Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-10
OPERATIONS OF TRUTH AND
INTELLIGENCE.

In doing this he necessarily becomes
an oddity among his fellows, the
rule Of the world being to allow
personal conduct to be controlled by
external circumstances, without
giving a great deal of concern about
its reference to truth. In other
words, what seems TO be right, or is
generally viewed as night, is ordi-
narily deemed to he all that is ne
cessary for individual guidance.
The reason for this common con-
dition is that people, as q rale-pro-
Tossing Christians not excepted
live more with a view to the en-
ioyment of the transitory benefits
Of time than the imperishable bless
Ings Of eternity, which are INSOFAR
able from Obedience to truth.
No theological system in existence
defines the whole duty OF man as
clearly as does the philosophy intro
duced in this generation through
Joseph Smith. Ii insists that all
things are governed by law, and
therefore cannot be sustained or
sanctified short Of obedience to it.
In one Of the revelations given
through him, the following, which
conveys n great truth, occurs:
That which Is governed by law is
also preserved by law. and perfected
and sanclifed by the same"
Hence the pursuit Of the true
Christian is knowledge Of the laws
of truth AMI personal conformity to
their requirements when the infor-
maiion is obtained.
An examination Of the revela-
tons gwen through Joseph Smith
demonstrates the harmony with it.
self of what was enumerated by him.
Here, for instaace,. is q statement
made in another connection aud at
a different time than when the ex-
preston regarding the preservative
anI sanctifying quality OF Law
which is another term for truth
was given:
There is 4 law irrevocably decreed
in heaven before the foundation of this
world. upon which all blessings are
predicaied; and when we obtain any
blessing from God, il is by obedience
to that law upon which it is predicat-
ed"
How prominently this exhibits
thejustioe of God, who has provid-
ed no royal road to heaven, reach
ing the celestial Kingdom and par
tieipating in its glories being the
result OF obedience 10 law, upon
which such an attainment is based.
Trsth and intelligence, or the
light Of truth, are Independent and
active agents, operating in unison
for the rectiieation ofal conditions |
in conflict with themselves. This |
view, which opens vast field for |
intelligent contemplation, is ex-
pressed by the Prophet thus:
"All truth IS independent in that
sphere in which God has placed it. to
act FOR Itself. as all intelligence also.
otherwise there is no existence
Inauother revelation the activity |
and claims Of truth are beautifully |
referred 10, as follows;
Mercy hath compassion on mercy, !
and ciaimeth her own; justice con-
tinue,h Its course and claimeth its
cwn; judgment goeth before the face
Of Him who stitch upon the throne,
and goveTneth and exeeuleth all
things"
This refers to the operation of
three great truths, mercy. justice
and Judgment, each having a clear
ly defined sphere, az God has placed
it, in which to act. That which is
entitled TO mercy, whose claims are
isssed on equitable conditions, OBJ
tains her, as judgment will respond
70 her righteous demand. So with
justice, which retains that on which
mercy has no hold, Judgment rec
ognizing the debt due it by that
which has invaded its domain, or.
on the other hand, the credit which
has accrued through n course of con
formity to its conditions.
Justice is Of a two-fold character,
administrative and receptive. That
is to say, it is every mans duty to
administer it in every transaction Of
life; it is also every mans due to re-
eeive it. There is a duty on the re-
ceptive as well as the administrative
side Of the question. ForsinstanUe
IL man is convinced that Justice
has not been melted out 10 him, it
becomes his duty to make an ex-
PLANTATION Of the fact TO him or those
who have failed in that respect.
Thus he directs attention Of the
Offending person to a fact of which
he may not have been aware. Its
not Necessary as 4 rule that the re-
sistance should go beyond an ex-
hibit OF the merits OF the matter, as
eau be safely LEFT to the
operations Of the Col Of truth, whose
economy reaches closer into the de-
tails Of existence than is ordinarily
understood The explanation and
request relieves the wronged indi.
vidual from any responsibility Of
aiding in the prevalence Of mi Justice
by inactive acceptance Of its condi-
lions.
The Latter-day Saints are rpe- q
cialiy commanded 10y the voice Of 1
revelation 10 act upon this prin- Q
ciple. 1t IS made their duty to u
pacificaily resist, by intelligent re- ?
the encroachments Of d
injustice upon them. Hence the :
junction in relation to the petition
ing Of the powers that be, according :
10 their relative stations, graded up Il
% the chief rulers, for redress OF n
grievances. II the result is a refusal d
% do justice, the latter, as an indie o
pendent active agent in the sphere 6
n which God has placed it, viii. tC
N unison with the light OF truth. Il
isser; its claim and smash those who d
nave invaded its rights. Hence the =
Lord says, in substance, ga fter max %
ng an exhibit Of your wrengs to
hose who have the poyer 10 rectifv >