| OCR Text |
Show - ., . ., . - ' ' 7 7- , - . . .. 1 . '. . . . .. ' . . . RANO ADDRESS , . .. :. i Government . - Joseph-Smith- 1 , :, . , . A -- as's 1 . . - ' . - ' .. ' 2 . ihe - . -- : e. Helooked-forwar- attempt-ioltilitat- to the coming - d ofJesusas ' - i . , - -- . . . ' - - 'thenutiome, MS PRACTICAL ' ' .. ' I ? -- - 'f P , ' ' ; , . , , ' - , ,, ' ' -- lt , . . ' - , , - 4 eget' - formulated for the ,commontood. There should be no 'mingling of religious in., fluence witir 'civil governments. l'ha two can help each other without ti'es.,! passing upon each other's fields. 'iligEPH SMITH'S , philosophy of government there began with freedom for every individual man. 'Governments must respect mants tree agency.- All must have tht right to accept or reject any offering.' There Must' be no corer- Full liberty must ' .clog; no, tyramty - reign, Any atteMpt to curtail, in..; dividual freedom is of the devil. ' Only two limitations were placed He must the free upon agent: politically not interfere with the rights of others: and he must obey the laws of the majority. Government "should guarantee to All parties, sects and denomina., ' lions, and classes of religion equal, co- -, herent and indefeasible rights", More- over, those who enforce the law should not depart from these principles. ',The laws of the land . should conform toti government 'bf God:. In Joseph's own words: "The government-oGod has always tended to promote peace ,unity, harmony, strength and happl;less; while that of roan has been of confusion, disorder, weak-. ness andimisery.7ile insisted that all , t , , ' ' ,,, s.. - .. .. - ,''''."7'''"'""''''''"'""""4- THE, PHOTO ALBUM ' mm"'Nomomml-,,www. - r ' . , '' -- 1 .. p , -- f.',... - - .....; . - 1 ;.;,,,:,-- .... ,..'" .. ., '' cl 1 1 ti ,' ''. ''.' ..1 ,:- ,2 ii I' - ' ,,.,.--- L.,---a-- ,,,. : i, , ' - ,;,-... ' - - ' ..- 4 ' '... . l '' '' - t i ' ' 1 ,- 4 : k , g...1,4 l'.,(,-,4- ,1 ',.'' i , - ;''1'';''-'''''''''''- 4 , ,. - - r , 0 ' - - - ' . - , ' ' .... A 4, ' 4 ..... - , ' ' '' '. ' , 4 ..;,' ' s , 4 ., -- , . -'-- 1. ,' ''' 4,4 ' - .1,,,;..,-.,--'' , ' ,.! , , - i ' ..,0 -- , i,'t k- I , ..,- , 6, 1 1 11; ,, ' 41 - ;,' '' 6 ili - - ' - - ' , .. - . .2 - - - ,., - . .. . , - - , ...: . , . ' . 0 - , , ,- .. .. - A . . ' - - ' ill' I t ' 7' ''''.' I ' - .T44 , , - -' i 4..- 2.-- - - t. - .. I .i. :-;- , . l9 - '1 f " 1. i - ;. . , I- . ''t - , v4 '.' - - 44.4 L. -: - 6 HI '''' -- - , . , y, , '' 1 i , - ,,, i - ,' ' .- - ., .'. , , ,...-- - , r N ;;- r 4', , f' , t -'-.- ; ' 1 It - . , ,. , .,1. . Y ' , - , , ' -- ..... .. , '7,. ,t4,- . , , i,i - , - ., loPrw,romp.00,,0,..,0414n1,..,.-40m.m4.44......---.....- ' 4 3, ; - ., . ,, -. -- s, .4,,t.t''''--- r . '' ' PRES. 'JOSEPH F ,SMITH VISITS BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY AROUND 1902 In front buggy with President Smith ore Karl G. Maeser and George H. Brimhall, The photograph Was ..- - submitted by Edgar T. Reid of Salt Lake City , , ,. .. , . THE CHURCH SECIION , WEEK OF JUNE 5, .1949 . , Page Twouty uue 0 C ' A . .., - ,' , ,.',. ,i .; f - , ',,,r- ,' ' - " . . 7: - - - ... , . - - ' ' -- . - , - . - - , Con-Whit- ton - - citizen-the-free-- 4' - e 4 i -m- - phybegan by declaring :' - y4 - .. te itIn political philosothat every ' a form of government should rest upon . foundation of righteousness, that is, upon the laws of the Lord. That would be a test of the quality of any govern- ment. That having been done, be set up a few simple principles to be observed by makers of governmental sys- tem& In his many political utterances of Dr. - be showed himself, In the wordswith the G. Homer Durham, "acquainted fundamental problems of governmental the difficulties in-. of d ' I, practice-4ncumbent on (present) political life?'" . ,First, he said that an acceptable government must be instituted and' operated for the safety; protection and general welfare of societyfor all the of people. If Iit allows a man or group unearned men privileges,special, it,is ;. ..., evil. It must be fair and just to ;al. :;,..4. Second, a good government must secure toilevery cue of conscience. Matters of belief os, religious practice should not be inter- - - - . . -- - -- Prophers--iecommendations- e - - - , - - - k- f- , of-th- people--under--the- - , - .' , . - de '', ;- - - 7- : the-Unit- ed - , -- - - ex-wo- portion.