Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-09-15
THE FUTURE or UTAH AND THE
MORMON CHURCH.
A sermon Preached IN The Congrega.
tionai Church, Ogden, by the
Pastor, Rev. Amos judi
son Bailey.

s,au which shall do q mighty WORK la my name
a9.iibc aJle quictiy to spcak evil Of me. FOR
he that i not against a. u fort ~.
The text IL sufficient warrant for
theinqulry which have announced
a. my theme for this morning. talso
serves to indicate the direction and
spirit Of that Inquiry.
My purpose In speaking on this sub
Iect is to awaken, II possible, an inter.
ct In more general discussion Of Ger.
tain vital questions affecting the social,
moral aud religious welfare OF the peo-
pie Of this Territory.
The time was when Utah and the
Mormon Church were practically
syuonyma. But more recently the
national government has changed
those former conditions somewhat. In
the process Of readJustmeut the Nor
mon people have not only welcomed
hut aided non-Mormonsin their efforts
TO establish American institutions In
Utah as they are enjoyed In other parts
Of the nation. Mormon audiences
have listened patiently to tho discus.
sion Of secular problems by non.Mor.
mon orators. These changed or chang.
ing conditions partake largely Of the
nature OF n reformation on the subject
to which they apply.
To those who believe that individual
character Ia Of supreme Importance In
Anything which affects the commune
ty, II viii bca sad disappointment, To
say the least, n the prcseAt rcadJust.
mont should ignore the moral condi.
lions u the people. But II the moral
and spiritual development Of the people
OF Utah keeps even pace with their sec.
ular PROSPERITY, II will be 10y diligcni
and persistent efforts such n are re-
quifed IN other parts Of the nation 10
secure similar results. As the govern
ment opens the gates u Utah 10 other
influenced than those " the Mormon
Church, n must not bo supposed that
all tho influences which enter those
Open gates will be- Of "A high moral of
spiritual character. IL IL Ia the hope
Of helping the good and restraining the
evil that | speak this morning.
Since what | have 20 say Is not a
phrUphecy, tut rather nm inquiry, con
cerning the future you need not be
surprised n my discourse btistlos with
interrogation points. Their presence
may serve indirectly 10 indicate the
present degree u progress toward the
goal which we hope 10 reach.
Any discussion Of religious privilege
or duty must be an effort 10 discover
and apply the truth. The apostle says,
ave can do nothing against the truth,
but for tho truth.n And to this truth
| purpose 20 anchor the thoughts and
Huggestlons Of this discourse. There 4.
no saving power Ia religion except tn,
power OF the truth. Any church has
power according 10 the truth which II
possesses and applies. Men cannot
make compromises or conditions for
God. Charity for others, sympathy
with them, confidence In their .inceri'
~ In the things which they Lelievt
none Of these things can change tn,
truth. IL win always be- true, fol
example, that the results VI Vice mus
he evil and the rewards OF virtue good.
"Righteousness exalteth nation" buI
sin IL truth which no vote Of ma ORR
ties can change.
The future " Utah as an inseparahl,
part of our nation, depends ON the
truth discovered aud applied; the future
OF her citizens on their attitude to the
truths which apply TO the development
Of such people. II We ~ n people
desire the fruits Of righteousness W,
must plant the seeds Of righteousness
for "God II not Knocked; Whatsoever !
man sowcth that shall he also reap
II we neglect the moral ami spiritua
development OF our people our neglect
will he Our ruin. External vigilance
II the price Of liberty" aud Chris, sal,
unto the disciples, "What say unit
you say unto all, WATCH"
IL our people nre 10 enjoy peace ant
prosperity, n We are 10 keep abreast .
tho best civilization and enlightenc,
virtue Of the age, II must be 10y effort
equal 10 the blessings We feek. We al
know that such blessings are to he &c
cured by obedience 10 laws as certain
and ns Interchangeable ms the laws whicl
have to do with our mnterin
and temporal prosperity. II W
agree ON the results W. viii
secure II will not bc difficult b
decide on the M thOds 10y which Il
secure them. II we decide on VIVA
methods We can apply, AMI In wha
Nh1F wv VII AAANA' tNA WV lhVihhNANh'
the welfare Ot our people, IL VIII not III
difficult to estimate the good whicl
nur methods will produce. Are we I
he satisfied with Indifferent RESULT
Or, desiring large results, shall we fai
of our desires because unwilling L
unite IN efforts by which these create
blessings may DO secured?
The moral aud religious development
VI any people depends on the churches
What, then, ARE the forces on which y
must dependg II IL estimated that a
present threetourths 1T the people &
this Territory are Mormons. OF III
other fourth, about one.quarter pei
hsps are Christians, aud the halanc
are either indifferent, skeptical, O
directly opposed to Christianity. Som
are IN favor Of good morals, but thel
standards are low, and the method
they would employ are wholly inadt
quate ~ the results which even the
they might desire for themselves an
the community.
Numerically considered tho religion
strength Of this Territory is In Ia
Mormon church. but under the pre-
ent conditions the Mormon people cat
not have much religious power outsid
OF their own church While the
people are trairoi 10 service In Ia
church, conditions have been such !
the past that they have not been drill