The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-04-11
The Collapse of Mormonism.
FIRST INSTALLMENT.

This does not that many Mormons are
abandoning their church and ceasing to claim that
Joseph Smith prophet. People can believe
almost anything which they decide to believe There
are examples of belief that images of wood or stone
are entitled to religious worship, we'll as of be-
lief that Sickness pain and matter itself have
no existence except in human imagination We
therefore propose to call attention facts not to
mere belief.
Mormon leaders have sought to start with an
advantage for their church by calling its teachings
"the everlasting gospel thus attempting to make
those teachings at least the equals of those of the
New Testament in regard to authority. The effort
has also been made to convince people that Nor
monism is the message entrusted to the angel to
whom John refers in Revelations XIV, 6-"And I
saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having
the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell
the earth, and to every nation, and kindred and
tongue, and people"
That which is Everlasting" is naturally expected
to last forever but there are many teachings which
were prominent features of this co-ca11ed sever
lasting gospel" of Mormonism which are not only no
longer prominent, but which evidently have been
practically discarded Instead of being Everlasting
they have not even lasted eighty years
During the past winter (19O8) Joseph F. Smith
was quoted as having said in substance: "Those
principles of the faith of the church, which the
church has been forced to lay aside for time are
to be resumed in very short time" This is an
admission that certain principles of the faith of the
Mormon church" have been laid aside and there are
clear evidences that of them can never be
resumed" To some of them would result
in bringing more discredit on Mormonism than the
consignment of them to deserved oblivion Joseph
F. Smith and his advisers probably see this to some
extent, but are vainly trying to sustain hopes by
means OF empty promises.
Some of those principles of the faith of the
Mormon church" which have been laid aside either
entirely or IN part as follows:
First, SaIUation BY Mwder-The Mormon doc
trlne of Blood Atonement had to be laid aside
Brigham Young gives a sufficient explanation of
th1S doctrine as his language is quoted from the
journal OF Dlscourses VOL 1, pages s3 and a. He
tilele says: nave known great many men who
have left this church for whom there is no chance
Whatever for exaltaon but if their blood had been
spilled it would have been better for them. The
wickedness and ignorance of the nations forbid This
principle being in full force, but the time will come
when the will of God will be in full force This
IS loving our neighbor as ourselves: if he needs
nelp, help him; If he wants salvation and it is neces-
'ary TO spill his blood on the earth in order that
ne may be saved, spill it. That is the way to love
mankind"
lh1s language explains itself It is evident that
postateS and other non Mormons owe very much
o the so-called w1ckedness and ignorance of the
lauons IN protecting them from the too free ex-
'resslons OF love for them on the part of Brigham
Young and other Mormons whom he was able to
Inspire with similar affection The writer is ac-
uanted with an intelligent upright man 1.-TWO if
e remembers correctly who has heard Blood
Atonement preached and always with the significant
est1re of dra9Ving the hand acyoss the thront When