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Show CHAPTER XXI. THE FAIR APOSTATE CONTINUED. IT was in full Tabernacle, in the early autumn of 1856. The reign of lust and fanaticism, known in Utah as the " Reformation," had not ended ; and at every meeting fresh schemes were projected to bind the Mormons more thoroughly into a pliable mass, which might be " even as a tallowed rag in the hands of the priesthood." Every Saint had been required to confess the minutest details of his past life ; all these were written down, signed by the party, and thousands of them filed away by Brigham Young. The ward teachers had reported ev-ery case of real or supposed heresy ; the accused had been severely catechised, and the incorrigible driven from the Territory or worse. A grand " experience meeting" was now in progress. Brigham had pronounced one of his fiercely denunciatory and sweeping ser-mons, and three thousand Saints, wrought up to the highest pitch of fanaticism, were singing the inspiring national hymn of the Mormon theocracy : " In thy mountain retreat God shall strengthen thy feet, On the necks of thy foes shalt thou tread ; And their silver and gold, As the prophets have told, Shall be brought to adorn thy fair head. Oh, Zion, dear Zion, home of the free. Soon thy towers will shine with a splendor divine, And eternal thy glories shall be. " Here our voices we'll raise, And we'll sing to thy praise, Sacred home of the prophets of God ! Thy deliverance is nigh, Thy oppressors shall die, And the Gentiles shall bow ' neath thy rod. " Oh, Zion, dear Zion, home of the free ! In thy temples we'll bend, all thy rights we'll defend, And our homes shall be ever with thee." Into this assembly came Joseph A. Young, second son of the ( 332) |
