Page:The Rocky Mountain Saints.djvu/45

Rh Up to the introduction of polygamy, Mormonism was solely a "Bible-Gospel" in Europe, and differed so widely from the kingdom-building scheme of Utah, that the very sons of the apostles and prophets testify, on their return to Utah from European missions, that they never knew what Mormonism was, nor the power of God, till they went abroad to preach. This is a common admission, and a damaging testimony against Zion; but it tells a great truth, and confirms the assertion that it is especially the British mission, with latterly the Scandinavian, that has built up Utah. It is the remembrance of their first love's joy in the Church in the Old World that preserves many of the Saints now in their dreary fellowship in the Church of the New World.

It is not an easy thing to break away from a life-long hope and such early joyous experiences as most of them had in the beginning. It is not courage that is lacking. It is, in fact, easier to meet death than to live this life of anxiety and trouble; but believers dread to assume the responsibility of breaking off from shepherds whom once they almost idolized, and making the things of eternity a matter between themselves and their Maker. Even among the greatest intellects, few have been able to leave the Church, though groaning under it for years, until some experience brought with it an issue that demanded the assertion of a personal right or a disputed truth at the expence of fellowship. The greatest of their apostles, Orson Pratt, has been a living martyr for years, and has suffered indignities which manhood would never endure outside of the Mormon communion, and all this from fear of doing a greater wrong by leaving the Church in which he had spent a long life of usefulness. This consciousness of another's scrupulous fidelity apparently emboldens Brigham Young to test every man to his utmost endurance who breathes an independent thought.

Summed up, Mormonism demands perfect submission total dethronement of individuality blind obedience. There is no middle path. The crowning error of Brigham Young is the claim to " a Priesthood that is infallible." No man at the head of a people ever required it less. His errors before that were all overlooked " to err is human." It mattered not what he said or did, the people hastened to excuse him, as