Mormonism

Dear Sir-I have for some time past, been a regular attendant at the meeting of the Latter Day Saints, or Mormons, held at the Boylston Hall-and have thought I would give you some account of how those people are getting along. When Elder Adams left here, some weeks since, for the City of the Saints, where he had been called by the heads of the church, it was supposed that no one could be found competent to fill his place-that the meetings would decline-Mormonism die away, and finally sink into its original nothingness. Not so, however-no sooner had this lion, as he was called, left

the field, than his place was supplied in the person of Elder Maginn. Before proceeding, let me give you a description of this man. He is 24 years of age, though his appearance is that of a man farther advanced in years, caused probably by the many hardships, privations, persecutions and mobbings, which he has passed through for the gospel's sake. He is six feet in height, and of rather a commanding appearance; and honest, happy smile plays over countenance, which, (if I am any judge of the "human face divine") indicates that all is right within; and if a thorough knowledge of the scriptures, talent, tact, sound reasoning, and powerful argument, are qualifications, then Elder Maginn is fully qualified for the duties of his office, and must pass as truly a master workman. He seems perfectly intimate with all the old apostles and prophets, and it is truly astonishing with what facility he quotes the scriptures from memory, giving chapter and verse, with the greatest ease, and correctness. On Sunday last, he delivered a most able discourse on the subject of prophesies already fulfilled, from 2d Peter, 1st chapter, 20th and 21st verses: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation, for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but by holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost:" And went on to prove that from the days of the first prediction to the present time, every prophesy has had a literal fulfilment [fulfillment]. He commenced with the days of Noah, Genesis vi: 17, and showed that had Noah understood this spiritualizing system, and supposed the flood of water was to have been a spiritual one, the ark a spirual [spiritual] ark, &c. &c., Noah and his family must have perished with the rest of the inhabitants of the world. But no-he believed-when God said "And behold I, even I do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh wherein is the breath of life from under Heaven, and every thing that is in the earth shall die." He meant to do just what he said he would do, and nothing else; and the sequel proved that Noah was right in thus believing. He next referred to Genesis, xv: 13 to 16th verses-and also to Lot's leaving Sodom, Genesis xix: 12th verse. He next quoted the prophecy of Joseph, Genesis 41st chapter, 29th verse, and showed that misery, sorrow, suffering, death and mourning, would have followed had they believed there was to have been seven years of spiritual plenty and seven years of spiritual famine, only. He then carried us forward to the history of the principal nations, vide Jeremiah 25th chapter, 2th [20th] verse. It is out of my power to follow him through, or give even a faint outline of this most noble address. Passage after passage, plain and positive, from Holy writ, were brought forward in rapid succession to prove that all prophecies that have been fulfilled were fulfilled literally, and that those yet in the future must also have a literal fulfilment [fulfillment]. His reasoning was plain, logical and conclusive to the mind of every candid hearer; and I much regret that I am not better able to portray his most convincing and able lecture. He remarked that the days of those prophets, are by the sectarian world called the "Dark Age;" whereas men were in fact far more enlightened than even the great divines of the present day, with all their boasted wisdom, knowledge, and pretended piety. Those men were as familiar with the designs of God, and the future destiny of nations, as we are with the history of past events. Instead of darkness, God revealed himself to man, conversed with him, told him what should come to pass in future ages-where, we are now told that God has ceased to give revelation to man-that prophecying [prophesying] is done away-that the only guide necessary is a brief history of certain events which transpired centuries ago, and certain prophecies which they contend mean any thing but what they profess. Enlightened indeed! when the church is cut up into some hundreds of sects and parties, each differing from the other; the blind leading the blind, and all under the dominion of bigotry, superstition and priestcraft; the mind of man shrouded in worse than Egyptian darkness. Could we look down through the dark vista of time and foresee future events as did the prophets of old, then could we boast of living in an enlightened age; but whilst we deny revelation, we are, and must continue to remain in darkness and error.

In the evening, he took up the subject of God's promise to Abraham, that he would give to him and his seed the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession-see Genesis, 13th chap, 15th v.; 15th. 18th v.; 17th chap. 8th v.-Exodus, 6th chap. 4th v. He then showed that Abraham had long since died, and that God's promise to him had never been fulfilled, as he proved by Acts, 7th chap. 5th v.; as well as by an abundance of other testimony. He then showed that according to most of the doctrines of the present day God's promise never could be fulfilled, inasmuch as they denied a literal resurrection of the body, and a reign of rest during the millenium [millennium], but professed to believe that when the spirit left the body, it soared away to some fairy region "beyond the bounds of time and space," or, (as he ingeniously transposed it) beyond the bounds of common sense; and could never return to possess the earth;-

that he had never given Abraham any inheritance in that land, no, not so much as to set his foot on, although he had promised it to him and to his seed. That he was long since dead, and that consequently God's promise must fail. He then on the other hand proceeded to show that Abraham (although long since dead) and his seed would yet possess the land of Canaan according to God's promise. He then produced a flood of scriptures to prove the literal resurrection of the righteous at Christ's second coming, and that they should possess the earth, and live and reign with Christ during the millenium [millennium]. He quoted Ezekiel's prophecy in the valley of dry bones, 37th chapter, and contended that this prophecy meant just what it said-vide 11, 12, 13 and 14th verses, and fully and plainly proved, that notwithstanding the opinions of the learned and wise revelation denyers [deniers] of the present generation, God would keep his promise to Abraham, and that he and his seed should possess the land of Canaan for an everlasting inheritance. He concluded, by giving notice that on Sunday next he would be again with them, "in the power and demonstration of the spirit," and preach on the subject of the great army of Gog and Magog, which shall gather together against the saints in the last days. I shall not fail to be present and would respectfully ask you, Mr. Bee, knowing you to be a man of a candid and unprejudiced mind, to go and hear him. Prove all things and hold fast that which is good

Yours, &c.,

A SEEKER AFTER TRUTH.