Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, September 15, 1901, Page 15

Mormon Stronghold in Views of Labor Day Parade in Omaha Southwestern Iowa ORMONISM and polygamy are ¢ roelder, pricst or teacher. Mormon NOt SYNonymous, as most per- are ive and the want members sons believe There je today They are all well stocked with a Knowledg: a large and apparently perma- of their church and i loctrines and every nent organization of Mormons, Possible means is uscd to convert to their Ommonly known as Latter Day Saintg, faith thogse who happen to live among or with almost 50,000 communicants, who not bear them only disbelieve in plurality of wives, but Some W Institutions, wtually oppose and denounce the practice This sect resembles the Utah organization in many respects. They claim to be the only true Mormous and the only faithful disciples of Joseph Smith. With head quarters at Lamoni, a small town of about 2,000 inhabitants located in the chotcest part of Decatur county, lowa, and under the leadership of Joseph Smith, Jr who is a son of Joseph Smith, the “seer Lamoni has a Mormon college, a large tabernacle, an extensive publist hous where the Saints’ Herald, a weekly paper and many other periodicals and books aroe piabliched. It has three public school build these people send out clders and mission aries to every state and terrvitory in th “union and to nearly every nation of th | carth, including the islands of the eus Under the direction of their president they founded this colony or settlement in 1881 when a committes onsisting of David bancer and Elijah Banta, came from Plano 11, then their headquarters, to the prairi HOD CARRIERS UNION, GIVING AN 1DEA OF THE STRENGTH OF THE BUILDING TRADES UNIONS by o Staft Artist Photographod of gouthern lowa, where a company was formed, which purchased ali tne land i could secure. This same land was after ward sold to their brethren who followed within a few years. Forty-seven families —_________J} BISHOP E. L. KELLEY OF THE MORMON CHURCH AT LAMONI ings, a “Saint’'s Home" and no saloons, al though intoxicating drinks often find thei way through the boraers of Zion All aged saints who have not the mean or ability to support themselves may g the home, where they are clothed and If they desire, they a allowed to do i work in the various departments David LOCAL UNION OF STAGE HANDS MADE A FINE APPEARANCE IN THE PARADE- Photographed by a Staff Artist Dancer, who died some years ago, was the originator of the idea of building a home for the aged poor and gave liberally toward : = Locat Uniow No 9 its establishment, His plan was to make it ™ o j . 2 . 50, Omana e as nearly as possible a self-supporting in stitution Story of Joe Smith, JTOSEPH SMITH, JR., PRESIDENT OF THE Many persons have heard the story of a REFORMED CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST young man born in Vermont in 1805, who, OF LATTER DAY SAINTS. when but 14 years of age, became intensely interested in his soul's welfare and failed came at once. Lamoni was founded and (5 finq comfort in any of the churches of named from a familiar character in the pis gay, having joined several of them. It Book of Mormon. Mormons then came within a short time by the carload and “ven by the trainload from every part of the United States and at present there are several thousands of them living in De- catur and s ounding counties. Lumoni n rred Town, is said that this young man was one night out in the woods praying for guidance in the matter, when an angel from wod ap peared to him and in a wonderful and powerful voice informed him that he had found favor in the sight of God, and that he was chosen to give to the world again the Lamoni is a wonderful and even a sacred town in the eyes of the average Mormon. They speak of it as “Zion." 1n this little cut-of-the-way village lives Joseph Smith jr., president of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as they believe, one favored of God, whose father blessed and transmitted to him all the poy of prophesy, healing, of recelv- ing revelations and performing miracles oWhich the clder Smith claimed to possess Bishop E. L. Kelley also resides here and is next in order of the great and powerfal men chosen of God to lead his people in these latter days. He is first counselor to the president. Then comes Alexander Smith, patriarch, son of Joseph Smith, sr., " CRAFT ~Photographed by a Staft Artict MATCHEORA, A SOUTH SEA ISLAND MORMON ELDER. only true religion of the latter days, which had been taken from it many ye: before He was told where there were buried near Palmyra, N, Y., a set of golden plates, which he must dig up and with them he would find BREWERY WORKERS' UNION, THE MEMBERS WEARING WREATHS OF HOPS-Photographed by a Staff Artist the “Urim and Thummim,” two transparent stones set as a pair of spectacles and by in Kirtland, O, where a tempie was erected the aid of them only would he be enabled to In 1838 they pushed west to Missouri, but translate the message from God This fs were driven out in 1839 and went back to said to have transpired in 1819 and it was Nauvoo, 111 where another temple was not until April 6, 1830, at Manchester, N. Y,, built January 1844, Joseph Smith and | N— that this man chosen of God was enabled to his brother, Hiram, were killed by a mob found the Mormon church, at the jail where they were confined in KORAH, A COMANCHE INDIAN, WHO The Book of Mormon purports to be a Carthage, 1. The Mormons then had dif IS A MORMON ELDER. sacred history of the aborigines of the ferences and troubles among themselves in ind also counselor to the president. These American continent and the Mormons be- that community Brigham Young with three are known as the first presidency lieve that Christ preached to these mound about 10,000 followers, went to Salt Lake To thes men all true members of the builders during His forty days' absence City in 1847 There were no less than church sincerely believe that God, through from the Old World, and that after His as- eighteen men ambitious to succeed the deal His angels, "M'N rs and reveals His will censlon thest people fought with the In- Jeader and as many divisions were e and pleasure concerning His chosen people dians, who were a wicked and cursed race, each with its president, everyone lai There is also a quorum of twelve who or- Wntil 384 A. D, when a declsive battle was to he chosen of God by revelation to su daJn elders, baptize and claim to have the fought on the hill of Cumarah, in western ceed Smith. The Josephites, o5 they or gift of administering the blessings of the N¢W York, in which the Christians were de- gometimes called, and which is (b Limon Holy Ghost. The seven quorums of seventy feated and annihilated A man by the hranch, was not permanently organi; ol are the elders and missionaries who preach name of Mormon is said to have written a (i) June, 1852, when they hold their £t the *“‘truth" to the world. There is also a bistory of this people and was directed of (onference at Zarahemala. Wi Their an quorum of high priests and many other God to bury it until He should see fit 10 yy4) conference is now held in April of minor officers. The organization bring it forth. This history they believe is ayapy year. La pring they met at Inde terned after the early church the Book of Mormon g T . Sy R L . s g I 4 2 T T A T A A T o T B e R P e i il SHERN Lol vllll.\\II-‘L{'\TH\I(\(I::I:\I. AT SEVENTEENTH AND DOULGAS STREETS I'bu.cgraphed