Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-04
LOVE AND LAW.

In the current number Of the I'M
rrovement Era, the following thought
full article on an important subject APP
pears, over the signature Of President
Joseph f. smith
II che were TO listen to all the COM
plants that brethren are inclined TO
make against brethren, trouble would
n.rer cease. Some people seem TO be 40
ccnstituted that there is no rest with
them unless they are engaged IN stir
ing up some complaint, forgetting that
In this world all men are imperfect, and
we must forgive and forget and stu
go on loving. to be really happy
John, the apostle Of love, admonlshed
the saints formerly to love one an
ether, for love is Of God; and every one
that oveth is born OF God, and knoweth
God lie that loveth not knoweth not
God for God is love" The same apostle
went further. declaring that III man
say. love God. and hateth his brother
he IL a liar; for he that loveth not his
brother whom he hath seen, how can he
love God whom he hath not seeu?'
1t was the idea in ancient Israel that
God was TO be feared, and that ones
enemies were TO be hated. Because the
MoabItes met not Israel with bread and
water IN the way when they came out
of Egypt; and because BALKAN was
hired to curse them. Israel was COM
manded TO " not seek their peace nor
their prosperity all thy days for ever
But Christ taught, Love you enemies,
bless them that curse you, do good 70
them that hate YOU. and pray for them
which despltefully use you, and perse-
cute yon." II was one OF his main
teachings that we love our fellows. Not
only did he come to men with the great
doctrine OF love upon his lips but hc
taught US that our Father In heaven Is
full Of mercy and love for his creatures
he was not the harsh Jehovah that
Israel feared but the loving Father
r wiTrrr 'qrs asN-hsldren may approach
feeling sure that heis full Of mercy and
love as well as yusticeNaQd judgment.
In our dealings with eaS. 0lner let us
seek to combine these qualities, as they
are combined in God and manifested In
his Son Jesus Christ. our example,
Christ revealed the Father both as
Judge and parent-the embodiment OF
law and love. Law Is inexorable; but
It Is sweet to know that in the Judgment
It VIII be tempered by the mercy Of a
loving, merciful Father.
You have all read Of the proud Ro
man. newly.elected praetor, arrayed
in regal garments bearing his ivory
sceptcr. and preceded by the lictors,
taking his seat upon the throne when
his two sons were brought before him
and convicted Of the crime Of treason.
The proud Roman showed no hesitancy
In pronouncing the sentence of death,
and the two young men were slain In
the presence OF the father
Then, also. we have the story Of Da-
vid, and his rebel son His parting
words to Joab. as he stood by the gate
side and saw his army come out by the
hundreds and thousands. was: Deal
gently, for my sake. with the young
man. even with Absaom." The king
eat anxiously waiting for tldings OF the
battle. AT length the Waterman de-
cried messenger running toward the
city, and behind him still another. The
first courier hailed the king with glad
news OF victory. But Dayid's only ques-
ton was; rs the young man Absalom
fafee" The messenger returned a pru-
dent but evaslye answer: u saw
great tumult, but ] knew not what II
was" Then came the second and
kneelIng before the king announced:
"Tldings, my lord the king FOR the Lord
hath avenged thee this day Of all them
that rose up against thee But sull
from Davids lips there comes the same
guest ion; rs the young man Absalom
safel' Then the messenger tells the
truth. and an We see is an aged man.
moved with agony OF heart, climbing
the stone staircase 10 his chamber, there
to weep. repeating as he went the re-
fraln Of broken heart: 20 my son
Absalom, my son. my son Absaloml
Would to God ! had died for thee! Q
Absalom my sen, my SOM
The Roman had sunk the father IN the
Judge: and David. the judge in the Ia
iher. Bethlehem. the city Of David, be.
cane she birthplace Of the Messiah; and
Home became the author OF a great
system OF Jurisprudence, and thus the
cities stood as far apart as the men
which snciently represented them-one
was a nation OF Jaw, the other Of relig-
ion.
In Jesus and in the Father these two
attributes OF love and law are com
tined God is father and Judge, In the
gospel Of Christ the two ideals are unit
td--lts edicts are neither weak nor pit
tiIess. We rnay know Of a surety that
all men shall be judged Alright accord
ing 10 ,he law. which will DC tempered
by a Just. merciful and loving Father
But Il Is his right TO judge. We are
commended 10 love one another and
even our enemies, and TO obey The law
we are also commanded Judge not
that ve be not iiidged, For with what
Judgment ye fudge, ye shall be judged
and With what measure We meie i
hail be rpeesured TO you again This