The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-18
Former Nor mon Discourucs

Editor Tribune No wonder a bishop
Of the Mormon church says that he looks
upon the Deseret News as demoralzng.
1t teaches the most untruthful kind OF
mental method 10 Its readers Now, II
it is demoralizing 10 toach a child TO
think crookedly, and TO therefore talk
and act crookedy. the News is demoral-
lzing.
)J teaches us first that IL a man op-
poses the Mormon church he win be
stricken with grlevous affliction-poyerty,
the worlds neglect. and all things else
that tho News considers as evil. And
then when he prospers aud is standing
high In the estimation Of his fellow men,
and as the gifts OF the world pour out
In abundance upon him and he seems 10
lead happy life. the News teaches that
his successes arc curses in disguise and
that the Lord is affecting him for his
wrong doing.
In its issue OF last Saturday the News
printed an editorial headed Divine Ret
rlbution" which Is so illustrative OF the
Mormon position on this matter as to
prompt me to ask you TO reprint II in
The Tribune, Comment on the article
may be considered by some Mormons 10
be sacrilege but IL is not my intention
TO speak lightly OF any honest and rea-
sonabls religious belief The editorial
referred TO is, however, expressive of
theory INDUCED by some OF my Mormon
friends. 1t Is very common saying
with them that TO oppose the work or
God" or 10 "set your hands against the
servants of the Lord" Is unmstakable
evidence of wickedness, and IL is freely
predicted that the man SO doing is bound
TO be overtaken by some sort OF divine
retributIon." II. after writing this letter
10 you, l should happen TO break my leg.
that would be the divine retrlbutlon' of
the News. But n. on the contrary, great
wealth should happen TO overtake me.
then the News and my former brethren
would say that the Lord was only permit
ting me to prosper for time because the
cup OF my lntquity was not yet full; but
that the vengeance of the Lord would be
visited upon me later on in life, and if
not here. then in the hereafter. What
ever happened TO me. from plnpls TO
a million dollars. would be "dyine retrl-
| button and 'just what they expected"
| II any of us utter a word (even IL IL
| be the most solemn TRUTH against the
authorities, some OF the good saints ac-
! tually expect TO see lis drop dead before
we turn the next corner. And there
| seems 10 be some disappointment n we
continue 10 be alive and we'll after turn
| ing the next corner; but comfort Is taken
| in the assertion that We are only filling
| the cups OF our iniduity TO overnowlng
and that we'll get the more hell here
| after.
| Three square meals day constitute
sumptuous living and evidence OF wicked
ness. / realize that II we did as the
News and Joseph +. would like MS TO do.
we wouldn't have money enough to flag
bread wagon" and therefore must be
good men-and the prophet would wax
| richer.
And thus the News teaches that IL An
| apostate be suddenly stricken with any
| loss, or suffering and sorrow, the Lord
has instantly avenged Himself upon one
| who has opposed His prophets And II
| the apostate prospers In all visible
things, then the News quotes scripture
! TO show that the wicked arc TO fare
sumptuously, and that therefore this as
| salant OF the leaders OF Israel must be
q vicious one or he would not be per-
| mitted 10 thus prosper.
How much longer Mr.. Editor are we
| TO have dinned into our ears this ancient
| nonsense, In the effort Of a few fraudu-
| lent priestly bigots to inspire the ignor-
ant with fear and TO so perpetuate their
| fake upon humanity.
| FORMER MORMON.
Salt Lake, September IL 1906.