Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-22
How II Is Received.

The Ogden Herald OF yesterday has the
following TO say editorially concerning the
course OF Bishop Sharp in promising to
obey the law Perhaps il is needless TO
say that the Herald is n strongly ortho-
dox Mormon paper, and its utterances ON
this special subject may be looked upon
rs semi-oflicial:
"The unexpected pleading OF Guilty
OF unlawful cohabitation which Bishop
John Sharp entered before the Third Dis
trict Court in Salt Lake City on the 18th
instant has made something OF sensa-
ton throughout Utah. Bishop
John Sharp has long been prominently
! identified with the Mormon church.
Through the favor OF the Almighty he
| has heen blessed with wonderful success.
Riches, honors, and the universal respect
OF all who knew him were the rewards
which he had won by noble career OF
industry, rectitudc and devotion TO his re-
ligion. But in the life OF every conspic-
uous man there comes great decisive
crisis which either crowns him with
everlasting glory. or blghts his life
sadly, according to the way in
which he meets the great issue be-
fore him. In our opinion Bishop John
Sharp has lost the grand opportunity Of
all his life time. II may perhaps be said
that he has done nothing worse than to
acknowledge the supremacy OF mans
laws over the laws OF Omnipotence, and
his act in pleading guilty to the charge OF
cohabitation with his wives, and his
promise to obey the Edmunds law in
the future and to abstain from advising
others to practice cardinal tenet of his
religion may be and truly s greatly pal
lated by circumstances. Nevertheless
he can in no wise be justified. Ii we are
to accept the sacred dictates of the Bible,
which even all the Christian world pro-
iesses to believe, ii cannot be denied that
God intended that His word should be
the law OF man and that all human lcgis-
lative enactmcnts should be based
upon Holy Writ; or in other
words, that the world is TO conform
to the Bible and not the Bible to the
world. Whoever, therefore, places the
law of man above the revealed law OF
God and yields passively 10 the enforce
ment OF II human enactment which is in
direct conflict with the law OF God, errs
grievously, although he may be consci
entious in so doing. That Bishop SharI
has thus erred seems clear; for by stating
that he will obey the Edmunds law "unti
an overriding Providence shall deere,
greater religious liberation in the land,
he tacitly admits that the Edinunds Law
is unjust and in violation with the SACRED
tenets OF his God-given religion. But il
cxtenuation Of the Bishops error in th
particular there is much to be said
He is now venerable with the fros
OF years, and six months imprison
ment in the Utah Pcnitentiary, consider
ing his present condition OF ill-health
would probably have dragged him speed
lily into a premature grave. He has ais
large business interests which would sui
: fer without his constant attention, AM
many other circumstances doubles
had much weight in influencing hi
action. But all this does not Justify him
Ii he had not wavered, his course woul'
have been proportionally the more illus
trious by reason OF the very great weigh
OF the cross which ho would have bee
compelled TO bear for Christ's sake. Go
had blessed him with an abundance O
this worlds treasures and prospered hin
beyond all ordinary measures. "Tt
whom much is given much is required.
But when the Almighty Ruler of al
human destiny presented His draft job
Sharp failed to respond, albeit he neve
dishonored draft Of any kind before I'm
til this was presented to him by the ham
OF Persecution demanding Imprisonment
and martyrdom on account OF the caus
> OF God to whom he owed all things, A
a man OF ability and integrity VIC hay
highly respected Bishop John Sharp pei
, sonally. His character, as we have I'M
derstood it, has been above all rcproac
I and study OF his career has ELECTED on
our unqualified admiration, and We there
, fore regret the more deeply that by on
unquestionable error he should now los
an opportunity 10 round out and perieC
his life in undiminished splendor.
We do not see how any Mormon ca
afford TO place himself in Bishop job
, Sharp's present position. His many vii
I, tues are worthy Of imitation, but the on
, great fault of even an eminent man lils
y. him should be n warning TO all the faith
I ful that they may avoid the rocky shoa
/ where the strong and splendid craft
, stranded when just about to enter tn
! harbor OF final safety after long an
prosperous voyage