| Show mormon MOEMON independence ICE the true character of the people of this territory is but little understood by those who have never visited us the common descriptions which pass current among people in the world outside of us make us out to be but little short of monsters we have often been amused in traveling at the manner in which otherwise well informed persons would scrutinize us when they learned that wo we were a amorton A 1111 ormon 11 they would view us as we might inight expect they would the inhabitant of some other planet were he to visit the earth the immense amount of travel there has been across the continent for the past few years however has dissipated many of these false and crude ideas our true character is now better understood some few books which have appeared the writers of which have done us partial justice at least on some points have contributed to this better understanding of our character ift itt is now pretty universally conceded that the 11 mor tor nor mons are industrious persevering honorable peaceful easeful temperate hospitable and honorable and honest in their dealings facts are said to be stubborn things and that we have exhibited all qualities and many more in building this city and peopling this territory our works plainly plainly show they speak for us and an the testimony can not be disputed but thoro there is one feature in olg our oar character 1 I 1 e our independence ae for which we have as yet received little or no credit indeed it is not often admitted that we possess it even many who re reside here non mormons cormons fail to fully recognize its ite existence they do not understand us sufficiently to comprehend how independence can coexist with such obedience as the tho people of this territory manifest to their leaders this obedience is viewed by many as slavish submission as an abnegation of our independence and free agency the minds of such persons be incapable of understanding that obedience and independence are compatible and that to be a free agent theres there Is no necessity for a man to be rebe rebellious us and disobedient the truth is ls is 19 that with their submission to the counsel and guidance of their leaders whom they view as the ser ants of god our people cherish an in dependence of thought and feeling far greater than those do who accuse them of being destitute of that quality the their 1 r history substantiate this it is their very independence of character that helped make them latter day saints or as they are called mormons cormons Mor mons in nearly every instance those who were not born or brought up in inthe the church had sacrifices to make in embracing the doctrines they now profess chemor the mor mons were poor and despised all ail alithe the so called great men the popular voice of the age the pulpit and the press joined in denouncing and calumniating them A mormon with them thiem was the synonym of everything low and vile to join them was to invite persecution obloquy and hatred Torn to mingle ingle with them was waa to disse disso dissever er tile the ties of kindred and friends to become a moral leper which former associates and bosom companions would unfeelingly shun to be known by their name was to risk everything good name friends employment and worldly ease and comfort all that make life desirable yet all these things the bulk of the inhabitants of this territory have faced and endured ifft if it was not true independence of character and moral courage under the blessing of the lord which enabled them to pass through this ordeal what was it thousands of pretty fair pe people 05 ae endowed with a tolerable degree of nerve who were probably as fully convinced convinced of the truth of the doctrines as they were have shrunk appalled from it they did not have buffi clent independence to act up to their convictions and brave all the consequences attendant upon such a step Obsequious obsequiousness ness nest and servility form no part of the mormon character the people render willing obedience and respect to an authority which they know to be be legal and properly con constituted sti buted the exercise of this authority by those who wield it is not despotism the submission to it by those who obey it is not slavishness let others who have not this authority attempt to lead them or with nith the exercise of power to coerce them thein I 1 and how will they succeed let our past history answer we have repeatedly peat edly shown the world that we will bave have the undisturbed enjoyment of independence even if we have to forsake ell all to obtain it the prevalence of the idea that the people of this territory are despotically governed by their leaders and are too submissive arises to some extent doubtless from the fact that the former talk with a plainness and boldness which other religious teachers dare not use those who are not familiar with our organization can not understand how any people can submit to be the thus talked to unless they are afraid to resent it now this style of teaching has its sole origin in the independence of the ministry were the religious teachers of this people to be dependent upon the latter for their living they th ey might modify their teachings to suit their feelings but they are not it does not make two cents difference with them nia rily whet whether her hen the people e are suited or not they are not dependent upon or amenable to the people god has given them a sacred charge he has placed the souls of the people peo pleto pieto to a certain extent in theil their trust ve he will hold them to a strict accountability for the manner in which they discharge that trust they know this hence their independence the people know italio it also aiso they know that when they are warned or reproved by those who lead them they are doing no more than their duty hence their submission |
