1842-09-14-Christian Reflector-Mormonism in New Hampshire
Mormonism in New Hampshire
Christian Reflector, v5 n37, 14 September 1842, p. 3
We learn from a correspondent of the Recorder that a revival was enjoyed in Petersboro, N. H. during the last winter, and considerable additions made to the Congregational, Baptist, and Methodist churches. "But," says the writer, "it has been now as it was in times of old. When the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan also came among them. Mormonism has made its appearance." The following are some of his statements:
"It has drawn away some from the regularly organized churches. If we can credit the declarations of this new delusion of the devil, six miracles have been wrought in Peterborough. One of the converts said, 'I know that miracles have been wrought here as great as that wrought by Jesus Christ, when he made clay, anointed, and opened the eyes of the blind.' But none of the unbelievers in the town have yet seen a man that was born blind, who has had his sight restored. No dead man has at yet been raised to life. They have a process of confirming their disciples. They believe that baptism by immersion, and the laying on of the hands by a Mormon priest, are absolutely necessary to salvation. No one can be a Christian without—consequently, they teach that the penitent thief did not reach heaven; that he can never enter there till he is raised from the place where he now is, and immersed in water for the remission of sins by some one of the Nauvoo priesthood. The ceremony which follows immersion, i.e., the laying on of hands and imparting the Holy Ghost, is called confirmation. At the close of an harangue against the church and hireling priesthood, one of the Elders remarked, "that they should then proceed to the ceremony of laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost; and that sometimes during the laying on of hands God revealed to the individual officiating the knowledge of the future course and events of the life of the individual on whom hands were laid." The subjects of confirmation were then called forward. The Elder then laid his hands on the head of one, and confirmed him by a prayer in substance as follows: "By virtue of commission given me by the Lord Jesus Christ, I lay on hands that thou mightest receive the Holy Ghost, which shall confirm unto thee all the blessings which are promised to the faithful and obedient; and we pray that the Spirit may lead thee into all truth, enlarge thy understanding, and give thee a sound mind." Then came the revelation of the prophecy, "If thou art faithful, thou shalt have visions, and wilt be called to preach in languages which you have never learned, and will be called to preach the gospel to the people;" and after confirming another, he prophesied over him, saying, "If thou art faithful, thou wilt be a mighty counsellor, and will be called to preach the gospel to the nations of the earth."
Over a female whom he confirmed, he used the following language. "We lay on hands that thou mayest receive the Holy Ghost, which shall give thee a mind wide as eternity, an enlarged understanding, and make thee sound in body and mind; and from this moment, thy health shall improve and be confirmed unto thee—I rebuke the disease that is within thee; henceforth thou shalt enjoy all the blessings of health, if thou continue faithful."
What creatures are men, that they will be duped by such blasphemous absurdities? Poor human nature!
