Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-09-08
ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH.

The attitude Of the Church Of Jesui
Christ Of IAtter-day Saints, commonll
called the Mormon" Church, toward
pthe religious organizations is NtrS
much misunderstood. Il Is commonly
regarded as hostile, bigcied and excu'
slve This arises probably from the POI
sition taken by the Church as an es'
tablishment by divine immediate reye-
lation. but IN a greater degree from the
INSTRUMENTATION Of IT'S adversaries'
Truth Is IN Itself naturally uncompro-
missing. Il does not affiliate with error
The twain cannot harmonize. one must
eventually give way to the other
This Church claims diviuc origin.
II was not evolved from the opinions Of
human beings nor made up out Of the
books Of the Bible. Neither was It con-
cocied from the various sects Of Chris
tendon or the different theories OF
heathendom. II II sui generis II was
either set up by divine revelation and
commandment In the nineteenth CEN
fury. or II is fraudulent, deceptive and
merely one more OF the modern organi-
cations that tend 10 confuse and divide
The human family. II this Church Is
What II purpOrts 10 be- Il stands alone
IN the world as the only true Church Of
Christ, endowed with divine authority
20 administer the ordinances Of the
Gospel for the salvation Of the living
and the redemption Of the dead. Any
other position taken by Il would be In
consistent with its claims. rs doctrines
and It's purpose.
This OF course places It in peculiar
position as regards other religious IN.
stituiions, and arouses a feeling Of op.
position and resentment from those that
do not believe IN lis declarations nor
endorse its doctrines This, however,
need not and ought not excite such an.
,agonIsn as has been directed against
II by protesting Christians and religious
teachers It Is quite proper that those
who dissent from II should endeavor to
dsproye It's assertions and arguments
and claims. by reason and by scriptdre.
II is not right. however. that they
should attempt 10 cruz It by any fore.
ible means, 10 place It IN false light,
TO distort It's principles or 10 lnjure
its advocates.
The course that has been pursued
against the Latter-day Saints In rails
ing mobs against them, driving them
from their homes. destroying thelr
property numbering their leaders and
many OF their members and perpetrat- |
ing all kinds OF indignities upon them.
has not been justified In law or IN re- /
ligion or in common humanity. II has /
perhaps provoked the sufferers to feel. /
ings OF luminosity not IN accordance /
with the true spirit Of Christ's Gospel |
and suggested that retaliation which il
forbidden by Him who has declared /
vengeance Is mine, I Will repay" But /
ne are glad 10 say this feeling has not /
been permitted TO break out into re- /
yengeful deeds. and has gradually been .
driven out Of tho hearts OF the Latter
day saints by the true spirit " their
divine faith
While standing firm on TIM foundq-
tion laid by Deity Himself this Church
has due regard for the good lutents and
teneis and endeavors of other religious
societies. II regards an truth. whether
called SECULAR or religious. az coming
from God. While believing that he is
not the author Of confusion but OF Or
der and harmony and concord and
peace. this Church applauds an that is
good and praisewouhy ia every sect
and society under The sun. whether
Christian or Pagan Il believes tina,
there Is much Of truth and goodness
and purity and Righteousness On every
one OF them. u does not ignore tbe
seif-sacrihce exhibited by ministers OF
religion throughout the centuries that
have past when the world was left
without direct divine communication.
nor that exhibited IN the present day.
"Mormonism" does not DENY the acf
that any Of The Christian religions is
better than none AZ all It teaches that
the sincere prayer and desire Of every
honest soul IS acceptable TO God. TO the
extent that Il deserves. whether moe
ceeding from a so-callcd Christian or
heather suppliant 4 recognizes The
truth 10 be found TO he various COM
ficting Organizations claiming to be
Christian, az the force which has enc
abled them 10 exist Ia spite o. The er-
rors which they have each imbIbed. ana
Il sees IN their contentious the positive
proof OF their mistakes. because truth
is always harmonious with itself and
there IL no conflict in eternal prlnci-
plies Thst there are GOOD men ana
women IN an the churches Of the world.
that there are able. conscientious and
devoted ministers among them that
they are entitled 10 respect and In
many Instances TO admiration ana re-
ward. that thev have beer the means o.
reforming society retaining sinners.
promoting moniity aiding in the adj
ysncemen, Of mankind and preparing
the way for The triumph Of right. we
most certainly believe ana are wiling