Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-02-11
ADVICE FROM A MISSIONARY.
II VIII BE Well II the Saints Give
Heed To II.
BinMINUIfAM, England,
January 10Th, 1891.

january -pthi io'l'
Editor Descrei Nc,r4
shall he gratlled II by means Of
this letter will be able to reach the
hearts Of every Latter-day Saint, and "
my feeble pen can arouse them 10 n
sense Of the Importance OF the subjects
mentioned, my qualification will be in-
tcnslflcd.
The utter ignorance OF the true con.
dillon Of the l,a,tcr.day Saints who are
gathered" 10 tho land OF Zion has
oftcu been manifested by the speakers
and writers who manage to catch the
eyes aud ears Of tho public. And In
many cases these speakers and Writers
are Intelligent enough upon other
points. II Is n popular theme, how.
ever, aud pandcrs To the dcprayed SEN
sibllitlcs Of the masses. And II should
say that many OF our people at home
arr more or less responsible for n large
share Of this ignorance, do not think !
SHOULD bc far from the mark, rs their
silence lends color 10 the prevalent
lea that In Utah we hre Ia state Of
serflom.
In the pursuit OF the duties incident
TO my present calling as u missionary
/ am frequently met with complaints
made by relatives and friends OF those
who have been privileged to emigra,c
years ago TO tho bosom Of the Church.
| a ~uranccs have been repeatedly
given that those left behind should 70.
ceiye news from Zion, but In far too
many cases these promises are aud
have been either forgotten or ignored.
| Aud NJ q consequence the fables OF our
enemies are accepted aud believed for
want Of contrary proofs which could be
amply supplied 10y their friends In the
Rocky Mountains, II they would only
take the trouble TO fulfil their promises.
This may perhaps seem n trivial mat
ter for newspaper, but | feel that
am champloning the cause Of many Of
my brethren whose path might be
made brighter aud duties lighter by u
kindly and Judiclous use Of writing
materials, Ia corroborative testimony
Of the truths we are anxious 10 get be.
fore the people.
| Complaints are not all the reasons l
have for thus afraigning the torpor OF
the friends who have LEFT these shores
aud Joined forces with the people OF
Utah. During my scJourn in these
lands have witnessed the departure
OF quito u number OF Latter.dny Saints
who, In my rearing, made the NEST
solemn pledges 10 those left behind,
and nm advised that these have not
been compiled with. Now | know OF
no valid excuse 10 he adduced for this
neglect.
II may be urged as an argument that
tho missionaries are amply able TO 10.
veal the true status OF the people nj
home. This sounds reasonable, and
might be effective were II not that the
Elders are frequently looked upon with
suspicion, rs having Interior motives In
sacrificing their time and means 10
preach the doctrines OF "Aiormonlsm."
Experience has taught mo that one
letter written from relative or friend
| win do more 10 nllay prejudice
than many times the amount Of ear.
nest assertions ON tho part Of a misslon-
AIRY. | have been frequently told that
the people In Utah dare not write TO
their friends, and the silence Of their
/ hNNf hn'A w N''HNfhhhhk'
their position, aud under these clrcum'
stances what reply can make? have
no doubt the same conditiona are met
with by many II not all the travelling
Elders, and II N too bad that this Stun
bling block should exist when II might
be mitigatcd, II not obviated, by m oc-
casionnl letter.
II IN pleasant 10 us TO know that
prayers are daily being offered to God
In behalf OF the missionaries, and
doubtless many Of the dear friends are
sincerely devoted to the cause, and
would be glad to aid In lis advance
ment, To such, and to all the Latter
lay Saints, | would say that one Of TIT
most effective plans In which they
can lend assistance Is 10 begin right
now aud Witto 10 their friends whef'
aver they may be, aud give them
truthful anu earnest statement OF
their present condition " life. ANA
then should II be that there are mis-
sionaries In localities whore their
! friends reside, kindly provide the