, and that when they came to America they were a strong, enlightened, and privileged people, and that their priests and their judges kept record books of their history and their doctrines, but that the entire nation was miraculously destroyed for having abandoned the true faith, but not before a priest and prophet by the name of Mormon was inspired to prepare an abridgement of their political history and their religious judgments. Smith was told that this abridgement still existed after being buried in the earth, and that the Lord had chosen him as an instrument to discover it and publish it to all the nations. It was explained to him that the record contained many prophecies and “these latter days,” and that it would give direction to “gather the saints” together to a temporal and spiritual kingdom preceding the second coming of the Messiah, which was at hand. Following several visions, the place where the record was hidden was revealed to him. Joseph Smith went there, and after digging he found a chest made of flat and upright stone, in which there were a number of plates “like unto gold,” and of a thickness of common tin. These plates were bound together with wire and were written with “Egyptian characters,” (said he). Beside them lay two transparent stones, “called by the ancients the Urim and Thummim,” placed in rounded rims. This stone was prophetic crystal, for the angel informed Joseph that he would be enabled to read the characters on the plates with its help. No one knows what ever became of the plates. It is said that eleven witnesses saw them and felt them, but all except for three were relatives of Smith, or they were related to a Whitmer family in the neighborhood. The testimony of the Smith family is, of course, doubtful, and no one knows what ever became of the Whitmer family. Another witness, namely Oliver Cowdery, was a scribe for Smith; and yet another, Martin Harris, was a faithful and zealous Mormon for a long time. But there is some confusion in Harris’s account. Although he gave his name as one of the witnesses who saw or felt the plates, it was he who assured Professor Anthon that he had not ever seen them, because he was not “sufficiently pure of heart,” and that Joseph Smith had refused to show them to him, but that he had shown a transcript of them on paper. In the meantime, Smith must have achieved a powerful control over Harris’s stupidity. This man took the aforementioned transcript to Professor Anthon, a highly capable and learned linguist in New York. The Professor’s account of this interview is of great importance. Harris told him that he had not seen the plates, but that he intended to sell his farm to enable Smith to publish the revelation. But according to the Mormons’ account of the interview, the Professor was unable to read the transcript, but thought that “if the original plates were brought to him, he would be able to assist in their translation.” When this statement was given, the Professor immediately objected publicly. “It was obvious that it had been prepared by someone who had a book that contained letters of an alphabet of various languages before him. The Greek and Hebrew letters, “It was obvious that it had been prepared by someone who had a book before him that contained letters of the alphabets of various languages. The Greek and Hebrew letters, marks and embellishments, Roman letters opposite or on their sides, were arranged in straight columns, and the whole thing was finished with a clumsy design around it, divided into different parts, surrounded with several strange markings, which, clearly, had been transcribed from the Mexican Calendar, given by Humboldt, but in such a manner as to alienate the reader from the work which was taken from it.
It appears the new religion had not yet been formed when the association between Smith and Harris began, and the time was unknowingly perfect, for it is not know when Smith met Rigdon. After that, it is clear that the association began by means of the aforementioned Urim and Thummim. It is said that Smith had been diligently working at his task, and that Oliver Cowdery had been assisting him as a scribe, and that they produced a volume the size of the Old Testament, written as an imitation of the Bible, containing, as Joseph Smith reported that the angel had told him, a history of the lost tribes of Israel on their pilgrimage to America and their settlement there, together with doctrinal and prophetic explanations and revelations. The revelations are noteworthy for their absurd grammatical errors, as is the case for ninety percent of the writings of the Mormons.