- - govern- Until that time man-maments WOUla properly be in tht world. Joseph Smith was an Idealist who de. sired to better all human practices; but I: heswas a practical Idealist... Hi and"the ChOrch- be had been instruniental- - In ' organizing - were but ,a handful 'In a large and growing country. - ,"..' ii ,.., The best that they could do would t be to be g6pd citizens in the land, take " In its affairs, and by an active p, ; I their teachings and example help to better existing conditions. He under- siood that the coming Kingdom of God ' ' would not came by revolution,, but by -challge in the hearts of . thegradual men: - He foresaw that it might takes ..'' long time. Meanwhile he and his people must help perfect governments es they now exist, by planting in them ' the principles of the gospel, slowly t , first,. victoriously at last, always no lack of faith in .. patiently, but with - ' ' 7 building the Kingdom of God; that is, use the 'laws of God for their guidance. Then, the battle.against evil would be wonihappiness would be man's ; . " . . t -- irtrour1he--1raproperexere1so- i . -- he is theearth'S . - . .1. TO THE PRESIDENT of the United IN '1844, A few months before his martyrdom, Joseph Smith became a States he would give power to suppress mobs in heho11 nj ditailiterties in in. candidate for theAwesidencyo. .vernmentaa443, served,--in-hhe should do temal affairt., Tharhas a dirict beer- own troublett-carcef;-tUnitetrStates.--11ele- ltas was defense civil It In of the this end religious day problems,, quenCtniscarriageofjusticeflow, : -uneed& e pow-the. Co his yountehtirelr-in- . of --rights-ofCamstitution.' As part of his political Joseph's day. authority. He spoke of his own Finally, looking again 'towards the perience when be called on the Prest, paign he prepared and circulated a , States to ask for document (February 7, 1844) known as coming Kingdom of- - God; which shall dent of the he cover, Views' recommended of of and Powers the the the constitutional redress for the suffering earth, Policy Government of the United States. This annexation of Oregon, Canada, Texas of his people. The answer was, "Your Ls a remarkable and Mexico. He 'says "let- -. the Union document It sum., cause is just, but! can do nothing for '. t as marizes views apspread from the east to the west sea." , ' Joseph's political you." ' -This campaign document is an in. k to America at in life that time. All ' this and ;tore pertaining to plied , is good reading for the politicians of It telligent, comprehensive, forward-looa set in is forth political governments ' of statement of , a ing policies, worthy section-13today. as document published in 1835, 4 First among, his major declarations ,trained statesman. ' Many of the of the Doctrine and Covenantsi-wit- h have been - -- - -is the doctrine ' that popular govern-- confirmatory statements in various of ment should "study the convenience of adopted in. the. 1Srogressive.passage revelations to, the Prophet -- --. more than the comfort of the the years. All of them are reasonable In eloquent Words he stated the ' s cabinet." - This is a body blow, against and sound; political motto of the Church" in 4a prevailing .2 However, Joseph Smith distinguished and-- I selfishness political on the of the government rhapsody office seeking. He held further that Sharply between political and rellgioul"' United States: since . central government has means matters. Ile said "It is our duty to conake----1to foresee Mani-Al- t "peace and good order. in society. the - needs of the . centrate all our Influence:A Love to God and good will to man. All country it should plan how to satisfy popular that which is sound and good, and unpopular that which is unsound. good and wholesome laws, virtue and them. "l'is right politically for a inan 'Who has TITHe urged that the government shoildforever. But woe to tyrants, mobs, influence to use foster agriculture and the industrial relation to . aristocracy, anarchy and torylam, and arts.. To do this he thought that a politica, I will speak as a man; but in , ' all those who invent or seek out unrelation to religion, I will speak in . "judicious tariff" would be justified. : In international matters the righteous end vexatious taw suits, . objective der the pretext and color. of law, or should always be peace, openly stated. '' 'THE POLITICAL utterances and office, ,, ,either - religious or political. There is no place for secret agreements. practices of Joseph Smith point to him. Exalt the standard of Democracyi Down He - also - doctrine that as a statesman"one from whom- - the'. with that of priestcraft, and let all the "To be prepared for war is one of the 'statesmen of the day could win help. people