The Minneapolis journal., 1906-08-03
MORMON INVASION
| OF SOUTH DAKOTA
CHURCH rs CONSTANTLY GROW
ING, SAYS ELDER BRowER.
Polyganay Is Not Preached or Prac-
ticed in Difference to the Law, but Is
Cherished as One Of the Cardinal
! Principles of the Church-Proselyters
at Mitchell. ...-..- =. -.s -.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal. -. -.
| MITCHELL $. d., Aug. 3.--Mormonism has
commenced its invasion Of South Dakota. a
few days ago Charles F. Perry, Arthur Rich
ardson and William j. Salisbury, missionaries
made their appearance in Mitchell the start
Ing point for a campaign thruout the state.
Ihey have been delivering tracts from door to
door' and in the evenings make addresses on
the streets. f". -. -. :
One Of the recent arrivals is Elder R. A..
Brewer Of Marysville, Idaho, and he was not
at all averse to talking about the work that
Is being done. In answer to the object of their
visit here where there seemingly little
ground for gaining foothold, Mr.. Brewer said:
| Our church is doing this kind of work all
over wherever we can get men to do it. We
have not come here to organize a church So
c1ety BY getting people converted, so-called, by
! prevailing on them on the spur Of the moment
when they are under excitement, perhaps
to our Will more or less. We do not work In
that way. We believe that by personally ex-
pounding and explaining the word Of God and
| by distributing our literature, they will OBJ
tain the truth and when they once become i'm.
pressed with the truth they will flock to us
readily t''*
In reply to the question as to whether Nor.
monlsm was increasing in this country, despite
the unfavorable legislation, or was, losing
ground, Mr.: Brewer replied: "Our church; is
increasing daily In power and influence, and
will continue to increase so rapidly that moth.
ins can prevent our hopes being realized, fol
our doctrines are nothing but the truth,
! founded on scripture, and truth must prevail
| Lie SlQSC Stateu tnat there was no truth
In the statement that 1t was the intention OF
| the church to move its headquarters from Sal,
Lake Clty to some part OF the country where
| the laws are more favorable. He declared that
Salt Lake City would always be the headquar
| ters of the church.
Elder Brewer was asked. If the missionaries
preached and taught the doctrine Of polygamy
In their work in this city and state. He re
piled: = -,
''No, we do not, and for two reasons. Ons
is that the practice Of polygamy is contrary
to law in this country, and church is al
ways obedient to the laws Of the land-tha
Is one of our articles of faith. ->-.
Again. people ordinarily do not understand
the meaning of the idea until they learn IL
understand some Of the other principles AMI
| teachings OF the church. After that they; 'ea1
see the meaning Of it and the beautiful eide.
Of plural marriage. OF course It is one Of tn,
cardinal principles of church and We de
fendT 1t as such wherever and whenever W,
find It necessary to do So If we are asked
| any questions about polygamy we explain itl
meaning, but we don't preach it practice it
in Difference to law
The detachment of Mormon missionaries II
Mitchell are working under the direction OF
the old church organization known as the
Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints
the headquarters of which are at Salt Lake
City Among the literature they are distrib
uting is the book Of Mormon and several othel
publications. one of which is entitled "Wha1
Mormons Believe" which gives complete ex
position Of the doctrines of Mormonism altht
it remains silent the question Of plural mar
riaees.