Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-08
The choir then sang the anthem
Rouse, o Ye Mortals!"
ELDER oRsoN +. WHITNEY.


Of the same quorum, was the conclud-
ing speaker. He referred TO what
President Smith had said regarding the
fact that Christ was the king OF the
spiritual kingdom which the saints be-
lleved, and also 10 what Elder Nibley
said concerning the purposes of the
Church He naryeled. he said, that
any one could make the charge against
us OF wishing TO establish an oriental
dospotism In America. Anxious as he
was to credit every one with honesty,
he nevertheless had difficulty In be-
leving that those who made such false
charges We're sincere
What Is Mormonism?" asked Elder
Whitney 1--WE have heard much OF It
during this conference. We have here
been taught that men are agents unto
themselves, TO act according 10 their
inclinations. Why then should Nor
monism be thought 60 seek It's own
overthrow by teaching such doctrines
as would inevitably bring about It's de-
structlon.
"The Prophet Joseph taught that at
the council IN heaven we were all pres
ent, and that we were III he exrcise
Of our agncy there. 1t WAS Luclfer, the
son of the morning, who introduced the
idea by which the free agency OF men
might be destroyed. He Il Is who IN
mortality seeks to take from man his
freedom to act for himself. The spirit
of evil is the author " this doctrine,
and 10 overthrow free churches and free
governments. Christ, on the contrary,
Is the author Of the perfect law or lib
erty, otherwise called the gospel, and
II is the spirit OF Christ that endeav-
ors, by all proper means, 10 preserve
this precious heritage 20 man. Does
all this bear any resemblance to tyran-
ny or despotism?'
Elder Whitney traced the history
OF the gospel from Adam to Noah,
Abraham and the Christian dispensa-
ton, outlined the work Of Christ and
His apostles to set up the Church IN
Palestine and on this continent.
Last OF all" continued the speaker,
the Prophet Joseph was called upon
TO bring about a restoration Of the gos-
pei, this perfect law of liberty. He
was champion OF freedom Of thought
and action Yet this man and his sue
cessors In this grand idea OF human
liberty are accused OF establishing 4
tyranny--men who stand as the em-
bodiment OF free agency.
Not only, however, has this spirit
rested on the prophets and apostles or
the Church IN all ages; II has rested
also upon poets, sages, and statesmen
Of our own and other times Luther
had It when he dehed the council at
Worms; Cromwell and his ironsides
had lt when he overthrow tyrannical
government ia England; William OF Or
ange had It; the embattled farmers
Of Emersons poem had II when they
FED their shots heard round the
world Jefferson had it when he wrote
with pen Of flame that all men are
equal and taught them principles OF
human liberty.
Joseph Smith possessed this same
spirit OF liberty when he established tho
Church. not only In strictly religious
idea but also I'm politics and govern
ment. He was a native American,
born Of and trained by, American par
ents: he drank liberty with his mothers
milk; and he spent all his efforts In
establishing freedom. He II was VINO
wrote our Articles OF Faith. one OF
which declares for freedom to worship
God as men please, Every record that
eminated from Joseph Smiths mind
bears evidence OF his love of liberty.
The Book of Mormon Is an appeal for
the spirit of freedom. And yet this
man is charged with a desire TO over
throw human liberty"
Elder Whitney here read extracts
from the Doctrine and Covenants and
the Book Of Mormon 10 show that his
statements regarding Mormon doc
triues are true.
IAN who have led this Church,
concluded the speaker, from Joseph
down have built upon the foundation
laid by the first prophet of this dis
pensation. The only element OF com
pulsion In Mormonism Is that spoke'
OF in the parable of Christ's which re
quired His servants to go into tn
highways and invite men TO the feast
the fulhllment Of which Hes IN fh'
closing words of Jesus 10 His disciple
of old: Go ye into all the world an'
preach the gospel to every creature,
and those other words, uttered e
modern prophets After your warnings
come the warnings Of the elements,
The choir sang the anthem, Tn ou'
Redeemers name
Benediction was offered by Eide
Thomas 4. Bassett