Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-02-18

ana worship both 10 DC AMY"
man 10 his Maker. ,,o.
"a We believe that rulers ssite .'
and governments have u rgRt aua aIe
/ hound 10 ennct laws for the protecuotl
Of al citizens IN the free exercise VI
their religious belief: but we 30 nov pc
| iieve that they have a right ~ Juss'ue,
| to deprive citizens OF ms WlNlleee VI
prescribe them in their opinions hu1V'ls
as a regard and reverence are shpWu W
the laws, and such religious opllliouS
do not Justify soditon nor coIspltaNy'
IS, We believe that the cVul'il NSs,''lt
of crime should be punished actoralls
TO the nature of the onense; that muir
der, treason. robbery, theit ana the
breach of the general peace IN au re-
spects, should be punished aecoiulng
to their criminality and their teluency
to evil among men by the avs pt 'htt
government in which the onense IS
committed and for the pubic peace
and tranquility all men should step lot
ward and use thelr ability IN bringing
offenders against good laws TO punish
ment.
80 We do not believe II just to min
gle religious influence with evil gov
ernment whereby one religious society
Is fostered and another prosctlped III
its spiritual privileges ana the lndiViu-
ual rights of its members as cltlzehs
denied.
10 We believe that all religious So
cieties have right 10 deal with their
members for disorderly conduct accord
ing to the rules and regulations OF such
societies. provided that such dealings
be for fellowship ana good standing
but we do not believe that any religious
society has authority to try men on the
right of property or life. to take from
them this worlds goods or TO put them
In jeopardy of either life or limb, Meth
er TO inflict any physical punishment
upon them. they 'can only eNcommuni-
cate them from their society and with
draw from them their fellowship
Mr., President: 1t seems to- me it
would be difficult to draft creed more
nearly antipodal to the teachings Of
theocracy than the creed OF the Nor
mon Church | have just read a theoc-
racy Is defined by webster 10 be the
exercise of political authority by priests
representing the Deity" The creed OF
the Mormon Church not only disciaims
the right to exercise political authority
but enjoins obedience TO the authority
OF the state in all things.
So much. Mr.. President, for the FIRST
test / proposed to apply, namely the
ascertainment of what the Mormon
Church teaches, in reply to the charge
that 1t is a theocracy and teaches obe-
dience 10 the Church. even to the dis
regard of the law of the land.
Now, let us inquire, as ] have pro-
posed. If the practiseS of the Church in
this respect have been consistent with
Its teachings. That is, haze Mormon
officeholders dsresarded the laws OF
the land and substituted therefor the
will of the Church. There has not
been the suggestion of an attempt TO
establish any such fact.
But, Mr.. President. 1t is claimed that
the head of the Mormon Church may
and does at times receive divine reve-
lations in respect OF variety of subs
jects, and therefore is liable mt amy
moment to receive one enjoining dis
loyalty to the United states. Suppose
he does. None OF these revelations are
IN any way binding upon the Church
until 1t has been ratified by vote OF
the whole congregation or convention
of its members. and even then 1t ~ not
binding as against the law of the land.
Senator Shoots testimony touching
this is very clear. He states that the
members of his Church are free agents,
and that any one of them has the right
TO disobey any divine revelation given
to the head of the Church, even though
submitted to the Church conference and
accepted by it. that ii Is the fundamen-
tai and primary law of the Mormon
Church that its members must obey the
law OF the land. and there IL u revela~
ton 10 that effect; and that as between
q revelation and the law of the land, it
is the duty of the members of that
Church to obey the law OF the land;
but he did testify that If he himself
should receive a revelation command
ing him to disobey the law of the lanc
and If nc were sure that God had
spoken 70 him, he would feel the obli-
cation to obey ii, but that he would
leave the country and go where
the law of the land would
not conflict. His testimony on this
point is as follows (Vol- III, PIP. 25l-
$780,
Senator Beveridge. ] merely want
TO continue a question which was put
4 moment ago. putting 1t in it's simplest
possible form. AS between the
law of the land and any revelation
which is binding upon the members OF
your Church?
Senator smoot--What would l do?
Senator Beveridge-No, sir. l did
not ask what you would do. ask you
as an officer of the Church to answer
my question. As between a revelation
and the law of the land, which is bind
ing upon the members OF tho Church?
Senator Smoot-The law of the land
In which we live.
YOU TO say that there is no law. rule,
or ordinance Of your Church by which
n revelation from above, even when
confirmed by your people Is superior
to the law of the land?
Senator Smoot-I do no think 1t
could be, senator,
Senator Beyerldge-My mind was
directed to that very point. 1t Is rather
important.
Senator Smoot--We have a revela-
ton IN the Doctrine and Covenants thai
1t is mandatory upon all members OF
our Chourch to honor and obey the law
Of the land.
Senator Overman-Right here
Senator Beveridge-Pardon me. Sup.
pose a revelation is received, as you
described q moment ago II might be
and suppose, In addition to Its having
been received IN that way, 1t Is con-
hrmed, or whatever term you use. by
thus confirmed by the people. Is In con-
Met with the law OF the land which
Is binding?
Senator Smoot-The law OF the land
Senator Overman--I understand you
to say, II ! apprehend your answer cor
rectly, that when divine revelation
Is given 70 the president Of the Church
is submitted 10 the Church conference,
and Is accepted by the conference, then,
as a free agent, any member of the
Church has a right TO disobey it2
senator Smoot-They have senator.
senator Knox-Senator Smoot, let
me ask YOU what consider question
that should have followed Senator Bey-
eridse's question. understood you.
then. that fundamentally and primarily