The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-28
that the Apostle was beaten in the Sc
lection of chairman.
THE NEW SYSTEM.

|
Mormon temple block in Salt Lake.
Nearly every tourist who comes to
| Utah desires to view the interior of the
temple block, to learn as much as pos
sible Of the internal arrangement OF
the edifces, and to carry away infor.
nation which will afford subject for
talk Of wonderment when he returns
to his home, For many years the sys-
tenn practiced by tho Mormon church
| to entertain such visitors was simple in
the extreme; an aged cicerone escorted
the strangers through the grounds, ex
hibitcd TO them the marvels of the
! great organ, placed them at the 'eX
| treme east end of the big Tabernacle
| to hear the pin drop and to eXclaim in
smazemcnt Mt the reverberating sound
| which seemed 10 fill the auditorium
So. far as the religious and social
schemes were concerned, this supersn-
nuated individual merely gave heart
felt testimony OF the authenticity of
the book of Mormon, the inspiration of
Joseph Smith s mission and plant
that n wicked world could not under
stand the divine mysteries Of tho re-
stored gospel. In return for his infor.
alton he was always willing to accept
small douceur, which presumably
helped to piece ont the pittance of com
pensation which the church afforded to
him.
But now all is changed. Alert men
and women, thoroughly educated IN the
church schools, experienced in the mis-
sion field, and of good appearance. are
called to perform the duty of guides;
Prof. Mcclellan gives weekly recitals
at the organ; the visitor is entertained
by music and sermoni2ing; and no COLI
tributions of money are accepted. Tho
Tribune has received reports recently
from two parties of tourists who
'passed through the public edifces
within tho Temple grounds. The report 4
from both is the same. The cicerone
devoted himself TO making q pleasant
impression. He refused to accept any
compensation for his services aud
stated that the church did not permit,
as 1T did not need, such assistance In
one case tho sum Of S. having been
offered and refused, the visitor, a
wealthy man, rendered $50 to be used
in charity, and the guide, with most ex-
alted air, said "We cannot accept it.
We have no need Of it. There are no
poor Of the church but such as are
amply cared for. No Latter-day Saint
is in a poorhousc. Under our system Of
fraternity and mutual help the rich
bear the burdens of those who are less
Fortunate" Still being pressed to ac-
cept the money, the cicerone said: "'We
do not desire your financial aid; but
there is something you can do for us
that is worth while to yourself and to
prosecuted people We are greatly mis-.
represented in the world. Men who
either do not understand us, or who will
fully misunderstood us, convey false
impressions concerning our purposes and
our practices, and if you will 60 away
from here and speak Of us as you have
found us you will bestow better thing
than money upon US"
Now, all this is very catching. 1t ap-
proaches high art III persuasion The
average visitor, being thus received
and entertained and informed Cor
rather misinformed), is almost certain
TO leave Utah with n most delightful
impression Of the virtues, the unselfsh-
ness, the splendor Of the Mormon lead
ers and the Mormon church system. He
can truthfully say that he saw no
polygamy; he can state upon informa-
ton and belief that there is no poverty
among the Mormons; he can give his
impression that nowhere are there
more self'sacrifcing, earnest and appa,
rently high-minded people in the world. !
The now system IS a great advance
over the old-it shows intelligence 1t is
calculated to win the plaudits of the
very best Of the visitors who come here
and to whom no corrective is applied.
And yet it is based almost entirely on
a falsehood. The beauty of the music
which is rendered is only clever cover
to the defiance of law. The courtesy
which is exhibited is merely effective
observation Of the fasehoods which are
told.
The Mormon people are not persecut-
ed; and the Mormon church does not
care for its own poor any better than
other churches do in proportion to the
moneys at command.
1t is pity that some Of these misin-
formed visitors cannot call at the Coun-
ty lnfrmary and interview Robert
Lavisch and hear his story, That old
man Is county charge. For years he
worked for the Deseret News Office.
which is church concern-owned by
the church and operated entirely under
the direction OF the presidency of the
church, During every week Of labor
by this man as a book kbinder, ten per
cent Of his wages was withheld as a
contribution to the tithe funds Of the
church. This, through the years, would
have made an ample savings bank ac-