| 89 one hand and a revolver in the other." The speaker (Reverend Mr. Lyford) said, "When a boy he had acquired a talent for close shooting," and he had "consecrated that talent to God, and would exercise it at any molestation," and this sentiment was applauded by that "gray-haired reverend" assembly. Now it is this very "close shooting" and "revolver practice" that we want to abate in Utah. Jesus taught, "If they persecute you in one city, flee to another." (But Mr. Lyford will shoot at any molestation.) "Put up thy sword;" and again, "He that taketh the sword shall perish by the sword."
But what shall we say of the following from Reverend Mr. Fowler, D. D.: "A few Texan outlaws would be God-anointed agents to revolutionize that country, a little backbone on the part of the government authorities would help the case immensely; it could also be helped by the gospel." Texan outlaws! that is "border ruffianism" invoked by missionaries to Utah to reclaim the "murderous Mormons." This is like a temperance lecturer taking "a sniff" and passing the bottle round to his audience before taking the platform to bewail the evils of drunkenness. But the speaker adds, the case in Utah may also be "helped by the gospel."
This combination of "revolvers" and "Texan outlaws" are "the gospel's" auxiliaries in the Chicago "Grand Opera House" scheme for "advancing the cause of Christianity" in Utah! Gentlemen, it won't do. You don't understand the situation. The root of the evil you have not touched, you can not touch it. It is a perverted faith, founded originally upon the Bible and Book of Mormon, involving present revelation; and upon this basis must the Utah question be met.
The efforts of the Reorganization of the church meet the case, and show from the Bible, Book of Mormon, and the revelations in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, that all the false teaching, absurdities and abominations, taught and practiced by the leaders here, are forbidden; and in addition to this, we are able to show from the Book of Mormon and the revelations of Joseph Smith given to the church for a law, that just such a state of things as now exists in Utah was contemplated by the many warnings therein found. And better still, we are able to point out from the same books the means of deliverance, and the blessings that shall follow.
Thus it is that the Reorganization of the church possesses, under God, the key to solve the Utah problem; and that solution will satisfy justice, manifest mercy, and while it will uncover iniquity, will hold up to merited infamy the nest of vipers, who, in the name of God and religion, have outraged justice and humanity; it will vindicate the truth of God as embodied in the doctrines of the "True Latter Day Saints." And in the name of our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, in the name of justice and humanity, we appeal to all good men and women to help.-The, Messenger, vol. 1, p. 6.
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