Life, 1916-02-10 · page 37 of 44
Life — February 10, 1916 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines a serious editorial critique with period advertisements. **"Helping Out the Mormon"** is a satirical commentary on the Mormon church's foundational claims. It reports that Bishop Spaulding obtained Egyptian documents Joseph Smith allegedly used to create the Book of Mormon. When real scholars translated them, they revealed only ordinary religious texts—prayers to the sun-god—contradicting Smith's claims of divine revelation. The piece compares Mormon institutional power to the German Empire: both rest on fabricated authority. The satire's point: Mormonism's rigid organizational control depends entirely on Smith's false translation; exposing this fraud could undermine the entire structure. The page also includes two period advertisements (Kissel ALL-YEAR Cars and Old Overholt Rye whiskey) and brief filler items on railway fatalities and wartime Belgian civilians. The satire reflects early 20th-century skepticism toward Mormon claims while respecting their organizational efficiency—a backhanded compliment typical of *Life's* irreverent style.
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Helping Out the Mormon iu is disclosed in the papers that Bishop Spaulding (Episcopal), of Utah, has been able to get from the Mormon elders copies of the Egyptian documents out of which Joseph Smith claimed to have derived the novelties in the Mormon Bible, and has had them translated by real scholars. They have turned out to be very ordinary documents, prayers to the sun-god and such things, and to contain no sign of such a story as Smith pretended to derive from them. The papers say the younger Mormons have taken no- tice of this discrepancy to the dismay of their elders, and that it is one thing that led to the recent flare-up in the University of Utah, when four Gentile professors were dismissed and fourteen members of the faculty re- signed in protest. This looks like an important step toward the peaceful reclamation of the Mormons. The Mormon religion is as vulnerable as the Mormon organiza- tion is efficient. It is a case like that of the German Empire, where a prodigious machine has been built up on the divine right of the Hohenzol- lerns. The Mormons have built a great industrial organization on the power of their church to exact obedience. Their whole edifice rests on Smith's bogus translation of the Egyptian books which he is said to have bought from a sea cay OLD Overholt Rye and quinine is an unfailing remedy in curing colds and pre- venting serious developments. Old Overholt Re “Same for 100 years” proves invaluable and saves many a doctor's bill. It pos- sesses decidedly strengthen- ing qualities and should be in f the home, at all times, for emergencies. Aged in the wood, bottled in bond. A.Overbolt &Co.Pittubursh,Pa, eUuaseocenctonrecct rh HEN next you're wading through slush to board a trolley and your neighbors pass in a com- fortable ALL-YEAR Car— Just register a vow that your next automobile will be a Kissel—the original convertible car —the only ALL-YEAR Car. What’s the use of being without a car at the time when you most Own a Car You Can Use Now need one—now. For it really serves a more useful purpose in winter than in summer. And if it's a Kissel ALL-YEAR Car it won't cost you much more than an open car alone. No expense to make the change in spring—no expert help needed — it can be done in your own garage. KISSELKAR. EVERY INCH A CAR Kissel ALL-YEAR Cars, both Coupe-Roadster and Touring-Sedan, are mounted on the 32-Four chassis at $1450 and onthe 42-Six chassis at $1950, $2000 and $2100. Without the winter tops these models are $1050 to $1750. Write for literature. Necessity It_will surprise. nearly everyone to learn that in the United States last year five thousand persons were killed while walking on railroad tracks.—Kansas City Star. HEY had to walk somewhere. They had probably tried city Civilians shoot out of every house and behind every thick bush upon every German.—A German doctor about the Belgian peasants. HAT is what you would be likely to do if an armed burglar invaded your home without your permission streets and country roads and thought O, Clara, outstripping one’s rival their chances were better on railroad does not necessarily mean a tracks. better showing.” comicbooks.com