Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-26
TESTIMONY OF A NON-MORMON.
His Observations Respecting The Traits of the
Mormons.

The following article was written by
DR.. J. Council. at the present time en-
gagged in professional pursuits In
Malad, Idaho, who has long resided
among the Mormons. and is familiar
with their characteristics. 1t is repro
duced from the Preston, Idaho. Stand
ard:
Latter-day Saints, or "Mormons," MS
they are commonly called, have been
and are, much misrepresented peo-
pie. Their faults have been magnified.
their virtues forgotten. People who
know absolutely nothing of them, men
and women who have never seen
Mormon, have formed the most errone-
Gus and unjust opinions of them. 1t Is
one of the peculiarities of mans mem
tai makeup that he learns to distrust
a people whom he has never met The
provincial can never be fair-never alb
solutely just. Religion exercises an
almost immeasurable influence over
men. 1t can narrow and deform, or II
can broaden the mind and make the
heart great and free. Men, after ALL
are very much like their religion. Nor
mons, although firm believers in the
Bible, accord to others liberty, bor-
dering dangerously on free thought
You are not ostracised because you arc
not a member of their Church, nor are
you an object of Misrepresentation and
abuse simply because you cannot ac-
cept all they believe. They do not ask
II you are a Baptist or a Buddhist.
Their only concern is. are You man.
do you pay your debts, are you kind to
your family and your friends, are you
good citizen? And right here 1t
might not be out of place to say, there
is good deal of religion in the word
honesty"
Orthodox churches have considera BILE
to say about. do unto others as you
would have them do unto YOU" They
preach this, while the Mormons prac-
tice II.
Orthodox ministers never weary of
exhorting us to love our enemies"
There seems, however, to he an i'm
preston abroad that they do not al
ways love theirs, but of course 1t
would not do to say SO.
Mormons are the only religious peo-
pie we have ever met who obey this
scriptural injunction-the only ones
who return good for evil. There may,
however, be many such people and it'a
quite possible we have not met the
right members OF the flock
MormOns have suffered every abuse.
and the bitterest persecution, but in
their hearts there is no ill-wiil. no
hatred. They are kind to their friends
and just to their enemies. Orthodox
guished for their love of discussion.
Mormons court argument. and the
doors of their churches are open to all
They know well, that any religion that
Will not bear discussion, must be a
triile weak somewhere.
Thu religion o, the I-eter-day Saints
is as broad as 1t is possible for any
religion to be. The old idea of hell.
believed In at one time, and still
preached in thousands of our fashion
able churches, has no place in their
minds or hearts. We are all given
chance in the next world and are
compelled to suffer only for our own
sins-not for the transgression of
Adam. This bold and humane belief
leaves Its impress upon every member
| of their Church.
You can almost tell Mormon by
looking at him. The face Is not long.
| pinched and eNpressionless. 1t is
round and fun. The man enjoys life.
| He Is cheerful good natured. Nor
mon does not endeavor TO impress you
with his piety. by looking solemn. He
| Is unaffected wherever met, and under
| all circumstances
| The Church OF Latter-day Saints has
| nearly Loo missit ntIns in the field.
| These are composed largely of young
men, and they are sent to every part
| of the world. They travel without
purse or sc-io. their mission last
Ing from three to five years. Nor
mons are unquestionably making more
real converts than any other religious
people. This Church organization is