The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1894-05-12

by the ultra refinements, fripperies and
vices of older communities, ardent believers
in the doctrines they preach and full of the
magnetism of virility, it is not at all won
derful they should affect the sort of people
they usually undertake to influence, par
ticularly as their promises have quite as in
innate a relation to the good things of this
world as with those of the world to come.
In the old days the converts of the Nor
mon missionaries were almost always taken
or sent to Utah as the promised land, and
the peopling and upbuilding of Zion" was
the main object of the missionaries labors.
Under the newer dispensation they are sent
out merely to spread the faith throughout
the world. They baptize such converts as
desire it, and if there is a sufiicientnumber
of baptisms in any locality a church is es-
tablshed and placed in charge of a perma-
nent presiding elder.
Service in the missionary field is some
what like military service in Europe in
that Mormons never know at what time
they may be called upon to go to some for.
eign land or to some distant section of the
United States to preach the faith The mis-
sionaries are required to pay their own ex-
penses, and the term of service in the field
is three years. Service is not compulsory,
but very few of those selected ever refuse
Fourteen bright young missionaries sailed
recently from San Francisco to preach in
Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and the
Hawaiian Islands. The oldest of them is
q years of age, and the youngest, r. l..
Bird but little past 81. Though all of them
were very boyish in appearance, they were
above the averagein telligence and seemed
TO be deeply impressed with the gravity of
mil IL
with newspaper man, spoke with unusual
trankness of his church and his mission.
His utterances are well worth reading by
those to whom Mormonism is a mystery.
The Mormon church." said Mr.. Bird.
sends out about 200 missionaries each
year. These are distributed over every part
of the globe. the particular field of each be-
ing designated by the head of the church.
Young men are usually selected for this
work, their standing in the church and
their ability to fit themselves out and 10
bear the expense of three years. mission
In foreign country being the only aualifi-
cations necessary
You must understand" he continued.
that Utah is subdivided by tile church into
districts called wards. There are 1O7 of the
wards, and each is governed by quorum
OF 40 These quorums are presided over or
governed by seven presidents. These presi-
dents take the names Of those young men
IN the different wards who are worthy and
able TO do missionary work and submit
them to President Woodruff. He i'm turn
issues call to certain number of these
young men and names the field in which the
church wishes them to labor
is our going compulsory Oh, no. We
could refuse to obey the call, but we would
then have TO account to our own rom
sciences. We have to pay our own expenses
and only those who are able to do so are So.
lected. | am assigned to the Australian
field, and when get to Auckland | will re-
port to the president Of the Australasian
mission at that place. He will then send
me to any place he sees fit within the linn.
Its OF the country over which he has iuris.
diction.
Our instructions are to lay down the
principles of the church and to make con-
verts to our religion. II we find converts
who want baptism, we are empowered 70
baptize them in the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints"
DO you teach polygsmy as one of the
principles of the Mormon religionin
NO. The authorities of the church hive
issued a decree advising that polygamv he
dropped. Ii is still practiced by some as
It Is not contrary to the principles or teach.
lngs OF our religion, but it is not done bv
the advice of the church. Polygaply has
been dropped through courtesy to Uncle
Sam. Il is abandoned now and perbans
forever but cannot tell about that
Each Of these young men had provided
himself with an outfit Of clothing and otber
necessities of the wardrobe sufficient to last
for three years, and each Of them had Ssoo
with which to defray his travelling expenses
and provide for his immediate wants after
reaching his destination. When their mon
ey runs out, they will have to send homo
from time TO time for more or TO maintni,.
themselves as best they may.