The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-10-08
THE CONFERENCE PROTEST.

traducers' and 'slaudcrcrs: IL
does not seem TO wake up 10 the idea
that this is tho only church in the
world that is constant in protest
against the ''traducer' and the
ssndorer. Those who do the "tra-
ducing' and "slandering are the
ones who are best acquainted with
everything connected with Utah; and
they do not speak either in malice. in
untruth or iu III will The ''traduc-
crs ~ and "slandercrs would be only
TOO glad if they could withdraw their
criticism through the reform OF the
church. and if the church would square
itself with the law and with American
institutions
We speak of the church not in any
religious sense, but as an organiza'
! tion which has cherished certain law
less practices here. aud has invited
J criticism by reason of its intolerance,
! it's exclusivcncss. and its claim of self
! righteousness above all other people of
the earth. So far AS the doctrines or
! the church arc concerned. the beliefs
| Of the people, we have no quarrel with
any. II is where the practices en-.
! Joined upon by the sect come in con
flict with the law and with modern
civic. business, social. and political re-
| duirements that we make our oblcc.
| ton: not in the least in the matters
of doctrine or of faith. so far AS that
Joctr;na .pd faitb conform, 70 ihc La q
There is no one anywhere slandcrng
the Mormon church, or the leaders of
that church. The Tribune is common.
ly pointed to as the chief slaudcrcr, hut
we aver in all good conscience that
we have never. at any time, had the
least desire to state anything falsely
20 the discrcdit Of the church, or to
charge upon that church anything that
was not wholly true and obnoxious TO
the law and 30 modern civilization. We
anything but completely candid and
fair. What VIC have stated VIC have
stated frankly and openly. and for the
most part our statements have been on
matters of common knowledge in this
community. The only difference be
tween MS and those who would gid
over thc evil conditions has been that
we arc not in favor Of gliding, but OF
cleansing. We arc not in favor of
denying that evils exist when they do
exist; VIC arc not in favor Of pro
testing that all is well when all is not
well; and, above all. VIC contend that
faithful, honest effort TO cure bad com
munity conditions is the honest duty
Of every good citizen to undertake.
That there is good deal of feeling
against the Mormon practices there
cannot be the least doubt. That good
deal of this feeling is natural. by rea.
son Of the attitude of the Mormon
church. must be candidly conceded,
First of all, the Mormon church claims
to be the only true religion upon earth.
and denounces all others as spurious
and corrupt. Naturally this is resent
ed, and the denouncing of all others
than Mormons as enemies, outsiders,
and so on. does not in the least tend
otherwise than 10 emphasize the Nor
mon cxcIusiveness and its superior
claims OF virtue, authority, and right
cousness. 1t is plain TO the people
who are acquainted with the system
that The claim of higher intelligence.
sterner virtue, and loftier righteous
ness, made in behalf Of the Mormon
people and their leaders, is not only
untenable. but impossible; quite the
reverse Is true,
Now, why should the successive con.
fcrences of the church have 10 busy
themselves with denouncing "'tra.
duccrs,' "slandercrs, and ''falsi.
ficrs?' No other church has To do
this, and no other church makes such
claims of immediate revealed divine
guidance and authority as does the
Mormon church; while the practices
have been such AS to leave the church
and its leaders under the condcmna.
tion Of modern civilization.
The truth is. that in order 10 oh.
tain any foundation for the idea that
the Mormon church is slaudcrcd. or
that its leaders are abused, one must
credit deb,als that are not true, and
protestations that arc openly and no
toriously false. Tho Mormon writers
and speakers are conscious of this
fact, and they do not undertake to
meet arguments or statements here ut
home in the same spirit of reckless
bluffing denial that they do like
statements when made from the out
side. These writers and speakers know
their weaknesses and their failings,
and while at times they can put UP
local bluff. they arc conscious all the
time that no one credits their protcsta-
tions or denials. since the proof is so
verwhelmingly against them
We submit 10 the Mormon leaders of
the Conference that the best possible
wav for the Mormon church 10 get out