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TE TESTIMONY STI MONY OF NON MORMON the following article was written by br dr J connell at the present time engaged in professional pursuits la in malad idaho who has long resided among the mormons cormons Mor mons and Is familiar with their characteristics it is in reproduced from the preston idaho standard latter day saints or mormons cormons Mor mons as a they are commonly called have been and are a much misrepresented people their faults have been magnified their virtues forgotten people who know absolutely nothing of them men mea and women who have never seen a mormon have formed the most erroneous and unjust opinions of them it laone of the peculiarities of mans mental makeup make up that he learns to distrust a people whom wham he has never met the provincial can never be fair never absolutely sol just religion exercises aio almost immeasurable influence over men it can narrow and deform or it can broaden the mind and make the that heart great and free men after all ally are very much like their religion mor mons although firm believers in the bible accord to others a liberty bordering dangerously on free thought you are not ostracised ostracized because you are not a member of their church nor are you an object of misrepresentation and abuse simply because you cannot accept all they believe they do not aste ask it if you are a baptist or a buddhist their only concern is are you a man do you pay your debts are you kind to your family and your friends are yaw a good citizen and right here it might not be out of to say there theft is a good deal of in the wora honesty orthodox churches have considerable to say about do unto others as you would have them do unto you they preach this while the mormons cormons practice it orthodox ministers never weary off of exhorting us to love our enemies there seems however to be an impression abroad that they do not always love theirs but of course it would not do to say so I 1 mormons cormons are the only religious people we have ever met who obey this scriptural injunction the only onea one who return good tor for evil there may however be many such people and ilaw lt quite possible we have not met the right members of the flock mormons cormons have suffered every abuse abas and the bitterest persecution but ft thai hearts thre there Is no ill iii will no hatred they are kind to their friends amia to their enemies orthodox are not particularly distinguished for their love of discussion mormons cormons court argument and the dt furs of their churches are open to all akes know well that any religion that will not beeb discussion must be a trifle weak somewhere tho th religion rell glin of 0 the lel 2 ater ler day saints la 14 as broad as it Is possible for any trellon to be the old idea of hell believed eved in at one time and still preached in thousands of our fashionable churches has no place in their minds or hearts we are all given za a chance in the next world and are compelled to suffer only for our own sing bins not tr tor the transgression of adam this bold and humane belief leaves aves its impress upon every member or 0 their church you can cal almost tell a mormon by looking at him the face is not long pinched and expressionless it is va round 11 nd and full the man enjoys life ase is cheerful good natured A mormon doea does not endeavor to impress you with his piety by looking solemn he lit lg unattested wherever met and under all circumstances the church of latter day saints has 1 7 00 in the field those are eom composed posed largely of young men and they are sent to every part of the world they travel without purse or awl garip I 1 their mission last ing from three to five years mor mons axe are making more feed converts th than anany any other religious people this church organization is well nigh perfect nothing even approaching it can be found elsewhere in the world everything moves with yie lice regularity of clockwork clock work and without friction yet in the church here chere are no serfino serf sno slaves statements to the contrary axy notwithstanding the t church laurch as an organization is a republic each member having a voice in the election of its officials mormons cormons are progressive they are quick to appreciate merit and they believe the best the earth affords Is none too good for them mormons cormons love the truth and accept it wherever found in short they are honest good hearted cheerful brave and contented men and women their morals are above reproach and their financial financil al successes have given them an excellent standing in the business world |
