Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-09-06
CONTEMPORARY EVIDENCE.

A great deal OF attention has been
paid lately TO "Mormonism," by au-
,hors and publishers, both here and
abroad. That il a good sign. 1t in
dicates public interest In the subject,
and "Mormonism" can only gain there
by
Among the writer's who lately have
devoted their time to II, Is william
Alexander Linn, He is the author Of
quite a large volume entitled "The
story OF the Mormons," and also of n
paper in The World Today, for Sep
tcmber.
In this magazine article he correctly
states that the Mormon" belief rests
on the acceptance OF the declaration that
the Prophet Joseph received message
rom heaven, revealing to him the re-
cords of the ancient peoples on this
continent also further revelations con-
corning the organization of the Church
and the conduct OF Church members.
'Mormonism" stands, or falls, with this
important message TO the world.
Then, In order to cast doubt upon
the truth Of this message, he argues
that the character OF the Prophet
Joseph must be judged by contempor-
airy evidence, and this, he states, he
has investigated According to his In
vestigations, the Prophet came from
'vagabond family" lie was ignorant,
lazy, and generally bad
II Is evident that this character
sketch IL made up, not from contem-
porary evidence-not from the prepon-
derance Of impartial testimony, but from
hostile evidence. much OF which was
produced after the Prophet had be-
come divine messenger. II was made
Up for the express purpose OF rendering
him odlous in the sight of men, In
order that the work OF God should be
brought to an end. II was the desperate
device OF the adversary. by which he
fcped TO conquer. Such evidence is
worthless. Even Christianity must be
pronounced false religion on such q
baels
The tact Is that contemporary evil
dsnce about Jesus--that Is some con-
temporary eydence-places the Son OF
God in worse light than was ever
shed upon the Prophet OF this dispen-
satlon Did not some OF His contem-
Yoraries say that He was possessed
that he was drunlsard and one fond OF
association with "sinners?" Was He
not put TO death as blasphemer.
reasonable and a traitor? Was this
not the charge on which He was
legally" convicted before both eccle-
sastical and secular tribunals? There
Is contemporary evidence" II only one
side Is TO be heard II Is evidence
enough to brand Christianity as
fraud--if MI Inns logic against
"Mormonism" has the slightest value.
And in the case Of His first followers,
the situation Is very much the same.
Is there not contemporary evidence TO
prove. that they were licentious, lgnor-
ant, worshlpers OF beasts, lncendiaries.
sorcerers. and what notg Were they
not accused OF slaughtering children
and eating their flesh and drinking
their blood9 Were they not accused OF
having set fire to the imperial capital?
Is Christianity 10 be condemned on ac.
count of such contemporary evil
dence?"
Let "Mormonism" be- tested by the
rules applied TO the Gospel OF Jesus, as
proclaimed by Him and His followers,
There is ample contemporary evil
dence" TO show that the Prophet Joseph
was one OF the noblest men of his gem
Grafton. The very fac; that good men
and women Intimately acquainted Sitn
him. loved him most deyotedly. Is
proof OF his good character. Bad men
may obtain followers for n bad causa.
but bad men can never establish re-
liglon which demands repentance Of
sins, self-sacrifce. humility, love and
righteous ness. And the reason Of this