Several schisms have taken place, but they have thus far but very inconsiderably affected " the Church of the Latter-day Saints." The first departure from the main body was occasioned in 1852 by the widow and sons of the founder of Mormonism on the publication of the revelation authorizing polygamy, the genuineness of which they denied. They bear the title of " The Ke- organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," and have their head-quarters at Nauvoo. Their chief feature is the rejection of " pluralism," and all that gathers about that practice. Neither do they approve of the political schemes of Brigham Young and the leaders of the Church in Utah. Joseph Smith, the son of the Prophet, is regarded by them as the true living head of the Church, and under his direction they have established themselves in the place pointed out by their founder as the site of the " New Zion." Their lumiber, which is inconsiderable, will probably be largely in- creased soon, if polygamy is not abandoned in Utah.
"Young Joseph" is peculiarly "favored" with "vis- ions," and " visits of angels," and " gifts of tongues," " interpretations," and " powers of healing ;" and these worshippers " cast out" all the devils that come in their way. Some of their elders and prophets have been in Utah, and there "added numbers to the New Church, and shook the faith of many more in Brigham" (Sten- house, p. 629). Another branch of the Church has re- cently established itself at Independence, Mo., they re- garding this place as the supposed site of the New Je- rusalem. But this branch only counts an insignificant membership. The most powerful opposition to Mor- monism came out of its own midst in the beginning of 1869, when a large number of influential Saints quit- ted the main body, and formed themselves into an inde- pendent organization in Utah, and right in Salt Lake City itself. They first assumed the name of " Church of Zion," and have been holding religious services in a hall built by Young for his own disciples, beginning Dec. 19, 1869. " Of all the apostasies from the Mormon Church," says Stenhouse, " this was the most formida- ble, and has done more damage to the position of Brig- ham Young than all of them put together. The preach- ing of the 'reformers' [as they were called] first shook the people's confidence in the Prophet; and, as they travelled further, it has led many of them out of Slor- monism altogether" (p. 643; comp. p. 630 sq.). The leading "reformers," who were originally distinguished as advocates of freedom of thought and action, as op- posed to the despotism of the priesthood, have since become zealous propagators of spiritualistic views ; but, as they are all of a superior class, thej^ have had liber- ality enough not to seek to carry their companions with them, and, while the movement has been subject to more or less change since it first started, there still re- mains enough to characterize it as the beginning of a "liberal" Christian Church. The Church structure which the}' have erected, first christened " Church of Zion," has been changed to " The Liberal Institute," and there lecturers, male and female, of every shade of opinion in religion, politics, or science, can speak for the edification of Saint and sinner. "The Liberal Insti- tute," says Stenhouse, "is the Faneuil Hall of Utah, and from its platform will go forth facts of history and sci- ence that will work in a few years a grander revolution among the Saints than would the presence of ten thou- sand troops, or any other movement that coidd possibly be construed into ' persecution.' "
VII. Litei-ature. — The publications of the Saints are verj' numerous. A jirctty full account of their work in this direction is furnished bj' Mr. Stenhouse in an Ap- pendix (ii) to his work, p. 741 sq. IMr. Burton has also compiled a list, and both these should be consulted by any seeking detailed information regarding Mormonism. See, however, especially, A Comjiendium of the Faith and Doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints (1857) ; Letters exhibiting the most prominent Doctrines of the Church, etc., by Elder Orson Spencer (5th ed. 1866) ; Sacred Hynms and Spii-itual Songs for the Church, etc. (12th ed. 1863) ; Tracts, chiefly those by Orson Pratt; The Millennial Star, a periodical pub- lished for a while at Liverpool (15 vols, up to 1853); The Evening ami Morning Star, edited by W. W. Phelps (1832, 1833) ; Times and Seasons, founded and published at Nauvoo (1843 sq.) ; The Seer, edited by Orson Pratt, and published at Washington ; Deseret News, published at Salt Lake City, being the official paper of Mormondom ; Voice of Warning to all Nations, by Parly P. Pratt; Bennet, Mormonism Exposed (Boston, 1842) ; Kane, The Mormons (1850) ; Mackay, The Mormons (4th ed. Lond. 1851); Chandlers, A Visit to Salt Lake; Burton, City of the Saints; an Expedition to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake of Utah, etc., with an authentic A ccount of the Mormon Settlement, etc., by Howard Stansbury, of the U, S. A. (Phila. 1852) ; Lieut. Gunnison, History of the Mormons (Phila. 1852) ; Ferris, Utah and the Mor- mojis — unfavorable to the Saints, but full of valuable