A prominent Mormon bishop lately asserted in the eastern press “that the Mormon women are happy,” a statement entirely contrary to that of the women themselves who declare their state to be purgatorial.

The Anti-polygamy Standard says:—­“A wife lately thwarted her husband in his attempt to enter polygamy, threatening to expose him in court; the true spirit of Mormonism was exhibited in his reply, that the laws of God would soon be in full force in Utah—­we shall get rid of the Gentiles, and all such Mormon women as you will be blood-atoned.”  This atonement is one of the tenets of the church.  Any act committed against it has in the past been punished by death, the shedding of the guilty persons, blood being necessary for the atonement of the sin.

A band of men called destroying angels, has committed these murderous deeds under the guidance of the priesthood.  This doctrine is no longer in force and could not stand in the face of federal officials and a Gentile population.

It was for many years the desire of the church to prevent any expanding of the intellect on the part of their followers, and any casual observer at the Tabernacle would be convinced that this and their divine institution had done their thorough work in stamping ignorance and misery upon a large number of the faces gathered there.

Prayer has always played an important part in both secular as well as religious assemblages, used as a means to impress and overawe these superstitious disciples of an all absorbing faith.  Every ball, every party, all social gatherings and even the theatre in the olden time, opened and closed with prayer.  In the dedication of a building they bless the different parts even to shingles and nails.  A full hour was consumed when the large tabernacle was dedicated, in enumerating and blessing the different materials that made up its construction.  One other very peculiar tenet of the church is baptism for the dead.  They are women principally who enter with enthusiasm in practising this rite, and they have been immersed as many as twenty times in one day to insure the future of departed friends.  It was the boast of one poor simple Scotch woman that she had secured places in Heaven for Sir William Wallace and Robert Bruce.  In accordance with a purpose of the priesthood, children bore a prominent part in public affairs.  They were called Utah’s best crop—­and less than ten years ago—­they formed conspicuous portions of the audiences that gathered in the tabernacle and theatre.  Their youthful voices in concert rivalled those of the tabernacle choir, the latter no mean institution as it numbered over 300.  At the theatre, too young to hold up their heads, their mothers tended them on pillows.  This custom has gradually been abolished until now an apostle can harangue by the hour on his favorite topic of “come up and pay your tithing without an infant’s cry to interrupt the monotonus strain.”