It is no more than common
justice to accord to this people a great undertaking in founding the
settlements of the territory, and a great triumph in their complete
success; but above and beyond this, very little can be said in their
favor.
The legal title of the Mormon church is the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints, and in the church parlance, Salt Lake city is a state
of Zion and the real Zion is at Jackson, Missouri, to which place the
Mormons claim they are some day to return. The Mormon church is a very
complicated institution, but as perfect in its organization and
operations as the Catholic church. Church and State are inseparable and
the main complications are in the priesthood which extends to nearly
every male member of the church who has a family, thus making them all
more or less responsible for the proceedings of their leaders. This
priesthood is composed of a president, in whom is combined prophet, seer
or revelator of the church. There have been only three men to fill that
office, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and John Taylor who now occupies
the position.
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