Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-08
NOT MAN.woRsHlPERs.

The Worcester spy generally Is
fair journal, but, like so many Of our
contemporaries when il essays to
speak about "Mormonlsm' Il is apt to
substitute fiction for fact This Is
shown in recent article on "The
witchcraft Of Christian Science" Ia
which the Spy takes occasion to say
that ,"The Mormons have deihed Joseph
Smith and the Christian Scientists are
in way to defy their founder
Now defy" means to "exalt among
the gods" regard or worship as
god" adore" 1t means to invest with
divine attributes or qualities. and the
statement Is equivalent to a charge
that the Latter-day Saints are man
worshipers. It Is an accusation that
has been invented by some reverend
antagonist OF their faith, when falling
TO find facts upon which {? formulate
a charge 1t Is reiterated by Others
too Indifferent or to busy 20 inyesti'
gate for themselves, and yet anxious TO
contribute their straw TO the general
pile upon which II Is hoped Mormon
ism" will be sacrificed In a grand auto
da fe.
Nothing is farther from the truth,
however The Latter-day Saints are
less given TO man-worship than most
followers OF the Christian creeds. They
believe in, and worship exclusively the
God Of the Bible the God - Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob-God the Eternal
Father His Son. Jesus Christ and the
Holy Chest They stand IN the New
Testament platform, so clearly stated In
the first eplstle to the Corinthians.
"For though there be that are called
gods. whether in heaven or in earth las
there be gods many, and lords many,
but TO us there is but one God the
Father. Of whom are all things, and we
IN HIM and one Lord Jesus Christ, by
whom are all thlngs, and We by Him.
q Cor, s: 8. g. This is "Mormonism'
No man Is "delned" by the Church, or
any of is members
The Prophet Joseph never claimed d.
vine attributes, in any other sense than
all the children Of the Eternal Father
may claim relationship with Him. He
was humble servant Of God ever con-
scious Of failings and shortcomings
and the necessity Of the guardian care
OF the Almighty Neither In his writ
ings nor his discourses can syllable
be found intimatlng that he regarded
himself as anything but weak instru-
ment though chosen to perform a great
mission In the world
And that Is how he is now regarded
by the members OF the Church, and
how. in due time. all the world will
view him. lie was a witness for God.
a Prophet Of the Most High "A mes
senger Of salvation, a herald Of millen-
NAL glory upon this earth, When the
visions with which he was favored are
considered; when 1t is remembered that
his mind was opened up TO comprehend
the past and the future, as well as the
present. when the work he accom-
plished in comparatively short time is
scrutinlzed without prejudices. and
when he is finally seen passing from
this earthly sphere in the glory Of mar
tyrdom, II will be understood why he
should be classed among the greatest
prophets that ever lived upon the earth,
and why history some day viii accord
him that place But that Is far from
dedication. The Hebrews do not defy
Moses, nor do the Saints defy the
Prophet OF this dispensation.
The matter may as well be clearly
understood. The newspapers that deem
It worth while writing about Mormon
ism should take pains to make correct
statements. For no cause can be well
served BY falsehoods. The "Mormons"
are neither man-worshipers nor idola-
tiers. They honor, love, and respect the
men God has entrusted to declare unto
them the words Of life and salvation,
but they worship Him alone who has
made the heavens and the earth and
the mighty waters.