Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-08-31
THE wonx or THE ELDERS.

II IL often stated, sometimes ioorlnF-
~ and nj others IN q congrntulatory
tone. that the missionaries M the "Aior-
mon" Cnurh IN certain localities
failed "a make any converts" This
suggests the Idea OF tho need ~ lnf0r-
nation among our uoctnrlnn friends
nnd also writer's for tho press. ne 90
the purpose In Wow of Mormon" mis-
sionarlcs and the spirit Ia which they
labor.
The making Of converts seems 20 be
the great dosidoutum IN missionary of-
forts. by the preachers ~ other scots.
Not 10 with the Elders OF the church
Of Jesus christ of Ilttor-day Saints. OF
course every missionary o. pleased
when he secs good fruits from his toll.
He IL glad not only because he ronps
whore he roWod, but because souls that
were IN darkness ARE brought into tho
light ana the church ~ strengthened
by the addition ~ faithful members.
hut tho mission OF our Elders is To
preach the Gospel whether it ia ace
ccptcd or rejected. II has been re-
vcalcd from heaven 20 be- proclaimed to
every nation. kindred tongue and pco-
pie II b. " SAVIOR u lie unto llfc or OF
death unto death" II So 10 condemn as
well as 10 redeem Gle that helloycth
and &C. baptized shall be saved but no
that hclicvoth not shall be damned"
II Is 20 be offered 60 an mankind. free
ly. and the duty NJ tho preacher "a per-
formed whether ho makes converts or
enemies.
The Elders are srnt with message
II has come from heaven. II docs not
matter whether any one believes II or
not. IL IN to be carried ana delivered TO
All the world, God win be with the
messengers no matter what may be- tho
effects OF their mlnistrntions. The sools
OF truth must be- sown. even II they
fan by the waysldo and sink only Into
stony ground. The world must be-
warned. It isR warning voice that the
Elders raise among the nations, They
arr 20 call people 10 repentance; TO
herald the approaching advent uf the
worlds Rcdecmcr and King, To pro-
claim the Kingdom NJ heavens at
hand; 90 announce tho Impending iudg-
mynts which viii shortly oycrtukc the
wicked An that BE- independent of
making converts.
The success of l Mormon" mission
my ls NOT tO Doe guugyi by the number
Of persons hc bnptlaeH into tho Church.
The planter o. aH honorable nH the hur-
voator Some lnborcrs gather the crops
that their predecessors hnyc planted.
Some caro- for AMI instruct tho new
members and train tho young 90 the
path Of lifo Some travel from place
10 place 1nl prepare the way Tor others
The diffusion Of Gospel light an truth
Is the chief work of our missionaries
II has had o. miFhty effect upon tho rec
liHouB thought and progress uf the
nineteenth century 'NorWon' doe
trIncs That wgro sruncd at sixty years
ago, ami denounced ug damnnbla here
slos, are now proclaimed from the very
pulp,t8 that then condemned them,
where once a Mormon" Elder would
be IN danger OF h.s lfy, hc now finds
friends and cord'u welcome. Tho
religions of today uUH more tolerant
than they We're hJIf century ago, and
the influence NJ 'Mormonism' hn aide
ed largely IN producing the change.
The mission OF the Elders of this
church is worldwide and aelrphuu II
matters not II they do not make cone
vert The Gospel they bear must be-
carried to every place, and th, warning
voice must sound to every people.