Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-31

J notwithstanding these pam uecla
rations, It is represented that tn
Church sets itself above secular Law
and treats man-made laws as no
binding upon its members. Ther'
is no reason for such a statement
anu though many persons who re
peat it no doubt believe it, the Origin
Of the falsehood may BE- traced +
artful and intentional perverters o
the truth.
In this connection il is pertinen
70 notice one of the articles Of tn,
United Presbyterian Church c
America. We do not hear charge
OF treason, or rebellion, or settin!
the Church above the State, agains
/ the Prgsbytcrians- But the follow
ing quotation, if it appeared as ont
of !be tenets OF the "Mormon'
Church, would arouse n tumul
that would sweep through thu
/ land Ike 4 tornado ami threaten {,
! tear up the 'AIomon" system
Ioot and branch. This is part Of th,
Presbyterian Testimony:
article l3-That the law Of God il
supreme in its authority and obliga
tons, and where commands of churel
and state conflict We are to obey Goo
rather than man"
Now, is there anything alleged
against the Mormon" creed, in thi,
direction, that is more emphatic 4:
/ to the superiority OF the divine law
to human law than this integral
part Of Presbyterianism2 We do moi
wish, at present, 70 enter into the
merits 81 the question involved in
this declaration. To many mind:
the proposition will appear be-
youI controversy. Others may
view it in a different
light. Whatever may be said on
the supremacy Of ''the law Of God, =
it is clear that the Presbyterian
creed puts the commands of the
church, aoove those Of the State.
This places the Presbyterian church
on a level with Deity ami demands
from its members their "first ale.
glance"
The President OF the United States
is an ordained Elder in that church
and is understood to be 2 consistent
aud devoug votaTy at its shrine.
VIII some auti-'Mormon' RepubIi-
can show the difference in the doe
trine euunciated in this article Of
the Presidents creed and the al
legged principle Of the "AIormon''
Elders faith which creates so much
agitation?
"AIormonism" nowhere puts the
Church above the State. It recog-
nizes the independence Of each in
its own sphere. The "Mormon''
Church, 10 matter what may be
said 10y its naligGers, does not at
tempt to enact civil laws or in
dict civil penalties. Its extreme
punishment. for criminal conduct
Of any intr8eti2n OF its rules and
covenants Is exclusion from its fell
II does not say that any
law Of the Land shall be violated,
nor does it expel any person for
)be4ieEce 10 any law Of the land.
Men belonging 70 the Church
have stated, some Of them in open
sour., that they regarded the law Of
God Is superior to human law. But
they have not claimed that the
Church or any of its edicts is con-
trary or superior to the established
laws Of their country. liza man sim
cerely believes a purpoIted revela-
ton to be a commandment Of God to
him, i is reasonable 10 suppose ne
viii enGeayOr to obey it, NJ matter
what may be the earthly conse-
IueHces. But the Church is not the
Almighty, neither is any man in 1t
considered TO be the Deity.
Contrast the articles Of the two
I8iths, the Mormon and the
Presbyterian, F." and the latter will
be found far more emphatic and
pronounced Is to the exalted sphere
IF the Church and TO place it, in
effect, above the civil law.
How can a Presbyterian Judge
D. other secular official, or preacher
3- editor ccrdemn 4 MORMON,
who regards what he considers a
Irvine law rs superior TO human
aw, and at the same time endorse
he Presbyterian Testimony with its
thirteenth article, rs given above?
But consistency rarely enters into
.uy deuunciatiom Of ''Mormonism',
n proceedings against the ''Alor-
mons" Comparisons are said to be
'dious. No doubt a comparison Of
What the ''MormonD Church de-
.lsres in reference to the State and
What the Presbyterian Church
.laims in the same connection will
'e odious TO the members OF the
alter, and what Is sauce for the one
.Iil not Ire conceded As sauce for the |
ther. Yet it is worthy Of con-
ider5 i5n ami ought to put a stop
D the sens eiess clamor on this point |
t iess; from Presbyterian sources.