Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-03-04

without price. II we are spurned. we
do not prosecute those who spurn US
II they prosecute Us. we do not retail
ate. We believe II Is our duty to follow
thu Injunction Of Jesus;
When mon shall revilc you. and per-
aecute you. and shall say all manner
Of evil against you falsely Tot my
sake. rejoice. and be exceeding gladi
for great ~ your reward In heaven,
for 80 prosecuted they the Prophets
which were before YOU
We believe that II II our duty to beat
these things patiently. because when
men take the erroneous position of op-
posing US unjustly. pointing the hntcr
Of scorn ut ua. and rcitefnting false
hoods devised by those who have oNil
designs and selfish motives TOT the
purpose Of giving the i.1ttcr-day Saints
a bad name, we can afford To Wat TOT
the vindlcatiOn that God VIII always
bring to those who love the truth ana
serve Him. We know that when men
do wrong they will be held responsible
aud will have TO meet II before the
Judgment seat Of the Almighty. aud W.
con afford to wait. This II the chari-
~ that We are seeking To cultivate In
our hearts Let me ask you "a qucs-
tion. In all the history of this church
which will Ne fixty-nine years 81 nEc
on the 9Th Of Aprii-whcn did you ever
ind a disposition among this people 10
wrong other people. or to derrociatc
the principles That others held GEAR
when did YOU ever md IN the church
"a disposition to he unjust and to de-
prive men Of their rights. or 10 bring
oppression or ignomihy upon hcinf
say that an instnnc" In our history
wher. the church has been guilty of
such conduct towards our fellow be-
ings cannot be pointed out On ~.
other hand lot me ask you. when did
ever the results ~ this system which
100 have embraced. and which our souls
are convinced has cfnnnntcd from God
by revelation, and II In harmony with
tho religion Instituted by the Savior
when did our obedience 10 this system
ever bring anything bad 10 mnnkindi
when did u over induce anybody TO
Ne idlc7 when ala u ever Induce any
body to be uncieanT when did II ever
induce anybody 20 lack faith In Cod
When did II ever induce anybody 60
be unehnptc, or unvittuous, or In any
manner 60 exhibit those traits
OF character which are dchasinR ana
dcmoralizing In their nn;urcf
wish 20 invite the cioscst scrutiny and
investigation " people not OF our faith.
Of the teachings contained m these sa-
cred rccordH-thc Book Of Mormon. and
Doctrine and Covenants. and the Bible;
for the bible " our Bible. We love and
cherish II. II N the same Unlocking
James translatlon-that IL found In
every Protestant pulpit and IN every
Protestant family IN ovcry. Christian
nation under heaven. | wish Co invite
YOU To read the revelations which have
boon given 10 the Prophet Joseph
Smith 10 see n you can Rrccriain any
evil In them " YOU can ~" that by a
practical Observance ~ them any dis
astrouS results would come 10 mankind.
And I viii venture 10 say that II you
will take M this Investigation honest
iy. and follow II out carefully from be-
ginning tu end. you viii arise from that
Investigation with the testimony that "
the i.utter-day Saints VIII cNempllfy In
their conduct the principles contained
IN those sacred volumes they are bound
10 BE- a good people. a people OF honor
a people % Industry. people OF intcR-
rity, and a people ~ loyalty tO IN. In
atitutlonB Of our government of which
We form a part. concerning which We
say that God Inspired our patriot ia
theirs 10 lay the foundations Of liberty
wide and broad and deep, that the
downtroddcn aud oppressed IN every
land and cline might come o. this
country and nnd an asylum ~ peace.
where they could worship God accord
ing TO the dictates ~ conscience.
Now. have departed from my sub
icct. I commenced o. say that the Lat
tcr.dny Saints do not deny the power NJ
God, though We have n form ~ godli-
ness. We have the principle NJ faith
the principle Of repentance. (which nrc
more than formsl and We have the Or
dlnancc of baptism. the form Of which
~ Immersion. one object Is the rclnis-
sion OF sins. that IN not the only OBJ
icct. We have form ~ the
Imposition OF hands. after the
ancient pattern. Tor the reception ~ the
Holy Ghost iiut We do not deny the
power of God We do not deny the
necessity We do not deny the POSSIBLE
iiy. nor the probability. of God speak
ing from the heavens In this DISPENSE
tlon and relnHtnting the same order
that existed among the Apostles Of
Jesus Christ In the land OF Palestine
We do not deny the necessity OF the
power of God In healing the sick. We
do not deny the necessity ~ the spirit
of prophecy. We do not deny the neces.
Hity Of the power OF God In receiving
revelation from heaven 10 guide us In
the walks OF life. ana 10 show us how
To carry out the principles OF divine
truth contained In holy writ. We do
not deny the power Of God, therefore.
n you take the injunction ~ the ApOs.
tie Paul, you VIII not turn away from
the Latter-dny Saints, You viii take
his ndmonition, and prove all things.
and hold fast that which IN good.
Every man and woman ought 10 hny.
that moral courage ana that Integrity
10 righteous principles. that they dare
60 stand up for the principles Of right
and truth wherever they mud them.
They ought 10 have the moral courage
that VIII sustain them In the inyestiga-
ton into the merits OF people ana into
the principles which they have -s-
poused. no matter how much that peo-
pie may be misunderstood. or how
much they may have been mnligncd
and misrcpreHented by wicked and de-
signing men among the nations OF the
earth.
Concerning those who have a form OF
godliness. but deny the power thereof.
Paul SAYS they are ever learning. and
never able TO come 10 the knowledge OF
the truth" I take II that Paul hero was
talking about religious truth more
particularly, although II n our convlc-
tion that when the llght Of revelation
makes known n scientific truth you can
depend upon II, because God created
the heavens and the earth, lie
ordained the laws that govern them.
and II N no more inconsistent to
20 To God for light ON these rubIcots
than II IL FOR n man who has broken
watch 10 20 10 "a matchmaker 10 have
It repaired, instead Of taking II TO q
tinker, or blacksmith. or u carpenter.
Go TO the great Astronomer Of the uni
verse, the great Geologist OF the earth.
and when you get communication from
that Being upon any subject you can
depend upon II that II n right But
Paul was talking about religious truth
when he said they are eyer learning.
aud never able TO come 10 the knowl-
edge of the truth" The reason IL very
patent-they do not receive the spirit
Of frnth