Show A MISSION ARYS LETTER THE WORK IN TENNESSEE TENNESSE IC COMMENTS ON CONDITION OF ZION ROAN MOUNTAIN carter co tenn september editor deseret news this fairly populous county which comprises 0 0 n 1 arises a part of the north carolina 1 1 n a conference is situated in the northeastern portion of tennessee far away up in the thickly wooded and sequestered tops of the Alleg hanles the ellma teof of these tower towering lug mountains is very salubrious and considered hy by far the healthiest section of the state and during the hot buffo suffocating eating summer months the people from the CHILLS AND FEVER DISTRICTS flock here in great numbers to gaze upon the varied and pac picturesque tur esque scenery breath the pure invigorating vig orating air drink of the cool s sparkling ackling springs that bubble up from age the grassy mountain sides cast the book into the rippling streams and to to hunt for the game that is never found larom the summit of the roan a mount rearing its lofty peak some feet above the level of the sea and which a tourist to these parts never falls fails to visit A magnificent AND delightful VIEW of the surrounding country can be had on a clear day clay when the sky is not flecked with clouds the eye can penetrate to the north over into the state of kentucky a abstance distance al stance of miles to the south over the blue ridge and it its IS many maisy is spurs urs into the lowlands low lands lauds of youth south carolina Fl arolina and from other points the far away portions of horth orth carolina and georgia can readily be discerned berned the settlers of these secluded mountain vales are chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock raising some are in affluent circumstances while others on their small rocky farms raise barely sufficient to support their large families the poorer classes are generally hospitable and kind in their treatment of strangers which is so characteristic ot 0 the southern people they are very much divided in their religious views and opinions the christian and missionary baptists and methodists predominating it is now some two years since the first advent of MORMON missionaries in their midst who during this time have met with but fair success at present three elders of which number your correspondent is one compose the t he entire working foice of this field in excellent health and boyant spirits we are actively engaged in the work of but as we are propagating principles which are ex unpopular and de cidely inimical to christianity in its present form our labors are crowned with but moderate success in fact in some hard headed beaded localities our most elaborate discourses and profound tail fall to make even the slightest impression at times however it is our happy lot to meet with a few sincere and honest souls who af after ter becoming convinced of the correctness ot of our prin caples are perfectly willing to FORSAKE THE traditions and spiritless creeds of their fathers and comply with those heaven born ordinances that will gain them eternal lives in the the glorious presence of their god one of the reasons and we may say apie main one why our missionaries do not hot me meet et with with greater success and encouragement c coura 0 ura gement in their labors is on account c I 1 of the inveterate hatred that the many sectarian ministers bear to eye everything thing appertains to or partakes of 11 orm AME 11 much of the persecution se a ii 7 aft is representation that we are subject to can be attributed to their rabid aud and malicious utterances from the pulpit the newspapers contribute their share towards INFLAMING THE PUBLIC MIND by bv regaling their readers with highly sensational and nonsensical stories of the monstrous wickedness and licentiousness tiou of the mormons cormons Mor mons and their heir utter disregard ot all law NO notwithstanding VW ith the bitter opposition we nave have to contend gitil we do n by T OPT any means feel heartened disheartened dis nor inclined to shirk but at all times tl roes under the th most disadvantageous circumstances circum are cheerful and prosecute our labors with a vim and determination that will ere long demonstrate to the world that the adherents of mormonism must after all be advocating something more than a delusion or a mere phantasm of the mind to induce them n h thi the face of so many powerful sects made venerable through age to cling tenaciously sol to their obnoxious doctrine and when the christian world is led to investigate with an unbiased mind it will find a plan or system of faith perfect in every detail and aad strongly in trenched behind bible proofs that cannot from any standpoint whatever be disputed or controvert ed I 1 glean from your lively and ever progressive paper that at home the merciless aud and vindictive hand of persecution se cution is still UPLIFTED AGAINST THE SAINTS and that they are denied that peace protection p tion and religious liberty which ake tue inspired and faultless constitution of our creat commonwealth guaran 1 tees to her citizens of every caste and color but in this hour of trial when the rights of a peaceable thriving law abiding community are curtailed and proscribed at the instance of a lot of I 1 corrupt claptrap clap trap politicians and hung ry office seekers how gratifying it is to see men who are arc men in every sense of the word when arraigned before so called tribunals of justice and in the face of an oppressive pressure brought to bear upon them to recant remain staunch and true to those divinely originated principles that they have in all sincerity espoused principles that reach from earth to heaven lasting as eternity and which every honest and devout latter day saint considers his bis bounden duty to preserve inviolate zion is truly passing through A FIERY ORDEAL hampered and assailed on every side b by a hostile press a contentious and bag bigoted doted clergy an and by the enforcement of unjust and illegal legislative enact enactments matits her growth and prosperity both at home and abroad may for a time be impeded but at so ao distant day when she shall have been cleansed or of all impurities and when the saints have been drawn closer together in the fraternal bonds of love affection and harmony then will zion rise far above the reach teab of her opponents and their aspersions and with renewed energy carry on her great work of redemption T Y S |