AMONG THE MORMONS. 493 



selves. H^ proved himself to be an organizer of pros- 

 perity, and this was tlie real source of his strength. 



Mormonism is the religion of 250,000 of the world's 

 inhabitants. The Territory of Utah has a population 

 of 160,000, and of these, probably, 110,000 are Mor- 

 mons. Their doctrines may be explained in a few 

 words : 



They believe that both matter and spirit are eternal, 

 and both are possessed of intelligence and power to 

 design. 



Tlie spiritual realm contains many gods, all of whom 

 are traced back to one Supreme Deity. 



This Supreme Deity and all the gods resemble men 

 and differ onlv in the fact that thev are immortal. 



In form they are the same as men, having every 

 oro^an and limb that belon2:s to humanitv. Thev have 

 many wives, and are as numerous as the sands upon 

 the sea-shore. 



Among the gods, Jesus Christ holds the first place, 

 and is the express image of the Supreme Father. 



A general assembly of the gods, presided over by 

 the Supreme Deity, is the creating power. 



When this world was created, Adam and Eve were 

 taken from the family of gods and placed in it. In 

 the fall they lost all knowledge of their heavenly 

 origin, became possessed of mortal ♦ bodies, and only 

 regained what they had lost by the quickening of the 

 Holy Spirit and continuous progress in knowledge and 

 purity. 



Among other creations of the gods are innumerable 

 spirits which can only attain to the rank of gods by 

 the rugged road of discipline and trial trod by our first 

 parents. These spirits are constantly hovering over 



