Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-06-15


things; but there
had been. and mark il gentlemen. q
complete apoStasy from Gods truth by
the world. The Church of Christ as an
organization and the Gospel AS q sys-
tenn of truth had been displaced by
the institutions aud systems OF men,
consequently there was need of di-
Vine authority being again conferred
upon man and "A new dispensation of
the Gospel of Christ given TO the
world. II is our pride that Mormon
ism Is this restored Gospel and Church
of Christ.
EPISCOPAL HOMILE"
notice among this body OF men |
am addressing the members of this
Ministerial association. the represent
ative of the Episcopal church, a branch
of the great English church He ought
not to complain of this attitude of the
Mormon Church. for the reason that In
one of the HOmilies of his church, In
the Homly on the Pcrils of Idoiatry. it
is eXpress'- stated that Laity and
clergy, learned and unlearned, all
ages and sects and degrees have been
drowned in abuminahle idolatrN. most
detested bv God and damnahle to
man for 500 years and more tPerils
OF Idolatry p. -. Certainly Mormon
ism does not proclaim the apostacy more
harshly than that nor do we declare its
universally more emphatically but
/ presume we are offensive to the
representatives of this particular
church. the Episcopal. because we in
clude him and his organization as
among those who are In the apostacy
aud who have not the gospel of Christ.
Yet We are not harder on him or his
church than he Is upon the Catholic
and all the rest of the Christian world
previous TO the establishment of the
r1NA
age OF King Henry VIII. of England.
of unsavory memory, and We do have
this advantage viz:
That If we proclaim universal apos-
tasy. we also proclaim the restoration
Of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the re-
neNal of divine authority, the resump-
ton of present-day and continuous rev.
citation from God, So we are in an in
finitely better position as to the reason
ableness OF our attitude, than are those
who proclaim this apostasy and yet are
without a renewal of a dispensation of
the gospel to the world,
CARELESS OR DISHONEST.
There is one thing particularly Of
fcnsiVe, I'm this ministerial Review. a
misrepresentation put in the most of
fensiVe form. Not only do the Review
efs set forth that we deny the existence
of divine authority In their churches
and the non-cXistence OF the church of
CHRIST tor centuries IN the earth, but
they say that our attitude involves the
validity of all ministerial functions, in
Guiding the right 10 solemni2e mar
flageS, Ihey are not, ! take it, respOns-
lbIe for the headlines of their Review
as they appeared in the public press.
pui in order to make the attitude of
the Mormon Church as offensive as it
could be made, the headline said
Gentle Marriage Ordinances Illegal
Before God. Now In justice 10 us
think this matter should have been put
fairly and the exact status of the mat
ter given. 1t should have appeared that
we regard marriage as a ciyil as We'll
as a religious contract. and our attitude
with reference TO divine things nowhere
Involves us m contradiction as TO
the validity of marriage as a ciVii
contract nor as a relationship wholly
sanctioned and approved by the divine
favor and blessing of God IN this world.
The extent to which we In any way. IN
thought on word invalidate marriage
ordinances Is In saying that marriage
contracts formed In this world. either
by civil authority or by the authority
Of sectal'an churches, do not extend
Inc marriage covenant beyond the peri
Od OF this life. These gentlemen ought
10 have been a little more careful, IL
not little more honest IN stating our
position upon this question. Allow mo
To do II for them.
WORD OF THE LORD.
Turning to the revelation ON the sub.
ject of marriage this is TO be found:
Verify ! say unto YOU that the con.
dltions OF this law are these: An cove
hants. contracts bonds OBLIGATIONS
oAths, VOWS, performances. connections
associations, or expectations that are
not nude and entered into, ana sealed
by the Holy Spirlt Of promise " Him
who Is anninted both ms wen for tinp
ana Tor All eternity, and THAI too most
holy, by revelation ana commandment
through the medium OF mine anointpd.
whom have appointed ON the earth u
hold this power are OF mo-
efficacy. virtue on force. In ana after
the resurrection from the dead: Tor All
contracts that are not made unto this
end have nm end when men arc dead"
Again.
And everything that is In the world.
whethor 1t be ordained OF men. by
thrones, or municipalities. or powers. or
things of name, whatsoever they may
be, that are not by me-, or by my word.
saith the LORD, shall be thrown down.
ana shall not remain after men arc
dead. neither in nor after. The resurrec-
lion. saith the Lord your God"
For whatsoever things remaln ara
by me; and whatsoever things are not
by me, SHAH be shaken ana DESTROYED.
Therefore, If man marry him wife
IN the world, ana he marry her not by
me, nor by my word: and he covenant
with her 20 long as he H. IN the world
ana Ahe Win him. their covenant and
murraso are not OF force when they
arc dead and when they are ont of the
world therefore. they are not bound
by any law when they are out OF the
world
SO Tar Is any denial Of the va
llhily of marriages is concern
ed' relates only ia deny
tion MOI this side Of Il and. gcutlo-
men you ought nat TO complain Of this