Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-28
JEWS AND "MORMONS. "

The Israelte. published IN Chicago.
81 short time ago had an article on
Jews In the Mormon Church, the sub
stance Of which was 90 the effect that
there has never been Jew who had
become Mormon from the pure love
Of the faith. Instances are given or
jews who became members OF the
Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day
Saints. but who entered the fold
through some strong material induce.
ment and in each case when the con-
vert had made his stake" he took
his way back to the East and renewed
his allegiance to Judaism. Such Jews
proved themselves It Is said, 60 be
doubtful acquisitions 10 the Church
at best The writer Of the article be-.
comes somewhat sarcastic in his critl-
cism Of Jewish converts TO Mormon
ISM" and endeavors to cast doubt up
on their sincerity or upon their actual
Jewish origin.
1T is true that the number Of Jewish
ndherents TO the faith Of the Latter-day
Saints IL comparatively small. Also
that some Hebrews have entered the
Church from peculiarly motives, ana
have subsequently exhibited their true
character and HE'D themselves TO other
cllmes. At the same time. there have
been genuine Jews. who became genu-
Inc tatter-day Saints. and who lived
and died devoted to the Church and it's
doctrines and proved their faith by
their works. We do not wish to partic.
ularize. by giving the names of those
devoted sons and daughters OF Israel
and reliable men and women OF the
Church. but we admit that they do not
form a great multitude. and the state
ment Is in the main correct that but
few Jews comparatively have embraced
the religion Of the Latter-day Saints"
1t Is a mistake, however. to state that
the Church has "foregope further at
tempts TO bring Israel into the camp
OF the Saints" because there has nevvl
been any special endeavor to proselyte
among the lineal descendants of Judah
in the revelations of the Gospel to the
Church OF Christ In these latter days,
the commandment to the Elders was.
and Is, TO carry the Gospel first TO th.
Genties and afterward to the Jews.
This is the reverse Of the Instructions
to the Apostles IN the first century OF
the Christian era. Their mission was
first TO the jews and afterward to the
Gentiles, because the Jews In the main
rejected the Christ and His Gospel.
When the fulness OF the Gentiles
has come IN" the Gospel viii be takch
TO the Jews. Their time has not yet
arrived SO tho efforts OF the preachers
~ the Latter-day Gospel are not direct
ed to judah Mt present. The different
Christian sects have spent a great
deal Of time and money In their Ell.
deavors TO convert the Jews TO their
different forms of faith. In that they
have not been very greatly successful.
There have been numerous cases OF In
dvldual Jews who have pretended to
accept Christianity and have shown by
their after lives that they were not Gin
cere but had an Interior motive In their
protensions.
The conversion of ISRAEL In the lat
ter days is another matter entirely.
The blood Of Israel courses through
the veins of multltudes among the ma
tons who are ranked as Gentiles. It
is easy for them to accept the mes
sage Of the Gospel restored to earth
and to gather with the people OF God
TO build up the latter day Zion. They
belong to the different tribes OF Is
racl The descendants Of Judah and
Benjamin are classed as Jews and the
other tribes as Israel. Joseph obtained
the blrthrght In his fathers house.
and Ephralm prevailed above his
brother Manasseh. Therefore there is
great preponderance of Ephraim-
ties among the Latter-day Saints. as
revealed in the blessings pronounced
upon them by the patrlarchs OF the
Church.
We helieye that tho so.coIlod Inai-
ans of the American continent orc Of
the house oe Israel through tho ,olns
90 rnhr,lo, ora Ntonossan ana ,na,
heforo b,dsb r4cotvos th,. uoss,ah as
tho Redcemer otho remnants ,eft or
the landr WIN be brought IN a knovt.
edge of their origin tbrouph the rac-
ord Of their forefathers contained IN
the Book Of Mormon and the curse
win be taken from them and they win