Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-10-19

Reed smoot. 81 was struck by the re-
mark of Elder Pack" said he TO the
effect that there We're people who actu-
ally believed that the Mormon prob
lem was a thing Of the past. I am 40
years old and ever since my childhood
have heard the same statement made
over and over again. and yet Mormon
ism is the livellest problem in the world
today. Although the entire number OF
Latter-day Saints would not make up
large sized city, there is no part of
the world where Mormonism and its in
tluence Is not being studied.
Il have recently returned from trip
through Belgium, Switzerland, Great
Britain and Germany, and say to the
good people of this congregation that
noticed In those countries that Nor
munism. as 1t Is called, Is growing
more rapidly now than it has for years.
The missionaries to those countries
gathered around me and gave their re-
ports. Every one of them is interested
in their labors and is achieving unex-
pected results. | visited London after
an absence of II years. The meeting
house in those days was poor place
In a back street and few people congrc-
gated to listen to the testimony OF the
elders Was 1t not surprise to me
then. to see them located today in a
fine assembly hall, modern and with
every convenience. There Is no
need now to be ashamed to
was present at the dedication
and the first report showed 43 baptisms
in the London conference. Coming
home I visited liverpool. Seventeen
years ago that branch house was also
situated in back alley and if five at
tended meeting we thought that we
were doing very we'll What does one
now find there? a house that would
reflect credit upon any American city,
situated, fronting 4 geological garden.
Instead of having five persons to meet
ing, the room would not accommodate
the crowd which came to hear the tes-
timonies given by the elders. The
Church in that place has grown and to-
day there is different spirit from that
of seventeen years ago. 10 me IT
proves that Mormonism is not a thing
OF the past In Burkenhead what n
Transformation did / see? There is n
conference, a Sunday school, Relief So
ciety and the auxiliary organizations,
where a few years ago there was not
even hall and public sentiment was
very strongly against us.
"a test was made in Switzerland
as TO whether Mormonism should be
preached there or. not. 1t was finally
decided that religious liberty be given
Latter day Saints elders the same as
that given to any other mis-
sionaries of any other creed or
country. But the elders had trou-
BILE during the investigation. Four
were arrested, and when brought UP
before the court. nothing could be found
against them. They We're strange crini-
.iials. They were not cast down, how
ever. because they did not feel like
criminals. All those who had any
with them knew that they
were not criminals. They spent their
time singing hymns During their
terms of arrest they were given part
ial liberty. They demanded that they
be given absolute liberty or be sent to
jail. Ind the attendants and all who
came III connection with them Won
dered what manner Of men are these!
But before they left that prison. all
knew what manner of men they We're.
But all this was blessing in disguise,
for every saint in tho country came by
1t to religious freedom.
Elder Pack referred to an appreci-
alton among educated men of the rich
In N4ormonism. Crossing
the ocean was about to retire to my
state room when I was accosted by a
gentleman, who asked that he might
have a few words with me. He was
a man who stands almost at the head
of the New England bar and is worth
almost 1000, 900. We spent almost the
entire night discussing Mormonism. He
said that he believed that 1t was the
Church of God. He had studied all
the Church works and had heard elders
toll of the first principles of the Cos
mel. asked him Immediately. why
do Won not affiliate yourself with the
Church. them and he replied that his
family ties interfered: that he would
loose his wife and children and social
nosition. I know many men who have
II their heart to take the step, but
cannot give lin what God has given
tha,, ), In noncjusjon E,der Smoot
said.
"a neon,e cannot he very had who
boIin,,a IN ad,catinn m,,sic and ri, ihe
orts nnd ba,,or the aged NV faith is
that wo will tench not only those In
n o"l viii WI W. W ,ise hut thosn witho1t IN
~ ~ n,n,I1 No I,.tters6ay Saint nreach-
az az wo,,ld stand before The neopIe and
ct muuia , ntai tI,at ala nnt advanct.
t pieaGl a, aiy y, ,Ai GA Knor that thev
me Morh ~ aoet or,t, wv fo , 1,a ', aIy
y, rta,,,a,,t ~ r.od,s work. that LOYALTY
vancelilen1 OF MY ,. VII ~, a'ra' Saart
MI appeai " az 'no ' VIZ O. g
INC SAME