Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-11-21
A MOLE FROM SCRANTON.

luz bCiuutouB L h't ANcWet IA 80 $500
issue to hand, has AN article headed
"The Mormons In Scranton" The
paper announces In bold type that
"l0urtesn Elders Of the Church are
making house to house canvass In
all the districts between here and
Carbonate, spreading literature and
explaining their strange doctrine
wherever opportunity oiiert-they are
all bright and meet with encouraging
RECEPTIONS" Then 1t goes on to say:
Mormonism in Scranton?
Why, yes. The truth Is 1t has existed
for many, many years among US; It's
converts IN this city could at one time be
numbered by the thousands. Many OF
Scranton's originals brought the faith
from Wales, while others We're converted
10 II through missionary workers sent
east by brigham Young.
Mormopism grew and hourisbed
among us in years gone by III 1t laid
claim to two thousand adherents among
us. These, however, moved west,
and today some of Utah's most
famous Elders are Scrantonians. a
few remained, however, and correspond
ence led to the sending out OF another
band OF workers who are now in our
midst, and reports say they are winning
many converts. They are under the
charge OF Mr.. GIL, formerly OF this
city, and who still has many relatives
among us.
Mormonism, like many other things,
has undergone radical change to meet
the requirements Of the close of the nine
teenth century. In accordance with the
United 5. ates laws ,polygamy Is expurged
from their doctrines, and system Of
families or communities takes it's place,
where everybody is brotherly and sister
ly, and everything is in common. 1t does
not work quite as we'll as the old plan, but
irs all right II they like it.
Below we print the Mormons' Articles
Of Faith, which appear on the back OF Il
card on the face of which the following
inscription appears: Elder Charles A.
streeper, Centerville, Davis county, Utah.
Then follow the Articles of Faith; and
our Scranton contemporary closes its
article with these wotds;
These apostles OF Joseph Smiths doc
trines court Investigation. Generally
speaking they are we'll received, and we
will say this for them as tar as we have
come in contact with them, they are
bright, intelligent and courteous gentle
men who know their subject thoroughly,
and are generous to fault with their
opponents.
Our Scranton friend makes one
slight error when 1t says Mormo MEM
"has undergone a radical change to
meet the requirements OF the close oi
the nineteenth century," and refers
to plural marriage being superseded
by a system OF families where "every.
thing Ia In common" On the other
hand, Mormonism as revealed origi.
nslly was specially fitted to meet the
requirements OF the nineteenth
century, and needed no change
10 make 1t equal to the task.
AS u matter OF fact 1t was, In its per-
lection as the Gospel OF Christ, ~ far
in advance o! the people that the latter
have not yet fully comprehended 1t,
but are progressing TO the required
standard; no change in MormonIsm lie
necessary. As to plural marriage, II
has not been superseded by Any new
system; 1t has been discontinued be.
cause the highest tribunal Of the
land has ruled adverse thereto, and
Mormonism requires obediencs 20 the
laws Of the land, when their cOnstilu.
tionRlity is definitely affirmed. Re
gsrding the cooperative principls re-
fsrred to by our contemporary as
"everything in common" our friend
misconceives that, and also the fact
relative to lite practice. It lie not a
substitute for polygamy OF System Of
families" rs he describes 1t, but an
Independent principle not yet in opera.
lion, and hence any remark as to
whether 1t works III or well IL
premature; but since 1t lie the order
revealed from God who dceth all
things well, to be observed in due time,
When 1t Ia 80 observed the result mus,
be good.
Regarding the attitude Of the Elder,