TRUTH AGAIN DEFEATS FALSEHOOD.
The meeting was to be held in the Town Hall on Saturday, and in the
meantime our missionary busied himself variously, but devoted part of
the time in getting his lecture arranged and in refreshing his memory
on the topics upon which he wished to speak. When not thus employed
he took strolls about the country, or engaged in pleasant bits of
conversation with his acquaintances, and with others whom he happened
to meet on the way. He was such a favorite at the Marshall mansion
that the people there were always pleased to have him express a wish
for anything, in order that it might at once be gratified; but such
expressions were very rare and confined to the scope of his actual
requirements.
On Friday afternoon he engaged in a pleasant discussion with Mrs.
Marshall on some scriptural topic. Missionaries all understand the
power of song, Mr. Durant was no exception, so at one point he sang one
of his hymns:
"How the light from Zion's mountain
Clears the mists of error's age:
Clarified in ray and fountain,
How its truths our fears assuage!
"Tempest-tossed, we still are certain
Life is but a pleasant span.
Hope has painted every curtain
Pictured in the gospel plan.
"Once again to every nation,
Jesus opens wide the door;
Here are truths that bring salvation,
Preached and practiced as of yore.
"Joyful tidings to the people
From the perfect courts on high;
Sweetest chimes from tower and steeple
Ring: Redemption's drawing nigh.
"Shine, thou light, with doubled splendor,
Spread thy soothing, restful rings,
Till the sun of Zion, tender
Rise, with healing in his wings!"
The daughter was an interested listener, and at the close broke in
with--"It seems to me that there is no such thing as perfect happiness
after all. We are always being disappointed in relation to some hope or
desire, and when we engage in that which affords pastime or amusement,
there is invariably a penalty following. Is not this true, Mr. Durant?"
"I could scarcely dispute with a lady, even if there were grounds for
it," said he, gallantly.
"But I prefer you would," she said, "because you appear to know all
about these things and I desire to learn. Why is it, for instance, that
after enjoying myself greatly at a dance or other late entertainment,
injured nature afterward cries out for revenge, and takes it? So with
all things it seems to me. The pleasure experienced in meeting a dear
friend is beclouded by the knowledge that there must be a parting
soon; and death is ever near as if to remind us of the fact that life,
happiness, honor, wealth, youth, are all fleeting and unsubstantial."
"Very true."
"Why Claire," said her mother, "you are becoming a regular pessimist.
Surely at your age there is no need to borrow trouble about death or
anything else."
"I do not borrow it, mamma, it comes. Pain follows pleasure, sorrow
treads upon the heals of happiness, and misfortune is the constant
attendant of fortune. There is, as I said, no perfect happiness, so it
seems to me."
"Pardon me," said the missionary, "but you did not finish your
sentence. Shall I do so for you?"
"O, by all means," replied the girl with eager delight.
"Well, then," he continued, "doubtless what you meant to say was that
there is no such thing as perfect happiness in either the contemplation
or realization of things which in themselves are fleeting and
unsubstantial--that is, the things of the world. Every movement of the
machinery of a steamer, for instance, creates friction, which in turn
indicates an eventual breaking down, and so it is with all temporal
things; thus we cannot rely upon them for permanent good, and in
addition they are constantly subjecting us to peril.
"It is impossible to create perfect results out of imperfect
conditions; therefore, there can be no complete or unbroken happiness
come out of earthly surroundings, for the reason that all such things
are changeable and fleeting. And yet there is such a state as perfect
joy unclouded and endless."
"But not in this life, as you yourself have shown."
"Yes, in this life."
"I thought you referred to this life as uncertain and ephemeral and as
such curtailed or extinguished its own joys."
"That is true, also. But yet endless and supreme delight is to be found
in it."
"Where and how, pray?"
"In observing principles and practicing truths which lead to
immortality, and which confer upon us the title-deeds to homes where
pains and penalties are unknown, where all is peace, contentment and
love."
"Oh, yes, I did not think of that."
"In such enjoyment there is no alloy. More than that; the more it is
engaged in, the more enjoyable it becomes; it does not cloy, we cannot
become surfeited; the more we devote our attention and effort to it the
greater the desire we have to continue and to increase our experience.
