Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-28
INDIVIDUALITY"

when people become dlsaftected to-
wards the faith Of the Gospel. they Of
ten take a stand on what they term
their individuality" To hear them
talk, persons who do not understand
the situation would be likely to Imagine
that those dlssenters are the only per-
cons who maintain their "lndepend-
ence" and that, consequently. the
faithful Of the Church have yielded up
their individuality and have become
entirely dependent on something OF
someone else
But is It true that individuality Is the
Characteristic solely OF seceders from
the Church. and those who are filled
with the spirit OF opposition and con-
tentlon2 Is thore no Independence Of
thought or action among those who are
IN unison with their brethren and in
accord with the principles and policy
Of the body? Cannot member exercise
individuality and independence In vol
untary acqulescence and conformity to
rules and measures adopted for general
obseryancel
Under our secular government Is not
the man who complies with law and
lives by It's requirements Willingly
quite as Independent az he who vio-
lates law to show his individuality?
The only proper way 70 live above the
law" Is TO keep from breaking It, In
the letter and In the spirit thereof. It
Is the same as 10 the Church.
Even among animals kicking Is no
sign Of superiority or noble blood. The
hgh-splrited and well.bred horse
learns the benefit Of compliance with
the higher power that guides and d.
reefs, by gentle means, and applies
s,erner measures only when dlsobedl-
ence breaks out into overt acts that are
Injurious.
obedience TO wholesome lave and sa-
cred obligations Is a virtue. and Is
necessary to the general welfare Of the
state or OF the Church, as the case may
be. The individual who villngly'sub-
mits receives the benefit in common
with his fellow citizens or Church mem
bers. Resistance. rebellion. stubborn
ness. opposition. refractory actions and
expressions. are not signs Of true inde-
pendence Of character, but rather OF
irltabnity Impotence, self-import-
ance and assumption.
There was a grand and holy Being
the mightlest known among men, who
predicted all His teachings and dolngs
on the principle involved in this say
Ing: Il came not to do my own WILL but
the will Of Hin that sent me-" submis-
zion 20 higher intelligence acting In
wisdom, love and truth, Is no
mark OF weakness or lack OF
individuality" but the contrary II IS
only IN that spirit that rule" IS es-
tablished In the Church. II comes
from the head but is adopted by com
mon consent" No man or woman IS
required TO sink individuality, but only
to become harmonious with that which
IS decided to be right and for the good
Of the whole body In communion.
There was another being who, In the
heavens. would not comply with the
will OF the Head endorsed by the ma
jority. He proclaimed his individual
ity' and acted upon his notions Of what
that meant. He was cast down. His
spirit enters the hearts Of the children
Of dlsobedience, and their yielding to 1t
prepares them for his society. Birds
Of a feather" etc Just compare the
influence that surrounds the obedient
and tractable and faithful, with that
which emanates from the rebellious,
the objecting, the contentious who pride
themselves on their individuality"
The proper term for that state Of
mind Is lndiylduallsm. II is another
name for selashness. II is the bane OF
the world. II corrupts men and ma.
lions. u Brings strife and violence
aud bloodshed Il causes the estab-
lishment OF Armies AID uayies and
prompts the wars that stain the earth
w.th gore.
Mutually Is what the world needs.
The greatest good to the greatest
number" is a motive for human action
that, in Church and in State, will clear
The way FOR the Millennium. mot my
VIII but thine. o God, be done" viii
bring more happiness, peace Joy, con-
tentment ana glory than all the in,
dlyidualism In which some people take
such pride, and OF which they make
their boast ]; IS not from above but
from beneath Il does not brlng pres
ent benefit and it VIII not lead 20 eter-
nal exaltauon and everlasting bliss.