Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-30
CONFLICTING RUMoRs.


IL is not without interest to compare
the conflicting rumors about the Church
Of Jesus Christ OF Latter-day Saints.
that are given circulation In the
country from the various cen.
tiers from which such rumors
continually emanate. We have be-
fore us the report Of an address made
by well known plagiarist and preyari-
Gator, who has been entertaining east.
ern audiences for years on what he
calls the Mormon" menace. This fell
low, many years ago, made trip Of
Europe, and startled German Metho-
dists with tales about the "Mormons
OF his own Invention. He told them
how the "Mormons" worshlpped Joseph
Smith as one person in the Godhead,
and Brigham Young as another And
such falsehoods he disseminated
abroad, while at home he was enter
tained by the Mormon" people, as a
friend!
According to the report In an Ill
nois paper. he recently stated publicly
that the great danger of "Mormonism"
Is not now from polygamy, but from
the ascendency the "AIormons" are at
tanning by virtue Of their commercial
influence. In this connection he paid
the present OF the Church, President
Joseph f. Smith. a well deserved conf
pliment, by asserting that he Is as great
leader az was Brigham Young. The
"Mormons." he said. are establishing
their communities all over the West.
and In a short time they VIII hold the
balance of power In Wyoming, Mon.
tana, Nevada. oregon, Washington,
New Mexico. Arizona, Colorado and
California, and then. OF course the
doomsday of the American Republic
will, according to this prophet Of Baal.
come with certainty,
Now, contrast this prognostlcation
with another. which appears in an
Eastern contemporary, According ~
this authority. "the railroad, the tele-
graph and the printing press are de-
molishing 'Mormonism in Utah more
rapidly than It's missionaries can gain
converts elsewhere" This view Of the
question seems also to be the one taken
by some OF the fabrlcators OF anti-"Mor-
mon" sentiment here In Utah. who free
~ predict that in a few years Nor
monism" will be a thing Of the past. II
Is pretty evident from the conflicting
rumors and reports that the father OF
| lies Is busy among the opponents OF the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. But, to no pur-
posel
This Church has developed, and Is sim
| developing. as the plant from the seed
| and II will so on growing until the
plans and purposes OF the Eternal One
| shall have been accomplished. But the
| triumph OF "Mormonlsm" Is seen. not
only In the numerical growth Of the
| Church, but stu more In the fact that
| the fundamental truths on which that
system rests, are penetrating the en-
tire world, having an influence for good
| ~ WV N'lAAAb NhbN w NtHNlo w ltl'lNih
society. "MormonIsm" never aimed at
becoming imperIum In imperio-a state
| In the state. Its sole aim is To he a
force for righteousness, for truth, fol
loyalty. and every virtue. in every
state, in every nation and in every
country to which 1t shall be sent, and
thus help preparing the world for the
advent OF the Lord and Master. This
Is It's only purpose, It's only aim, and
no opposing power on earth. or
above earth, or below. for that
| matter. can stay Il from ac.
complshIng this purpose The faith.
ful witnesses may possibly be slain
In the streets Of Babylon, but even
death Will not Illustrate the work Of
God. The history OF the Prophet Jo-
seph, and OF the Church. should have
taught the world that lesson
|