Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-05-09

the faith Tie gave them, that Utah has
been redeemed and made the garden
spot Of this great nation.
Then we are accused by this same
man, after being reproached for leaving
Illinois and the eastern states, OF seek
! ing isolation, because, lorsooth, Nor.
monism could not thrive in civilized
communities could not grow IN New
York, In Chicago, and such placesl
Why does It not grow IN such placcs'
Because the majority Of the people
and the testimony u reverend gentle
men elsewhere can be produced to prove
it-afe corrupt aud iueligious, blasphem.
Gus and inhdelic. Mormonism will
thrive IN the desert no better than In the
city where there are good honest souls;
for II reaches the hearts OF the honest,
Il touches the souls OF the pure, Il ap.
peals to everything that is grand and
Godlike IN men and women. IL does
not, however, appeal to the base pas
sions Of men and women. II docs not
appeal to their lusts; II does not thrive
~ corruption aud In sin. This Is the
reason that MofmOnism does not pros
per Ia the cities named. Blu, measure
/ Il With anything that has ever existed
| upon the earth and MofmOnism, so.
I
pafison. When you bring Il side by
side with man.made religions, why 1t Is
| like the brightness OF the sun as COM
pared with the light OF the most in
significant star that the human eye can
| detect
Mormonism, It Is said, Is fed by It's
recruits from foreign lands. True, Il
has gathered many Of the very best OF
It's memberships very best men and
womcn-itom Scandinavia, from Eng.
| land, from Germany, aud from Otrer
countries, and 4, has brought them to-
| gcthcr as no other system could have
done, and made them one people,
homogeneous In all their affairs ltlsa
marvel to many that such har-
mUny among people Of different ma
tionaliies could exist. Yet the charge
| 4, ilI.iounded when 1t Is stated that from
| the ignorant we alone gain our strength.
| Take the leaders OF the people, ana you
| will find the majority OF them are
| AmeriCan.born ciuzcns. The early
| strength Of the Church was composed
Of what was called the best blood Of the
nation. New England, which has
stood In the van Of progress and IN
/ love OF liberty, yielded some OF her
best sons to swell the ranks OF the
Church. So 70 through the whole
body Of the people, and you will ind
that this Church, when We speak Of Il
in that sense, Is strictly an American
church. Two OF the First Presidency
are American born and bred; nine OF
the Twelve Apostles were horn 10 the
United States, also four Of the Seven
| Presidents Of Seventies; and so right
| through the Church. Thus you can see
| how poor foundation this Argument
rests upon. Yet II we were foreign
born, It Is no disgrace, so long as we are
| honest; for a man Is man whether
born In the South Sea Island, IN the
| irigid regions Of the north, OF ia this
country OF ours, II man was born IN
the White House, and he Is dishonest
| and impure, he brings reproach on his
country to boast OF his Ameucanism.
Mormonism, Il Is said, Is a burnt out
volcano so far as spirituality Is con.
cerned; It's strength is gone; It Is as
stunning materalistic position, and
fails TO exercise the spiritual influence
over the people that religious organi-
zation ought to do.
True, we have not that sanctimonious.
ness which characterizes some Of our
Christian friends, we do not have the
long-iaced piety OF the ordinary Sab.
| bath wofshlpef, we do not have the
gfoans OF some Christian people; but
We have the religious conviction and
sentiment deep IN our hearts, and we are
praclIclng, though doubtless imperfect
ly, true religion as II Is defined by the
Apostles, In that we visit the widows
and the iaiherless, and we keep clear
conscience before God. Mormonism a
hftrVF .ttf .n1gan.t IL ftautt a.. I.sIsN...
one, but not burnt out. Its fires are
burning, It's strength is increasing, and
though the world may seek to gloss over
this work-this yolcano-and may
seek to heap refuse upon II to
prevent It's fires being discover.
ed, yet iI will come out in the
lull strength OF It's Godlike power, aud
will reach the position that God has de.
signed Il TO fill In the earth for the saliva.
ton OF the human family. No spiritual.
ity in the Church, Take its principles,
take its practices, and compare them
with the holy word OF God as contained
In King James translation OF the Bible,
aud you will find that we have the
spirituality, we have the principles, we
have the practices OF the ancient saints
who received the Gospel under the adj.
ministration Of Jesus Christ and His
disciples. We do not have all the power
that we ought to have. God knows We
do not. We do not have the faith which
we ought to exercise In the gifts OF the
Gospel and In the principles OF our re-
ligion. But with all our weaknesses,
with all our lack In this respect, we still
stand at the head-God be praised!-of
every organization upon the face of the
earth; not through any merit OF our
own; not that | would boast OF such
blessings, only that my Boosting shall be
in praise OF God Tor His goodness in
giving us such choice blessings and in
making us partakers Of this glorious
Gospel-a privilege that He has extend
ed equally to every other man and
woman who lives upon the face OF the |
earth, and has not confined to these lew
people now gathered in these noun
tains. Is there any greater evidence OF
the divinity Of this work than the very
argument that is brought against II, that |
we have so perfect Church organiza. |
tom With It's President, twho is the |
mouthpiece OF God, with his counse.
lors, and the various organizations OF |
the Priesthood as they exist, this Church |
Is so perfect that II commands the adj. |
miration OF the world, who see that il is |
superior even to that old and long es.
tabished church, the Roman Catholic. |
The very fact that these organizations
continue, and that they exercise such an |
influence among the people, should be |