Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-11-29
AN ARTICLE OF THE CREED.

1t Is charged that the Mormon
Church, as originally organized con.
sisted OF a civil government which
assumed the right to do as II pleased
and assumed that all other governments
on earth were usurpations,'
Fortunately unsupported statements
are not profs; allegations, however Of
ten repeated, cannot change facts,
Black remains black and white, white,
no matter what is said to the contrary,
Words cannot mould falsehood into
truth, or vice versa. as little as the
vapors Of night can in an hour level
the mountains that surround Utah's
verdant valleys.
But 1t is a striking fact that the
same charge is preferred against the
Latter-day Saints. that has done SER
vice against the followers Of the Naza-
rene IN every age of darkness and
blindness He Himself predicted that
His followers would BE- the object Of
hatred among men, and He assigned
the cause for II, IN order that persecu-
tion should not seem strange to them.
Did He not say: Because ye are not
Of the world. but / have chosen you
out OF the world therefore the world
hateth your And again "All these
things will they do unto you for my
name sake, because they know not
Him that sent me?' But tle real cause
Of this strange conflict. the world has
never acknowledged, It has always
been urged that the followers Of the
Nazarene were law unto themselves,
ard on that account outside the pale OF
human law.
It was on that alleged ground that
the tragedy Of Calvary was enacted,
Paul was brought before the magistrate
In Jerusalem, the rumor having been
circulated that he was an Egyptian at
the head Of a band Of robbers and muir
derers to the number Of 1000 And what
was the plea under which Roman en-
perors kndled the fires that consumed
Innocent men and women, the flower Of
the empire? what was the pretext for
condemning venerable disciples Of the
Lord to torture and death? What
started the war Of determination
against the peaceful Inhabitants Of ne
mountain valleys the Valdenses, and
Abigenses? Why was Luther con-
demned? What caused the exodus Of
the Pilgrims from the shores Of Europe?
Why IS 1t that today many religious
churches Of the world encounter perse.
cution in countries not enjoying the
liberty guaranteed by law TO American
citizens? 1t has always been the same
story. Their opponents have charged
them with political designs, with con-
tempt for civil authority, and thus the
fire has been kept burning
The Latter-day Saints have declared
In their articles Of faith what their
altitude is toward civil governments. It
Is this:
I'VE believe In being subject TO kings,
presidents. rulers and magistrates, In
obeylng, honorlng and sustaining the
law"
The revelations given on the subject
emphasize this stIll further. and the
entire history OF the Church is a testi.
mony to the loyalty Of Its members to
the governments under which they live.
And It may well be called strange that
the enemies charge the Saints with be.
Ing slayshly obedleHt 10 their eccesi-
astlcal leaders and creed, and In the
same breath denounce them Tor ylolat-
ing one OF the most important articles
Of that creed as well as the inspired
teachings Of the head OF the Church.
Where Is the consistency Of this?
There Is really no need Of arguing
against a self-coniradlctory proposition.
It's purpose ls not 10 enllghten but ia
deceive, bot deception always reveals
rs true role and cannot succeed.