Show IDEAS OF government IT tras HAS been repeatedly shown in these columns as well as on the public stand that the mormon ce church h contains the theocratic and democratic elements element in its system government they are nicely balanced and in perfect harmony in that form presented by divine revelation to the saints god speaks the people say I 1 amen and thus deity and humanity agree authority and liberty unite the voice of god and the voice of the people are one and the result is joy and peace and power in this system the agency of man 18 freely exercised on the one hand d the benefits obtained from seeking the wisdom of god axe are fully rec iced on the other there is no and no rebellion free dom to receive or reject is allowed to the individual who of course in the nature of things must reap the fruits of his own planting receive the results of his own acts tt it is presumable that if he believes the word or plan or principle to be from god he will voluntarily receive and practice it still it is possible for a person to believe a given thing to be right and divine and yet refuse or neglect to be governed by it many people whose lives are anything but commendable will acknowledge in moments of humility and penitence that they know better than they act and that their doings are in violation of divine commands man is left free as to th his actions his course is a question of understanding and desire if he wishes to know what is right ight and to do it there remains no difficulty access to divine light is open and free and the power to do good or evil is inherent in the creature in the church union of understanding may be reached by the members through possession of one spirit unity of effort efrost is then easy to those who are rightly disposed if they agree that a measure is from god they will unite to make it practical unless individual desires and projects are made superior to divine revelations when that is done confusion ensues darkness overshadows and disaster must be the inevitable consequence the eternal father has ever respected the freedom of his children on this earth he compels no one to obey His Jaws laws whether they are revealed in nature or by oral or spiritual communication he forces no man to heaven he prevents none who wish to come to him good and evil are ever before mankind the choice is their own in the church which he has established he has given a form of government to which the members voluntarily assent it JaIr largely gely springs from themselves they have a voice in all its affairs the presiding officers general and local are voted into their respective positions by the members member each having an equal vote whether male or female it is in the power of the people to receive or reject any nomination that may be made that is pure democracy in the same manner they can accept or repudiate any doctrine or measure or plan that may be presented to them can anything be more democratic than this the unanimity with which propositions are usually received and i officers are commonly sustained by popular vote in the church gives occasion for the objection of opponents that the assent of the members is a mere matter of form but this is an error that assent is a reality it is the result of a union of belief and purpose it may be to some ex 1 tent the result of dislike to anything discordant but the members who think know that in voting upon any measure or man they are exercise exercising a sacred right an important prerogative and that their sanction is essential to make the matter mattel valid and perfect before the heavens whenever hands are raised rajeev for or against anything presented to the body of the church without reflection and the mil full action of the mind avld and understanding the divine plan falls short of accomplishment everything is to be done by common consent with much prayer and faith all things are to be done in faith the uplifted hand band is an outward sign of an inward and living belief in and assent to the matter proposed it presupposes pre pro supposes thought understanding der standing and accord or if against the measure intelligent conviction that it is wrong it is not designed that the body should mould be a mere machine moved by the will of one who presents a motion or an imitative mom mass without reflection and without individuality there is something grand and mighty in the manifestation of the united will and falth faith and purpose of a vast body of people whose souls are ut lit up by the same divine fire and whose hands bands are raised to heaven in token taken of a common impulse and determination it is thrilling and majestic when it is the willing voice of the people in accord with the voice of inspiration the heavens are moved at the spectacle and it joins the human with the divine making the angels rejoice and causing we the spirit of god to move upon the mass as it did upon the lace face of the waters in the beginning one of the reasons why assent to is so readily given by the body of the church to measures presented by the authorities is that it is well known that those measures have been discussed and passed upon by the presiding quorum or council and union therein arrived at in ad advance vaDee and this is the reliance of many who have not perhaps been able to devote much time for reflection upon the matter at hand it is provided in the revelations upon church government erdmen that the decisions of these quorums qu or either of them must not only be in righteousness but by unanimous consent in order to be entitled to the full sanction of the almighty it is presumed that this unity has been reached by the authorities ties before the voice of the people is called for and the confidence reposed in them makes a ready assent of the body to what the leaders propose this throws a great responsibility upon those who stand at the head of affairs in wards and stakes and the church as a whole personal ends private purposes individual preferences must all be made subordinate to the common good the glory of god and the advancement of his cause jealousy envy enivy greed desire to excel must be banished and the pure love of right and truth must hold sway away in evey heart or the word and will of the lord will not net be obtained but human wisdom or folly win prevail in its stead when the church receives the divine mind and sustains it by th the popular voice the true theory and intent of church government are made practical without either it does not reach the true ideal when these unite although opposition from without will rage and 0 eke dee may arise that bt first seem insurmountable persistence in faith la sure bursto to overcome every form of hindrance and success will be achieved be sure fiure you are right and then go ahead is as good a motto for the church of christ as any other body or person and when that assurance is arrived at both leaders and people should steadily pursue their way regardless of every outcry it is this democratic feature of the govern government irnen of the church that makes the latter day saint democratic in politics we do not use this term in a party sense the party that bears that name has been of late years in many respects anything but democratic in practice but the rights of the people as aa the true body politic are inalienable in both church and state in their several and separate capacities under the principles we have accepted as divine under the constitution of our common country the people are the source of power and authority vertain certain grants of power have been made to be reposed in the national government for the good of all but the right to govern themselves in their several localities and in their separate local concerns belongs of right to the people it is not bestowed upon them by any organized administration or legislative body but is theirs of right as citizens as intelligent human beings and came to them from god the source of all light and power it is their birthright the great creator endowed them with it and the denial of its exercise is oppression robbery and diabolism it is the duty of every latter day saint to learn leam his rights privileges and responsibilities as a member of the church to which he has voluntarily attached himself and as a citizen of the civil government under which he lives and of which he forms apart this is enjoined upon him by his religion in each he is an independent living factor in ech each he has rights in each he has duties in neither should he be a serf or a rebel obedience to rightful authority tho rity ity compliance with wholesome regulations or laws subordination to proper requirements are perfectly compatible with human lib liberty eity in church or state independence does not mean resistance to rule freedom does not imply dissension dimension or revolt humility and dignity meekness nees and strength union and individuality are homogeneous and the liberty of ll 11 requires concessions from each there will come a day when every soul on earth will be free god will rule from sea to sea and throughout the land but submission to his win will and word will be voluntary and it will be done on earth as it is done in heaven because deity and humanity will be joined in a common purpose and the voice of god will be the voice of the people C W P |