Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-12-26
A "cHRIsTiAN ORGANIZATIONS


Christmas reading by protested min.
lister Of the Gospel and published In a
daily paper, II IL asserted that "ln
1854 there was not Christian organi.
ration IN Utah"
This Is such broad and sweeping
declaration and is made In such posi-.
tive terms that It calls for some inquiry
~ 10 IT. truth. Aui ~ the Latter-day
Saints, n religious body, had inhabited
those valleys over since isi7, the state.
men, carries the declara ton that these
early settlers either were not Chrls-
tlans or that they had no
church organization. II Is not the
first time that an attempt has
been made 10 exclude the Latter.day
Saints,or Enormous, ," from the pale Of
Christianity. Coming at this sea8on Of
the year and on the day Of good will to
all men, It bvtrays lack Of the true
Christian spirit which Is particularly
striking.
The people who Il rat planted clviliza
tlon on that portion Of Mexican soil
which was afterwards called Utah, were
not only citizens Of the United states
and believers IN the mission and divi.
nifty Of Jesus Christ, but they were
organized Ms theChurch Of Jesus Christ
OF Laiter.day Saints, which had existed
under that title for many years. Ia 1854
there were large number Of meeting
houses which were used and had been
dedicated forChurch purposes, In which
God tho Eternal Father was wor.
shipped, every Sabbath day ut least, in
the name OF Jesu, Christ. This IL be.
yond dispute, 20 that settles the qucs.
ton ms to whether there was religious
organization In Utah previous to 1854.
Hut was II Christian organization?
Lot us see. What constitutes Chris.
tisn organization? That might be
answered la different way by each
protesting Christian denomination. II
would not do to let each sect determine
as TO whether other scots claiming to
be Christian were really Christian or
not. There must be some general
definition which would fairly cover
the ground OF inquiry. IL not that u
"Chtislian organization" In n general
sense, which Is lormed Tor the purpoie
OF promoting Christian doctrine and
worship ana observance according 10
the best understanding Of Its members?
Ifso, how can the Church Of Jesus
Christ Of Littor.day Saints he ex.
cludcd from the category Of Christian
organizations.
The very name Of Il II suggestive OF
lie character. Its existence Is dc.
pendent on tho fact OF alleged revela.
tions from God through Jesus Christ 10
Joseph Smith, aud the purported ii.
rcction Of the son Of God Ia all the az.
fairs Of the Church. Il claims to have
been act up and organized and gov.
erned under Christ's immediate In.
siruclions. Does not this give II n
right 10 at least the mans Of "Chrlstian
organization"
"Bu,," II may be objected, 1--WE do
not believe there was any such revela.
ton M pretended, hut that the
whole matter was either n dolusion
ora fraud." What OF that? The belief
or disbelief Of any number Of opponents
Will not alter the truth. And II they
are right, the fact remains that the
members Of the Church In question do
verify believe 1t IL the true Church OF
CbrAi, that they have Joined Il a.
such, that they have proven the sln.
ceriiy oithcir faith beyond controversy
aud tat they do all things ia their
Church In His holy name. SO whether
they are mistaken or not they belong
to Christian" Church a. much at
least M the members u ny other body |
protesting 10 be Christian. Ina general |
sense, then, they cannot be Justly de.
MED the title Of a "Chrlstian orEaniza. |
tion.n
when we come to the question Of
what 10 truly Christian In doctrine or
organization, We enter upon wide
Held Of controversy. What has the
Catholic to say Of tho Protestant, the |
various contendlug sect, OF each other
ON this point? We need not 20 to |
jerusalem whore the Mussulman sol.
diery have to guard tho Holy Sepul.
ohre and, by force OF arms, prevent
"Christians," OF opposing sects, from
tearing each other to pieces on the
spot sacred to the Prince Of Peace, for
an answer to this question. II
can be illustrated much nearer 10
home, AMI receive reply IA some Of
tile articles written from seclarian
standpoint for home Christmas read.
Ing.
But the Latter.day Saints believe In
Jesus Christ as the Son Of God and the
Savior OF mankind, in His divine |
earthly birth, in His sacrifice for sin,
Ia His resurrection from the dead, and !
In His ascension into heaven as the |
Great Mediator. They have living
faith In His personal second ad. |
vent In the near future. They are
baptized In His name, they partakr Of
the Lords Supper as sacrament
every Sunday, they have their chill.