1840-10-29-New York Herald-Progress of Mormonism

Progress of Mormonism

Source: New York Herald, 29 October 1840, Issue 34.

Progress of Mormonism

Progress of Mormonism.——It is very evident from facts which cannot be controverted, that the Mormon Bible of Joe Smith is making more converts than the Jasher Bible of M. M. Noah. Two hundred Mormons have just arrived from England, on their way to Illinois, to unite with the latter day saints there, and several hundred more are expected to join them in the spring. The work goes one bravely; and should the authorities of Missouri find Joe Smith and Sidney Rigdon guilty of the crimes for which they are to be tried, and imprison them for five or seven years, it will not only confirm their followers in what they already believe, but also add hundreds to their numbers. Joe has always asserted that the saints would be persecuted, peeled, scattered, imprisoned, and even put to death; and in the Golden Bible itself is written, "They that love the Lord, Jesus Christ, shall suffer persecution." And although Joe Smith has been proved to be an intemperate man and a profane man, and Sidney Rigdon a worldly and passionate monster, yet "it is known, and indeed it has been revealed, that the work is of God." In the first year of Mormonism, 400 proselytes were made, and nearly 3000 Bibles were sold. On the other hand, the Jasher Bible has had a very limited and slow sale, and has made but eleven converts, and these were old clothes venders. The truth is, that Smith has made thousands believe that the west is Zion, but Noah cannot persuade the Jews to believe that Grand Island is either Zion or Palestine. The Jews charged our Saviour with being a wine-bibber, and Noah is endeavoring to make raisin wine-bibbers of Christians at the present day. Noah has always had his ambitious mind upon a Judgeship, and as he failed in his efforts to become a Judge of Israel, he is now content to be a Judge of the Court of Sessions. Why is he not appointed?