God, having become nearly lost to man, revived His work, by revealing himself to Joseph Smith, and conferring upon him the keys of the everlasting Priesthood,--thus making him the mediator of a New Dispensation, which is immediately to precede the second coming of Christ. All those who recognize the divine authority of Smith, and are baptized by one having authority, are the chosen people of God, who are to introduce the Millennium, and to reign with Christ, on earth, a thousand years. Previous to the year 1852, it was also an orthodox principle of the Mormon religion, that a man should have but one wife, to whom he should be true and faithful. Those who have any curiosity to pursue the subject further, will find these views and doctrines fully explained and illustrated in the religious writings of the Mormons,--of which the following are some of the principal: Book of Mormon; Book of Doctrine and Covenants; Works of Orson Pratt; Key to Theology, by P. P. Pratt; The Only Way to be Saved, etc., by L. Snow; Pearl of Great Price; Voice of Warning, by P. P. Pratt; Catechism for Children, by John Jaques; Deseret News, 14 vols.; Journal of Discourses, 6 vols.; Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star, London, 26 volumes. _Brigham's Theology; or Utah Mormonism._ The doctrines taught and practised by the present head of the Mormon Church differ so much from the previously established tenets of the church, that they require a separate consideration. One of the most important innovations upon the established doctrines of the church, is in relation to the Godhead. In April, 1852, Brigham put forth the startling doctrine that Adam is God, and to be recognized and honored as such! This announcement created some consternation among the Mormon theologians, and some of them had the courage to oppose it. The following is the "Revelator's" own exposition of this doctrine:-- "When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who is the Father? _He is the first of the human family_; and when he took a tabernacle, it was begotten by his Father in heaven, after the same manner as the tabernacle of Cain, Abel, and the rest of the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. . . . It is true that the earth was organized by three distinct characters, namely: Elohim, Yahovah, and Michael, [Adam;] these three forming a quorum, as in all heavenly bodies, and in organized element perfectly represented in the Deity, as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.