Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-12-08
TnL WAY ~ ANSWER.


In letter written by Elder A. II.
Luni, President Of the European
Mlsslon, giving an account Of his 10.
cent visit 10 Scandinavia, ElIor Lund
relates an Incident that occurred In
E'blorg, Denmark. A report from that
district was male by Elder Buekholt,
relating TO considerable excitement
which had existed among the people
regarding "Mormonism." Elder Luud
sHysi "a Methodist preacher who had
been In Utah had lec,ured against the
Lattof.day Saints aud had been Joined
by the Lutheran minister Of the
parish. They Invited Elders Buckholt
and Petersen 10 attend, but would not
allow them 10 defend their people.
Elder Buokholt got An opportunity to
invite the people to attend meeting In
the same hall the next evening, when
lac promised TO answer the accusation
made against the Saints. The priest
told hlm that nobody would come 10
hear such nonsense as he had
TO present. Il shall not come,
and 1 ask oil my parishioners
10 stay at home.' he said. The
hall could hold about six hundred
persons, but a great many were not
able TO got into itat the time appoint.
cd by the Elders. Even the priests
were present Like the evening he
fore, they wanted to take control, but
Elder Buokholt informed thom that
tonight u was his meeting and until
no was done they must hold their
peace. All were eager to hear dis.
oussion, but the Elders thought this
too good an opportunity Tor preaching
tho Gospel ~ waste tao time la vain
discussion. They promised the au.
dioncU that after tlcy had presented
tho principles OF our faith they would
answer the charges made against the
Saints. This kept the great assembly
quiet ana the tint principles were pre-
eonlod IN their balances; afterwards
the Elders reiutod the false assertions
made IN the lectures delivered by their
| opponents"
This incident presents n striking
ilIustration Of the manner In when
Elders who are called to labor In the
missionary field should perform the
sacred duty Assigned them. They are
FONT forth NJ messengers OF salvation,
10 declare the word OF the Lord 10 the
people. Oitontlmoa thoy are sol upon,
and villitod aud abused, being charged
with call manner Of evil falsely" The
nEluial inclination IL 10 hasten 10 deny
those malicious accusations, anu usu.
ally tho result 10 at best a question,
settled Ia each hearers nina accord.
ing 10 his preo0nouivei notions or
prejudlcos, as to which party is telling
tho truth. Sometimes the Elders are
given opportunities to explain olrcum.
stances anu thus show how unreason-
aOle aud uDJus; arc the charges against
them; but more frequently when they
get the privilege Of entering an om-
phStic denial they are precludsd from
presenting an argument or explanation
VI the real condition.
In the instance referred TO, % has
boon the case frequently with other
Elders and In other fields, the mission
aries have Compensated that, not
wilhstandlng tue natural inclination
tY olvar thum elves aud the people Of
.alse aspersious, lhyir foremost o0liga-
ton on all occasions Is 10 preach the
Gospel; and NJ .ar As our observation
and experience has gone, Ia every In.
stance where this principle has been
observed good has resulted. When
Elders are permitted TO deny accuse.
lions at all, they are usually listened 10
until the DENIAL Is made, II no farther.
Pending this proceeding, they are
glyou attention ani there Is often an
opportunity to exp.und briefly tho
principles Of the Gospel. When this Is
done, the basis 10 laid Tor the reiutation
% false assertions, u indeed that end
- NOT already accomplished In the