5. When settled on the promised land, they are then fairly under the command of Lieutenant General Joseph Smith, and can be made to build a temple to his honour, or a palace for his comfort, far easier than if they were scattered abroad.

CHAPTER XIII.

Theology of Mormonism-Derivation-Affinity to Campbellism-Improvements upon the old system-Miracles-Tongues-Conflicting medley of doctrines-Duplicity of the advocates of Mormonism-Honesty of many of its followers-Real and distinguishing tenets-Eternity of matter-Materiality of God-Baptism for the deadInterdiction of the same-Desecrations of the sabbath.

In order to understand the theological character of Mormonism, the reader needs to recollect that Rigdon, and several of his associates, had been followers of Alexander Campbell. They had been thoroughly drilled as coadjutors to that self-styled reformer. Immersion for

the remission of sins had been their favourite theme, nor did it cease to be so when they embraced the cause of Mormonism. The Campbellite preachers had been famous for their rant and declamation against all creeds and sects. Yet they were going about to establish a new sect, while, to vindicate THEIR CREED, they published a new translation of the New Testament. From the success, and the temporary popularity of Campbellism, the Mormons man

ifestly took their cue; but they have distanced their forerunners. Not stopping with new translations, they published to the world new revelations. As though the inconsistency of establishing a new sect was not sufficient, they attempted to "found a new religion," still keeping up the clamour about the sectarianism of all but themselves.

Various passages in the Book of Mormon show the writer to have been a Campbellite in his views. E. g., p. 451, "Eight thousand of the Lamanites were baptized unto repentance." Page 514, Behold, ye shall go down and stand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them." "And then ye shall immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water." Page 627, "I know that it is solemn mockery before God that ye should baptize little children." "Behold, baptism is unto repentance, to the fulfilling the commandment, unto the remission of sins." Other passages of the same purport might be introduced, but we proceed to show the affinity between Campbellism and Mormonism, by the following extracts, which are designed to exhibit the triumphs of the latter system.

"We learn, verbally, from Elder John E. Page, that within a few weeks past he has baptized nine in the lower part of this county, about eight miles south-west from Carthage, and twenty from this place. Among those who embraced the gospel in that place, is Mr. Sidney Knowlton and family, who have, for seve

ral years, been zealous members of the Campbellite society, and are personally acquainted with the leaders of that sect, consequently have become perfectly acquainted with all the principles of that doctrine: they are of the opinion that if Messrs. Campbell, Scott, and others, had been attentive hearers to the lectures which had been delivered in their place, they would have become Mormons also."

P. P. Pratt, writing to S. Rigdon, from Manchester, England, Jan. 8th, 1841, says,

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I must now inform you of the fact, that we have reaped the first fruits of Campbellism in England. A few societies have been formed in England upon that principle for some years, but have made but little progress. One society of one hundred members exists about seventy miles from Manchester, at a place called Nottingham. They discovered, about two years. ago, that they had been baptized for the remission of sins without authority, and that they had not obtained remission, nor the gifts of the Spirit. From that time till now many of them have been seeking and praying for the Lord to send officers, and raise up his own church. At length some of our writings fell into some of their hands, which soon brought two of their number to Manchester to inquire. They attended our meeting in the hall of Manchester, were well pleased, and called at our office next morning. After spending the day in inquiring, etc., one of them purchased three Voices of Warning, and returned home; the other, (an

intelligent gentleman,) stayed two or three days, inquired diligently, and at length was baptized and confirmed, and went home to tell the glad tidings; this was a week or two ago. We expect to hear from them soon, and go out and baptize and organize the church there. Tell friend Campbell to go ahead and prepare the way—the saints will follow him up and gather the fruits."

Thus it appears that Campbellism has proved the harbinger to Mormonism both in America and in England.

The two systems seem still to be identical in denying the necessity of spiritual regeneration, although the latter claims extraordinary spiritual gifts through baptism and the laying on of hands. The Mormons claiming to be much greater reformers than the Campbellites, by no means felt themselves bound to walk in the old paths; on the contrary, they took the liberty to abandon such parts of the other system as did not correspond with their new designs, and to run into every additional extravagance that promised to increase their numbers. Thus miracles and tongues were successively in vogue, so long as any thing was to be gained by them. In addition to the light already thrown upon these subjects, we subjoin the following statements of Mr. Bacheler, who, during the progress of a discussion upon the subject of Mormonism, investigated three cases of pretended miracles, in company with his opponent, a Mr. Adams.

"The first was the case of an infant child,

which was said to have been rescued from the jaws of death by prayer and the imposition of hands, by a Mormon elder. We found that the child had, indeed, been very sick; that a Mormon elder had prayed for it, and laid his hands upon it; that the child gradually recovered; and that the father of the child, who had previously been an infidel, had now renounced infidelity, under the belief that the child had been miraculously healed. But, on further inquiry, we ascertained that a physician had also been attending the child; that, in the height of its disease, he administered a powerful dose of medicine, which gave it a check; that the child was actually convalescent when the Mormon elder was sent for; and the physician positively declared that it was his medicine that preserved its life, and restored it to health. So much for the Mormon miracle.

"The second was the case of a woman who was said to have been miraculously healed of the palsy. We found that she had left town. But we saw another woman who had resided in the same house with her. This latter woman informed us that the other one had really had the palsy; that she permitted the Mormons to pray with her, and lay their hands upon her; that she recovered, in some measure, though not entirely; that a physician had likewise attended her; and that the woman herself did not believe her partial recovery was attributable to miracle, but to medical treatment.

"The third case was that of a woman, who,