Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-20
AS TO MISREPRESENTATION

The religious system commonly
known as "Mormonism" has been prom.
inently before the world for over three
quarters OF century Its missionaries
have proclaimed It's principles In al
most every land, and endeavorcd TO ex.
plain what the doctrines OF the Gospel
OF Jesus Christ are, az well as the aims
and purposes Of tho Church established
IN this dispensation. Aud yet, II IL a
misunderstood, or more mlsrepresented,
than this. The fact is, perhaps. not
strange after all, II the manner IN
which the world generally receives the
prophets of truth and the message they
bear, IS considered. The great Captain
of our Salvation himself was msunder-
stood IN the same way Even His init.
mate disciples often failed to compre-
bend Him. "lIaye I been so long time
with you, and yet hast thou not known
me, Phillip was the mild reproach
which He on one occasion bestowed
upon a faithful follower. The Chris
tians OF the FIRST centuries OF our era
We're also mlsrepresented and mis-
Judged. Even many fllr-minded peo-
pie failed to understand them. and ac-
cepted as true the various stories cir
custed about them by malice and ig-
norance. In popular opinion they,
therefore. became almost monsters IN
immortality and credulIty, although, as
a matter OF fact, they could point with
pride 10 the purity OF their characters
and the rcasonableness OF their doe
trines. II Is, then. not strange II the
Jatter-day saints of our age should In
this respect share the fate OF the Mas
ter and His first followers.
One common misunderstanding re-
lates to the term Priesthood" When
ever this Is mentioned nom Mormons
generally conclude that II means
class OF Priests. holding sway over the
minds and consclences OF the people.
In some OF the religious denominations
Of the world this condition may obtain.
Priests act and think for the people,
and their word Is law. Probably It Is
not so common as It was formerly,
when priests had practically a monop-
oily Of learning and knowledge. This
Is no longer So and the position Of thu
priest Is therefore even IN the world
generally nearer the common level OF
the people. But the idea Of priest
class domineerlng and directing action
and thought is stIll lingering In the
minds OF many. and that antiquated
idea is called up like a ghost from a
dead past, every time the word Priest
hood" is heard.
In the Church OF Jesus Christ OF Lat.
ter-day Saints there Is no class OF
priests, no priest caste. whatever the
fact may be In other churches. II IL
the glory of the Latter-day Saints that
they can stand fast" In "the liberty
wherewith Christ hath made us
free Equality Is one OF the
Fundamental principles of the Cos
pei. as II Is the keynote OF the
divinely-inspired Constitution OF this
great Republic It is tho lofty ideal
OF the Latter-day Saints, both as 20
earthly and heavenly things. The rev.
Citations given TO the Prophet Joseph
are very clear In this respect New
ertheless. In your temporal things you
shall be equal, and this not grudgingly,
otherwise the abundance OF the mani
festations OF the Spirit shall be With
held" Doctrine and Covenants. 70:
IA And again: That you may be
equal in the bands OF heavenly things;
yea, and earthly things also for the OBJ
tainlng Of heavenly things; for II We are
not equal in earthly things, ye cannot
be equal In obtaining heavenly things"
doctrine and Covenants, rs; 8, So This
indicates the ideal, II may be far
from obtained. and yet II is the aim
and purpose of the Gospel to elevate
mankind finally to this condition of
perfection. There can be no priest caste
in an organization with such an aim.
priesthood does not mean a class OF
priests. IL means authority conferred
by the Almighty through the proper
channels to administer in the divine
ordinances and TO offlclate In the yarl-
Gus offices of the Church. The power
and authority OF the higher or Melchis-
edek Priesthood Is to hold tho keys OF
nil the spiritual blessings OF the
Church The power and author
ity OF the lesser or Aaronic Priesthood
IL 20 hold the keys OF the minlsterlng
OF angels and to administer In outward
ordinances. the letter OF the Gospel
the baptism of repentance for the re-
mission of sins, agreeable 10 the cove
nants and commandments This Is
what Priesthood means. and as this au.
thority is not conferred only upon
few privileged persons, but Is given to
all the male members OF the Church,
az they prove worthy Of IL, the idea
of a class OF priests among the Latter
day Saints is forever excluded. When
all hold the same privilege. there can
be no privileged class, owing TO this di.
vine arrangement, the Latter-day
Saints enjoy to the fullest possible ex.
tent the blessings OF liberty, The Cos.
pei is indeed the perfect law OF llb-
erty." and this Is one reason why they
nre a united people Under oppres-
sion discussions develop, as Is proved
by history IN all ages.
Another misunderstanding prevail
ing TO some extent Is this. that the
Iatter-day Saints regard all persons
not In the Church as enemies" This
Is an impression the enemies" OF the