We do not know where or how the new Bible was printed. At first, Joseph’s instructions were not very clear, because it appears that he could have been a bit obscure about them himself. The first distinct statement in his religion was that the disciples were required to believe unquestioningly in all the revelations that he received, and such a belief immediately led to the most desirable fruits for the prophet, for he made sure that one of the very first revelations commanded the “Saints” to make the prophet comfortable. Thus, in 1831, he proclaimed a revelation to the effect that the saints should build a house for him; then in another one he declared to them that if they were taking care of their souls they should provide food and clothing for him; the third one came to the diligent Joseph to announce “that he would no longer be working for a living.” The “Revelations” are nothing but an ungrammatical hodgepodge imitating the Bible, and in some, the Most High addresses the prophet as “Joseph Smith, Junior.” Meanwhile, the Mormon Bible was printed and began to cause a little commotion. The sect was increasing rapidly, and his assiduousness with his profitable revelations, Joseph flourished like the green laurel. Unbelievers were directed confidently to the book. “How,” said the Mormons, “was the book written if not by inspiration? The prophet is not acquainted with the learning of men, and in what manner did he become familiar with these antiquities, if they were not revealed to him in a miraculous way?”
(To be continued in our next issue.)
The Times, 29 October 1851, p. 1
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The Mormons—(Continued from the previous number)
At this time, the true story of the Book of Mormon first became known. Long before Joseph began to think about being a prophet, one Solomon Spaulding was living in New Salem; this man had been a minister, one with literary inclinations, and he enjoyed researching the scriptural antiquities. It happened that the discovery of several heaps and mounds near Salem, which were supposed to have been the work of a native and extinct nation, motivated Mr. Spaulding to compose a romantic tale about those ancient people; and he took hold of the supposition that the Indians were remnants of the lost tribes of Israel, in order to make the work popular. It was natural to write about such a topic in a Biblical style. Mr. Spaulding called the work, “The Manuscript Found,” and as he was progressing with it he used to read parts of it to entertain his neighbors. Some time after this, Spaulding moved to Pittsburg. There he became acquainted with a printer by the name of Patterson, to whom he gave the novel to be published; but before making the necessary arrangements, the author died. It appears that the manuscript was left around the office for some time, at which time it was loaned to one Sidney Rigdon, a typesetter in the office, and a preacher who belonged to some sect of fanatical Methodists. It must be that this man copied a part or the entirety of the novel. Indeed, it is said that he confessed to having done that, and it is certain that he had sufficient opportunity to do so, for the manuscript is still in existence, but it was not returned to Mrs. Spaulding for a long period of time. She had the manuscript year after year without notice until Mormonism began to increase rapidly. Finally, their doctrines and the Book of Mormon arrived in New Salem. A meeting was called by a female missionary who read extensive quotations from the new Bible. Fortunately, it so happened that in the congregation were many of Mr. Spaulding’s old listeners who were struck with the great surprise on realizing that it was not the Bible of the new dispensation, rather it was nothing less than modified segments from the writings of “The Manuscript Found” by their old friend. Mrs. Spaulding, the widow of the author, and the author’s brother, testified to the truth of this fact. A great number of the most respected inhabitants of New Salem gave the same witness, people who could not have had any comprehensible reason for bearing false testimony. Consequently, when the connections between the prophet Joseph Smith and Rigdon, the typesetter, were understood, the secret of Mormonism was immediately revealed, and the impudent and shameless deceit was completely exposed.
But the foolishness of man matches his misery, and, consequently, this deplorable deceit has been met with a wide acceptance. It is true that it has been treated poorly in America, for the deceivers and the deceit have been persecuted, their possessions of have burned and destroyed, and the prophet himself was killed. But it has not been that way in Britain, but of all the astonishing things the most extraordinary is that they have obtained so many disciples in Wales. At present they claim that there are 300,000 Saints, of which a great number have settled in an independent state, having a proper charter and a local government. The state of Deseret, according to some historiographers, is a fruitful bit of land that lies between east America and California and the Pacific Ocean, and very likely to be received into the American Union before long. Its main town is Salt Lake City, a large town that has arisen as a magic enchantment in the Deseret. From there missionaries are sent to almost every country in Europe to “gather the saints.” During the past ten years, no fewer than 14,000 persons have migrated to this Canaan. In 1849, 2,500 persons have started to Deseret from Liverpool. In June 1850, there were in England and Scotland 27,163 Mormons (they claim). Of this number it is said that there are four thousand three hundred and forty-two in Wales, mainly in the South. The Mormon count in the British Isles as of last January was 30,747. They claim to have baptized 50,000 in England, of which number two thousand and fifteen have set their faces toward “Zion” in the desert. And the word is out, that there are now three-and-a-half tons of California gold to enable the poor saints to emigrate. But before any of our readers allow themselves to be convinced of this fable, they first need to go see with their eyes and feel with their hands.
