This Burton is the same man who is now the Collector of Internal Revenue for Utah Territory!
The next movement, and one which promises seriously to
interfere with the schemes of Brigham Young, is under the auspices of the Mormon Church East, or the "Josephites," as they are called, in contradistinction to the "Brighamites."
Joseph Smith, the son of the Prophet, resides at Nauvoo, in Illinois, near where his father was put to death. He claims to be the head of the true Mormon Church, and of course repudiates Young for the same position. He is opposed to polygamy, is loyal to the Government and laws of the United States, and is said to be a good and worthy citizen.
For several years there have been indications of a "breaking up" among the followers of the Pretender, Brigham, and a rallying around the standard of the legitimate House of Joseph. In the States, those who have gone back to their first love are to be numbered by thousands.
In Utah the progress of disintegration, and of secession from the church as there organized, is slower, and accompanied by more danger.
But in July, 1863, the "fulness of time" having come, the movement was commenced in earnest, and a system of proselyting inaugurated, which has already drawn hundreds of deluded people back to their duty to themselves and their country, and which even now threatens the power of Brigham so strongly that it seems almost tottering to its fall.
During the latter part of the month mentioned, E. C. Briggs and Alexander McCord, two missionaries, sent by the Church East, for that purpose, arrived in Salt Lake, and announced themselves as harbingers of a better gospel,—as messengers of the true Church of Christ on earth. Taking their lives in their hands, they had crossed the Plains alone, and the Lord had protected and sustained them.
It may be supposed that their arrival caused considerable excitement at Salt Lake City.