Chapter I: Preface

No apology is offered for presenting to the public the only authentic account of Brigham Young, of his polygamous family, and of that complicated and incongruous system of social and political machinery, called Mormonism.

The only form of religion in this country which refuses to conform either to the spirit of progress and improvement and enlightened humanity which characterizes the age in which we live, or to our laws and the genius of our free institutions,--drawing constantly from foreign countries hosts of votaries, impelled hither _not_ by a love of republicanism, but rather by a desire to exchange a political for a religious monarchy,--is Mormonism, which presents an antagonism to our Government, and can scarcely fail to result in national trouble.

The elements of a second rebellion are in active progress in Utah, and, as in the case of the slavery rebellion, the great danger lies in failing to place a proper estimate upon the power of those elements for mischief, and to take the proper precautions in time. Religious fanaticism is more active, and, when hostile, more dangerous, than political ambition; hence the arrogant and intolerant spirit, and the bitter hostility of the Mormons, are more worthy the serious attention of our statesmen than would be the opposition of so many mere political traitors.

Again; their power for mischief is much increased by the position they occupy upon the great thoroughfare between the eastern and western portions of our country.

It is with the view of calling the attention of the Government and of the people of the country to the dangerous character of this monarchy growing up in the midst of the Republic, that the political history of Utah has been written.

The chief interest of the work, however, with a large class of readers, will doubtless consist in the information it contains, relative to the family and social relations of the celebrated Mormon leader. These, and all other facts contained in this volume, may be relied upon as true, and many of them are now published for the first time.

The subject of polygamy is treated thoroughly, and as dispassionately as the writer's utter abhorrence of the system will permit. A residence of two years in the midst of this state of society, could not fail to afford me a tolerably good view of its inside workings, and this view I have presented to my readers.

Some of the facts narrated in this volume have been furnished by persons in Salt Lake, who are thoroughly conversant with them; in some cases, by persons who have long been in the service of Young, and know whereof they relate. While I am not at liberty to mention their names, I take this opportunity to return them my thanks for such valuable information.

This book is believed to be a desideratum demanded by the social and political well-being of the country, and as such it is presented to the consideration of the people of this country, and especially to my own sex, who are deeply interested in preventing the framework of our social system from being broken up and superseded by the customs and maxims of the worst ages of barbarism.

To the suffering women of Utah, I especially dedicate this result of my labors in their behalf; and I am not without hope that many of them may, upon a perusal of its pages, be induced to retrace their steps, and rescue themselves from the snares of the religious impostors now seeking their destruction.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY HISTORY OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.
PAGE
The Birth and Parentage of Brigham Young.--His Brothers and
Sisters.--He embraces Mormonism, and becomes a Leader.--Is
appointed President of the Twelve, and finally placed at the
Head of the Church, to succeed Joseph Smith.--Establishes the
Mormons in Salt-Lake. 1

CHAPTER II.

POLITICAL.

Brigham as Governor of Utah and Superintendent of Indian
Affairs.--Formation of the State of Deseret.--Proceedings of
the Utah Legislature.--Brigham's Proclamations.--Difficulties
with the Federal Officers.--Proceedings of the First Judges. 11

CHAPTER III.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

Colonel Steptoe and Brigham Young.--Brigham reappointed
Governor.--John F. Kinney.--Western Utah, or Nevada.--Letter
of Hon. James M. Crane.--Judge Stiles and the Records.--W. W.
Drummond. 26

CHAPTER IV.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.--THE MORMON WAR.

Report of the Secretary of War.--Proclamation of Governor
Brigham Young, declaring Martial Law.--Correspondence.--Sermons
of Young and Kimball.--Proclamation of Governor Cumming.--His
Echo Canyon Adventures.--Col. Kane.--The Mormons leave Salt
Lake.--Commissioners appointed by the President.--Peace
restored. 40

CHAPTER V.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

The Mountain Meadow Massacre, and other Crimes of the Mormons.
--Attempts to bring the Perpetrators to Justice.--Doings of
Judge Cradlebaugh.--Governor Cumming and the Military Officers.
--Judge Sinclair's Court.--Governor Dawson and his Misfortunes.
--New Governor and Associate Justices appointed. 60

CHAPTER VI.

POLITICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

Arrival of the New Federal Officers, in July, 1862.--Colonel
Connor arrives with his Command.--The Message of Governor
Harding.--The Mormons Indignant.--The Legislature refuse to
print the Message.--Action of the United States Senate
thereon.--Forgery in the Mormon Legislature.--Bill of Judge
Waite to amend the Organic Act.--Indignation Meeting.--
Governor Harding and Judges Waite and Drake requested to
leave the Territory.--Their Replies.--Brigham.--The Federal
Officers. 78

CHAPTER VII.

BRIGHAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH.

Organization of the Mormon Church.--Functions of the various
Officers.--The Two Priesthoods.--Mode of treating Dissenters
or "Apostates."--Divisions in the Church.--The Gladdenites.--
History of the Morrisites.--The Josephites.--Return to the
True Mormon Church. 114

CHAPTER VIII.

BRIGHAM AS TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR THE CHURCH.

Nature of the Trusteeship.--The Tithing System.--Brigham's
Private Speculations.--The Emigration Fund.--The Hand-Cart
Company. 132

CHAPTER IX.

BRIGHAM AS PROPHET, SEER, AND REVELATOR.

Brigham's Position as Head of the Church.--Mormon Theology.--
Brigham's Theology, or Utah Mormonism.--Adam as God.--Brigham
Young as God.--Human Sacrifice.--Introduction of Polygamy.--
Polygamy no part of the Original Mormon Religion.--The
Revelation, or Celestial Marriage.--The Ceremony of Sealing.--
Consequences and Incidents of the Doctrine.--Incest.--Summary
of the Mormon Religion. 153

CHAPTER X.

BRIGHAM AS LORD OF THE HAREM.

Brigham's Block.--The Lion House.--The Tithing-House.--The
Bee-Hive House, Office, etc.--Description of the Harem.--Plan,
Rooms, etc., of each Floor, and who occupies the same.--Life
at the Harem.--Brigham at Home. 177

CHAPTER XI.

THE WIVES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.

Mary Ann Angell Young, the first wife.--Her Family.--Lucy
Decker Seely, the first wife in Plurality.--More of "My
Women": Clara Decker, Harriet Cook, Lucy Bigelow, Twiss,
Martha Bowker, Harriet Barney, Eliza Burgess, Ellen Rockwood,
Susan Snively, Jemima Angell, Margaret Alley, Margaret Pierce,
Mrs. Hampton, Mary Bigelow, Emeline Free, or the Light of the
Harem.--Proxy Women: Miss Eliza Roxy Snow, Zina D. Huntington,
Amelia Partridge, Mrs. Cobb, Mrs. Smith, Clara Chase, the
Maniac.--Amelia, the last love.--The Prophet in love the
Thirtieth Time. 191

CHAPTER XII.

POLYGAMY.

Condition of Woman among various Heathen Nations.--Influence
of Christianity.--Mormonism and Woman.--Brigham offers to set
the Women Free.--Arguments in Favor of Polygamy.--The Argument
against it.--Abraham and Sarah.--Appeal to Mormon Women.--
Their Unhappy Condition.--Evil Effects of the System.--
Illustrations. 215

CHAPTER XIII.

THE ENDOWMENT.

A Mormon Drama. 244

CHAPTER XIV.

BRIGHAM AS GRAND ARCHEE OF THE ORDER OF THE GODS.

Organization of the Order of the Archees.--The Grand Archees.
--The Archees.--The Danites.--Organization of Brigham's
Celestial Kingdom.--Doctrine of Adoption.--Case of Dr.
Sprague.--Description of Leading Danites: Bill Hickman, Porter
Rockwell, Robert T. Burton.--Affidavits. 261

CHAPTER XV.

RECENT EVENTS.--CONCLUSION.

Personal Appearance and Character of Brigham Young.--His
Aims and Purposes.--Solution of the Mormon Question.--New
Complications.--Military Reviews of Mormons.--Governor Durkee.
--Counteracting Influences.--The Mines and Miners.--Rev.
Norman McLeod.--The "Salt Lake Vedette."--Administration of
General Connor.--Murder of Brassfield.--Order of Young for the
Expulsion of the Gentiles.--Order for the Murder of Eighty
Men.--Difficulties concerning the Public Lands.--Murder of Dr.
Robinson.--The Gentiles flee in Terror.--The Government fails
to protect its Officers and Citizens.--The Hero of Three Wars
of the Republic hunted through the Territory.--Rev. Mr. McLeod
warned not to return to Utah.--The Reign of Terror commenced.
--The Gentiles call for Help. 273

THE MORMON PROPHET