Polygamy; or, The mysteries and crimes of Mormonism, being a full and authentic history of this strange sect from its origin to the present time. . l. The first Patriarch in the Church was Old FatherSmith, or Joseph, father of the Prophet, who was succeededby the latters brother Hyrum, he by uncle John Smith,cousin of Joe, and he in turn by William Smith, son ofHyrum the martyr. To hold this office the only qualifica-tions which seem necessary, are that one should be an uncleand a Smith, neither of which is liable to fail for some time. BISHOPS. We now consider purely temporal officers, a set
Polygamy; or, The mysteries and crimes of Mormonism, being a full and authentic history of this strange sect from its origin to the present time. . l. The first Patriarch in the Church was Old FatherSmith, or Joseph, father of the Prophet, who was succeededby the latters brother Hyrum, he by uncle John Smith,cousin of Joe, and he in turn by William Smith, son ofHyrum the martyr. To hold this office the only qualifica-tions which seem necessary, are that one should be an uncleand a Smith, neither of which is liable to fail for some time. BISHOPS. We now consider purely temporal officers, a set of men whodirect municipal regulations and are, as occasion demands,either officers of the Church or Civil Magistrates. Of thesethe most important is the bishop. Salt Lake City is dividedinto twenty-one wards, each of which has a bishop, and theentire Territory is in the same manner conveniently dividedinto wards with a bishop over each. They hear and deter-mine all complaints, and as they are, under the peculiar stat-utes of Utah, also Probate Judges in their respective counties,they did govern Gentiles in that character. Thus, as spiritual. 22 337 338 POLYGAMY; OR, THE MYSTERIES guide in all matters of dispute among members of his flock,and civil magistrate, in all cases where Gentiles are concerned,the bishop was equally master of the situation, and ftilly ap-prized of whatever is going on. Hence, also, his character asinformer. From his decision as Judge the Gentile may appealto the United States District Court, and thence to the SupremeCourt at Salt Lake City; from his episcopal adjudications theMormon can appeal to the HIGH body is composed of fifteen men, chosen from the HighPriests. Twelve act as a jury, of whom a majority decide thecase, and the other three pass sentence, or fix the damages andcosts. From this tribunal there is an appeal to the First Pres-idency. The bishop is assisted in his labors by the WARD TEACHERS. Their duty is to visit all the peop
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectmormons, bookyear1904
