Mormon History
The Mormons and Alcohol - 1841
The Warsaw Signal – July 14, 1841
TEMPERANCE AMONG THE MORMONS.
People at a distance are apt
to imagine the Mormons a very temperate body of men, because the ordinances of
their city forbid the sale of ardent spirits, unless under very severe
restrictions. But this impression is false. It is true that the Saints do not
get drunk at home, but they have only to cross the river to Montrose, and there
they can revel to their heart's content, in spiritual luxuries.
Even the Prophet himself, although a seeming devotee of the temperance cause, is
a better friend to Bacchus than to any other God; except, perhaps, Plutus. We
have heard of three sprees of his in the last ten months. In the first he
appeared amongst his followers, and offered to prove the truth of his mission by
a miracle -- which was to [climb] a hickory pole sixty feet high, with the bark
off, heels upward. The second was on board the steamer Nauvoo, in her
excursion to Bloomington last fall. On this occasion his holiness drank
whiskey until he found himself on his back, feeling upwards for the ground. So
says our informant. The third, was last week. On this occasion it does not
appear that Jo. was exactly drunk; but it seemed strange to see the Prophet of
the Lord, at the head of a champaigne party, crying lustily, "take away the
empty bottles, and bring on the full ones." Verily, our modern Prophet is the
very beau ideal of a pious christian! how abstenious! how self-denying!
But this is none of our business -- we will not turn preacher, however much the
occasion may require it.
The Warsaw Signal – July 21, 1841
MORMON VISITORS
On last Monday evening Jo.
Smith, accompanied by Gen. Bennett, and [suit]. appeared in our quiet, non
excitable village, producing, by his august presence, quite a sensation --
indeed he appeared to be a perfect curiosity. In his coach we observed a
bowie-knife, a rifle, pistols, ammunition, &c. and a courage-raiser in
the shape of a decanter,
containing some kind of precious beverage -- whether wine, brandy or
gin, the deponent sayeth not. -- However, something of the kind was
certainly called into requisition in the course of the evening, and
early the next day in the Prophet's chamber. Moreover, we understand,
that when about half a mile from town, the Prophet and suit halted, and
took a regular swigg -- doubtless by way of inspiration. But this is nothing to us, only
the people ought to know what the Prophet of the Lord does, in or[der] that they
may have the benefit of his example.
But why are they armed? not with the design to kill us? Certainly not -- for
they tried to be as friendly as possible; but, as Gen. Bennett observed, to be
prepared for the Missourians. This was all very well -- and of course we shall
not make a bug-bear of it.
Their business here was to complete the negotiations for the purchase of the
School Section. Well, it is done; and the decree has gone forth, for a Mormon
City on our immediate borders. We have not heard whether locks have yet ris!
The Warsaw Signal – October 6, 1841
MORMON TEMPERANCE.
We have heretofore noticed the humbug
professions of the Mormons in relation to Temperance; but we have not stated the
exact object they have in view, in making their sanctimonious laws on the
subject, in the holy city. It is now apparent that the design never was to
suppress the sale of ardent spirits; for Groceries -- otherwise Grig shops --
are as numerous in Nauvoo as ever, -- and not only this, the Prophet, in order
to increase the inspiration of his followers, has established -- or allowed to
be established -- a grocery in the immediate vicinity of the Temple. It is,
therefore, evident, that all their parade and humbug about Temperance, has been
made merely as a gull-trap, designed to convey the impression abroad, that they
are a very virtuous and self-denying people; and, of course, all the statements
made in regard to their wickedness, as mere slander.
We warn people at a distance to pay no regard to the professions of these men --
for they profess one thing, and practice another. Some of the highest officers
and leading members of the Church are notorious drunkards; and Smith, himself,
as we have said, on a former occasion, is a little more devoted to his bottle
than to his God. They enact some most excellent laws --whilst the very makers of
them are the first to break through them with impunity. On certain public
occasions, they assume the appearance of a very strict morality; but when the
public eye is turned, they indulge in beastly excesses. The leaders, being
themselves loose in morals, inculcate the most abandoned principles in their
followers -- pretending, the while, to have for their teachings the sanction of
the Almighty. This, then, is the character of that system of knavery, which is
supported by inducing dupes to believe that the abominations of Hell have the
sanction of Heaven.