Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-19
TO pERvERT OUR CHILDREN.


throw OF "Mormonism' upon the chill
dren of the Latter-day Saints. lie
stated that the mission Of Presbyterian
teachers here was to convert the Nor
mons" But experience had taught
him that It was of little or no use TO
attempt this among the older Nor
mons" for even If they succeeded IN
getting into the Presbyterian church
members who had once been Nor
mons" while they became good Chris
tians" they could not get away from
the peculiar ideas imbibed while In the
Mormon" Church. He also admitted
that Mormon children know much
more about their faith az eight years
Of age than Presbyterian children know
about theirs, and that they become so
Saturated" with the doctrine that 1t
is hard to get them away from It.
One OF the chief methods proposed by
the speaker was the use of music. He
said singing is one Of the very best
means Of getting a hold upon the child
and that Is the secret of the success the
Mormons have, with their children
Another remark he made was that, the
best and simplest thing to do is to win
the children to Christ" lie confessed,
however that people Of his own de-
nomination were often derelict In
guarding and teaching their own chill
dren. That while they had instructions
in their books about training and In
structing their children, they were not
practicing them.
The Latter-day Saints throughout the
State should understand the real OBJ
ject OF Presbyterian teachers In Utah.
While ostenslbly engaged In promot-
ing ordinary education. their chief pur-
pose Is to undermine and attack the
faith OF the Mormon people and per-
vert their children. This has been an
nounced at different times during
many years past But II has been
evaded or virtually denied by the
preachers and teachers Of the Presby-
terrain church here. II Is better that
all parties should understand the facts
In the case. The great "consecrated"
efforts Of Presbyterian pastors and
teachers are henceforih to be in the d.
rectlon now openly proclaimed.
II Is true that the labors Of sectar-
ian ministers TO turn Latter-day Saints
from the faith Of the Gospel to the no.
tons and absurdities Of sectarian the
ology, Is virtually labor In vain. If for
any reason persons who seoede from
the Mormon" church join either Of the
sects OF the day, they know too mach
to become really welded to their tenets.
The sunlight OF the latter-day Gospel
Is 30 rich and glorious, that when COM
pared with the twinkling flashlights Of
"christendom." the contrast is sadden-
Ing indeed TO those who forsake the for
mer and try to be content with the lat
ter.
But about the children OF the Latter
day Saints. Is there any reason why
they should be sent TO a Presbyterian
rather than a Mormon" SCHOOL, Are
not our district schools throughout the
state equal II not superior to any Of
the Presbyterian schools, the object OF
which Is mainly to prejudice the child
ren's minds against the faith OF their
parents? Are not out Sunday schools
better organized, better equipped and
more thoroughly instructed than those
of any OF the sectarian churches2
What could our children learn In
Presbyterian school, on Sundays or
week days, more or better than In our
own schools?
But the Presbyterian instructor Of
Presbyterian teachers says the purpose
IS to win the children TO Christ" And
yet he admits that the Mormon
children know more about their faith
at eight years old than Presbyterian
children do. Faith In christ Is one OF
the fundamentals Of the Mormon re-
nglon. Il is the root OF an that grows
upon that creed the fountain from
which flows all that follows. No child
rem in any OF the sectauan Sunday
schools are so thoroughly instruct
ed IN the life, character spirit
mission. divinity, atonemcnt cN-
ample. crucinxion. resurrection ard
ascension Of our Lord and savior Je-
sus Christ, as the children IN the'Sun-
day Schools Of the Latter-day Saints.
In a volume Of leaflets for the use OF
Sunday Schools, issued by the Deserct
Sunday School Union, and now before
us thirty OF them, forming the begin
ming of the volume, are devoted 20 the
life and teachings Of Christ. In detail
with references TO the New Testament
Why then talk OF winning" Mormon
children to Christ by getting them into
a Presbyterian school?
Bu, about converting them by sing
ing Is there any better singing In
any Presbyterian school In Utah than
that enjoyed In Mormon" schools and
meehngsg Imagine Dr. Wishald talk
ing 10 Mormon" children about Joe
smith ana idiculing the Lattcr-day
Saints faith, and with that stridcn'
voice and mock religious tone. trying t'
sing them into The predcsiinaiion hor
rors OF Prcsbyterianlsm. Think o
Rev. George Bailey telling the false
hood that "Mormonism makes woman