The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-07
Pretends to Champion Mormonism

minism. That / intend to prove But
before doing so l would like TO add that
IL l prove my point despite affidavits
for OF against Joseph Smith, IL VIII
he Is, i. e, a true servant OF the living
God and witness for His (God'sl truth,
Also ii matters not about the Deseret
News. II matters not about even II
Joseph r. Smith y a liar, | am not, as l
said. champIoning any man, but ] am
championlnS the principles Of Mormon
ism.
Now TO my proof In the 42nd chapter
OF the Book OF Alma, in the Book OF
Mormon taccording to the world, pro-
ductIon OF Joseph Smlth) there IS one
OF the most logical arguments FOR the
justice OF God that was ever written. /
could quote The entire chapter. but
am afraid YOU would say il is too long
to publish. Anyway 1t doesn't matter, as
It is public property. and anyone who
1t in the Book of Mormon.
The main point is this. that God never
made or created man, meaning the real
co-eternal with God Himself, God only
being the creator OF mans tabernacles or
bodies. The difference being, between
God and man. simply matter OF organ
izatiou and development. Therefore.
heredity can only affect the physical part
OF man, his mental or spiritual develop
mcnt being his own individual work,
either in this world or another. There
Therefore, for God TO punish man Is
just OF course, ! may he asked TO
prove the above proposition, namely, that
hcrcdlty only affects mans physical
nature Some will be even ready TO quote
instances without number where musi-
clans were born, etc, and they viii de-
clare that their ability came through a
long line OF musical ancestors. etc, But
that only shows Il loose style OF reason
Ing. No mental or moral quality which
is acquired can be transmitted TO off
spring They may give to their offspring
a body which is so delicately constructed
that il offers no bar 10 their acquiring
musical talent. or Of even expressing IT
IL II IS already acquired through diil-
cenco 10 the principles OF music In some
previous existence. Let me explain. You
may possess real good sound and clear
phonograph record. but if YOU want 10
get good results from il you need a good
machine. poor machine Will mar a good
record. While good machine VIII give
better result Of a poor record than a
poor machine will: but Il is not the ma :
chine that gives the ability TO the record.
The record possessed il before IL was
put on the machine. Likewise our musical
prodigles acquired their abidty before
they came 10 this earth all their parents
could do would be TO give them good
machine or body. suitable to the clear eN-
preston of their ability. II we admit
that mental or moral acquired traits could
be transmitted TO offspring, then where
shall we stop? We shall he able 10 do
without schools. etc. FOR we shall be
able TO give birth To perfect painters,
authors musicians architects, mechanics.
carpenters. etc. II that proposition were
true. and ! think we can easier believe
.IoseDh Smiths doctrine than that.
Science has ono law which ovcrthrows
such n proposition Like causes under
like circumstances always produce The
same effect Who among our teachers
OF hcredity will frame code OF laws 10
produce artists. authors. mechanics. etc?
The proposition Is absurd. Again, every
one OF tho arguments that may be Ad
duccd ia favor of such a proposition can
hc applied TO Joseph Smiths doctrine
with far more reasonablcncss. Now. II
Joseph Smith was not 4 chosen servant
Of God. and received his principles from
Cod then hc is greater than any man
VINO ever lived And surely the followers
Of the greatest man that ever lived can
not be called fools because they follow
him.
No. MIR. Tribune. whchcrr horn OF the
dilemma YOU choose YOU viii find YOU
arc In The wrong Now. If YOU are not
4 onc-sidcd affair. ] call upon you 10
prInt this letter and rcfute my argument.
\ plea OF no space after the put'ica
lion or such articles AS "ShanGhainc OF
| EnoCh." etc. etc. wont hold water. Como
now Mr Tribune. I'm willing TO cross
swords with you In your own paper.
! j. II. RICIIARDSON.