Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-05-12

HUMAN AND DIVINE LAWS.

Did it never occur to the people OF
Utah that they are running an altogether
too sharp distinction between human
laws and divine? Has it never dawned
upon their understanding that human
laws, the same laws which stand upon
our national statute books and are being
enforced by the Federal courts
OF this Territory to-day, are moth
ing less than the translation OF
divine laws, and their special application
to the exigencies of human life? Ii the
great mass of the people OF this modern
Zion would but stop to think a moment,
how could they help being brought to II
full realization of this great truth-the
recognition OF which would bo as bright
light set upon an eminence TO guide their
steps Alright through the surrounding
mists oi error and superstition.
When a community OF people profess
willingness to so order their lives that
their conduct will meet with divine ap-
proval, the sincerity of their profession
can best be tested by the obedience they
render TO the laws of the land No
National statute exists in America
to-day that has not really received
its vital element from the will or
mind of God himself Through infinite
Mistakes through infinite sufferings,
through all manner OF dwarfing influ-
ences, mankind could not be withheld
from the force that has perpetually lifted
them up and on and pushed them for
ward, and they have found out as they
progressed, that the results of human ex-
perience, as made known in social Gus
toms, in civil law, in great commercial
elements, are the laws Of God In the
growth OF mankind we have come to such
u stage that things which are absolutely
new may be divine laws, notwithstand-
ing; that is to say, they are found
by experience to promote the well
fare OF individual life, of social life,
and OF national life; and whatever does
good to man has the presumption
in it that it is the divine will /;
and whenever anything that does good to
man, on being tried among all civilized
nations and under all conditions in
which men live together, is found to
prove everywhere and always beneficial,
then we have indications of the divine
will, just US much us if it had been pro-
claimed amidst thunder and lightning,
and spoken by the voice OF God from the
heights Of Mount Sinai The final results
OF human experience, as embodied in
the laws OF the land, are divine voli-
tions-the manifestations OF Gods
thoughts and Gods will among men.
These are truths which the people OF
Utah will do well to ponder The Ameri-
can people have declared that certain
practices common in this Territory which
are subversive OF the general welfare,
must cease. This mandate, it is true, is
not preiaced with "Thus saith the
Lord" nor is it pretended to have been
received by men who claim 10 be in per-
sonal communication with God Almighty,
but it comes to us through medium
which can no more be discredited than
can the commands in Holy Writ, and
that medium is the Congress OF the
United States, body Of men representa-
tive of the American people, whose voice
is the voice OF the only God with whom
We have to do when dealing with matters
which affect our welfare as u nation.