The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-10-08

as result of the brutal persecution
endured in early days, the population
is simple and plain; thoroughly hos
pitaole and kind. Good 6amaritans
are abundant. They as much as the
average Of hannah kind are touched
bY sympathy and friendly words.
Besides no small portion OF the rank
and file ofthe Mormon church in con
duct and character display the true
Christian spirit. Thsy are homes.
truth loving and yirtuons. Why
should it be otherwise, wheu the
bulk OF those OF adult years came
from Christian homes and Christian
churches? AS much as any people
they follow with diligence and strong
desire the beat light they haze Many
OF their defects and vices are chargi-
able less 70 the faith they profess than
to the fact that they are foreign born
end bred. The grade of intelligence
and civilization is low, and not rapidly
rising, bat they have been isolated
and poor. and their leaders had
tremendous task on haLd to elevate
and enlighten the crowds of ignorant
peasants that gathered" year by
year, from England and the Scandi-
navian countries. Their zeal has run
more to business and politics than to
education, and tlthes and temples
have been exalted far above schools.
And yet schoolhouses are found in
nesrly every ward, and were often the
first pu lie buildings erected. On the
whole. the Mormons are far he Ter
than their religious surroundings .nd
the teaching OF the priesthood and
are we'll entitled to our respect and
regard. To deem them other than
conscientious and sinceIe is either to
display ignorance or else to fall into
the ofense of judging with hsrshness
and uncharitably.
Then, too, such of these are some
of the good fruits Of the system, or OF
the ardent faith with which the null
titade embrace and hold it: In the
fastness of the mountains, midway
from ocean TO ocean. full thousand
miles beyond the western verge
of civilization. 10000 have been
gathered from all lands; in spite
of sage brush, alkali, and the blazing
sun, vast space has been male to
oloon with fruit and grain. and
covered with peaceful and prosperous
settlements, aHd so the solid founda-
lions OF a great commonwealth have
been laid. To all appearance this
region would have lain desert,
without an inhabitsnt, for generations
unless SONS w5lI-oompacted aud
semi-3onmunistic system had taken
its settlement in hand. The distance
was far too great, and the trial, and
hsrdships far too many for Individual
men or families to grapple with.
Only strong religious zeal, organized
and led and directed by a master
mind and iron will, and adequate to
the task. And the rise and progress
and fortunes OF this strange religion
may we'll be accounted part OF God 8
strange way OF securing the occupa-
ton OF this portion of the soil of the
great republic and th5se mountains
80 rich in all precious metals. Ia
the future. when the vile and
pernicious features of Mormonism
have been eliminated, the wisdom Of
this way may fully appear. And In
many ways Utah has helped to the
development of California. The
early gold hunters and the later
emigrsnts would hardly have dared
to set forth on that fearful journey
across the plains unless hating
place at Salt Lake had been provided.
Nor does it seam likely that the
Union Pacific would have been built
for score OF years at least.
The emphatic teachings concern
ing the kingdom OF God, the impor-
lance of building it up. and of
making unlimited sacrifices, though
sometimes carried too far and
perverted to base uses, has ye.
produced o spectacle little less tEan
| sublime. Many thousands were in
spired with such devotion that they
took joyfu!ly the spelling OF their
goods, built home alter home only TO
be driven from them or to asa them
consumed, yieided glad obedience to
| their trusted leaders, AID followed
them Uhi.hersoeTsr they vent. Bat
mora we're burning with desire to
carry the gospel which 40 filled and
fed their own soals to the very ends
OF ths earth: gave thsir fnll consent
to be appointed, almost to be drafted;
oOunteds it 8 hardship net to go.
BUSINESS. friends, dependent vile
] and children were not to be thought
CT when the Lord eallsd or the
kingdom had need. HUI dreds have
gons icrth every year to remote lands
70 preach and 6aptiZ'; and strangest
of all, lram first to last at their own
charges, or 'without purse or scrip"
Such was AID is the ls,W of the Latter
day church. No treasury on which
to draw Tor salary. no great society
to pledge support. The elder must
provide bis oWn funds for the Journey
out aud back. and while on MS APP
pointed field get food, rsiment and
shelter as Providence may provide.
Such mighty faith and whole-souled
conservation on 80 lsfge scale and
30 long continued have not been sur
passed by Jesuit or Moravian; have
scarcely been eQusled since the Apos-
| kle'a dav Surely the svatam which