Since the truthfulness of the Saints has not been reliable before starting from their homes, we fear that there is not any great hope for it to improve during their pilgrimage. What will a few ignorant and unlearned men who have been enticed from their homes by deceitful rascals do under such circumstances? They cannot return for lack of means; they are too uneducated to make their complaints known by corresponding with newspapers, and they have no opportunity to complain of their wrongs in any other way. They must suffer the extreme cruel oppression, or else sink to evil and shame in order to be worthy associates of their rulers.
If these things are true, it is their duty to proclaim them for the sake of the Mormons and for the sake of the public. If they are not true, it is a pity that such tales are being spread; but if they are true, they should be shouted from the housetops, and through the power of the iron lungs of the press, so that our compatriots might understand what awaits them in the paradise of Deseret. We fear that they are true, for when men have devoted themselves to spreading a lie, there is no evil, this side of Hell anyway, that such will not accomplish. It is quite likely that the city of Salt Lake is a PILLAR OF SALT for humanity, and on which it will be written “REMEMBER THE MORMONS.”
The Times, 17 December 1851, p. 3
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The Latter-day Saints
It is readily seen that a putrid plague,
Is the spirit of the wandering Saints;
It is the followers of Smith, the son of the black devil,
Who seek to deceive our dear nation.
Futile and foolish they boastfully declare
Their power to work miracles as did Paul;
To give a foot to one, and a hand to the other,
And eyes to the poor blind!!
They subdue the power of the devil,
And raise up the dead to life;
Move mountains, extinguish fire,
And work a myriad of small miracles.
Their principles are filled
With the stench of hell, that is their gift;
If they cannot truly repent,
Before long their place will be hell.
Holyhead
Dafydd Williams
The Times, 10 March 1852, p. 3
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The Saints Again
Letter from America
Sir—At the request of several of my neighbors, I am sending to you the contents of a letter that came from St. Louis, from a man who is well known in these parts, who, I trust, does not wish to bring false witness against anyone. And if anyone doubts the authenticity of the letter, he can see the original in the possession of Mr. J. Lewis, mineral Agent, Victoria Iron Works, who has seen the greater part of the Smithite deceivers in this area; and its contents are causing them to grind their teeth, and to distort their faces in a strange manner. If you deem this letter suitable to put in the Times, I shall be grateful to you.
Yours,
D. J. Nicholas
Victoria
St. Louis, December 7th, 1851
Dear Friend,
I avail myself of this opportunity to write to you a few lines to inform you of the condition of things in this land.
My wife, our child, and myself were sick for five months, but at present I am somewhat improved. I have lost my happiness, for I buried my wife and my child in the same grave when I was in Illinois. At present I am living in Missouri. This country is highly unhealthful.
I wish for you to make every effort within your power to persuade my friends and all the people there to stay where they are, instead of being hoodwinked by the Mormons, which is nothing but complete humbug, which I have been able to experience to my grief and sorrow. It is a pity that the people could not perceive the deceit before leaving. They were promised every kind of blessings, but when they arrived here, they were embittered at their stupidity! I am not pointing this out to discourage anyone, but in order to make known the true condition of things here. Thus, if some still come after being warned of the danger, they must deal with the consequences. Of the 400 who started off from there, about 200 of them have died after arriving here. There was not a single Welshman who died on coming across, except for four children who died at sea. At present I am living with William Davies, from Abercarn, Monmouthshire, who also came here with the Mormons, and who is by his own hand a witness to these realities. It would be better for men not to have been born than to come here as Mormons. They take all of your possessions in Wales, and after coming here they starve you if they have the opportunity. They take the wives of the arrivals and leave their own. Brigham Young has 24 wives, and 19 of these presently have nursing infants; and the lower officials have the number of wives equal to their circumstances, some 14, some 7, and others have varying numbers. At present, as much as they can they disparage the official spies of the Republic of the United States, those who leave their positions and who have returned to Washington. And since the Congress is in session at present, we shall soon hear what our determined fate will be. I fear that the circumstances that prevailed in Nauvoo are nothing compared to those of the future if they resist. But through it all, I have obtained enough to eat and to drink since coming here. I intend to move to Pennsylvania in the coming spring, for it is much more healthful there; and we advise everyone who wishes to come to America to come to New York, since the climate is so unhealthful in New Orleans.
