OCR Text |
Show THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT. It is quite natural that tho older members mem-bers of' tho Mormon churoh should be altogether satisfied- with a government by their priests; they were brought up to consider a Theocracy not only the best of all possible governments, but the only really rightful and legal government gov-ernment possible on the earth. It is true that the younger element in the church has to a considerable cx-lont cx-lont outgrown this notion, and that there Is a disposition to assert an Independence In-dependence In politics and an individualism indi-vidualism in business and all purely personal affairs that by no means comport com-port with tho real, underlying principles princi-ples of Mormonism. What those basic principles are we do not get so much from tho recent utterances utter-ances of tho priesthood as from the franker declarations and expositions of the founders and fathers of the faith; though there is by no means lacking ample proof that those basic ideas, doctrines, doc-trines, and precepts arc still the guiding guid-ing force of Mormonlsm. and the rule and guide of the leaders of the Mormon Mor-mon people. We find a very full, clear and candid setting forth of those doctrinea in volume vol-ume xvll. of the Millennial Star, pp. 27-1-75. The author was Apostle Franklin Frank-lin D. Richards, who edited and published pub-lished the volume. The editorial was entitled "Union," and was directed to tho point of proving that the people should be united in all things, accept the rulers whom God appointed to direct di-rect their affairs, temporal as well as spiritual, and should evince not only a willing but an eager obedience to President Presi-dent Brigham Young in all things, and bo guided by tho priesthood, not only In their actions, but in the motives from which these actions originate. That is carrying the principle of obedience very far, but that is what was Insisted upon. Here is the latter portion of the editorial edi-torial to ( which these remarks are the Introduction: "There Is one kind of government that will Insure permanent prosperity and happiness as long as the people will render willing obedience to It, and that is a Theocracy, or the government of God through His Prophet, Seer and Reveiator. The peoplo and city of Ensch became so perfected In righteousness righteous-ness under this government that they were translated, and the children of Israel prospered exceedingly as long as they were willing to remain under it, but when they had a king set over them by the Gentile nations around them they retrograded and were often led into difficulty and transgression by their rulers. "A theocracy embodies the two extremes ex-tremes of absolute power and republicanism. republi-canism. We have 110 doubt but that both rulers and people of the present day would think this a strange mixture, mix-ture, and not at all adapted to their wants and feelings. And so it is not, for tills species of government can only exist where all believe nnd practice the same general principles, and pursue the same great object the attainment of the greatest good to all, where neither wealth, poverty, nor birth add to or detract from a man's Influence or merit; In fact, where all are united In making Integrity nndr uprlghtcousness of heart beforo God nnd man the only standard of character and position. When this Is done their Judgment of right and wrong will be guided by the Priesthood, Priest-hood, which will CIRCUMSCRIBE NOT ONLY THE ACTIONS THEMSELVES, BUT THE MOTIVES FROM WHICH THEY ORIGINATE. The Holy Ghost reveals, to all who will be guided by It, these things which are necessary for Ihem to know, for the temporal and spiritual, present and future, salvation of body and spirit. If a whole people believe and follow the dictates of this Spirit of revelation, it will make manifest mani-fest to them whom the Lord has chosen among them to be their ruler, and also make known to them who govern what Is necessary for tho best interests of the people. The same Spirit will dictate dic-tate to that people that THE MOST IMPLICIT OBEDIENCE to a ruler thus chosen by the Lord and sanctioned by themselves Is tho only way to prosperity. pros-perity. Now this would bo a perfect union in action for the accomplishment of the same great object continual salvation. sal-vation. This ia the-great leading feature fea-ture In a Theocracy. With the Lord at the head, and both rulers and people united to' carry out His designs, there could certainly be no three elements combined that could give greater power. What might naturally be expected of a government conducted on such principles? princi-ples? Surely tho answer would be that It would be the strongest and most potent po-tent on the earth, in proportion to the number of Its subjects. Such a government gov-ernment would evidently be an anomaly among other governments. It would be clothed with a mystery Impenetrable to Ihe ordinary comprehensions oi; men, and would evince a potency, and vigor startling to them when compared with their frail organizations. It would be hated because feared, and opposed to all evil. This is the position that a government gov-ernment of this kind might be expected to occupy in the midst of anarchy and misrule. "Such a government tho Lord has now established on the earth, and Latter-day Saints are those who are willing will-ing to carry out His designs, nnd this they aro doing Just as fast as they can overcome those evils and projudices in which they were born and educated. They are beginning to purify the fountains foun-tains of life by putting the marriage relation on the footing which the Lord designed, and making It subservient to tho great and only purpose for which Ho instituted it to multiply and replenish re-plenish tho earth, instead of being entered en-tered Into for sordid and vicious purposes. pur-poses. Wrhen this great source of evil la thoroughly purified, and that reform Is carried out in tho domestic and social so-cial relations, the perfection of union and tho power of revelation will pervade per-vade and control tho political and social so-cial relations of the State. "This is the kind of government which the Latter-day Saints aro establishing estab-lishing In Utah as fast as the imperfect knowledge of the people and the corrupt cor-rupt influences which surround them will permit. The way we have mentioned men-tioned is the way Brother Young Is elected, without a dissenting voice, as President of the Latter-day Saints, not only in Utah, but throughout the world. This is the reason that thero are no party politics, no dissenting votes in tho election to offices, In the Church or State. The spirit of revelation is the nominating power, and when men have been elected In this way, the united supplications of the peoplo nscen,d dally to the throne of the Almighty that those men may be endowed with wisdom and power to govern them in righteousness; and knowing and realizing that this is the case, from the experienco of each passing day, THE MOST IMPLICIT OBEDIENCE IS RENDERED TO THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THOSE APPOINTED TO GOVERN. This is the reason why Brlgham Young governs gov-erns by influence; and NO MATTER HOW MANY LEGAL GOVERNORS ARE APPOINTED OVER UTAH HIS INFLUENCE WILL CIRCUMSCRIBE THEM ALL, and rule In the hearts of tho people. This influence is the power of the eternal Priesthood, which will contlnuo to increase on the earth until every nation nnd peoplo acknowledge its potency, and all things are made subject unto it. Tills is the power which is going forth conquering and to conquer, until tho Lord Jesus shall reign on earth as King of Kings and Lord of lords." This plain disclosure of the objects and ideals of the priesthood car not fall to be instructive to Mormon and Gentile Gen-tile alike at this time; and when we keep In mind the undoubted fact that this Is precisely what the Mormon ideal and purpose is today, we shall be helped to a better' understanding of the wonder won-der with which the Mormons receive tho Gentile objections to what the Saints consider perfectly legitimate political po-litical dominance. A people who have worked for fifty years toward the establishment es-tablishment of conditions laid down in that Millennial Star editorial as tho desirable fulfillment of the Lord's establishment es-tablishment of His government upon earth, will not be able to comprehend why any ono should be found In rebellion rebel-lion against that establishment. The American party's mission is to enlighten enlight-en their minds. |