The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-23
FORMER MORMON
FLAYS PRIESTHOOD
A. W. LundStrOm, in Public Ad-
dress, Says it Is DislOyal
Crowd.
HE REPEATS OATH OF
VENGEANCE ON NATION
American Club Hears Illumin-
ating Address on Prac-
tees of Church.

A. ". Lundstrom, former member
of the Mormon church, entertained and
instructed the members OF the Ameri-
can club last night with An Illuminating
address on Mormonism, His address
was a scathing criticism of the en-
tire Mormon system, and he arraiened
1t as being false to thc principles taught
by Christ, disloyal to the American
Government and as being greedy, grasp
ing and tyrannical in its dealings with
its dupes and adherents.
The most dramatic feature Of Mr..
Lundstrom s address was where he re-
peated the oath of vengeance against
the United States Government admin
istered by the Mormon priests in their
temple secrets, Mr. Lundstrom pointed
out, was that the guilty person should
have his throat cut.
Might Have Happened Once.
HWhen / testified to that oath in
the Smoot case, said Mr. Lundstrom,
- the attorney for the defense asked
me II | had ever had my throat cut,
] said, Not yet. If I were living in
the olden days in Utah it probably
would have been cut. but thanks TO the
growing American sentiment IN Utah
i feel reasonably secure. -
Mr. bundstrom opened his address
by saying that while bishop s coun-
cIllor in Idaho, and as acting bishop.
he had received instructions from his
ecclesiastical superior which were ut
terly contrary 10 the principles enunci-
ated by missionaries seeking TO make
converts and 10 the principles pro
claimed by the leaders of the church
for the 6aludiTG of the outside world
These instructions, he said, contained
nothing of brotEerIY love or charity
Following this, he said, he had been
prophet or tho Lord would set aside
doctrines promulgated hv his predeces-
sors, although the doctrines of God
were supposed 10 be Interchangeable and
the prophets were his channels of com
munication with his children.
Priests Ignore Questions
Before he left the church, Mr. Lund
strom said. he wrote to Apostle Mat
thas +. Cowlcy-sinco deposed-asking
him TO explain certain contradictions
in the Book of Mormon; also to explain
why the doctrines of rebaptism and
polygamy, supposedly revealed by God
had been abandoned.
Apostle Cowley he said, had turned
bis questions over TO Apostle Anthon
II. Lund to answer. Mr.. Lund had
failed to do so. b, II. Roberts had
Joseph ". McMurrin half promised
to answer them said MI Luud-
strom, ." He said he was going to his
dentist S ono afternoon, and that while
there he would think out an answer;
but he never did, Either his tooth
ached too badly for him to think, or
else he never got tothe dentist IS of
fee -
Failing TO get an answer, Mr.. Lund-
strom said he had left the church,
m tied no more he said
Thank God I'm free man.
Pay Tithing and Obey
Mr.. Lundstrom went on TO say that
the only requirements for membership
and good standing in the church were
the payment of tithing and unqucstion-
able obedience TO and sustaining of the
priesthood. A mans moral character.
he declared was secondary il not an
lmmaterial consideration with the
priesthood.
Ii | wanted to attack the CHARACTER
and manner of living Of the Mormon
strom, t II could lecture for two hours
every night in the year and not tell
the same incident twice -
Mr.. Lundstrom declared, however,
that the Mormon laity was more to
be pitied than to be blamed, and that
they were held in slavery because of
LHtlI Dclltl ludl lutlT lsabfTS were IN
communication with the Almighty and
could not err. He also pointed out
that while the Mormons are always
ready to raise a cry that, when their
religion is attacked, they are being per-
secuted, yet they gain their converts
by attacking other religions and other
crceds. He related one or two inter
esting anecdotes of bishops court pro.
ceedings, showing that no man who
pays his tithing, attends meetings and
obeys the priesthood can get the worst
OF it in such a court. no matter how
much his cause may lack merit.
Against AL Government.
Mr.. Lundstrom emphasized the fact
that the Mormon leaders, while pretend
ing that they do not interfere in tenn
poral things, teach that Mormonism
is ultimately to overthrow all exist
ing governments.
HTbey believe that ultimately the
church is to rule the world he said
Ridiculous as ii may seem, every
good Mormon in his heart believes that
ultimately the people of the United
States will send for the president Of the
Mormon church TO come down to Wash
ington to rule this nation -