The Mormons are extremely unkind to each other here; I had to dig the grave for my wife myself! She was put in a proper grave, but the Mormons did not lend a single hand of help to me at the time. At present I consider myself to be at complete liberty, since I am out of their association. The great men here who give substantial money there, are also those who receive substantial promises of receiving much land and other things when they come here. Such, I say, are left to die in the workhouse, and among them are Howell Williams, William Rees, and many others, and whether they are living or have died we know not. * * *
I can tell you also that there is no more respect for keeping the Sabbath than for any other day. On the Sabbath there are all kinds of sports, such as horse racing, rolling the ten pins, card playing, drinking, dancing, and swearing, and everything that is beyond propriety; and the Presidents are participants in such activities to a very great extent.
Evan Howells
St. Louis, Missouri
“Mr. John Lewis, Victoria Iron Works.”
The Times, 30 June 1852, p. 1
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Cerrigydrudion
On the 21st of this month, this area was visited by one of the “Saints.” He testified as he began to address his listeners, that it was not their custom to take a topic except it be given them directly from heaven; but in order for the listeners to have the proper idea of the sermon this time, he would take one. And so the natural deduction is, that he himself would be allowed to wend his way through the service without receiving anything from above. But he did not utter a word of observation on the “text” except just to say it; he promised to visit us once again, and perhaps we will have more to report the next time.
A Correspondent
The Times, 21 July 1852, p. 2
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Accidents
The disciples of Joseph Smith, or the Mormons, were holding a large meeting in Trefdraeth on Monday, and the accident took place and caused many of those simpletons to view the event as a genuine miracle. While there were about 400 of the Saints having tea together, half the high and heavy roof fell on them. For a while there was commotion and great fright, along with the dust, the rubbish, the tea, and the Saints mixed together, and the cries of those in the midst of the destruction were frightful. Many ran under the tables for safety, and they shouted for some miracle to save them, while the others were covered with pieces from the roof. The remarkable thing, no doubt viewed as a miracle by the Saints, was that the roof above the place where the elders or the apostles were sitting was intact, and they received no harm. Every effort was made on behalf of the poor Saints, and within an hour all were freed; and the remarkable thing, it is said, is that not so much as a single one of the Saints was injured, while it is said that two or three of the men who had gone there to ridicule the deeds of the Joe Smithites were injured, which no doubt caused them to remember their insolence. The meeting was transferred to another place where the evening was spent in rejoicing about the miracle worked by the elders and the prophets who had brought about such a miracle by causing the heavy roof to come down on the heads of the Mormons without a single injury to any of them.
The Times, 16 November 1853, p. 2
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Please, my Lord, what can be in you, or your creed, or in your sect, that qualifies you to take our place on the battlefield, to counteract the evils said to be now overflowing, or about to cover our land! What special capability is in your social condition, your religious plans, or in your practices and your general procedures, as a body, to meet the needs of the cause, and to cast out the stubborn devils who are said to be on the verge of vanquishing the united armies of Nonconformity?
