The San Francisco call., 1897-04-04
NYE DEFENDS MORMONS.
The Local Elder Replies to the
Criticisms of the Rev.
MIR Day.
Contends That California Owes Much
to His Cc.Relig :onists-Articles
of Faith.

Elder e. II. Nye OF the local Mormon
church has issued a reply to the recent
criticisms of the Rev. Mr.. Day, in the
course of which he observes:
"There are two sides to every question.
To judge the Mormons by the They say
so of enemies is manifestly unjust. BY
their fruits ye shall know them,' the
Savior said, and we are willing to be
judged by this divine method of ascer-
tainmeEt. No one can examine with an
unpreiudiced mind the myth ical stories
in comparison with the historical facts
connected with this people without con-
Guiding that the Mormons have been mis-
represented and outrageously DETAINED. A
pet theme employed by those who antag-
oniZe our faith is to rehash some hearsay
story tending to prove that some Utonian,
who is suspected OF being Mormon, has
not been morally perfect, and they reason
from this that of course Mormonism must
be a fallacy, as though the divine truths
OF heaven depended on the actions of any
individuals for their validity. We con-
slider these poor weapons.
"Our reverend friend complimented the
people of California because the Latter
Day Saints Gid not settle here as the said)
they intended TO do. thus losing sight of
Vic ldCt tuht Iucy were Iu6 uTSL hiucElCdu
immigrants that settled in California;
that they were the first that titled the soil
of this fair State; that they started the
first newspaper here; that, while In the
employ OF John Marshall, they were the
first TO discover the gold, and that in the
Kearney- Fremont case the Mormon bat
talon played a very important part in
establishing the United States Govern
men, on the Pacific Coast. We mention
these facts to show that it was not the
intention OF our people TO settle here, but
in the valleys of Utah. and to further
show that no connections that our people
have had with California have made he-
| less glorious"
| Mr.. Nyo quotes the report of Governor
| West and the testimony OF the Governors
of Idaho and Arizona, and of Bishop
| Spalding, In which tribute IS paid TO the
admirable qualities of the Mormons. and
| cites Scripture In substsntiation of the
Mormon doctrine that God is personal
| being. He concludes:
I'VE are charged with having q creed
that is calculated in its nature to deceive
that it Is fascinating, but unhoIy. In
order that the people may Judge. we sub
NIT TO you our articles of faith unaItered,
as arranged by Joseph Smith and as be-
lieved in and practiced by the Latter-day
Judge them by the law and testimony.
We are not seeking sympathy. but equal
| privileges with our feIlow-men to defend
the doctrines of the gospel OF Jesus
| Christ.
Elder Nye submitted the articles of faith
of the Church of Jesus Christ o. Lstter-day
| Saints:
| L. We believe in God, the Eternal Father
and his son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy
| Ghost
/ 2. We believe that men will be punished
/ for their own sins, and not for Adams trans
| gression.
! 3. We believe that through the atonemen'
OF Christ all mankind may be saved by obedi
ence TO the laws and ordinances OF the gospel
4. We believe that these ordinances are
| First, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second
repentance; third, baptism by immersion fol
| the remission of sins; fourth, laying on o.
hands tor the gift of the Holy Ghost.
b. We believe that man must be called o.
God by "prophesy and by the laying on o.