Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-09-15

different on these tuhjocta.
Along the lines Of moral progress anu
development 30 much depends upon
the policy Of the Mormon Church that
" IA In order To inquire what that pol.
icy il 10 be. Thp Motmons have
adopted the policy OF political assimil'
alton; to what extent will they enforce
policy Of religious isolatlon2
The Mormons may refrain from
moral re- possibility In the government
and among the people. This has boen
the policy Of what may bc called the
state churches generally throughout
the world. And the Motmlns may.
n these state churches have done, con.
fine their cii6rts within the church,
and even then 10 the religious cultivn-
ton Of their people, without regard 10
their moral development. They may
strive 10 hind their people IN the
church, without striving u elevate
them intellectually, socially, or NOR
ally. Such coursc j. possible. Is u
gisoi lsit Christian
God hes laid On the Church some
responsibility for the morals VI thu
people. THE sermon on the Mount Is
moral reform practically applied IA the
name Of religion and M the onc aim u
religion for this life. When the
Church ncglects the morals Of the
people the State will neglect them, and
decay IL the Inevitable result. Christ
SAID 10 the disciples, eye are the Hight
u the world" "ifthu light that Il Ia
thee be darkness, how great IL that
darkness" "lOu aru the salt u the
earth. But II the salt has lost IT, ayor
u Ia thenceiOfth good for nothing but
TO be- troddon under foot Of men"
Tho religion of n people II worthless
" u does not serve NJ n HIGHT In the
world, aud as an element 70 preserve
and promote good morals aud virtue,
AZ no stream can rise higher than
Its source, 20 the morals OF n people
viii never rise higher than their to-
ligion.
When the people govern thcmsclyc,
they are responsible 10 the extent 0l
this Influence aud power, and numrrl.
| cally responsible ~ u voter aud ilctOl
In the government.
II j. 10 matter " great concern 10 all
Of the people what the policy Of the
Mormon Church Ia 20 be on the mora
i-sues OF the times. And u u u mattel
/ Of importance 10 the Mormon Church
Itself what position II takes In regard &
the morals Of it, own people. II thai
| Church keeps H. own people alrcaHl
OF the best civilization Of the times, IN,
words 0f the people viii add strength
TO tho Church. II It. people Conuuu'
! ally renew their spiritual life, anu
/ really enjoy the pfu,ence Of tho llOly
/ Spirit and the hlptism " divine power
! tie Church will not only endure but Il
will be a blessing 10 the community
Hut II u negiects The morals Of II. pu1,
I pie aud turns Ia fables instead % facts
and is satisfied with the forms Of rcll
/ gion without the faith which brings /,
the soul eternal life, then viii thai
| Church be- u hindmnce rather than !
help IN the moral and social develop
mrnt 0f the people Of this Territory.
To Illustrate. No moral issue nov
before the American people Is O
1 greater Importance than the tumper
Ancn question. In some Of tue States
where the moral standard Ia high ant
the religion Of the people reaches tC
their social life, prohibition u TN
liquor traillc prevails, IL ~ now con
coded that prohibition and total ah,tin
euce Il the only safe ground 70
Christians 10 take ON this subject. No
all Christians In the nation viii vot,
for prohibition now, but they all bc
llove II TO he rlghtas soon ~ they cau
sec II 10 bc practicable. How does tn,
Mormon Church stand on this subject
How viii the Mormon people vote,
au opportunity il given them to vot
on the temperance question?
This IA but one question of the man!
which must come before the PEOPLE q
this Territory. Politicians Try 10 kce
moral issues out Of politics. They r.!
10 settle all questions on simply a busl
ness basis, aud ignore the moral etlec
Of legislation. But no state H. mon
than half civilized which does not to
gard the morals Of the people Of M
pfemo Importance, and 20 plain thu
temporal prosperity shall be au aid :
virtue.
In communities where moral Issue
are hufoto the people, the best result
have been secured generally whore al
churches have uuitet the strength q
their members Ia favor OF the goo
sought. Public meetings have bee
held when the people OF all churches
anu thosn belonging To no churcl
have come together 10 ditcuss the sui
Ject before the people. We know thu
Mormon people have united with nor
MormOns In the discussion Of politics
questions they do az much ,
more Tor the social and moral progto
VI the people of Utah2
when kansa. nnd Nebraska weI
struggling 'or statehood the great qur
tlon was whether they should com
Into the Union ~ free States or as slaN
states. The question NJ statehood WI
a political question. Hut the questlO
~ 10 the kind OF states they thOuld |
was a moral question aud settled h
moral forces. The Southern states sci
10 those Territories desperate men
seize that soil for slavery. New Eni
laud aud the Western Statea poured
men Of character aud courage TO hol
the land for freedom. IL was bit,
struggle. hut ~ u result Of II knnsi
ana Nebraska came In Us free States.
Not long ago the DnkOtas we
knocking at the door of the nation I,
admission. hut those Territories la
echoed with the ol0quence Of tempe
ancs orators, ami every home la
heard the appeal 10 save the Dakoti
for temperance-and the Dakotas we
saved.
The question Is now being asked, |
Utah ready Tor stntohOOd2 Aud th
answer will be given that the people
Utah win ho willing 10 accept the &
sponsibillties OF a sovereign state, ~
u those who are seeking the welfa
-.