1833-07-13-Evangelical Magazine and Gospel Advocate-Mormonism Aurora Borealis
Mormonism……Aurora Borealis
- Source: Evangelical Magazine and Gospel Advocate, v4 n28, 13 July 1833, pg. 220
Mormonism……Aurora Borealis
[For the Magazine and Advocate.]
It is very common with men at the present day, to declaim loudly against the superstitious and extravagant notions prevalent during the darker ages of popish dictation and monkish credulity; while they, perhaps, at the same time, openly avow their belief in what is equally preposterous, or give a tacit assent to such opinions, by allowing them to be proclaimed within the legitimate sphere of their influence, without any expression of disapprobation or attempts at refutation.
We need not refer to the period when the austere St. Dunstan held his devilship by the nose with red-hot pincers, until his terrific bellowings alarmed the whole neighborhood, for instances of saintly bigots claiming the power of restricting his infernal majesty in the free exercise of his locomotive powers; nor to that era when Peter the Hermit and Walter the Moneyless led their deluded multitudes madly onward to certain destruction, in their vain efforts to wrest the Holy Land from the hands of the infidel Saracens, for cases of wild, enthusiastic excitement. More recent history will furnish abundance of characters, whose monkish austerity could not have been surpassed by the notable St. Dunstan himself, and others possessing all the mad enthusiastic zeal of the bigotted Peter, with as empty purses as bad moneyless Walter. Even now, there are many among us, wearing the sanctimonious visage of the Glastonbury saint, who would undoubtedly, should an opportunity present, hold with an iron grasp, in torturing durance, the arch enemy of Heaven; and the loud portentous cry of the Mormon prophet to his deluded followers is ringing in our ears:
- "On, on to the far away West! the promised land,
- From the dread, awful day, where God shall quick command:
- 'Let the Northern Lights with consuming vengeance glow,
- Enwarp the unbelieving world in wrathful wo!'
- On, ever-faithful, obedient, holy band!
- Children of endless life! away to the promised land."
The above lines may be unintelligible, in part, to some readers: for the benefit of such I will make explanation. On the evening of the 17th of May, the aurora borealis illuminated the northern regions of our hemisphere with unusual brilliancy. Its dancing coruscations appeared to rise from the distant horizon, whence they darted swiftly upward, extending themselves to the zenith. Bright, glowing pillars moved backward and forward along the northern sky; and anon, undulating, luminous flashes shot a resplendent lustre far south of our latitude. It was, indeed, a sight beautiful to behold, and to the admirer of nature and the genuine Christian, presented a most sublime and gratifying spectacle.
But their appearance and intense brilliancy were unusual at this season of the year. Hence the wild, enthusiastic Mormon teachers announced the awful intelligence, that the northern lights would soon increase to such a degree of intensity as to consume the world. "These lights, [so say the disciples of Jo. Smith, jr.] are to shine brighter and brighter in the latter days, until a part of the world shall be consumed and the rest purified. And the latter days are now come." Latter days of what? Not of superstition and fanaticism. The announcement was made, simultaneously, by a number of the Mormon teachers, in a neighborhood including parts of Livonia and Geneseo, towns in Livingston county. In these towns, and in Avon, Mormon meetings have frequently been held, for some months past, which have been attended with some success; though small, when the long-continued, strenuous efforts which have been made are taken into consideration. They now number nearly fifty in the vicinity, with teachers, preachers and prophets enough for the general good; say ten to fifteen. On the eventful evening of the 17th of May, they went from house to house, alarming and terrifying the people with their ominous predictions. They succeeded in working on the fears of nine in such a manner, as to induce them to be baptized on the following evening. They usually baptize between the hours of nine and twelve at night. With regard to the expression, "children of endless life," it is well known that a petition, purporting to be from the "subjects of endless life," and praying a lease of a tract of land, situate near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, was presented to Congress during its last session. They asked for a lease to remain in force, only during the "natural life" of one of their members, who they believed would never taste death. But the member, named in the memorial, has since died; a circumstance which ought to dispel their illusion. Whether this society is a ramification of Mormonism, or some other species of fanaticism, I know not: be it as it may, man of the followers of the new revelator, Jo. Smith, jr. are deluded enough to suppose they shall never die.
They receive almost daily, revelations; even in the most trifling occurrences of life they are directed by the counsel of the Most High. They often speak in an unknown tongue, which appears not only to be unknown to the hearers, but to the speakers, for they cannot interpret it. However, when they shall have increased their number to fifty, they are to receive, among many other new and miraculous gifts, that of the interpretation of tongues.—There is an institution among them, which in some respects bears affinity to the Shaker dance. The manner in which this ceremony is performed, as well as the advantages derivable from its enactment, are matter of speculation and burlesque, among those who are not willing to receive the say-so of the swindling impostor, Jo. Smith, jr. as their "only rule of faith and practice." It is reported, and not without considerable circumstantial and some positive testimony, that the ceremony consists in tumbling and rolling about the floor "by the whole troop," men women and children, "without discrimination or preference." Be this true or false, their undignified, immodest carriage and obscene behaviour, are proverbial whenever their preposterous notions have been fairly proclaimed and practically exemplified. In one case; not in Livingston county but in a neighboring part of the State, (the facts are derived from a credible source,) a Methodist minister managed to slip behind a door, from whence he witnessed a part of the ludicrous proceedings. On his being observed by one of the Mormonites, the first exclamation escaping from the observer was "the devil!" "The sons of God came to present themselves [i.e. to tumble] before the Lord, and satan came also among them." Should this meet the eye of our Methodist brother, I hope he will not take umbrage at the comment, for surely he will not be unwilling to admit that he was an adversary in the Mormon camp. As the proceedings could not well be dispensed with, and attempt was made to divert his attention; but he would not have his attention withdrawn from the novel exhibition. They then had recourse to threatenings, and denounced the most terrible judgments on the unwelcome intruder; which would surely fall upon him before he left the neighborhood. But he had the good sense to laugh at their threatenings and the good fortune to leave the place on the next day in good health, and free from the contaminating influence of their lascivious practices. They say, "the cholera will prove tenfold more destructive in the course of this Summer than it ever has at any former period." "Thousands and thousands will this year curse God and die." If so, let them beware. Their crowded meetings in warm weather—the high mental and physical excitement which usually prevails, together with their "holy rolls" and night baptisms, would furnish fit subjects for the fell pestilence; and should that unparalleled scourge re-visit our land, the poor wandering Mormonites may have, above all others, most cause to deprecate its return. They pretend to heal the sick, restore sight to the blind, and make the lame to walk; but, like Jemima Wilkinson, they require the faith of the witnesses to assist them in working miracles. Faith unshaken is first requisite in those who would be cured; then, "As a man thinketh so is he." Hence, many wonderful miracles are said to have been wrought. "If the Lord be God, serve him; if Baal, serve him." Is it not written, "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." [Mormon?]
- M. L. F.
- Henrietta, Monroe county, June 24, 1833.
For some other particulars respecting the Mormon delusion, the reader may see last page, article "Mormonism." G.
