By this time they had reached the home of Mr. Marshall, and after supper, preparations were made for the evening gathering.
CHAPTER XI.
A PLEASANT INTERVIEW.
In the evening Elder Durant not only had the pleasure of meeting all his old friends of the previous visit, but was honored with the presence of a large number of persons whom he had not seen before. Some of them had attended the meeting he held in the Town Hall on his first visit, while others had only heard of him through the Marshalls.
When all were comfortably seated in the large dining room, Mr. Sutherland by way of introducing the missionary to his new friends, said:
"My friends and neighbors, we have assembled here this evening for the purpose of listening to Mr. Durant on the religious faith of a people who claim to have the keys of a new dispensation committed to them. If their claim is correct, then it is of the utmost importance to the whole human race. If God has indeed spoken from the heavens, it is the duty of His children to listen; on the other hand, if this claim of the Mormons be founded on a myth, then it is our duty to do all in our power to disprove their declarations, and deny that they have any divine commission whatever to proclaim the principles of salvation. You who have the privilege of listening to him will know whether his arguments are sound and scriptural, or otherwise; and can therefore exercise the right, which you all have, of judging for yourselves. We will, therefore, ask our friend from the valleys of the West to give us, in as few words as possible, an outline of what Mormonism teaches, after which all may act with the utmost freedom in asking questions upon anything the gentleman may say, or upon any principle believed in by his people. Now, Mr. Durant, we are anxious to hear you, and you will find us attentive listeners."
The Elder arose and in a few well-chosen words expressed his thanks to the Marshalls for their kindness, as well as to Mr. Sutherland, and all his friends who had taken an interest in him. He was pleased to answer questions pertaining to his faith, and with all sincerity bore testimony that the Mormons were less understood by the people of this and other nations than any other sect in Christendom. Their mission is one of "peace on earth and good will to man," not withstanding they had been represented as having objects quite the reverse.
Their faith teaches the reason why man is here in this probation; whence man came, and whither he goes, after his departure by death. It teaches that the destiny of man is mighty, that his exaltation is to be great; that what man is, God once was; that what God is, man can be.
"Mormonism teaches men to believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost, who bears record of them forever.
"As a people, we believe that all mankind, through the transgression of our first parents, were brought under the curse and penalty for transgression; but that through the atoning sacrifice, sufferings, and death of Jesus Christ, all are to be redeemed from any effects of original transgression; that 'as by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men unto condemnation; even so, by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto the justification of life.' (Rom. v: 18.)