Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-09-14
TWO LETTERS.

II seems that Mr.. W. c. Nash of
Loneplne La, lately became sufficient
~ Interested about Mormonlsm to
write to Utah with a view to obtain
ing information concerning the faith
and practices Of the Mormon people.
He formulated the following list of
questions, which he addressed to Rev.
Frank c. lockwood, n Methodist
minister. Of this city, and Judge"
Thomas j. Brandon OF Centerville,
Utah. requesting replies thereto:
l.-Do the Mormons believe in
poygany?
3--Are they open in all their trans
4.--Do the Methodists and Mormons
worship God together or are they
united?
5,-Do they have secret meetings or
books?
G-Do they practice polygamy?
Following is Rev. Lockwoods an
swcr:
Mr., w. c. Nash Lonepine, La.
Dear Sir-Ynur letter of the Sth is
mt hand All Mormons are not alike,
just as all AethOdlsts are not alike, or
all cOlOred people.
The Mormons believe in polygamy
but 1t is not now taught in their
churches.
Some are selfish: most are
diplomatic and deceitful. hut they are
nearly all good. kind nelghbors.
3.-They are not as a rule very open
| IN their transactions. Some are very
open and honorable.
i,-The Mormon conception OF God
is very different from the conception
OF the Methodists, hut the greatest
| difference between us is in our rigid
| practice Of pure morals. Sometimes
| the Mormuns drop into our churches,
| and we sometimes merely visit their
| place of worship. We can in no sense
be said to worship together. We love
| the Mormons and are kind to them
| and tolerant to their belief, but We
| consider them in gross error.
5.-They have secret meetings, but
| I know of no secret books.
| G--Some are still living in polygamy
hut not many. 1t Is practiced In secret
| when at all. It Is not popular will
most Mormons. You will do well Il
you turn a deaf ear to their teach
| ings. Insomuch as 1t differs from
Christianity it Is n gross superstition
that must perish ere long.
Yours sincerely,
FRANK c. LOCKWOOD.
Rev. Lockwood says that most Nor
mons are diplomatic and deceltful
but they are nearly all good, kim
neighbours" II win strike the averag
reader that this is a rather singula
and homogeneous admxture Of qualities
He says the greatest difference be
tween Mormons ana Methodists is "ou
Che MethodlstsO rigid practice of pur
morals" This sentence forcibly re
calls what the Savior said Of those VIII
say: 81 am holier than thou"
MI. Lockwood says; "Inasmuch q
it (Mormonlsm) differs from Christian
ity, 1t vs. a gross superstition. that mus
perish ere long" We Will raise n
objection to this remark If MIR Lock
wood will add It's logical complement
"Inasmuch as Mormonlsm is identica
with Christianity as taught by Jesu
aud His Apostles. it is the true pla
OF salvation ana viii prevail forever.
We are more than willing that Nor
monism should be judged by compar
ing 1t with what the Savior taugh
and that 1t shall be accepted or re
iected according as 1t win or Will no
bear such comparison.
, Amusing features are likely TO he as
sociated with such correspondence a
this, and they are not absent in thI
case. This same Rev. Lockwood ha
] not lived long in Utah. He came t
this State about two or three year
, ago, and Immediately after his arrlv
al in this city he discovered so niue
. I D..