Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-05-08
OBSERVATIONS IN UTAH.

The Wllkes-Barre CPenn) Times Of
April "a has the following defense OF
the Mormon" people which, coming
from a non" Mormon source and over
the writer's own signature, is par
tlculariy gratifying and worthy OF re-
production In the Deseret News.
THE Times IS requested TO print the
following from the pen Of Mrs Henry
Rose who is a former resident OF
Kingston. but has made her home Ia
the west. She was before marriage
Miss Edith Lewis OF Plymouth a
daughter OF David Lewis. She Is here
on a visit TO relatIyes
10 the Editor OF the Times:
Since leaving my home IN the west
have been asked by many people re-
garding the 'Mormuns, as ] came from
their midst, and take this means Of in
forming your readers of my Impressions
as 30 this people after assoCiatug with
them for many years. 1 was surprised
at the strange idea entertained by
intelligent people regarding this PEE
culiar sect. / could not account for the
prejudice existing until / learned of the
source OF the Information sent broad
cast I have lived IN Salt Lake city
Park City and Rock Springs. Wyoming
and have visited sections almost entire
| ~ Mormon, yet In an the years OF my
mingling with them, never have / found
anything upon which 10 base such UNI
called for stories as 1 hear IN the east
It really seems surprising that people
who say they are In the service Of the
Master should wifuliy invent the abb
surd nonsense that is given TO the pub
| lie here as facts relative 10 the Nor
mons
Mistakes may have BEEN IN the past
| by this misiudged people. but II We exc
/ anime q system results should be looked
| for rather than beginnings. ] do not
/ write In defense OF Mormonism,
] as ] am not "a member OF their church.
| but simply state facts as | know them.
Their teachings are consistent with
/ Bible doctrine as they adhere closely q
! the instructions Of Christ The Book OF
/ Mormon and other church works, DO not
/ differ ia teachings from the Bible.
"In their homes win be found peace
| and love as "MormOnism" embraces al
principles OF harmony The oft-repeat-
ed stories OF the degradation Of the wo-
men are false, no people on earth pre-
sent a more contented hopeful, praylns
| individual than the Mormon mother
Ii Is her greatest ambition that hel
| children be taught pure principles anc
| lead holy God-fearing lives, worthy OF
| emulation. There is an absence Of many
evils found here in the Mormon set
! tlement
"The youth are taught TO become self
\ supporting and not dependent upon 9th.
/ ers. They branch out into the surround
| ing districts ana acquire homes OF theil
| own. Ii Is estimated that 80 per cent
own their own homes. yet they are
termed incident "A person has but Il
look over the beautiful valleys teeminl
with industry and prosperity to be con
WINGED Of the results OF a united people
| The tourist Is pleased 20 notice the reg
I ularity that Characterizes the buildlni
Of towns and cities. The irrigation
system marks the ingenuity with which
these sturdy pioneers were blessed
Nowhere can be found the Ignorance
that Is supposed % exist Schools o
high grade are dourshlng everywhere
1--WE honor the Pilgrim fathers FOL
their great work why not honor ID.
MOrmous' for opening up the avenue.
Of industry IN the west Both people
were driven for the same cause Thel
religion has paved the way for future
openings
! '"Mormons are tolerant 10 other rellg
ions. they court inye tigauOn. and gran
courtesies 90 others which J am suTl
TO say. are not received by their elders
especially I'm this section. The Nor
mon creed rs Mind your own bust
ness, and II their Opposers would teacl
the Gospel OF peace aud remember thl
above creed they would better deseryl
the name OF Christian
Mormon teachings are elevatlni
and come nearer the mark Of bringing
about a united people than any othe
system I am cOnversant with. Man.
persons think Mormonism' mean
polygamy which Is wrong as that doc
rine Is not taught or practiced now.
"The claims made by this people ar
great and n true affect every indiyid
ual. II is our duty 20 solve the prob
lem. but not by force as has been don
I'M the past. We should exercise charity
patience and love instead OF hatred
"Mormons' are very sincere In thei
worship. showing a broad-mindednes
hard 10 equal.
"The question as 70 whether Josepl
Smith received the manifestations h
claims deserves the attention Of all. ]
has not been solved as yet and neve
win be II the methods pursued I'm tn
past De followed. MormOnism'
growing faster than any other demon
nation There seems 60 be a superhu
man force behind e that causes 70 q
advance I'm the face OF stern Opposi
ton. Let us exercise our America
privileges OF hearing both sides befJr
condemning BE not deceived by III
invented falsehoods ahoat which hav
been instigated through envy and teal