MORMONISM by G. | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 6, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 45.

MORMONISM

By G.

THE friends of an amendment to the Federal Constitution prohibiting the practice of polygamy in the United States are sending out large quantities of literature. Not only the pernicious doctrines of the Mormon Church, but their cunning political methods and persistent labors, are being quite thoroughly exposed. The Interdenominational Council of Women for Christian and Patriotic Service sends a number of leaflets, from one of which we take the following:—

It is conceded that Mormon Church sentiment controls and directs all political action in Utah; that it holds the balance of power in Idaho, Wyoming, and Nevada; that it is fast gaining power in Montana, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California; and that it is constantly using every secret manipulation of its thoroughly organized priesthood to secure the balance of power, politically, throughout the Great West.

Thousands of true Latter Day Saints in all these States are the oath-bound subjects of this hierarchy. Since it will require the concurrence of three-fourths of the States of the Union for the passage of an amendment to the Constitution of the United States—without which amendment no Federal anti-polygamy legislation can be made effective within the confines of any State—therefore it is necessary that this amendment be made now, before this growing hierarchy shall have it in its power to prevent its adoption.

Two thousand Mormon elder priests are now in every State and Territory of the Union propagating this system, of which polygamy has been, and now is, an essential part. They seek, by misrepresenting the actual conditions and teachings in Utah, to create outside of Utah a public sentiment more advantageous to the system than it could possibly secure if the whole truth were known.

Mr. Wm. R. Campbell, field secretary of the movement to secure an anti-polygamy amendment to the Constitution, is also publishing some results of fifteen years’ experience among the Mormons. From an address recently delivered in Chicago, we call a few striking thoughts:—

Mormonism does not propose to be ignored, and can not be ignored. It is pushing its way into every county, city, town, village, and hamlet in the land. It is invading our churches and our homes, and proselyting many of the fairest and best. It is putting its hands upon the ballot-box, and controlling the political destinies of States. One State it entirely owns, and six other States and Territories it demoralizes by its balance-of-power methods, while it hopes soon to gain enough proselytes to enable it, through its colonizing schemes, to gain control of the politics of enough additional States to enable it forever to prevent the ratification of an Anti-polygamy Constitutional Amendment. The Mormons are as wise as serpents in their use of the balance-of-power principle. Instead of voting all one way, they divide their votes between the parties, giving to the favored party just enough to insure victory, but not enough to show their hand openly, unless it becomes absolutely necessary. Having succeeded in safeguarding polygamy against a constitutional amendment, they then hope to fasten it upon us forever, as one of the permanent institutions of our country.

Speaking of the exclusion of Mr. Roberts from Congress, Mr. Campbell deplores that the people are so easily satisfied with a small victory. In this connection he says:—

As soon as Mr. Roberts was sent home, the masses of our people were so happy and so grateful that they felt it would be unreasonable, and even positively wicked, for them to ask any more favors of Congress for a long time to come. Not so the Mormon leaders. They were wiser than we. When they saw the storm of indignation spreading all over the land on account of their perfidy in electing Mr. Roberts, they decided to sacrifice Mr. Roberts for the good of the cause. He had scarcely gone from the national capital before two of the leading polygamists of the State were there making terms with politicians. These polygamists were supported in their efforts by non-Mormon politicians from Utah and the States where the Mormons hold the balance of power.

We can not blame the politicians too much. They are only human; and they are utterly helpless without the support of public sentiment. A national election was at hand. The polygamous monster of the Rocky Mountains had been mortally offended by the exclusion of Mr. Roberts, and he demanded a large peace-offering. Moreover, he must have large tribute for the State which he politically controls. Is it any wonder that the politicians bowed the knee, while the American people were either asleep, or getting gain, or, at best, rejoicing over the great victory achieved in the Roberts case, which was as nothing compared with the victory which the Mormons gained in one short hour, while their enemies, as they regard us, were rejoicing over an illusive victory? No wonder that the overwhelming sentiment among Congressmen in favor of an Anti-Polygamy Constitutional Amendment all died away in a night, and the whole matter was shelved indefinitely. . . . The Mormons have large influence at Washington, because they look after their affairs, and see that they are attended to. If there is any other organization in this country that wields as much influence (in proportion to its membership) at the capital of the nation to-day as the Mormon hierarchy, I do not know what it is.

Mr. Campbell further deplores the fact that there are “misguided but well-meaning Eastern people” who apologize for their Mormon friends. He has received letters even from women asking questions about the possible advantage of polygamy among a certain class. This does seem almost incredible; but we must remember that we are in the last days, days of delusion because the masses are ignoring the Word of God. As long as the people look lightly on the law of the Lord, it is not surprising that they come to look approvingly upon even the grosser forms of immorality. And as long as the law of God is ignored by the people, and even by professed Christians, there is no hope of moral reform in any section of the country. Certainly it is the duty of the civil government to restrain the people from acts of incivility as far as possible; but as long as the law of God is deemed of no effect, the way is paved for “evil men and seducers” to “wax ‘worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.’” 2 Tim. 3:13. G.