The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-11-15

~. c,aim the privilege of worship.
s,roiahty God according to the
Wy ms..,,es OF our own conscience, and
o DHsn all men the same privilege, let
49,. 49, worship how, where, or what
vs." nav. ARTICLES of Faith, I'D.
'' ,c,,o derivation of the word "wor-
~ -" { significant 1t is the lineal
s SUI OF a pair of Anglo-Saxon
,asurrn,s--weorth meaning worthy
snd scipe, an ancient form OF the
animation ship" signifying condi-
.,on or state. The combination as per.
a as in our expression worship
p wesns worthy-ship, and connotes the
sttrbute of worthiness ON the part
81 The object of alteration.
u Nan ,,, cannot intelligently worship in
,..orance: and this basal fact is sup
aartad and strengthened by the in
ppu;rsd affirmation of modern pro-
s srat ut is impossible for a man to
:. saved in ignorance" Doctrine &
Covenants 1880.
The devout worshiper must nave
some conception Of the ennobling or
amulatory character. of his deity,
whether that deity be an idol made
With hands or the true and living
Cad the Creator Of the heavens and
ths earth. Worship to be genuine. to
NO what the word implies, must be vol
untary, willing, soulful homage. 1t is
tynified by actual praying as con-
trasted with the formality of saying
ones prayers.
Worship is no matter of mere form;
!. consists not of posture nor gesture,
neither of ritual nor of crede-any
more than prayer consists OF words.
Under compulsion, or for the hypocri-
tical purposes of effect, one may
mechanically perform all the outward
ceremonies of an established style of
alteration. yet, without sincerity. his
effect is but mockery of worhisp.
Worship, then, is matter OF con-
science, and as such its observance Is
one Of mans inalienable rights. Free
dom in worship is part of the Divine
birthright of the race; and, as ma
tural consequence, no earthly power
can Justly interfere Herewith SO long
as its exercise involves no trespass
upon individual or community rights.
The Latter-day Saints accept as di-
yinely inspired the constitutional pro-
vision by which religious liberty is
professedly guarded-that no law
shall ever be made respecting an es-
Enlistment of religion, or prohibiting
The free exercise thereof; and we
confidently believe that with the
spread of enlightenment throughout
the world, similar guaranty will be
established in every nation.
Religious intolerance is inconsist-
emit with democratic government; yet
this species Of prejudice is manifest
even amongst the most progressive
nations of the age. Zeal ofttimes
breeds indiscretion and injustice. 1t is
easy for one who believes that he has
the truth to become uncharitable
toward those who will not or cannot
see as he sees. We find simple ex-
plantation of the fact that the early
followers of Christ, jealous for the
new faith into which they had been
baptized, should look with disdain
upon their fellows still groping in
spiritual darkness. Even John. who
has come to be known as the Apostle
Of Love, became on more than one
occasion intolerant and resentful
toward unbelievers. He and his
brother were incensed at the Samari-
tans' rejection of the Lord. and would
fain have called fire from heaven to