say, Amen! that the blood of our most effectual means of preserving ' back to his day, one cannot Looking . not fathers may cry from the ground peace." . help- but "marvet at the breadth of his against us. Sacred is the memory of HE WARNS against personal selfishvision, and bow satiety he dealt with . that blood which bought for us our ness in. practical politics; and suggests the ' problems of the day. When be liberty." . that political promises should .not be touched a matterovhatever. Its nature, THE PROPHET held 'that the Amer-made to win votes, nor should- - they be Joseph Smith overtopped the crowd. most nearly ap,- - believed. -. - Be 'has, not yet been recognized as he He believed that a smaller Congress pmached his political ideals. The should haVe been, as a prophet-state- s. of the United States, he was would make it workable body.' man. Everywhere he is revealed as told by the Lord, , was formulated by He says, "Curtail the officers of governone who did work beyond the ordinary "wise men" who were raised up for ment in pay, numbers and power." ' powers of man. He was led by God. He urged prison reform, upon the "this very purpose, and who redeemed . Next week we shall discuss the ' the land by the shedding of blood." nation, and recommended remedial, opening of the human mink g In discussing the effect of the Con' - corrective measures, instead of 'the Good night! stitution on human- lives, be said "that traditional methods of confinement and. ..,tp. Homer. Durham, "Joseph Smith. Prophet the Constitution of the United States is capital - punishment. lie says,' "Let t"1,1rigl'an oIt''tr Church 3:303405. . a glorious standard: it Is founded in the penitentiaries be turned into seminaries Times and Seasons 3:855. . ''History of the Church 39, wisdom of God. of learning." He would abolish en101:79-90- . 'Doctrine and Covenants -, It is a heavenly banner; it is like tirely the practice of that day to Mi.-of the Church 3:305. 'History of the Church 4:245. the ; cooling shades and refreshing prison persons for debt of the Church I:197409: see especially. 'History waters of a great rock in a- thirsty and The solution of the slavery question G. Homer Durham. "Joseph Smith Prophat-State- e be. , ' then imminent was most statesmanlike. man, chap. weary land. It is like a great tree 'History of the Church15;23- 4; ' ..erwhosebranches,men- - from overylle proposed that-thgovernment should ' History of the Church. ,. ..- ; . , ....,...: purchase the slaves from their owners then set thoslaves free., Had this been 'done, the bloody civil war, would have been avoided, and the feeling between the north, and the south would have been mitigated. : ; He spoke out against waste in gov- . ernment. Waste is never. defensible.' Public business should be conducted economicallY. Li the field of economics . he recommended a decentralized, but national bank systemi-the-prof- its of . .which should be applied .towards - , - - , clime can be shielded from the burning rapt Of the Sun."! Yet; he recognized thehumekweaknesses in It that should '!:--.:gradually be Ifindified. His views on political government for the protection of its citizens are well expressed in the charter of the city of Nauyoo, which he wrote "is of my own plan and device." He adds, :1, con- 'cocted it foithe salvation of the'Clinrch,and on principles so broad, that every. man might dwell secure under its protective influence, kvithout distinction of 'men should labor to the, end that God's -goveinment be,established. Third, citizens of any. country are bound to obey and 'uphold the laws of the land in which they reside. Latter-'da- y Saints .should be the best citizens wherever they live. It not setisfied, they should move elsewhere,1tr.- - with lawful. means seek to correct existing . conditions. , FOURTH,' officers of the govern-i- n roent should execute the lawn of the land honestly, in fairness mid justice II all. Weak ilia strong should-treated alike. Joseph Smith was pain-th- e aware of possible abuses by offi- . fully . I Political - . . Station. RSV By EIDER JOHN oiC WIDTSOE . Twelve - , ' Deai Radio Friends: JOSEFRSBUTI1 understood that a form or government is necessary when people dwell together. lie learned early his life that the kind of government and administrations ,determipes largely .. . the happiness if Ipeopli: Ills own political philusouhy set up government of God as the ideal- - , . . . lAddrest delivered Sunday, May 29, 1949, at 9 p' in.Over Radii) . - - , , : ,. ., '-- Prophet of God , - .. - ... ' , , . - ' . |