This is that perfect happiness with which nothing else can compare."
"But would you have us dispense with all pleasures--with the refined
indulgences, the innocent pastimes and the intellectual recreations
which lighten our burdens at least for the time being, and have us
participate in sacred things only? Should there be no buoyancy of
spirit, no diversion, no relaxation, in order that there might be no
penalty as the result of indulgence?"
"Why, what an--pardon me--absurd idea! Of course you do not advance it
seriously and should therefore be free from criticism. Rather than that
such a rule of conduct as you have suggested is the proper one, it is
almost as bad as that in which amusement alone prevails. The medium
course, which enables us to enjoy all that is properly enjoyable in
its appropriate season, and still does not cause us to loose sight of
the great aim and end of existence, is the right one. We should let
our pastimes be the incidents in our career, not the objects of it;
thus they lighten our burdens, and, for the time being, dispel some of
the shadows that cross our pathway, whereas, if made the purpose of
living--the only things to be considered--they become burdensome and
even sinful."
"Then the devout Christian may be happy and jovial without being less a
Christian, on account of that?"
"Yes, indeed. More--it is pleasing to our Father for His children to be
light-hearted, so long as their pleasures are proper and are enjoyed in
moderation. The people from among whom I come enjoy themselves as much
as other people do, but do not overlook their devotions, and above all
they remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."
"That seems to me," said Mrs. Marshall, "to be a sensible form of
Christianity. Why, a person, according to your faith, can be profoundly
religious and yet deny himself no proper amusement."
"Most decidedly; that is our belief and practice."
"It seems to me I would like to be a member of your Church," said the
girl, artlessly, at which interesting stage of the conversation, Rev.
Fitzallan entered, who greeted the party stiffly, his brow having a
distinct frown as he looked at the westerner.
"Pardon me," said the Clergyman, after a few commonplaces had passed,
"but we 'gather wisdom by the wayside,' and I have just acquired some
information from that source concerning our friend here from the wilds,
and as it surprised me, I thought it might equally surprise the rest of
you, himself included, perhaps."
Evidently the churchman had been engaged in the questionable calling of
picking up stray scraps of gossip here and there, containing as usual
some truth mixed with much error. There was obviously trouble ahead.
"Anything concerning me is not apt to be of sufficient consequence to
be very interesting," said Mr. Durant, "and having already stated all I
thought worth saying about myself and my errand, there can be little or
nothing that is surprising, I am sure."
"Is it not a fact that you are from Salt Lake City?"
"It is."
"It is! Why you never informed us of this and yet you have been
associated with us several days."
"Indeed! May I ask you, Mrs. Marshall, and you, Miss Marshall, what
part of the country our friend here comes from?"
The ladies did not know.
"Indeed! Why sir, you have been associated with this family several
weeks, and yet they do not know what particular point you came from.
Perhaps like myself, you were never asked."
"This is evasion," said the now thoroughly excited churchman. "There is
no place in my district possessed of such peculiar conditions as would
place one of its inhabitants under suspicion because of them."
"Nor in mine either, that I know of," calmly rejoined Durant.
"Is not Salt Lake City the headquarters and residence of a class of
people known as Mormons who hold exclusive sway there?"
"No, sir."
"That is what I have heard."
"Surely, I am not accountable for what you have heard. There are a
great many Mormons in Salt Lake, and just as many that are not Mormons;
it is the headquarters of the Church as you suggest, but its members
are not in exclusive sway there."
"How can that be?"
"No matter about the means; the fact itself is what concerns us."
The churchman was discomfited and measurably confused; he was compelled
to change his course.
"You told us," said he, "that you were an advocate of the Church of
Jesus Christ; should there not be a suffix in these words--Latter-day
Saints?"
"That is correct."
"And is not 'Mormonism' its other name?"
"No, it has no other name. It is called 'Mormonism' by nearly every one
not connected with it, and yet that is not a proper designation."
"Then to yourself you are a 'Latter-day Saint,' and to the world you
are a 'Mormon?'"
"That is it exactly."
"Strange that we should be kept in ignorance of it so long."
