Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-08-25
"MORMONS'AND GOVERNMENTS

Many opponents of the Church o.
Jesus Christ of Latd-day Saints base
their autagonIsm upon the supposed ale
ttuds Of the Church towards the ma.
tonaI government This is thought 10
be one Of hostility The idea Is entire
IS erroneous I, arises chiefly FROM
the statements aud perycrsions Of fact
and doctrine made by ts ayowed en-
emles j, is true that expressions have
been used by the advocates of "Mor-
monsm" aud some notions SET forth
for which the speakers and writer's
We're alone responsible. that have fur
nishcd excuses. more on less strained
and tonuous for the charges that have
been preferred and for the opinions
that have been formed by very good
people who have been mlaed as to the
truth
The Latter-day Saints believe that the
prophecies In ancient Scripture and IN
later revelations. concerning the set
ting up and prevalence Of the Kingdom
~ God on earth. win De- literally full
nlcd. Tho Bible teens with them. Both
the ola and the New rssamcnts con-
ain positive predictions about that
event as the elimination OF tho Divine
purpose I'm relation 10 the nations Of
the world. II is real government that
is spoken Of TO which all kingdoms and
peoples will bow ana their allegiance
viii be to Christ AZ their rightful ruler.
Everybody has the right Of opinion as
20 this, and persons and preachers who
regard the coming Kingdom as merely
spiritual may do 30 with perfect free
dom. The same liberty ought to be- &C.
corded 10 believers iu literal Kingdom |
Of God on this globe in which the win |
u Deity VIII be- done OH earth pre-. |
clsely as IL is done in heaven
The chief difference between the Lat
ter-day Saints and other believers IN |
the same doctrine Is, that We regard /
The Church restored by Divine reyela-
ton In the Nineteenth century as the |
precursor or introduccr OF the Kingdom
that is TO be-. It's gospel Is the gospel
Of the Kingdom" II moclaims that the
Kingdom IS really "at hand il has
within IL the authority 10 administer
the ordinances Of salvation and 10 rem
resent the Son Of God therein by d..
rect commandment from Him. II Is
The beginning OF The work OF reslitu-
ion spoken OF By an the holy prophets
since the world began" II Is something
more than a theory or am additional re-
ligious sect It's the Church ana splr-
itual Kingdom OF The Redcemer
One Of its articles of faith declare.
The duty Of its members % Do subject
TO kings. presidents. rulers ana aagis-
uates and 10 honor aud sustain the
secular law They arc Instructed 10
obey the laws ~ tho land In which they
live. BY revelation thcy are command
I'd 10 BE subject unto tho powers thai
be until He comes whose right % Is 90
reign" This indicates their belief AS 10
p future reign of righteousness and
their duty as TO present governments.
by revelation also they are Informed
that the Constitution of This country
was framed by wise men whom God
raised up Tor that very purpose. and
hat the object OF the Lord therein was
Tor 'ihc maintenance ~ the rights and
protection Of an flesh according to Just
and holy principles" and therefore tho
Saints are 20 sustain chat law which
The constitutional law of the land"
From the beginning Of hc Church.
patriotism has been nculca,ed among
Us members and has been exhibited u
heir attitude towards the United states
IN times Of wan as well as iu times OF
neace The nag OF our country has
been conspicuous in an our festivities.
and has graced our assenblages. even
hose of a religious character "Mor.
mon soldiers have marched and fought
under the Stars ana sulDes az home
md abroad The Mormon" people
have never r.pudiotcd allegiance
20 this nation hut have always
maintained us dehim authority /
when some of lts officials have trans
'ended thC lawful powers. when
,ur people have been deprived OF tholr
ands purchased from ihc government
md thoy have been denied that urot,--
'on which was thcr due. leading men
among them. ihcensod li their prones
,sye denounced tbo wrirht,ous men
or their EVIL acts. This hos been con.
ltrued AS treason Eut the deuuucia.
Son was never against the government
81, only against Its unworthy repre-.
lsntatiyeS And ia that One language
ssed was NOT to DE compared for ser-
,rity with that of prominent poIu. T
iians 10 their public destinations and
lump speeches.
Mormon" disputes with tlo c.yefn-
nent on .uesuous of hw snd it. enc
orcement have always been conducted .
according 90 Law. The courts have
,ecn appealed to under ihe co1sutu-
son OF our country aul when or I
eugth decided against ouf position. /
De rulings have been submitted Co..
wen though ina, Involved many sap- .
slices Of the segorest Eld. CIroum- /
stances have Involved a fau ~ our
people IN seeming conflict With law
v our State but they have conformed
q II AZ q rule, and those who End
1emseives unable 90 DO 90 10 tho .uu
syteni. hold ihemeelves personally
esponsiblo Tor their individual acts
nd ready 20 suffer any legal couse.
uences thar may cnsus.
The Latier-day Saints or -Mormons"
O. generally held by informed people