| Show A 1 difference tand land THE CAUSE during the last thirty years and over many well meaning people throughout the christian world have made and are making strenuous efforts to ameliorate the condition of mankind by the application of those practical principles of the gospel which are somehow but seldom associated with the gospel by its professed teachers Peace reace Societies have been formed peace congresses have met and discussed national and international af affairs lairs benevolent associations have been called into existence societies have been organized to reclaim the fallen relieve the destitute succor the af flirted enlighten the ignorant reclaim the wicked and convert the heathen for centuries thousands of paid and trained priests have been professedly endeavoring to lead mankind to obey the of and pattern after the prince of peace whose life was lustrous with viti pure and holy actions nut but during the last quarter of a century extra efforts have been made some somo by professing fe christians others by avowed infidels to lead the human family into better and happier happler ways than those in which they were treading what is the result it would be I 1 mournful to relate it were it not for the conviction that where man has failed a higher than man will succeed with thousands on thou thousands ands of paid teachers inculcating virtue morality and holiness corruption immorality and impurity have increased with a rapidity that is sadly terrible with peace societies peace congresses and peace conventions at work aided by men of vast influence among their fellow men the spirit of war and bloodshed was never more ram rampant and never so wide spread as it is today to day iniquity spreads over the earth like a fearful it festers in high places eats into the heart of the nations and grows solfast so fast that the enni efti efforts orts made to dwarf and aad keep it within bounds seem but to geve give lve ive it fresh vigor these are not rash statements but stern facts fully borne out by the daily record of crimes against heaven and man which darken the press of entire christendom now the very word which we have used to designate that portion of the earth inhabited and governed by professed christians leads us back to the origin of the name and the reason why itras it has been adopted and used by so call ed civilized nation nations sl the inhabitants of those nations profess belief in christ and in the principles chath e tau 0 his mission was to bring blessings to mankind the gospel he taught was a gospel of peace it demands purity of thought and action brings unity and love and where obeyed and practiced produces permanent peace with all the lanying blessings 0 the condition of christen christea christendom does s not exhibit these discordant sects warring parties nations lations arming or en engaged t aged 0 in conflict crime increasing corruption overwhelming these there do not look like the effects of tho the gospel they are p th thiry v V aro bro opposite of that which it enfa was s r regaled e i to produce luce it is with no boastin boasting 0 or dr spirit orvain of vainglory that we ave turn to the tild people who inhabit these valleys s and invite attention to their unity peace good will and fraternal feeling it is simply to show that obedience f fo 6 the gospel gan can and fand will secure all ail the blessings which have been promised to accompany it we ask right za minded men who travel through ou our r citi cities and S denb if i il 7 1 1 they cannot bea bear r testimony L im ony 10 lo th the tho e e existence x anthem in them of those very vory till things which philanthropists have been trying to secure to igi mankind a n kind peace pedee gidd glod good or der virtue comfort an and ana a happiness a priness pra vail vall crime is comparatively unknown lii ill most of them and but rare even th in those bieh wieh have bave a floating jr comila lop iop are ta of all front frontier settlements and this eon condition d of society exists in a degree of excellence cel lence in proportion as the principles of the gospel are received and obeyed we donot draw this distinction to make il it manifest that our people are better than all the rest of mankind but to show that the gospel of christ produces all that the scriptures declare it will produce and that the peace union and virtues therein inculcated arenov are arc not nov merely theories set down to be dilated upon with rhetorical display but are realities which can be practically demonstrated rated by every man who will conform to the condition of life required W we e honestly say to all the world that so fast and as they travel from the gospel which has been offered freely reely to them for the thelast last thirty six years so fast and so fa far r will they travel their present downward career to greater disunion increased crime and more ter fer terrific struggles of bloodshed the assep assertion may be unheeded but its truth remains the same asfor the slanders uttered against the latter day saints prompted by prejudice mailee malice and evin even even meaner motives they but prove how utterly base men can becci become ne and how much they can disregard rd honor lionor and honesty of pr principle 1 in ciple elpie |
