Discourse Chapter 3 “Is this new mystery unsolvable or where is to be found its counterpart?” “Let us demand the banishment of this infection from the British Domain and so rid ourselves of the pernicious dogma.” “We will hound them down by circulating reports of their evil designs,” etc, etc,. What absurdity forsooth on the part of pulpit and press. With the example of the Reformers before them we might imagine them taking a more philosophical view of the situation by reconciling themselves to the assumed innovation. Had history again repeated itself without the fact being recognized by those who claimed to have enjoyed the benefits vouchsafe by their forefathers? It has not been denied that disreputable characters had allied themselves with the Church militant as wolves in sheeps clothing and thus our motto “by their fruits ye shall know them” applies with equal force here. Did Nero rejoice while Rome suffered? Did fanaticism reign supreme during the protestant regime? Did the puritans while establishing their systems of religion on the American continent adhere to the principles that their name implied? If the millions who suffered and died in consequence of idolatry pomposity and bigotry could be heard to answer for themselves or if that great and terrible day shall arrive when they shall appear before the judge of all the earth a fearful retribution is in store for the promoters of darkest crime. It is charged that since 1840 the Mormons taught and practiced polygamy which was ten years after their church was organized. What then was the cause of the universal odium prior to that date? Ignorance and implicit confidence in their leaders has been put forth as the prime factors of their unparalleled advancement which in most instances admits of grave doubt.
The joint stock company scandal is mentioned as proof of the duplicity then existing but even that disgraceful episode served as a warning to many and culminated in severing the promoters or leaders from the church. In fine it has been publicly stated by Brigham Young that all and every kinds of characters have claimed membership in the church and that if they were not mindful it would damn more that it would save. That in itself was a sweeping declaration on the part of the one man of all others capable of judging human nature in all its phases by contact and intercourse with the multitude from all nations around him. Europe has furnished her quota of converts to the unpopular church and justice revolts against indiscriminately condemning the just with the unjust or causing the one to suffer with and for the other. With each decade has dawned brighter light in the world and it is only by putting antagonism from us that society in all its diversified forms may enjoy that measure of freedom so necessary and essential to harmonious advancement. Social and educational conditions have improved rapidly during the last half century and if religion has not kept abreast civilization has almost outgrown its former stature. After each succeeding storm has come a calm and those more zealous than prudent must admit that the alternation demonstrates the fact that the fittest must survive. The Mormon church stands as a living monument against which excessive heat and chilly blast has left but little signs of decay which suggests reason rather than passion be the weapons used against such a mammoth structure.