Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-07-17
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.

BY REV. S. u. DOYLE.

By REV. s. y. DOYLE.
Topic.-Horae missions: the progress o.
work among the Mormons.-Matt vii. Is
e; xiv, l..
The history of the Church of Latter
Day Saints. who are commonly calico
Mormons, is more or less familiar t.
all the Christian people of cur Land
Mormonism was organized by Joseph
Smith in Ne. York. The MOrmons
settled in Ohio. but were practically
driven out of that state and mmigrat
ed to Missouri There they grew ana
flourished for number of years. but
aroused the enmity of the sentiles
and Joseph Smith, the president, wa,
murdered. a very unfortunate affair
for because of internal strife the Nor
mon church might have become dis
rupted. But Smiths death made 1
martyr of him. and the church rapidly
increased in numbers. Under the lead
ership of Brigham Young the Nor
mons again went westward as far as
Utah and entered the narrow pass
which opens into the beautiful valley
surrounding Great Salt lake. one of the
most beautiful places in the Unile;.
States. Here Salt Lake City has beer
builded, and the entire state of Utah
is controlled politically by the Nor
mons, and they are factors in many of
the surrounding states. 1t has been
claimed that the aim of the Mormons
Is to control enough states in the west
to hold the balance of power in the
United States senate. but this is doubt
full.
The greatest menace of Mormonism
has been polygamy. The present presi-
dent, also named Smith, has number
of wives and large number of chill
dren. For years this sin against God
and humanity. and especially against
womanhood, openly flourished and was
preached and practiced. One point of
progress made in the missionary saliva
ton of Utah has been the enactment
of a national law against polygamy
and its decrease by Christian instruc-
ton Of the youth. Very few young
men in Utah are polygamists. but the
| testimony Of our missionaries declares
that all polygamy has not ceased. and
their knowledge on this subject can
not be disputed.
Great missionary progress has been
made along educational lines in Utah.
The missionaries constantly emphasize
the fact that Utah can be saved only
through the reaching of the children
and the youth. The salvation of any
people falsely trained is in the youth
Older people cannot SO easily change
their ways and. at least in Utah. do
mot seem to have much desire TO do So
But 1t is a more easy task to reach the
young and to instruct them in the prop
er ways. The three great tasks before
the church through the schools Is to
show the superiority of the Scriptures
over the Book Of Mormon, their Bible.
This is not difficult matter when the
opportunity is afforded. The Book of
Mormon cannot compare with the BIZ
BILE. 1t was largely taken from a ro-
nance written by Presbyterian min
lister in western Pennsylvania concern
ing the ten lost tribes of Israel and
makes poor substitution for the word
of God. A second work is to give the
young q true conception Of God. The
Mormons speak of God. but TO them
God Is man, and ali men may be-
come gods. This idea is such an alb
surdity that great progress is made
among the young in this respect. The
third great work is to point out the
shame and sinfulness of polygamy.
Nor is this difficult matter. Most of
the young people are familiar with the
evils Of plural marriages. They de-
sire to keep the law, and they are fast
coming to believe that the ideal mar
rage is between one man and one wo-
man. Thus the missionary and the
teacher are doing much to bring about
"a change among this sinful and be-
lnighted people and should receive our
iheartiest support
BIsLE READINGS.
Ell. xiv, 20; Ps. ii, LIP; xxxiii. T.;
lxxii, 1913; cxix, 105-121; cxxxv, 1921 !;
lisa. Lii, I; Matt xviii, 10, 20; Acts l..
LII.