Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-04-29
MoRMoNlsM "IN rHE ARENA"


lance Publishing company New YORK
opens with a section on 'Mormonlsm
and Polygamy" II consists OF three
articles The first Is entitled THE
Mormonlsm Of Today by President
Joseph Il. Smith, which we reproduce
In this number Of the News" The
second is on plural Marriage In Amer
ita, by joseph Smith President Of the
Reorganization, and contains nothing
new on the subject but is an attempt at
reply to a rejoinder by President Jo-
seph f. Smith which appeared in the
Arena last November, The third Is call.
ed "Orgin OF American Polygamy" by
John T. Bridwell, Of the National Anti
Mormon Missionary association and IS
a TRADE Of coarse insinuaton and IT.
reverent inveotiye that contains no real
information or rational argument
We are perfectly willing fora compari-
son to be made by the thoughtful reader
of these three productions. The tone and
spirit Of the first is SO far above the
tenor of the others as TO be marked and
TO afford a striking contrast. That por-
tion Of It that touches on the plural
marriage question was made necessary,
by the constant efforts Of the President
OF the "Reorganization" 10 foist upon
the public the fiction that the Prophet
Joseph Smith neither taught nor prac-
tsed that system. which amount to a
direct charge Of fraud and falsehood
against a number Of the foremost men
and women. associated with the Seer
in the latter day work, and who are
justly celebrated and revered for their
integrity, devotion and sef-sacrlhce,
through the seyerest tests Of many
years. The entire article win be read
with pleasure by the Latter-day Saints
and with profit by many persons not Of
our faith.
The chief points presented by the
leader Of the 'ReorganIzed" church are
met by the statements and explanations
Of President Joseph f. Smith, although
they were not written as a reply for
the three articles are published stimuli
taneously, and without opportunity for
discussion by either Of the opponents.
One thing is made clear by comparing
the differing assertions of persons cited
as witnesses and that s that the doc
trine of celestial marriage as revealed
through the Prophet Joseph Smith, has
been COMPOUNDED by some persons with
the false and wicked notions
and practices introduced IN Nauvoo by
persons who afterwards apostatlzed.
and known as the spiritual Wife doe
trine. They have nothing In common,
but are treated by some ignorant and
few designing individuals as the same.
One remark by the leader Of the
Reorganization is rather remarkable
After laboring In an effort that may be
fairly designated as special pleading
to show that his father neither beliey-
ed in nor practised plural marriage, he
declares;
"fhe chief contention Of the Reorgau-
lied church and the sons Of the Prophet
Joseph Smith is not that he was not a
polygamist but that the dogma and
practice are contrary 10 Scripture. an
Client and modern, and wrong being
also contrary to the law Of God and the
Institutions Of the United states
That Is simply astounding for almost
The entire dissertation In which that
sentence appears IS devoted to an en-
deayor 20 establish the assertion that
the Prophet did not either promulgate
or practice polygamy We have often
expressed our astonishment that the
SONS Of the Prophet should speld go
much time In those denIals. IN the face
Of the overwhelming evidence that they
are wrong proofs having been afforded
them which are sufficient TO establish
any matter Of fact iu the minds OF
people open TO conviction, and so little !
comparatively In opposing the doctrine !
from the s,audnolHts mentioned at the |
close OF the foregoing extract
We can entertain respect for the |
views OF persons who are opposed on |
principle and by reason of training and |
environments. 10 the plural marriage |
doctrine. But when tney meet tesu- |
lnony as to actual facts and occur |
FENCES given by host OF good men and |
women. with attempts TO discredlt their |
sworn statements by inference and in-
situation and endeayors 90 involve |
them 10 tangled replies to irrelevant |
queries ana he declaration Is made |
that 1--WE prefer not 90 believe" that |
respect yanishes and We feel sorrow
mingled with contempt FOR such de.
vices.
The contribution Of the representa-
i've OF the Anti-"Momoa" Missionary |
association is Of such q character. that |
We must confess 20 surprise that the
Arena agreed to print IT, There is alb. |
solu'eiy nothing In it TO merit serious
,o'ee' We might expect Just such stun |
y" such a source-a society with such |
IA
cs,sa - =. hu' even the writer Of It per-
So So 'ne FOLLY Of denying that Joseph |
,r 'a,sa me Prophe, pracusad plural
, Ss,u y. g lie treats OF his connection
WIN It IN rbald manner ana s'i ho.s ,'o"
er,d !. ,t VOC. should be treated as sa.
and sro Ave iashion Of coarse laadel. |
s,yl. s 4, -, his entire treatise by the |
$50 v MS attacks and ,bo -.