 from the territory. (See Utah.) — The priesthood of the Mormon church is organized into the following quorums: the first presidency, the twelve apostles, the high council, the seventies, high priests, elders, priests, teachers, and deacons. The first presidency (in 1875) consists of Brigham Young, George A. Smith, and Daniel H. Wells. They preside over and direct the affairs of the whole church. The twelve apostles constitute a travelling presiding high council. The whole hierarchy is divided into two bodies, the Melchizedek priesthood and the Aaronic priesthood. To the former, which is the highest, belong the offices of apostle, seventy, patriarch, high priest, and elder. The Aaronic priesthood includes the offices of bishop, priest, teacher, and deacon, and can be held only by “literal descendants of Aaron,” who are designated as such by revelation. The Mormon church teaches that there are many gods, and that eminent saints become gods in heaven, and rise one above another in power and glory to infinity. Joseph Smith is now the god of this generation. His superior god is Jesus, whose superior god and father is Adam. Above Adam is Jehovah, and above Jehovah is Elohim. All of these gods have many wives, and they all rule over their own descendants, who are constantly increasing in number and dominion. The glory of a saint when he becomes a god depends in some degree on the number of his wives and children, and therefore polygamy is inculcated and wives are “sealed” to saints here on earth to augment their power in the heavens. The gods are in the form of men, and they are the fathers of the souls of men in this world. The ten commandments are considered the rule of life, together with a revelation given to Joseph Smith, Feb. 27, 1833, which is called “A Word of Wisdom.” It teaches that it is not good to drink wine or strong drinks, excepting in the sacrament of the Lord's supper, and then it should be home-made grape wine; that it is not good to drink hot drinks, or chew or smoke tobacco; that strong drinks are for the washing of the body, and that tobacco is an herb for bruises and sick cattle; that herbs and fruits are for the food of man; that grain is for the food of man and beasts and fowls; and that flesh is not to be eaten by man excepting in times of winter, cold, and famine. This “Word of Wisdom,” however, is not regarded precisely as a commandment, but as a revelation to show forth the will of God, and “suited to the condition of all saints, young and old, male and female, without distinction.” Infant baptism is condemned, but the children of the saints are considered old enough at eight years to be baptized. Baptism for the dead is practised, a living person being publicly baptized as the representative of one or more deceased persons. Washington, Franklin, and other famous men have thus been vicariously baptized into the church. There have been many dispensations of religious truth, beginning with Adam and ending with the greatest of all, that through Joseph Smith, which is to culminate in the building of the New Jerusalem in Jackson county, Mo., and the gathering together of all the saints on the continent of America. A portion of the Mormons reject polygamy, and do not 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 at Nauvoo. Their number is inconsiderable. Another branch of the church has recently established itself at Independence, Mo., the supposed site of the “New Jerusalem.” (For the political and social condition of the Mormons in Utah, see Utah.) See “The Mormons,” by Charles Mackay (London, 1851); “The Mormons or Latter Day Saints in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake,” by Lieut. J. W. Gunnison (Philadelphia, 1852); “The Book of Doctrines and Covenants selected from the Revelations of God by Joseph Smith” (Liverpool, 1854); “Utah and the Mormons,” by Benjamin G. Ferris (New York, 1856); “A Compendium of the