Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-10-20
sACRtLIGIOUs.

II IL common to urge that the heat Of
apolltical campaign, the zeal Of party
workers, aud the enthusiasm Of stump
speakers, mitigate the ofiensiveness Of
language and sentiments which, under
other circumstances, would be unen-
durable. But feature has developed
more or less prominently during the
present campaign In this Territory
which Ia not to be- excused on these
nor any other grounds. We refer u
the fiippAnt use which political speak.
era and writer's make Of the name OF
the Almighty, and their attempts at
sxpounding tue Divine will or Divine
manifestations In respect TO politics.
It's very well understood, without
ne well as within the Church TO which
majority ofthe people Of this Terri
tory belong, that its members arc IN
the habit OF seeking light and wis ON
from a source higher than human Ia.
telligence, whenever they are ia doubt
NJ 10 the course OF action they should
take In respect 10 matters Of serious
moment; henov this strong appeal, TO
the sentiment on which this haiti Is
founded, which arc made by men who
seek to influence or win the support u
members Of the Church referred TO.
III the hope OF securing votes,
political speakers, In several instances
to which our attention has been d.
Tected, and IN reports Of speeches
which we have read from various
parts Of the Territory, have gone 20 far
beyond the ordinary ami proper realm
OF political debate, MS TO present this or
that candidate as n "ohosen instfu.
ment OF Providence" and TO attempt to
convince their hearers that It was the
will Of the Deity that voters should
support certain men, platforms OF
political doctrines.
According to our view, such talk |
-s.sIn ,Scspoliucai rosIfum is In the
utmost degree Jacrellgious. Not even
the exigencies OF holly contested
political campaign viii justify Latter.
day Saint In INDUCING in It, or listen.
ing TO II with patience; and second
thought will show to any member Of the
Church that he IL under no obligAtioa
10 receive, nm binding upon his CON
duct or conscience, alleged expeditions |
OF tho will Of the Creator, that cmanate
from the political stump. The word Of
tho Lord does not come 10 the Latter
day Saints through any such channel.
The highest human authority TO
which tho LA,,er.day Saints are under
obligation, by virtue Of their Church
membership anu religious professions,
TO look for counsel, has suggested TO
them, distinctly and repeatedly, to in
vostigate for themselves M individuals
the teachings OF all political parties
exlAnt IN the country, aud the merits
aud capabilities OF the Candidates they
respectively put forth, ~ then vote
according 10 the conscientious convic-
tons which are produced by such in'
vestigation. They have been advised
To be- pure and to keep aloOf from the
evils anu abuses that usually charAc-
erize electoral campaigns. Farther
han this there has been no announce
ment OF the will OF the LORD upon tbs
subject; aud we trust our readers Will
take early and constant opportunity 10
Iebuko with all severity every attempt
thus to use the sacred name, either by
comparison " inIimauou, IN the realm
Of the scramble. Such line u argu.
ment should be- entirely abandoned; II
10 improper from every standpoint
anu ought TO meet with the coudemua-
ton Il NIL who arc opposed to seeing
that which Is holy dragged In mire
and flth. There Ia neither wit NOR
logic 10 It, anu It Is au insult TO the IA.
telllgenco OF the EuuiIOTs, most OF
whom, In tubs Territory at least, have
far more respect anu reverence Tor
sacred thiugs anu names than they
have desire for the success of any
political party or candidate.