The Pacific tourist:

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tion they had endured there. The third was
quite belligerent in tone, and gave utterance to
what might possibly be interpreted as treasonable
sentiments against the government of the United
States. In the meautinte the audience accepted
all that was said with apparent relish. We
thought of the saying of one of the popular
humorists of the day, to the effect that "if that
kind of preaching suits that kind of people, it is
just the kind of preaching that kind of people
likes." Their preachers will often take a text
from the sayings of the prophets, and give it a
literal interpretation that would grate harshly
upon orthodox ears, while the listener would be
amused at the ingenuity displayed il twistimg the word of God-nmaking it mean anything
desired.
It is exceedingly unfortunate for the cause of
the Mormons, that such exhibitions of nature
are made, the only result of which is to increase
the prejudice of all visitors, and tend to gradually change the minds of those who would
gladly be cordial, but feel they can not. We
speak in candor; the efficacy of a religion is
judged by its purity of life and speech. A true
religion wins admiration from even its enemies.
But Mormonism seems never to have made a
friend of anll enemy, and only returns even
deeper resentment.
A religion which does not do as Christ cominanded, " Pray f)r them which persecute you,
bless and curse not,"-but treasures its resentments and fulminates its curses continually-can
it be any religion at all?
Incoj'sistencies. - Another circumstance,
one very unfortunate for the Mo'mons, and always noticed by strangers, is the inconsistency
of their history.
In the original revelation to Joseph Smith,
there was not only no mention of polygamy, but
in the Book of Mormon, such a practice was
fiercely denounced. In the second chapter of the
Book of Mormon, there originally appeared this
warning to the Nephlites:
"W[lerefore, hearken unto the word of the Lord,
for there shall not any man among you have save it
be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;
for I tile Lord God, delighteth in the chastity of
woman. "
The following comments and arguments based
on the above, seem absolutely necessary, and impossible for any one to controvert:
1. If Joseph Smith wrote this under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, then present Mormon practices and doctrines, being wholly different, are not
true nor worthy of confidence.
2. If Joseph Smith did not; write this under the
inspiration of the Almighty, then Joseph Smith (lid
not receive a true revelation, was not a true Prophet,
and what he has written has been entirely unworthy
the confidence of his people.
3. If 2kIormonism since then has found a new
r evelation totally opposed tof the frst, then the first
must have been fal.'e.
4. ]f the first revelation was false, then the
Book o 3aIorman is wholly jflse ai,d unreliable, and
Joseph Smith was an impostor.
5. If the first revelation was true, then (as the
decrees of the Almighty once given, never change),
the second revelation is not true, nor ever was int.spired by God.
6. As History proves that Jo.~eph Smith received
and promulgated both the first atod second revelations-as one of these must be false-as no Prophet
could ever be falsely le(, if in.structed by the Almighty-it follows that Joseph Smith never received
a true inspiration, was not a true Prop)het-that
Mormonism is not a revealed religion.
Another inconsistency, fatal to the claims of
the Mormon religion, is the curious act of Joseph
Smith at Nauvoo. On the 12th of July, 1843,
Smith received the new revelation. When it
was first mentioned, it caused great commotion,
and many rebelled against it. A few elders attemipted to promulgate it, but so fierce was the
opposition that at last, for peace, Smith officially
made public proclamation against it in the
Church paper as follows:
NOTICE.-As we have lately been credibly informed that
an elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints, by the name of Hiram Brown has been preaching
polygamy and other false and corrupt doctrines in the
County of Lapeer and State of Michigan,
This is to notify him, and the Church in general, that he
has been cut off from the Clhurclh for his iniquity, and he is
further notified to appear at the special conference on the
6th of April next, to make answer to to h e se charges.
JOSEPH SMITH Presidents of th e Church.
QUERY.- What is the world to think of a
religion, or a people, when their Prophet falsifies
his own record, and denies his own revelation?
Subsequent history shows that in less than
three years from the publication of the above
notice, th e Mormon leader s were living in open
and undisguised polygam y.
TVould a Prophet who ever received a true revelation deny it, punish sis followers for observing it, and
then practice itfir himself?
How appropriately the answer is given to this
question when one takes up the Mormon Hymn
Book, and finds among its verses, used in their
church services, the following leading lines:
1. "The God that others worship is not the God for me."
2. "A church without a Prophet is not the church for me."
3. "A church without Apostles is not the church for me."
4. "The hope that Gentiles cherish Is no,t the hope for me."
"It has no faith nor knowledge; far from it I would be."
5. "The heaven of sectarians is not the heaven for me."
Mormon Courtesies.-The leading members of the Mormon Church we met during our
stay, were gentlemen, treated us very courteously,
and apparently offered us every facility for obtaining information, and they will treat all
strangers in the same way. We feel under
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