Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 June 1908 — MORMON ELDERS HERE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MORMON ELDERS HERE.

Eight of these live “Mormons” will again visit Rensselaer Saturday and Sunday, June 13-14, to preach their doctrine on the streets. Their zeal as well as their manner of doing Missionary work deserves the attention of every thoughtful person. A few months ago these young men were busy in the shops, on the farm, and in the schools, surrounded by all the ties of home, the pleasures of youth, and the aspirations of budding manhood. Today they are walking two and two through the country between here and Goodland, many hundred miles from home. They are traveling as Christ sent his apostles of old out, without “purse and script.” Why are these young men here? Is it for money? Is it for praise and honor? Is there some sinister motive, or is it a genuine religious conviction? The best solution of these questions will be found in the Elders themselves, an acquaintance with them, a study of their faces, habits and of their doctrine. Thinking people will take advantage of this opportunity to study a system that is attracting world-wide attention. Elder W. M. Barratt and R. J. Murdock are here arranging for the coming conference. “As for money we do not receive a penny from our church or from collections.” We not only pay our fare out here, but pay for the tracts we distribute freely and sell our books at exactly the publisher’s price. We are nick-named “Mormons" through holding the Book of Mormon to he of divine origin, which is a history of ancient America for a period of 2250 B. C. to 421 A. D., and God’s hand dealing with this people. The book was written fey nineteen different prophets on the hemisphere. The man Morm&n was one of the last and he made an abridgment of the records prior to his time. Thus the. Book took its name from this abridgment.

AGATHA FIRST.