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Show io8 THE MORMON CHURCH. revelation from God, written in mystic characters upon plates of gold, and his translation of the inscriptions thereon is the Mormon Bible of the present day. Missionaries were at once sent out to proclaim the new gospel. As evidence of their divine authority they pretended to work miracles. Early in its history the new sect was subjected to rigid per secution, which only increased their fanaticism, and Joseph Smith soon entertained the idea of establishing a temporal sovereignty. The character of Smith had been notoriously bad for years before he claimed to be the great revelator of a new gospel. His reputation for veracity suffered alike with his reputation for violating the laws of the country pro hibiting larceny, while almost the entire community in which he resided regarded him as devoid of principle and honesty. He was a visionary gold- seeker, digging everywhere for the metal, and coveting wealth with the least possible amount of labor that might be expended in gaining it. The various doctrines to which the church now hold were submitted and adopted from time to time, and early in its history an important work styled " Book of Doctrines and Covenants" was written, which is claimed to consist of revelations received since the publication of the Book of Mormon, and is accepted still as a rule of faith and practice, with such modifications as it is claimed subsequent revelations have made to its teaching. These pretended revelations, as will be seen hereafter, have made very radical changes in the practices of the church, and their religious tenets seem to be as susceptible of as different interpretations as a treaty, or the constitution of the United States in these times. The Church soon attempted to establish a local indepen dent government of its own ( as it has de facto in Utah at present), but soon found itself in conflict with the lawful authority of the land. The practices of the Mormons were not only unlawful, but often so disgusting to the peo ple of Illinois and Missouri as to bring about violence. Unfortunately the passions of a mob so ruled as to result in the murder of Smith, the leader, in Nauvoo, Illinois, in |
