Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-05-20
WHO is THE STRIFE BREEDER?

That the Church Of Jesus Christ OF
latter day Saints has always been at
war with its neighbors is a statement
made recently. intended AZ a justifica-
ton of the present-day agitation Ia
che interest of strife. But that state
ment is not true. The entire history
OF the Latter-day Saints proves that
they have never been at war with any
one. At times It has been necessary
to oppose mobs and assassins, and to
contend for the maintenance of con-
stitutional rights, by constitutional
means. but they have never, as body
been engaged in any other kind of war.
Even during the sad days that followed
the tragedy of Carthage. the Saints
were counseled to calm resignation ana
to leave retaliation to a Higher Power.
The true character OF the Saints was
revealed when the Prophet gathered
tho little band known as lions Camp,
with the object i'm view of petitionins
the state authorities of Missouri for
the return of the property a lawlcss
mob had taken possession of; for he
anyone. neither man nor beast, except
in self-defense. He told them not 10
Kill even tho rattle snakes that might
cross their path. 1t is not true, there
fore, that they have always, or at any
time been at war with their neigh
bors.
1t is unfortunately, true that some
Ia . MT "a ri ions
the history of the Church, made wal
upon the Saints, under one pretext OF
another. At first the attacks were
nothing but mob violence, void of
any color of legal procedure. Later
they took the form of assaults under
the cover of law. And we do not al
Iude to cases under the Edmunds-
Tucker law. either. Every form of
persecution has been tried. Even at
tempts of multiplying the Constitution
of the United States have been made.
in order to deprive Church members
of their rights and preroga.ives as clt-
zens. and bring about chaotic condi-
lions favorable to plumber and pillage'
But in this respect the experience OF
the r.atter-day Saints has been only in
FUN accord with that of all other re-
formers and standard bearers of truth
that ever had mission TO perform on
this earth.
We need not remind our readers that
the first followers of the Na2arene were
pursued everywhere, and sometimes
hunted like dangerous beasts, although
their hearts were filled with love of
God and man. and they We're willing to
die for the cause of humanity. Think
what the world owes to those martyrs
who died for religious liberty! We need
not refer to the history of martyrs,
but It Is a fact that nearly every sect
has, I'm the beginning OF it's career,
been tho object of suspicion, hatred,
and fanatlcism. Someone has estim-
ated the number OF martyrs at the Inn
mense total OF sixty millions. They
include Catholics, Lutherans, Calvin
lists, Baptists, Methodists, Alblgenses,
waldensos, and all the other scots of
which little is known except through
antagouistic sources, The Latter-day
Saints IN the days of their martyrdom
are. therefore In good company. But
II would be just as true 70 say thai
Christians in all ages from the first
followers Of the Na2arene, have al
ways been az war with their ncighbors,
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