"I have answered every question fairly and in addition have stated
everything necessary to a full explanation of my cause and myself. If
the doctrine I teach be true--and it has stood all tests so far--can
you find nothing more than a name to oppose it?"
"I hope sir, you do not accuse me of innuendo?"
"I accuse you of nothing."
"Come now," said Mrs. Marshall, "do not be too earnest."
"Well, madam," said Rev. Fitzallan, "I thought my services in this
connection would be received graciously and thankfully. As they are not
I occupy the position of an intruder and will take my leave."
"Not on my account, I hope," said Mr. Durant. "If there is an intruder
here it is I, and it would be my duty to depart."
"You must not go under such circumstances," said Mrs. Marshall.
The girl's looks seconded her mother's words, and the irate churchman
permitted his passion to overcome his judgment.
"Excuse me," he said, "but I will take my leave. Under the
circumstances my presence must be altogether unwelcome. I have heard of
the fascinating character of some of the features of Mormonism, and the
persuasiveness of those who advocate it. Violation of the laws of God
and man by practicing polygamy is one of the seductive usages of that
creed, I believe."
"Your belief is erroneous, then," said Durant.
"Whatever my people may have believed in the past as to the correctness
of doctrines taught by the Bible and the prophets of old, they now obey
the laws of the land in which they live."
"Marvelous! I have heard otherwise. I have even taken the pains to
bring with me a newspaper which I received from a traveler, and in
which information of a different character is obtained. It is published
in Salt Lake City and should be correct. Here is part of a sermon
delivered by a Mormon Bishop; and here an account of several arrests
for violating the law against polygamy and kindred offenses, while an
editorial in the same paper comments strongly on the deception and
falsity pervading the Mormon people. There must be a mistake somewhere."
"No, there is no mistake at all, but much falsehood and
misrepresentation. It is true that since the law against polygamy was
enacted there have been many prosecutions of members of our Church
chiefly because of their inability instantly to sever the happy
associations of a lifetime which had been formed before the law went
into effect, or their lack of exact knowledge as to what the law
required of them. It was a difficult, I may say an impossible matter,
for them to break away entirely from a part of their families and never
go near them, to give a word of counsel, or it may be hurriedly to
embrace the little ones from whom the law had separated them. When thus
found they have been apprehended, tried, convicted and punished, often
without an effort to defend themselves. The Bishop named by the paper,
does not, and never did exist, and the sermon referred to was never
delivered, as the same paper has been compelled to admit on several
occasions; and the editor's views, or rather sayings, are the words of
a man whose chief interest in the community is to fan the flames of
discord so that his nefarious business may prosper. His statements are
utterly and entirely false."
After these remarks the reverend went to his room, and shortly
afterward took his departure.
"I don't like the Mormons at all, and I'm just sorry you're one," said
the girl.
"I too, am somewhat opposed to that peculiar religion, but it does seem
to me, after hearing you, that my dislike arises more from prejudice
than from anything else," said the mother.
"I have here a card containing the articles of our faith from which you
may learn that we are not so evil as we are represented to be."
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus
Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not
for Adam's transgression.
We believe that, through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may
be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
We believe that these ordinances are: First, Faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for
the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of Hands for the Gift of
the Holy Ghost.
We believe that a man must be called of God, by "prophecy, and by
the laying on of hands," by those who are in authority, to preach
the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive
church, namely: apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists,
etc.
We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions,
healing, interpretation of tongues, etc.
We believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is
translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the
word of God.
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal,
and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important
things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the
restoration of the Ten Tribes, That Zion will be built upon this
continent. That Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and
that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the
dictates of our conscience, and allow all men the same privilege,
let them worship how, where, or what they may.
We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and
magistrates, in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous,
and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow the
admonition of Paul, "We believe all things, we hope all things,"
we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all
things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report,
or praiseworthy, we seek after these, things.--_Joseph Smith_.
With this Durant took from his pocket the card, and handing it to Mrs.
Marshall, said:
"Examine it at your leisure." And without more adieu he was gone,
leaving the ladies in reflective mood.
Mr. Marshall received the news regarding Durant, in silence; perhaps he
had suspected, or even knew already, that the stranger was a "Mormon."