Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-07-05
THE TRIUMPH OF TRUTH.

The baptism Of three ladies' IN New
York city, mentioned IN the press dis
patches a few days ago. has been fol-
lowed by the baptism Of Miss Eliza
beth Dickinson some particulars oil
which win be found In kilograms pub
lished - another part Of this paper
There IL nothing extraordinary about
an this but IT has occasioned a great
deal Of excitement in the East The
young lady aforementioned occupied a
prominent position In one OF the fash
lonable churches, and was secretary OF
IT'S Christian Endeayor society and
her conversion, with that OF Mrs. Blair,
who was president Of the society
aroused the Ire Of the pastor OF the
church and formed the subject Of many
articles in eastern papers
1t is pleasing TO see that the ladies
who have been subjected TO SO much
hostile criticism have the courage OF
their convictions, and are not TO be
browbeaten and frightened away from
the truth which has become clear TO
their understanding II Is In this spirit
that the majority Of the people who
embraced "Mormonism' among the
various nations OF the world met the
opposition which was arrayed against
them, The greatest antagonism came
usually from the clergy of the different
religious sects. In notable occasions
near relations aud intimate friends
were aroused 20 anger and sometimes
TO hatred Employers often turned
men and women from their work and
SOUGHT to injure those whom they could
not pervert. Ia not a few instances
mob violence was added TO ridlcule
and Misrepresentation. aud the very
name Of Mormon SET popular fury
into a flame,
The people who In their native lands
accepted the principles proclaimed by
the Elders OF this Church, and who
gathered to these valleys because Of
their faith In the Gospel and the ties
timony they received OF ia truth, are
not 10 be turned from their fidelity to
the latter-day work by persecution or
contumely Of any kind II is not for
any Interior purpose that they have
cast their lot with the Latter-day
Saints. but II is because Of their integ-
rlty and devotion TO the great latter
day work for the redemption " man
kind.
Il II difficult 10 make the ordinary
preacher or editor who comments on
"Mormonlsm' understand that this
term does not mean or imply poly
gamy" when the doctrine Of plural
marriage was promulgated It was but
one Of the features of doetrlnal teach-
ing In the Church, and since the prac-
tlce has ceased through submission TO
the laws Of the land, "Alormonism"
stands separate and apart from the
subject that SO greatly agitates the
common "Christian" mind, and signi-
fies a creed that cannot be assailed
from any standard OF morality that is
set up in modern society The doe
trines enunclated by Mormon, the pro-
phet, who, on this continent hundreds
NJ years ago, compiled the record called
after his name, did not advocate or de-
fend the marriage system which for a
time prevailed among a portion Of the
pcople Of Utah therefore the term
"Mormonlsm" does not philologlcally or
In any other way imply 'polygamy'
Among the newspapers which either
fan 10 understand or are wllfully de-
termined TO misrepresent the Mormon
Church. It's Elders and lis doctrines, Is
the Press. of Troy New York II was
10 be expected that something bitter
and malicious would be said on the sub
iect 10 the Gotham agitation, by that
paper. In a recent issue Is quoted at
length some nasty remarks from a New
York journal, and made its own com
meut IN this language;
And II ~ fair and not uncharltahle
inference that polygamy Is preyalcnty
the real motive OF the women who be-
come Mormons They are generally UNI
easy spirits. dissatisfied with their do
nestle relations. or Anticipated un-
married females. who fancy II Is better
20 be one OF a flock OF wives than 10
be no wife az all
Women OF virtue and common sense
treat Mormon missionaries and their
mission alike with contempt
The Stiffness OF those paragraphs Is
as prominent as their venom. The wo-
men who at any time entered the plural
family relation were few in number.
compared with the hosts oi married and
unmarried ladies who have accepted the
doctrines Of the Church Of Jesus Christ
Of Lat,cr-day Saints. and remained true
and faithful TO them IN spite of such
attacks az these made BY the Troy
Press. The women OF "Mormondom"
have nothing to fear in a comparison
with any Of their sex In Christendom. II
has not been dissatisfaction with their
domestic relations but dissatisfaction
with the conflicting creeds and unohris-
tlan doctrines ana practices n so-called
Christian secis. that has influenced 50
many women as wen as men Go receive
the truths embodied In that which Is
commonly called Mormouism To be.
come zone of flock o. wives IS now
an impossbnity in Utah Daring the
early years Of the Church % was not
possible because the doctrine was not
taught or pracilsed. The editor of the