The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-05-06
SEEING AMERICA FIRST.
~ FRED c. KELLY
Copyright. 1915. By Fred c. KellyJ

From Diary--In Salt Lake City.
After hearing an explanation OF the origin u
the Mormon Church, II Is comparatively easy 20
understand why the Mormons hit on sailed
desert for the site Of their city.
II seems that nearly a hundred years ago,
when Joseph Smith youngster living nea.
dropped around night and Jet Joseph y
on a secret Buried In a hillside, near by. the
angel confided To Young Joseph. were set OF
gold plates on which was written the history
and religious beliefs OF the earliest inhabitants
o. the American continent With the plates
we're Two small stones, By which the record
written on them could be translated.
In due course Joseph went % the hillside and
found the plates, Just like The angel had said.
The matter written on them was in some
strange language, but by means Of the tgo
stones that were buried with the plates. the
work Of translating was, OF ~Jurse, easy enough
Smith would have taken the plates and proud
.ly exhibited them as curiOs among the neigh
bors but. as the angel told him. that would not
have done at all he alone vas the boy % see
the gold plates. and 20 have shown them around
would naturally have spoiled everything.
So Joseph started out when the time was
ripe and told 81 what had happened-about the
angel the gold plates that he mustn't show 10
an body the two stones. and all His story, be-
cause % is attractive pIausbllty and logic nat
uraly excited much attention and he soon had
band % followers.
Now. when lot Of people are brought to
gether by story like Joseph Smiths and set
out 20 cross continent IN quest OF RELIGIOUS
freedom. they are apt 70 have plenty OF zeal,
but only scsnt sense OF humor. We may re-
call in this connection the case OF the Purttans
who came acrOss the water 20 escape religion
persecution and merriIy placed In stocks or
ducking stools all whO did not agree With their
views Having Il In mind then. that the Nor.
mons Vho got together after hearing Joseph
Smiths story o. the gold plates. we're not Ike
the ordinary run o; people. can understand
IN measure Why they picked desolate spot
IN the midst Of a desert for the establishment
Of their city. IN fact can almost picture
them looking az the bleak stretch Of sand and
the big. burly forbidding mountains. and e..
claiming one 70 another.
Now isn't this Just perfectly lovely"
The average person might not have liked ",
bu; the average person would not have left the
fertile hills and valleys OF New York state and
set out 20 follow Joseph Smith there in the first
place. Therein lies the answer.
on The train a night or two ago ] heard a
man snoring His snore started In low pitcii
and then. gathering speed and momentum. u
worked up 20 a sort OF r fiat. al which point
II seemed as n something must give way else
the top Of the mans head would have 20 come
off Then just when everybody was tense a.
note N the snore could 20 any higher, II burst
Ike a skyrocket, thus. G-rr-rt-zssst.tf-an ne
started at the low methodical pace all over
again. That fresh start alsayt seems provf
Dental What ! wish 20 know Is this. n the
snore didn't give way just at that point. what
would happen7