| 53 country obtain a correct knowledge of the prophet through the religious prints. I apprehend they never will. Those who control the religious prints conceive they know in the premises, that God has not raised up such a prophet; therefore they will not tarnish the columns of their periodicals by publishing any thing favorable to him. While they feel bound to withhold whatever might commend the prophet, to the favorable regards of impartial men, they feel solemnly constrained to advertise the public of all rising heresies. Thus, while our supposed heresies are published from very questionable data, our real virtues are buried in oblivion-We do not murmur: if Jesus the master could not be known in his true character; but said with mingled pity and forgiveness, they know not what they do; we cannot expect better treatment from those who know but little of us while they say much to disadvantage. Paul did the ancient Saints much harm, and wasted them greatly; being ignorant of their true character, and unbelieving as to their doctrines. It is certain that Latter Day Saints have received much harm from those who are ignorant of their character, and unbelieving as to their doctrines. Religious Editors generally know very little of us except what they have learnt [learned] from our enemies. Jesus Christ was entirely stripped of his reputation by his enemies, and was put to death by learned yet ignorant zealots who were too self-wise to be taught by one whom they knew to be an impostor in the start; but those men were mistaken in the character of our Lord; and so are our enemies mistaken in the character and view of the modern prophet. My own personal observation teaches that it is a very difficult matter to instill into the minds of Sectarian Churches a true knowledge of the faith and practice of latter Day Saints. Though one should go among them that was once highly esteemed by them, they are alarmed at his approach; and his virtues are concerned to render him more deserving of a repulse. His influence say they may be formidable, we must not bid him God speed; consequently he is not asked to pray in the family, or public meeting. If he can by great effort get an opportunity to preach, it not thought advisable for any body to go to hear him, lest they should be led away by his errors. Thus, you see Br., how difficult in former and latter days to bring the true faith to the knowledge of men through prejudice. They are prejudged a matter of which they are almost entirely ignorant. This same motion of treating new matters has veiled the Sun in darkness and hung the Prince of Life in agonies. How long shall this treatment of the Saints be persisted in? How long shall prophets be persecuted and slain without being fully known, and the servants of God be excluded from an impartial hearing, when they seek to publish good tidings, even salvation to the inhabitants of the earth? Now let me ask my former friends in the Eastern Churches, with whom I once held sweet intercourse, how it is possible for the latter day Saints to introduce their views among the sectarian churches and the world, with any more favorable reception than the ancient saints had in introducing theirs. Prejudice and persecution faced them down always, and so it is in these days. It is certainly a mistaken idea to suppose that people are much better now than they were anciently when the true gospel was misunderstood and its promoters sincerely account disturbers and heretics worthy of exemplary punishment. But say the wise and great men among the Sectarian Churches, "we do understand the true gospel, and have already embraced it; and it is only error and heresy that we oppose, and the weight of our contempt and ridicule is hurled at impostors and knaves who palm off gross deceptions upon the public and lead captive ignorant zealots by pretended revelations and spurious miracles. But do they not know that substantially the same charge was brought against Jesus Christ and the primitive disciples. But let it be proved that we are what our enemies call us; let us file our respective pleas and come to a speedy and impartial trial; to this our opposers will not consent; they intend to employ all the advantage of education and prejudice to exclude us from a hearing, so did the opposers of the ancient Saints. But I solemnly ask whether it has ever been necessary in any moral enterprize [enterprise] for those who have the truth on their side, especially gospel truth, to defend that truth by foreclosing discussion, and shunning public investigation; and then carry on their depredations by the use of such small arms as ridicules and preconceived objections that need only to be brought to the light, to be dissipated like fog in the meridian Sun.
Do Temperance Lecturers, Bible and Education Agents and other moral reformers find it necessary to carry on their enterprizes [enterprises] by such means? Do they seek to avoid an open and frank discussion with the intemperate portions of community? Do they avoid a manly investigation because the intemperate portions of community confine in their life and conduct beastly sottishness, unprovoked abuse to wives and children a prodigal waste of competence,. and ample fortunes, and the overthrow of intellect, and the dissolution of all moral ties? No, by no means! They seek the broad day light
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