In fact, my Lord, we advise you to stand back, lest they answer you as a similar group answered the sons of Sceva of old, “Jesus we know, and the Nonconformists we know, but who are you?” What can you do to vanquish Mormonism? Are not the Mormons your offspring? Do they not follow your manner? Do they not have a second birth in baptism as do you? Do they not anoint the sick as do you? Do they not have confirmation as do you? Do they not have apostolic succession as do you? Do they not claim to be the only ones who have the right to preach as do you? Do they not forgive sins as do you? Do they not claim the right to give the Holy Ghost as do you? The Common Book of Prayer contains everything that the Saints profess to receive from the Book of Mormon. Is it likely that these Satanists can be cast out by Satanists completely of the same nature? To whom in your ranks, my Lord, can you give the task of opposing that frightful heresy—that of denying the existence of the devil? Your chief teacher through the press, I hear, is a heretic on this subject. You have never heard of a single minister or editor who belongs to the orthodox sects who is so bold as to embrace such heresy; but if I am not mistaken, Brutus is not the right man to be trusted with the task of proving the doctrine of the existence of his Satanic Majesty. It is no wonder that there are along the Hills those who are sufficiently evil to follow Brutus in this heresy.
Yr Amserau, 7 December 1853, p. 3
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The Deseret News (Mormon) has the following story: “A woman was walking along, and a man looked at her and followed her. The woman said, ‘Why are you following me?’ ‘Because I have fallen in love with you,’ was the response. The woman asked, ‘What is the reason you have fallen in love with me? My sister is much prettier than I. She is coming after me; go and love her.’ The man turned back and saw a woman coming who was far uglier than the first. After being greatly disappointed, he went back again to the first and asked her why she had lied. The woman answered, ‘You also lied; for if you loved me, why did you go to the other woman?’ The man was confused.” It is easy for us to believe this.
The Times, 25 March 1857, p. 3
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Saintism in the South
It was never thought that the Welsh were so open to be carried by every wind of doctrine until the Mormon system made its appearance. These fanatical people have been very successful in Wales during recent years, but by now the majority of them have emigrated to their earthly heaven, although a few of them are to be seen here and there. But the poor wretches who remain are tithed to the extreme, and thus they and their families are greatly impoverished, and they forsake even the necessities of life in order to have money to throw into the treasury of the saints. Lately, not a hundred miles from Llanelli, there was a miner who belonged to the saints, but his wife was not one of them. Until recently, he surprisingly used tobacco; and since his family was numerous, and his pay was low, in order to save a little money he decided to give up tobacco. That worked out well, so he decided to go a step further; he withheld permission for his wife to use tea, telling her that it was harmful. That was obvious persecution. Since she thought tea was necessary, then she should have it, and more power to her for her insistence in spite of that. But it was a difficult struggle for him to give up tobacco. He gave up the pipe easily; but as for the chew (yes, chewing tobacco) it was far more difficult for him. And what path, reader, do you suppose he took? Well, lest you become faint in trying to guess, I shall tell you. He went up a small stream and selected a smooth stone, and he kept it in his mouth during the day, moving it as slowly as Atlas moved the world long ago. It was not much smaller at night than it was in the morning, and it did not cost him anything. He met a friend one morning who, when he saw something large in his mouth, asked if he had gone back to chewing. He answered in the negative and explained that it was a stone that he had. His friend wanted him to use a marble, but his answer was that he was afraid that he would swallow it. Apparently, the leaders of the saints forbade tobacco and tea for their followers, so that they would be able to contribute more to the treasury for emigrants, etc. It is strange what fanaticism men have in this enlightened age. Our counsel to the above friend is to use everything that is proper for him as a man, and to stop denying permission for his wife to use anything that is for her good. Let him not be deceived by the saints, and let him not listen to their promises of happiness in Salt Lake. We can assure him that many from South Wales have had to pay dearly for their journey to Salt Lake. This is the secret for the success of saintism in this country, namely their promises for happiness across the ocean; and after reaching the promised land they will experience the disappointment, but then it is too late to turn back. Let them inquire of those who have returned from there, and they will hear what kind of happy place the land of promise of the Saints really is.
An Enemy of Deceit
The Times, 13 May 1857, p. 3
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From the New Orleans Courier, April 3.
