History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

336
MORMONISM AND POLYGAMY.
seed of Joseph, divided into numerous nations and
tribes. The Lamanites were of the house of Ma-
nasseh.
We believe, say their articles of faith, in God the
father, in Jesus Christ the son, and in the holy ghost.
For their own sins, and not for any transgression of
Adam, men will be punished; but all may be saved,
through the atonement, by obedience to the ordinances
of the gospel, which are : faith in Christ, repentance,
baptism by immersion, 3 and laying on of
3 Baptism, a prerequisite to church membership, as well as to final salva-
tion, to be of avail, must be by immersion, and performed by one of the sect.
The person who is called of God, and has authority from Jesus Christ to baptize,
shall go down into the water with the person to be baptized, and shall say,
calling him or her by name: ' Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I
baptize you in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost.
Amen.' Doctrine and Covenants, 115, 118. Baptisms are entered in the general
church records, giving the name, place, and date of birth, quorum, date
of baptism, first time or re-baptism, by whom baptized, when and by whom
confirmed. Deseret News, Feb. 22, 1851. In 1844, complaints were made that
members of the church, dismissed by the council, had been re-baptized by
elders who were themselves excluded, and declaring such baptisms invalid.
Times and Seasons, v. 458-9.
In 1836, Joseph introduced the ceremony of anointing with consecrated on.
He first anointed his father, who, having been blessed by the first presidency,
anointed them in turn, beginning with the eldest. The bishops of Kirtland
and Zion, together with their counsellors, were next anointed, and afterward
the presiding officers of each quorum performed the ceremony on their
subordinates, assisted in some instances by the Smith brothers. Joseph de-
'
scribes the ceremony of consecrating the oil, as follows: I took the oil in my
left hand, Father Smith being seated before me, and the remainder of the
presidency encircled him round about. We then stretched our right hands
towards heaven, and blessed the oil, and consecrated it in the name of Jesus
Christ.' Mil. Star, xv. 620. Olive-oil is commonly used. Mrs Richards,
Reminiscences, MS., 34. Many remarkable cures are mentioned. A seaman,
belonging to H. B. M. ship Terror, was rendered deaf and dumb by
a stroke of lightning, at Bermuda. Several years after, he was baptized
by elders in a canal in England, and instantly recovered both speech and
hearing. Frontier Guardian, Jan. 23, 1850. In 1840, a young woman then
living at Batavia, N. Y., who had been deaf and dumb for four and one
half years, was first restored to her hearing by the laying on of the
hands of the elders of the church, and a second ministration, some time
afterward, enabled her to speak. Times and Seasons, ii. 516-17. During
the building of Nauv , nearly every one was attacked with malarial fever,
caused by breaking .p the new land, and even the prophet himself sue
cumbed for a time. But hearing the voice of the Lord calling on him,
he arose and went through the camp healing all to whom he drew near,
Woodruff (Mrs), Autobiog., 2-3. Brigham declares he was among the number
healed at this time. Mil. Star, xxv. 646. While Joseph was in the midst
of his sick, an unbeliever, living a few miles distant, came to him, beseeching
him to come and heal his twin children, who were near death's door. The
prophet was unable to go himself, but sent Wilford Woodruff in his place.
Says the latter, ' He [Joseph] took a red silk handkerchief out of his pocket
and gave it to me, and told me to wipe their faces with the handkerchief