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Show THEIR HONOR AT STAKE. Young men and young women of the Mutual Improvement associations of the Mormon church are in general conference confer-ence in this city; and now that they aro here, The Tribune feels it to bo a duty to mnko somo presentations to them that may bo of benefit. Most of these young people aro aware of tho conditions under which, between the years 1S90 and 1896, tho church and the non-Mormon citizenship of this country arrived at such understandings and agreements as iinallj' resulted in bringing Statehood to Utah. Above all, the young men and young women of tho church are most vitally interested in seeing to it that the compacts then made should be fulfilled. Their future progress and happiness depend upon fnithful adherence by the church to tho pledges given by which this commonwealth common-wealth achieved tho full rights of American sovereignty. Their own honor and the honor of tho organization organiza-tion to which thoy belong is at stake. The repute of the ontiro Mormon people peo-ple of today and of the futnro depends upon honest observance of tho contract. Some of these young men and young women know that their church loaders are repudiating those ante-Statehood pledges, while a few of them possibly are not awaro of this fact. Tho truth is that church funds arc still being used in competition with private money in all manner of business affairs. Tho influence of theso officials derived from their ecclesiastical position is exerted ex-erted in favor of certain business institutions in-stitutions as" ugainst other such concerns con-cerns that aro not favored with their approbation. Thero continues to be ecclesiastical interference in tho political politi-cal affairs of this State. Polygamj is again flourishing in the church, as has been demonstrated in tho exposure of ono hundred and four undeuicd cases since the manifesto, nnd which number num-ber undoubtedly does not represent ten per cont of tho total, were they all known. It is admitted that these offenses of-fenses arc against tho law of tho laud and the command of tho Almighty; but they aro 'neither punished under the law nor rectified by tho church. It is plain to all that this new polygamy could be stopped by the president of tho church if ho desired to slop it, as he is tho ono man on earth holding tho necessary ne-cessary keys in tho priesthood to permit per-mit such marriages. Ho could cause tho arrest of tho offenders if ho chose to do so, and he could furnish tho evidence evi-dence necessary to convict them in court; but ho docs neither, tho infer-once, infer-once, thcreforo, being that ho wants polygamouu marriages to go on. Through theso unlawful marriages tho community is being filled with illegitimate illegiti-mate children, who unfortunately will grow up and associalo with and marry into tho families of legitimate children of monogamists. A dangorous silua-(ion silua-(ion is being brought about, and ono (hat will finally destroy tho ehurch if corrective measiiros shall not he noon applied. Lot us hope thai, tho young people oT tho church will step up bravely to the performance of their duty, and inovo compactly to l'orco the institution of necessary reforms along those lines While the entire state is intorestcd in having these conditions clearod up. il is tho youth of tho Mormon church thai aro most deeply concerned. It should bo apparent, to them that the Gentiles of this community aro amply ablo to take care of themselves, como what may; but it ought also to bo plain to these young people that they must turn in and help themselves or tho Gentiles will bo unable to render thorn full assistance as-sistance in making matters right. ''Awakcl yo defenders of Zion!'' |