NEW GOVERNOR OF UTAH. -- We had the gratification yesterday morning of a call from Judge W. W. Drummond, of Chicago, late Chief Justice of Utah Territory. He was in that condition of fine health and spirits in which we always rejoice to see good, sturdy, manly democrats. He entertained us for a considerable time with an account of his personal and judicial experience among the saints, and of their manners, habits, history, notions and purposes. Although we were disgusted with this set of miserable fanatics from accounts which had already reached us, some relations given by Judge Drummond, in addition to those contained in his letter to Attorney-General Black, added many revolting shades to the picture.
The Judge’s position, as administrator of civil and criminal law in the territory, has been such as to give him a better and probably more intimate knowledge of the workings of the whole Mormon system than is possessed now by any one out of Utah or in it. His duties as the representative of federal judicial authority have shown him where the supreme rule of that superstition-fettered host rests, whose is the will that sways the destinies of a considerable nation. what the motive that binds a hundred thousand inhabitants to the girdle of Brigham Young, and what the use made of their power by that astute, capable and bold hypocrite and his subordinates.
The leading characteristic of the followers of the modern Mahomet seems to be settled and abiding hatred of all "Gentiles," as they are pleased to style all who do not subscribe to their dogmas and conform to their unique and revolting creed. Although they come mainly from the Northern portion of this Republic, they look upon the United States with no other feeling than hatred. Patriotic love for the country which gave them birth, and which they disgrace has no place in their bosoms. They have been taught to look upon the United States Government as an oppressive one, whose authority they have a right to resist. All those who are without the pale of the Latter-day Saints, whether in or out of the territory which they have usurped, they regard as their enemies. They either set at open defiance the decrees of our courts, or dictate to grand or petit juries the indictments they shall report or the verdict they shall render. In notable cases, where the guilt of criminals has been as apparent as the noon-day sun, Young and his fellow prophets have forbidden Mormon juries to render a verdict of conviction. In one instance, where a poor helpless dumb boy was tortured in many ways for months, barbarously beaten, and then, while in the agony of his mortal wounds, was fettered and drowned in a brook; when his brutal murderer was sentenced to the penitentiary, Brigham Young took him from the hands of the officer, led him into the tabernacle, proclaimed his absolute pardon, forbade any one to arrest him, and gave him a seat at his right hand!
If Indians commit depredations on Mormons they are punished without delay or scruple, but if they rob or murder "Gentiles," the prophet extends his protection, and forbids juries to pronounce them guilty. No law except what emanates from the supreme hierarchy, receives the slightest regard.
The right of private property among the Mormons is almost unknown. Whatever the rulers need they always find means to obtain. "The Lord needs it," is a warrant sufficient to enable Young and his Council to seize upon any property in Utah, and remonstrance is not only useless but dangerous. If a wealthy disciple arrives from the States, the Church (Young) immediately lays hold of just such a share of his goods as he pleases. -- The portion, of which the former owner is suffered to retain nominal possession, he is compelled to manage according to the dictation of some prophet or priest. If the prophet says to his neighbor "Plant that field with potatoes," the farmer would lose his lands and, perhaps his life, were he to refuse. The counsel he is thus obliged to obey, he is also compelled to ask. The result is, that the actual possession of the great mass of all the real and personal property in Utah is in the foul oligarchy of Young and his immediate subordinates.
But if the control over the property of Mormons is tyrannical, that exercised over their most sacred private and family affairs is still more so. If a father has a child, fair and innocent, whom he cherishes and loves, and if she captivates the fancy of some leading Mormon, she will be taken from her home by the decree of the elders, and given up by the ceremony of "sealing" to become the fortieth or fiftieth wife to an old villain, while her predecessors, who have grown old in the same guilty and abominable connection, become his household or cornfield servants. It often happens that a man is sealed to two women at the same ceremony, and cases are not rare when one of the wives so acquired is lost by a divorce before breakfast the next morning!
