Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-04-30
ENCOURAGE, RATHER THAN DIS
COURAGE THEM.

The oft-quoted aphorism, "once
Mormon, always a Mormon" not only
lacks the element of truth but its spirit
is not at all creditable to the intelligence,
understanding or liberality OF its author
or those who SO glibly repeat it. 1t can
not be substantiated by facts nor is its
sentiment in consonance with reason,
history or that progressive enlightenment,
which it must be apparent to all in
telligent persons, is prevailing in the
present age, in religion as well as in the
arts and sciences and all other avenues
TO advanced civilization. There are hun
dreds and even thousands in this Terri
tory whom accident of birth, early
education, and associations and other
circumstances placed in the Mormon
Church, who in the light OF experience,
insight to its abominable practices and
reasoning age, threw off the yoke'of ecclesi-
astical bondage and are to-day as worthy
of confidence and trust as any who were
never members of or identified with
the monstrous institution. There are
young men who have grown up here,
who were born in the Church, passed
their infancy and advanced to manhood
under the pernicious influence Of its un-
holy practices and teachings Many of
these, and the most intelligent and high
minded, as they advanced to years when
they were capable of thinking for them
selves, OF comparing the doctrinal teach
ings of Mormonism with those. of other
sccts, who have witnessed and cxpe-
rienced the horrors and iniquities OF their
so-called religion, have renounced it with
its infamous accompaniments, and are to-
day as sincere in their opposition as the
most radical Gentle, whose convictions
were not formed pnder the same unfavor-
able surroundings and associations.
Where is the Gentle in this Territory, if
reared in it and subjected in his infancy
and youth TO all of its baleful influences,
who would not remain in it until
rescued by the light OF reason and
the experience and observation OF adj
vancing years? There is probably not
one, And yet some OF them evince dis
trust of those who owe their freedom to
their intelligence. honesty and indie
pendence OF thought and action. In our
opinion the latter are deserving oil more
credit than those who had no erroneous
impressions or convictions to overcome,
before manifesting their opposition to the
institution which the loyal people OF the
Territory are striving so hard to sup
press. They are at least equally sincere,
and many OF them more bitter and pro-
nounced in their denunciation of the
abuses which, understanding better, they
more fully realize their infamy. These
people should be encouraged, and instead
OF manifesting distrust OF their sincerity,
the loyal elem ent should extend to them
such hearty welcome and confidence as
their acts entitle them to receive. They
should be encouraged to unite
themselves with either of the
loyal political organizations which
their National feelings incline them
towards. They should be made to feel
that their support is desirable, and that
they are entitled to the same privileges
and confidence as the other loyal citizens
who are organised for legitimate political
purposes, The Gentiles need the help of
every opponent OF Mormonism in the
Territory, and they cannot afford to re-
ject or discourage such acquisitions to
their ranks as the element above alluded
To-