Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-08-27

Eth VI
gan of the Mormon Church, Is re-
produced conspicuously in its August
issue extracts from recent speech by
President Heber J. Grant before the
Bow Scouts of America in which he re-
ferred to the following declaration
of belief regarding governments ana
laws in general" adopted by unanl-
NOUS vote of the general assembly OF
the Mormon Church on August II,
1895:
I'VE believe that governments were
Instituted of God for the beneflt OF
man and that He holds men account
able for their acts in relation to them,
both in making laws and administer
ing them, for the good of society.
I'VE believe that no government can
exist in peace, except as such laws
are framed and held tnvlolate as VIII
secure to each individual the Tree
exercise of conscience, the right and
control of property, and the protection
Of life
Joseph Smith Quoted.
Then President Heber Grant drew
attention to the following quotation
from Joseph Smith, one of the found
ers of the church:
The Constitution of the United
States is a glorious standard; II Is
founded in the wisdom of God. 1t Is
a heavenly banner: it is to all those
who are privileged with the sweets OF
liberty, like the cooling shades and
refreshing waters of a great rock in a
weary and thirsty land. 1t is like
great tree under whose branches men
from every cline can be shielded from
burning rays Of the SUM-"
After reading that quotation, Presi-
dent Grant made this comment him.
self:
Some men are ridiculing today the
idea that old men, old fossils, so to
speak, are on the Supreme Court
bench. Well, I do not believe any
member of the Church of Jesus Christ
Of Latter-Day Saints can consistently
do that"
In the same issue of the Improve
ment Era also occurs an editorial
entitled Warning to Church Men,
bers," which says:
with great regard we learn from
credible sources, governmental and
others, that few church members
are joining directly or indirectly the
Communists and are taking part in
their activities.
Not a Part of Government.
"The church does not interfere and
has no intention of trying to interfere
with the fullest and freest exercise of
the political franchise of its members,
under and within our Constitution.
But communism is not political
party nor a political plan under our
Constitution; it is a system of gov
eminent that is the opposite of our
constitutional Government, and it
would be necessary to destroy our
Government before communism could
be set up in the United States"
The further warning is then given
that communism, faScism and Nazi-
ism may be judged by this princi-
ple-whatever endangers to the least
degree mans right to act for himself
Is not of God and must be resisted by
Latter-Day Saints" The editorial
goes on to say:
Overwhelmed and bewildered by
the material gifts of the age, men
question the suficiency of the ancient
moral code. In their confusion, clear
thinking is vanishing, though some
things should be evident enough: the
automobile cannot abrogate the COM
mand Thou shalt not steal nor can
the radio still the voice OF
conscience"
Young's Views on Dole.
Another fundamental on which the
Mormon Church Is taking a firm
position is the matter of the dole. 1t
has instituted a plan to take its own
members off the relief rolls. Promi-
nently displayed on the editorial page
every day in the Deseret News, daily
newspaper here controlled by the
Mormon Church, is the following
statement:
Brigham Young once said in ref
erence to giving of charity:
"'My experience has taught me,
and it has become a principle with
me, that it is never any benefit to
give out and out, to man, or woman,
money. food, clothing or anything
else, if they are able bodied and can
work and earn what they need, when
there is anything on earth for them
to do. This is my principle and I try
TO act upon it. To pursue a contrary
course would ruin any community in
the world and make them idlers.'
History records that this was not
only the policy but the practice of