The account given by Judge Drummond of many of these connections, where sometimes a mother and two or three of her daughters were all sealed to the same man, presents a picture of beastly barbarity. Could a correct idea of these horrible transactions be made known throughout the country, a crusade would be preached against this foul horde that would soon put an end to their sway.
RESIGNATION OF JUDGE DRUMMOND
To the Hon. Jeremiah S. Black, Attorney General of the United States, Washington City, D. C.:
MY DEAR SIR: As I have concluded to resign the office of Justice of the Supreme Court of the Territory of Utah, which position I accepted in A. D. 1854, under the administration of President Pierce, I deem it due to the public to give some of the reasons why I do so. In the first place, Brigham Young, the governor of Utah Territory, is the acknowledged head of the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," commonly called "Mormons"; and, as such head, the Mormons look to him, and to him alone, for the law by which they are to be governed: therefore no law of Congress is by them considered binding in any manner.
Secondly. I know that there is a secret oath-bound organization among all the male members of the church to resist the laws of the country, and to acknowledge no law save the law of the "Holy Priesthood," which comes to the people through Brigham Young direct from God; he, Young, being the vicegerent of God and prophetic successor of Joseph Smith, who was the founder of this blind and treasonable organization.
Thirdly I am fully aware that there is a set of men, set apart by special order of the Church, to take both the lives and property of persons who may question the authority of the church, (the names of whom I will promptly make known at a future time).
Fourthly. That the records, papers, &c., of the supreme court have been destroyed by order of the church, with the direct knowledge and approbation of Governor B. Young, and the federal officers grossly insulted for presuming to raise a single question about the treasonable act.
Fifthly. That the federal officers of the Territory are constantly insulted, harassed, and annoyed by the Mormons, and for these insults there is no redress.
Sixthly. That the federal officers are daily compelled to hear the form of the American government traduced, the chief executives of the nation, both living and dead, slandered and abused from the masses, as well as from all the leading members of the Church, in the most vulgar, loathsome, and wicked manner that the evil passions of men can possibly conceive.
Again: That after Moroni Green had been convicted in the district court before my colleague, Judge Kinney, of an assault with intent to commit murder, and afterwards, on appeal to the supreme court, the judgment being affirmed and the said Green being sentenced to the penitentiary, Brigham Young gave a full pardon to the said Green before he reached the penitentiary; also, that the said Governor Young pardoned a man by the name of Baker, who had been tried and sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment in the penitentiary, for the murder of a dumb boy by the name of White House, the proof showing one of the most aggravated cases of murder that I ever knew being tried; and to insult the court and government officers, this man Young took this pardoned criminal with him, in proper person, to church on the next Sabbath after his conviction; Baker, in the meantime, having received a full pardon from Governor Brigham Young. These two men were Mormons.
On the other hand, I charge the Mormons, and Governor Young in particular, with imprisoning five or six young men from Missouri and Iowa, who are now in the penitentiary of Utah, without those men having violated any criminal law in America. But they were anti-Mormons -- poor, uneducated young men on their way for California; but because they emigrated from Illinois, Iowa, or Missouri, and passed by Great Salt Lake City, they were indicted by a probate court, and most brutally and inhumanly dealt with, in addition to being summarily incarcerated in the saintly prison of the Territory of Utah. I also charge Governor Young with constantly interfering with the federal courts, directing the Grand Jury whom to indict and whom not; and after the Judges charge the Grand Juries as to their duties, that this man Young invariably has some member of the Grand Jury advised in advance as to his will in relation to their labors, and that his charge thus given is the only charge known, obeyed, or received by all the Grand Juries of the federal courts of Utah Territory.
Again, sir, after a careful and mature investigation, I have been compelled to come to the conclusion, heart-rending and sickening as it may be, that Captain John W. Gunnison, and his party of eight others, were murdered by the Indians in 1858, under the orders, advice, and direction of the Mormons; that my illustrious and distinguished predecessor, Hon. Leonidas Shaver, came to his death by drinking poisoned liquors, given to him under the order of the leading men of the Mormon Church in Great Salt Lake City; that the late secretary of the Territory, A. W. Babbitt, was murdered on the plains by a band of Mormon marauders, under the particular and special order of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and J. M. Grant, and not by the Indians, as reported by the Mormons themselves; and that they were sent from Salt Lake City for that purpose, and that only; and as members of the Danite Band they were bound to do the will of B. Young as the head of the Church, or forfeit their own lives.
