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There were many learned and eloquent scholars in the world, who could have convinced other scientific men about the truth of the Book of Mormon. The ancient scriptural writers, however, describe a learned man as one who is wise in his own conceit. Jesus was born in a stable, and chose unlettered fishermen for his apostles and successors. He himself was a carpenter. Paul, the one scholar among the Twelve, bitterly descants, in the second chapter of 1st Corinthians, upon the dangers of earthly learning, and the snares of worldly wisdom. In no time in the world's history, has the Lord chosen the strong to confound the weak, or the wise to betray the foolish.

"How can enlightened people accept polygamy?"

We answer that question by asking another, How can Christians accept the Bible as the word of God? And who will condescend to sit down in his kingdom by the old polygamous patiarchs? If polygamy was so abominable, why did not the Savior pronounce against it? But that principle has been withdrawn from the Church. It is neither taught nor practiced by the Latter-day Saints today. What, you ask, was it true yesterday, and not true today? Your own contention makes it true for Abraham and untrue for moderns. However, I do not take that stand. What is true once, is true forever. Yet, a truth may be given today, and withheld tomorrow. Let me quote, for the first and last time, from the Book of Mormon. Jacob, one of the ancient Nephite prophets, denounces in unmistakable language the practice, which had obtained among the people, of taking many wives and concubines, after the pattern of David and Solomon. The Lord chastises the Nephites for this, from him to introduce the principle. with the following significant words: Lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people. Otherwise, they shall hearken unto these things." That is the substance of the whole matter. When for a special purpose a plurality of wives is decreed of God, he will give commandment therefor. Otherwise, he gives no man this permission. As to the results of this principle, the words of the Savior, "By their fruits ye shall know them," is truly applicable. It was entered into (no matter how mistakenly according to our Christian

as they had no authority He closes his reprimand "For if I will, saith the

friends), entirely as a religious sacrament, and it was lived in purity by most of the men and women who thus accepted it. The fruits of these marriages are before the world. It would be difficult to find a finer race of men and women, morally, mentally, and physically, than has been produced through that order of marriage. There were never more than four per cent of the people who accepted the doctrine in the old days, and nearly all of these brave men and devoted women are gone beyond. But their children are here, and we are not ashamed of them in Utah. Look at them, talk with them, and judge for yourself. It is only stating a fact to say that they form the governing class in Utah, civilly, educationally and socially. (But it would be difficult, now, to find more than a score of men, even in Salt Lake City, who are still practicing that principle.) We have suspended plural marriage, in obedience to the same power that established it. Therefore, it is neither taught nor discussed in Utah. But I have touched upon it here, lest you might think I had something to conceal. "Mormonism," 30-called, or the gospel, courts the light, is glad to stand in the brightest flood of keen investigation. All that is asked is,

that you uncover every principle, search out each doctrine for

yourself.

Your next question is an easy one to answer.

What has the gospel done for the women of the Church?" Verily, "by their fruits ye shall know them." If so-called "Mormonism" had depraved and enslaved its women, as our enemies assert, there would be good ground for Christian efforts to redeem them from that condition. Let us see.

Salt Lake City, Utah.

[TO BE CONCLUDED in next numBER.]

PEACE, GOODWILL.

A kindly thought can never come in vain;
Yet thoughts soon die if left but to remain
Unused, inactive, clogging heart and brain;

Let me ne'er smother helpful impulse thus.
When Heavenly Father gives me generous thought,
Let me believe some blessing should be wrought
For someone, somewhere; let the chance be sought,
And some poor, answered prayer made marvelous.

But should a thought un-Christ-like and unkind
Enter my soul, disturbing heart and mind,
Envy or selfishness, or both combined,

Such thought or feeling I would quickly kill; -
It should not live to grow and to extend,

To make me injure or distrust a friend;

I would not voice it, all my words must blend
With that blest angel chorus-Peace, Goodwill!

I love you, Dear Ones! Let me say it now!
I think of you when before Heaven I bow,
And ask that God all best things will allow
For each one's present and eternal good.
My Dear Ones, let us in sweet union live,
Nor thoughtless speak, hearts are so sensitive;
What seems unfair, be ready to forgive,

And simply say 'twas but misunderstood.

And oh, my friends, I prize your friendship now!

I will not wait death's touch on either brow;

If I have hurt you, kindly tell me how,

So I may prove that good was meant, not ill.

For sudden death today seems in the air;

A heart may cease its throbbings anywhere,

At any moment; oh, my soul, prepare!

With all the world and Heaven hold Peace, Goodwill!

Salt Lake City, Utah.

L. L. GREENE RICHARDS.

RANDY.

BY ELVIN J. NORTON, SUPERINTENDENT Y. M. M. I. A.,

POCATELLO STAKE.

VIII.

Early in the afternoon the telephone manager at Pine Fort put in a call for Maple Creek.

"I can't remember all that," said the girl at the division exchange. "Here's Maple Creek-talk with them yourself.'

There was a rattle of connections, and then "Hello!" came in another voice.

"Are there any people in your neighborhood by the name of Rogers?" asked the Pine Fort manager.

"Yes, I believe there's a family of Rogerses up the creek," was the answer.

"We want Dick Rogers for M. Burke at Pine Fort," said the manager slowly.

"Dick-Rogers-for-M-Burke," came back over the wire." "That's right," said the manager. "Now have him brought just as soon as possible This is very important business."

"All right," was the answer, and the receivers clicked in the hooks. Mack Burke, who had heard one side of the conversation, walked out to pace back and forth in anxious waiting for an hour; and the clerk in the little Maple Creek store, where the telephone was placed, turned to the crowd of loafers round him, among whom he had no trouble in finding one ready to profit on the spoil of misfortune by receiving a big fee for the little task of bringing Dick Rogers to the telephone.

"Dick Rogers?" said the one intrusted with the message. "He means Sam Rogers, don't he?"

"No," answered someone; "that's all right. It's Sam's brother's boy, Dick from Westside. He's been here a month feedin' sheep for Sam."

Thus enlightened, the messenger set off, and without any unnecessary loss of time, found Dick at the home of Sam Rogers.

A telephone call for a boy of sixteen, from a place seventyfive miles away in the opposite direction from his home, had a mystery which neither Dick nor his relatives could understand. They lost no time, however, in preparing to answer the call. Dick ran to the house for his coat, while his Uncle Sam put the saddle on Nibs.

"Well, I guess I'm ready," called out Dick as he sprang into the saddle.

"I can't imagine what it means," returned his uncle.

"But I'll soon know what it is," said Dick, riding out of the yard. "Good-by, Uncle Sam."

It was nearly three o'clock when the clerk in the Maple Creek store rang up the exchange and gave notice that Dick Rogers was waiting.

"Here they are, ready for you," said the clerk to Dick a moment later.

Dick, trembling all over, took the receiver and shouted "Hello!"

"Hello!" answered Mack Burke, with nearly the same awkwardness. "Be you Dick Rogers?"

"Yes-I'm Dick Rogers."

"Have you got a brother named Randy?"
"Named what?"

"Do you know a boy named Randy?" asked Mack, more distinctly.

"I guess I do," was the eager answer. "What about him?" "He's here, an' he's awful sick," said Mack; "an' we want some of ye to come on the train tonight. I'll meet the train here. I don't know what time the train comes down the valley, but I guess ye ain't got much time, for it's kind o' late now."

"All right. I think I can make it," answered Dick, and without waiting for Mack's next words, or to offer any explanation to the listening idlers round him, he laid the receiver down

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