Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-04-09
FRIENDS TRIBUTE TO
ELDER S. J. SUDBURY

Editor Deseret News: Noticing an
article in your paper OF March 10. on
the philosophy of Elder 8. j. Sudbury.
l wish to endorse the statements Of the
writer as being correct In relation to
the views Of Elder Sudbury, and add
few words In honor OF this great and
good man. He was "a noble character.
positive in his nature. pronounced In
his Views and yet kind, gentle and
friendly as a child. He was true to
his friends and the right; rich in
knowledge Of the truth. and wonder
fully endowed. He was a thorough
student OF the Scriptures and no mat
ter what the subject or question Of
theology was, he was gifted with a
ready explanation. His intelligence
was above the average and no man
ever met Elder Sudbury on the open
dealing plane but what he met a friend
and brother. His philosophy OF the
gospel was not always appreciated as
II might have been, nor as 1t will be
when men learn more of the things
OF the great kingdom OF God and man.
His analysis Of the origin, evolution
and destiny Of man was to me, beau
tiful and / believe it places him on
a higher standard OF life and beauty
than we generally conceive OF.
His ideas OF Gains pre-existence. OF
tribes, the meaning Of the carnal
law; the atonement OF Christ and its
significance In relation to man, were
logical and wen defined. And yet his
greatest admiration was for modern
revelation. the wisdom and character
Of the Prophet Joseph smith. his
the prophets. superhuman wisdom in
making known the truth was garden
of delight To Elder Sudbury: the Doc
trine and Covenants was the Scripture
Of all Scripture to him because OF the
precious doctrines and blessings there
provided for man, but profound and
beyond the comprehension OF the COM
mon mind. He contended that the mis-
sion Of the Holy Ghost was 10 enable
men TO live the higher law and better
life; and without that higher birth men
could not become tho sons Of God. The
Importance OF man being born again,
or receiving the higher birth. was a
favorite theme OF his. He taught most
beautiful and logically the philosophy
OF marriage. not only its traditional inn
portance. its scriptural Importance, but
it, philosophical Importance. That IL
was a divine institution. one calcu-
lated to build up better class OF men
and women That It's object was 70
improve the human stock, to properly
breed children and give them the adj
vantagcs Of being well born; that
mon and women might be married
with the higher and more lofty ideas
than the common run OF lustful views
IN matrlmony which should be no part
Of so divine and important an institu-
ton. He taught that the lesser had
the right 20 petition the higher In the
marriage relation az well as IN other
relations: that tho best that Is in man
and woman might he developed. He
! appreciated the Scriptures In sustain
| ing the marriage relation, the relation
| of parentage, as the most exalted and
supremest relation OF life In his lib
| eral understanding Of the truth he
regretted the present tendency to tri-
| de with those things which are most
| precious. and throw away that which
is most precious and that which would