Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-08-27
Elder Nephi /. Morris Delivers
Furceful and interesting Re.
spouse to Clemenson.
LATTER'S HATRED IS SHOWN.
Ms Church Has Ever Arrayed Itself
Against the Faith aud Works OF
The Latter.day Saints,

Monday Of last week, formed the basis
u an interesting aud forceful discourse
by Elder Nephi L. Morris at the tab
ernacle yesterday afternoon.
The speaker was listened to with
rant attention by the large congre-
cation present. The charges made by
the anti-Mormon lecturer were taken
30 seriatim By Elder Morris, and they
we're exploded I'M an able and most
convincing manner
As preface 20 his remarks. Elder
Morris read from Acts NXyiit -. the
words Of certain chiefs of tho Jews iu
Rome Ia the Apostle Paul. as follows.
"But We desire TO hear OF thee what
thou thinkest; for as concerning thls
sect. We know that everywhere IL Is
snoken against
EVERYWHERE SPOKEN AGAINST.
The speaker observed that this tate-
mont was true OF the doctriaos OF
Christ whenever and wherever they
we're vigorously promulgated Dur
ing the past week Mormonistn had
been before the public. One person I'm
particular had felt called urou TO
assall IN a public lecture the religion
Of the Lattcr-dsy Saints. = COM
ment Of the lecturer DO question was
read BY Elder Morris. as follows
They are naturally pedccablc trac-
table. industrious. religious. ~WaNcd
by an carnestues, which has become
the admiration ~ their fellows. Their
very character Is q not iuconspicuous
element in the problem. though not
the problem Itself.
Then followed o reading ~ the COM
ceptions Of MoTmonism as given before
the Presbyterian teachers Of Utah. In
convention assembled.
81. Mormonism Is a clear and well
defined philosophy Of materialistic
character.
"9. Mormonism rs q theology pro-
viding a definition of deity and cor
related ideas which run counter TO the
best conceptions of mankind.
90. 4 hierarchy setting mp sys-
TEN Of government concentrating pow
er in the hands Of few.
e. MormOnism IS a sociology erect-
ing social structure all It's OWL,
and which If put into successful oper-
alton would dispense with an others,
20. Mormonism is commercial
trust.
&C. Mormonism Is a political ma
chino which votes its people as a unit
At will.
- Mormonism is a polygamic cult.
which places the crown on the dual
form OF the family.
IS. Mormonism H. q blasphcmy
which IS best illustrated by It's temple
ritual placing Elohim on the stage.
20. Momonsm is incipieut treason,
placing the test oath obligation in
its temple service by which II binds
all OF It's people who pass through the
,soteric rite 10 hostility TO the nation
under whose flag ii lives"
A CHANGE OF FRONT.
Elder Morris said that there had
always been a peculiar autipathy eN-
hibited against the Latter-day saints
by The Presbyterian ministry. TINS op-
position at times becomes most bitter.
II Is pleasing 10 note that at last
one divine Of that sect is willing 10 adj
NIT that the Mormons are "kth and
kim OF the rest Of mankind Such a
declaration was in direct contradiction
10 the uttoranCcs Of a Presbyterian
preacher IN 1888. when he said that
Mormons were the ayoWed enemies ~
humanity and should be wiped out;con-
trary also TO the statement Of Dr.
Thompson in California three years
ago, when he asserted that Mormon
ism cannot be educated. cannot b re-.
formed. 20 should be crushed out.'
We are glad 10 be recognized as be-
me a part Of mankind said Elder
Morris for the welfare Of mankind is
the mission OF Mormonlsm."
As 10 the opinion OF MormOnism en-
,trtainey by the Presbyterion critic. 10
Is a mystery. Il was predicted long
ago that Il would be a marvellous
work and a wonder and its growth
from an acorn seed 10 a giant oak has
proved thu prediction true.
NOT LACKING IN SPIRITUALITY.
As to the first conception. expressed
i1 the lecture referred 10, Elder Morris
said that II Il was Intended 20 convey
The impression that Mormonism il lack
Ing In spirituality the Imagination Is
omphatically denied Il Is admitted
that Mormonism takes cognlzance "
'hco material welfare of mortal exist
e.cc 4 religious system that docs not
'E "a makeshift. and warrants the stric-
lures made by inhdols unon so-called
Christianity. that the welfare of the
body Is nothing the salvation Of the
soul everything,
EVIDENCES or SPIRITUALITY.
As evidences that the Laiter-day
saints did not overlook aud neglect
things spiritual it was pointed out by
Elder Morris that tho Mormon people
in The dire poverty incident to the set
Element Of these valleys had erected
costly temples. buildings designed ana
sod for spiritual purposes only. Fur
thrrmore. men LETT their families al
most In want and went into the world
fo rreach the gospel. making sacrl-
h0cs Tor their religion that some boast
'u' ClerCymcn would never make.
When the pioneers settled the western
wilderness. there were neither time.
opportunity nor inclination 20 indulge
in asceticism nor mysticism u was
q problem Of keeping body and soul to-
gether that confronted the peopl. ana
pm llf nara Whlh ll'l'NNAiN W Ut N'ii'
temporal salvation and spiritual sal
Walton went hand in hand. There Is
absolutely no excuse for accusing the
Mormon people Of gross material
ISM"
CONCEPTIONS or MANKIND"
Anent the charge that Mormon
theology runs counter 10 the best con-
ceptions Of mankind. Elder Morris
asked the gentleman of the cloth 10
arise and explain what he meant by
the term, best conception The
speaker said there were but two ideas
extani concerning Deity. namely per
sonul and imperSonal theories The
Latier-day Saints choose 10 believe w.
The God OF the Bible not an essence. a
spirit merely "a being Without bod ,
PARTS and passions" but a real, living
and tangible being the Creator OF the
heavens ana the earth. The Father
and the Son appeared 70 Joseph smith,
and IN them he beheld personages I'm
form and character Ike unto man, and
from Genesis 10 Revelation no other
description is given ~ the creator 81
the Norld and the Father of the hu-