These reasons, with many others that I might give, which would be too heart-rending to insert in this communication, have induced me to resign the office of Justice of the territory of Utah, and again return to my adopted State of Illinois. My reason, sir, for making this communication thus public is, that the democratic party, with which I have always strictly acted, is the party now in power, and therefore is the party that should now be held responsible for the treasonable and disgraceful state of affairs that now exists in Utah territory. I could, sir, if necessary, refer to a cloud of witnesses to attest the reason I have given, and the charges, bold as they are, against those despots who rule with an iron hand their hundred thousand souls in Utah, and their two hundred thousand souls out of that notable territory, but shall not do so, for the reason that the lives of such gentlemen as I should designate in Utah and in California would not be safe for a single day.
In conclusion, sir, I have to say that, in my career as Justice of the Supreme Court of Utah territory, I have the consolation of knowing that I did my duty; that neither threats nor intimidations drove me from that path; upon the other hand, I am pained to say that I accomplished little good while there; that the judiciary is only treated as a farce. The only rule of law by which the infatuated followers of this curious people will be governed, is the law of the church, and that emanates from Governor Brigham Young, and him alone.
I do believe that, if there was a man put in office as Governor of that territory, who is not a member of the church (Mormon,) and he supported with a sufficient military aid, that much good would result from such a course; but, as the territory is now governed, and as it has been since the administration of Mr. Fillmore, at which time Young received his appointment as Governor, it is noon-day madness and folly to attempt to administer the law in that territory. The officers are insulted, harassed, and murdered for doing their duty, and not recognizing Brigham Young as the only law-giver and law-maker on earth. Of this every man can bear incontestable evidence who has been willing to accept an appointment in Utah; and I assure you, sir, that no man would be willing to risk his life and property in that territory after once trying the sad experiment.
With an earnest desire that the present administration will give due and timely aid to the officers that may be so unfortunate as to accept situations in that territory, and that the withering curse which now rests upon this nation by virtue of the peculiar and heart-rending in. situations of the territory of Utah may be speedily removed, to the honor and credit of our happy country,
I now remain your obedient servant,
W. W. DRUMMOND,
Justice Utah Territory.
March 30, A. D. 1857.
The Times, 24 June 1857, p. 3—item 1
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Murder of Orson Pratt
This man, the most highly educated and gifted Mormon of all, was murdered by one Mr. McLean, whose wife was charmed and degraded by him. Pratt formed an acquaintance with Mrs. McLean when he was preaching in San Francisco, where she lived happily with her husband and her children. About two years ago after she converted to Mormonism, she made an attempt to take two of her children to Utah, but she was found out and restrained by her brother who was in California at that time and living with his brother-in-law, Mr. McLean. Soon after that she found a way to escape secretly with Pratt to the Salt Lake, where it is said that she became his ninth wife. Her children were sent to friends of Mrs. McLean in New Orleans at their request, but several months after that Mrs. McLean went to that place and took away two of the children. After the husband heard about this he obtained a warrant for the arrest of Pratt and his concubine, they were put on trial, but after an inquiry they were released. As Pratt was going on horseback from the town, McLean met him and shot him and wounded him so that he lived but two more hours. The deceased was a man of great intellectual power and had traveled as a missionary in Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden and Germany. He was the next in influence to Brigham Young, and he was one of the first followers of Joe Smith, the founder of Mormonism.
Times, 24 June 1857, p. 3—item 2
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The Mormons
These people have lost one of the great lights, one J. M. Grant, and the notice of his death ends in the following manner: “He is gone now, leaving seven mourning widows and several children, four of which are under eight years of age, to mourn their irretrievable loss.”
