Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-11-26
THE CHURCH NOT IN DANGER

III hbl NIL NOl iN ia NbLh
The "News' has taken the liberty Of
counselng to united efforts for the pro-
gross Of Utah, az the only policy that
can consistently be pursued by good
citizens Of the state We have taken
the liberty of warning against an agita-
tion that il well known to have had
its origin IN personal ambItlon-with
which the general public Is not con-
cerned--and TO make use Of bigotry as
means 20 reach certain ends. We
haze done so, because firmly convinced
that the constant feeding with fuel OF
the flames Of strife, the incessant stir
ring up OF the baser passions and senti-
ments Is suicidal policy II Is the
work Of enemies Of the community, and
not Of friends And It is, besides
risky. History presents examples Of
agitatora-arousing cyclone Of pas
sIons then losing control, and being
swept away In the general ruin. why
should such work be countenanced In
Utah?
But We are told that the attitude Of
the News IL dictated by fear, Some
danger II Is alleged. is approaching the
Church and therefore our counsel is
Tor peace We hasten TO say, in reply
TO this really puerile conjecture, that
no danger whatever, from any outside
source. is thvoofenmg the Church Of
Jesus Christ OF Latter-day Saints. And
we say this. not in a spirit Of bravado,
not boastlngly but merely In recognl-
ton OF the protecting care OF omnl-
potence.
what danger can be imagined,against
which God Is powerless2 Insects might
possibly stop railroad train, and cause
very much annoyance. Grasshoppers
are Known to have. for a short time
detained trains across the Russian
steppes, But puny man cannot BY all
the ingenuity OF wckedness, end the
onward march OF the work Of the Al
mighty. He might ms well pride him
SELF on his ability and power to arrest
the course Of the stars In the heavens
Not even the torrents Of blood shed In
the onslaughts upon the people OF God
I'm various ages, has had the desired
effect. MartWologlsts estimate, we be-
lleye, that sixty million souls have been
slain upon the altar Of religious hatred,
but the work Of God has been onward
lust the same There can be no dam
ger to the Church and absolutely Moth
Ing TO fear, In anything man can do
against that divine Institution
a well known Incident In the history
Of Elisha, the successor Of Elijah IN the
prophetic office we'll illustrates this
truth On certain occasion he found
the city IN which he resided,
encompassed by hostile army,
sent there by Syrian king for the ex-
press purpose Of capturing the prophet,
IA the hope that his removal would be
the prelude TO am easy victory over the
hosts Of Israel The attendant on the
prophet was seized with fear when he
discovered the situation But not 80 the
prophet, whose vision had been opened
10 the proper relations between this
world, ana the spiritual For be be-
held the fiery chariots and horses that
were on guard against the hostile
forces. There was no danger to The
man OF God though an army concen.
tratod ITS efforts to bring about his de-
struction,
The writer OF these lines some Yeas
ago had the privilege Of making a
voyage In a small British steamer from
Alexandra TO Liverpool While on the
northern coast Of Portugal terrific
storm was encountered II lasted Tor
three days and nights The clouds hung
like draperies Of lead above. the wind
howled dlsmally through the rigging
Of the boat aud the waves broke over
the ship, threatening. II seemed, TO tear
II asunder Roats and other objects ON
deck, though firmly secured, we're swept
over board II was a time When pas
sengeri ceased to hold social intercourse
with one another Each one had all he
could do to keep himself from fallins
and tumbling about as did Illuminate
objects. II was a time when lips were
moved IN prayer, that had not prayed
for years But the clouds broke at last
The sun shone again. The waves fell,
and the voyage was continued, as II
there had been no disturbance Of the
elements,
In a conversation with one OF the
mates. Few days after the storm ref
erence was made TO the past expert
cnce. and he was asked whether he did
not fear that the ship would be lost
with all on board, IN that terrible gale.
His reply was, that there was no dan
ger IN wind and waves. as long as the
ship had not sprung a leak, the ma
ohlnery was IN working order the pilot
az his place and every one attending
70 his duties with q sea-worthy ves-
sci. a good crew and good officers, and