Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-01
The Church of Christ a
Democratic Institution
An Address by Elder James E. Talmage, in the Taber-
nacle Salt Lake City, Sunday, Dec. 19, 1909.
tRcported by f. W. otterstrom3

| men away from sin II it be Calvin's
| church, do not rob Calvin OF his right
| ful honor; call 1t by his name. II 1t be
| the church of John Wesley and his
brother. call 1t by their name. and let
all who choose to range themselves
under the banner of the Wcsleys re-
toice in their title of Wesleyans. rhey
have the right. But let those who pro-
fess 10 be following Jesus the Christ
range themselves under his banner and
call themselves by his name. II this
be the Church of Joseph Smith, ii is
wrongly named, and its name is an eX-
preston OF blasphemous assumption.
If this be Brigham Young's church, why
not call 1t by his name? Why rob him
of the honor? But we claim that 1t is
the Church of Jesus Christ. After the
people. instructed by the experience OF
the ancient Nephites, had given this
name unto the new church-the Church
of Jesus Christi was made known
by revelation that. in way, that name
was still incomplete, 1t Is the Church
of Jesus Christ. the revelation explain
ed. In intent and In fact; but 1t is also,
as an earthly organization. the Church
of those who compose 1T. they have
voice In its affairs. under the revelation
and the revealed will of the Lord,
and it is the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-d day Saints-thus distinguishing
it from the church established in the
meridian of time. Not only Is this
distinction made clear in the name, but
the fact that as the church of the Lat
ter-day Saints, the Latter-day Saints
composing II have, under the direction
and through the authority OF Jesus
Christ, the rights and the powers OF
perpetual succession in that Church
PERPETUITY ASSURED.
When the Church was established
amongst the Jews, its carly disrup-
tion was foreSeen-not only foreseen
but foretold The fact that the Church
would become apostate was known
unto the prophets of old, and was made
clear through prophetic utterance- The
Christ himself spoke In no uncertain
terms in predicting chat great depart
ure. and his apostles not only pro-
claimed the great falling away that
should come but solcmnly testified To
the fact that the disaffectlon had al
ready begun. while they yet lived and
ministered In the flesh. When. how
ever the Church was rc-establishcd in
this the diSpensation Of the fulness OF
times, the solemn promise and prophet
ic declaration was given that ii should
never more be taken from the earth, |
never more be ovcrthTown, never more |
suffer even temporary defeat at the |
hands OF the powers of evil; and this |
restored and re-established Church re- |
cciYed the power and the authority re- |
Quisitc to its unbroken continuation Its |
perpctuity is assured, unless the word |
Of God be false. The power to con-
tinuc It's organizations has been given |
unto the people; and in that sense. as
an earthly institution, II is the Church |
of the people under and through the |
direction OF the Christ. He stands at |
the head
l say this peculiar organization, to |
which l referred in connection with the |
several stakes and wards of the Church, |
is in harmony with the profession eX-
pressed By its name. The people are |
required to come together and con-
slider and pass upon and conduct the
affairs OF the Church as an earthly ,
organization; and though revelation is
given unto them, from time to time, it |
is for them to accept or reject that reve- |
lation and take the consequences. At
the forenoon session of this conference, |
as I am lnformed-I had duties in my |
own stake and was not preSent-busi !
ness was attended TO. and the organiZa- |
tionS OF the Salt Lake stake of Zion I,
were made measurably complete and
were continued by vote of the people
for the next period of three months. |
take it that this is significant as
showing the plan of organization pleas
ing unto the Lord He has said that
even the high priest who stands at
the head of the Church shall occupy
his exalted position as president of the
high priesthood and president of the
Church, only as he is sustained by the
vote of the people over whom he pre- :,
sides Thus Is the voice of God heard
In the voice of his people, and thus is
the law Of God carried out by the ac-
tions and doings of his people.
WHAT is IN A NAME?
We claim that the name which this
Church bears has been given by au-
thority. and that, consequently. we
have right to it, and having right
to the name. we have a right to all
that 1t implies, for names given of
God are never empty cognomens. They
are titles of rank. IL you please-of au-
thorlty and OF power. We have many
worldly titles that are as empty of
meaning as is the sounding brass and
a. are the tinkling cymbals but these
arc names and titles given of men
not of God. When God honored his
faithful servant Abraham and said un-
to him: Thou shalt no longer be
called Abram, but Abraham" he con-
ferred upon him a title with a great
meaning; Father Of a great multi
tude of nations;" and. tell me, has that
title not been indicated? Has it
proved to be an empty name? When
Jacob wrestled, by night. with his
heavenly visitant and said. in the fer
vor of his faith, II will not let thee
go until thou hast blest me-" that
heavenly being blest him by giving
him n name, and 1t was no empty
name either: What Is thy name?"
Jacob" We'll. thou shalt no more
be called Jacob Israel is thy name"
Nd n, had ncea cinp IN raiolCN In b..