Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-10-05

For this eternal truth is given
That God win force no man to Heay-
en-.
But II he infers by that statement
that the Mormon religion does not
teach chastity, virtue ANA temperance,
he speaks a glaring falsehood, says
something he cannot prove, an1 W
ters a base Islander against the MOT
mon people, and only his utter lsno-
rance ~ our doctrines or a deep IN
laid prejudice against our people
would ever prompt such a remark
AS for our teachings In regard TO
morality, they are very strict Chas-
uty and virtue are cnlolned upon an
and We regard unlawful and Illicit re.
lations between the sexes as the most
heinous crimes, and az next IN enornllty
TO the shedding OF innocent blood. our
Church Is the only organization that l
am aware OF that comes out In open
condemnation Of the use OF tea, coHee
and tobacco as injurious 20 the system
and debasing 10 the moral ana splrltual
growth OF man while intoxicating
liquors are regarded To- the same hgnt,
and are severely denounced, ana the
members are strictly forbidden 20 use
them under penalty Of being dlstelloW-
shipped, and those who engage In the
liquor traffic are not regarded az Lat
ter-day Saints.
MIR. Underwood statement concern
ing the liquor traffic OF Ogden and
Salt Lake Is an untruth, and II space
would permit / could prove II by non
Mormon evidence. one VI our arti-
Giles OF faith plainly says: We be-
lleye In being honest. true Chaste ben
eyolent. vlrtuous. and in doing good 20
all men; indeed we may say we follow
the admonitiOn OF Paul We believe all
things, We hope AN things we have
endured many things and hope &c %
able 10 endure an things. II there ~
anything virtuous, lovely OF Of good re-
port or pralseworthy we seek after
these things
II do not wish 90 infer that every
Mormon Is an angel, or that they are
entirely free from the common vices
that aflict mankind hut do say that
their teachings are against indulgence
In such wickedness and that taken az
a people and community they are re-
markably free from them,
ITO show how inconsistent and un-
reliable Mr.. Underwood is In his re-
marks, he states IN one breath that
the 'MOrmons' are "a most industrious
set Of people, pay their debts and In
other ways are a desirable class,
while In the next breath he declares
they are gamblers and saloonkeepers'
and that drunkenness and debauchery
prevail 10 q large extent
Does not Mr. Underwood know that
debaucheiy and drunkenness are the
very products OF idleness and dishon-
esty, and that they produce poverty In
It's worst form? Yet he says there are
no poor houses among the 'Mormons,
and they pay their debts. How un-
reasonable and inconsistent II such
conflicting testimony was introduced In
a court OF equity 10y any sane person,
regarding the character Of another, 1t
would be thrown out as perfectly an
reliable. Then what dependence can
be placed upon his other statements
They are just as absurd and are moth.
Ing but lot Of rot, manufactured In
the imagination Of an idle brain, and
are only hashed up 70 please the minds
Of a preiudioed and unthinkng public
who az times, are willing 20 gulp down
without a question, any filthy story
no matter how unreasonable that will
throw an unfavorable light upon the
Mormon people.
RALPH CUTLER.
Elder Of the Church OF Jesus Christ Of
Latter-day Saints"