| Show THE CHURCH AND all patriotism if the subject did not take a very serious turn taro lecause of the specious wanner manner in which it Is bandied band Jed it would be quite amusing to observe the efforts of certain classes of people to establish an exclusive claim to americanism or patriotic patri otio support of the united states government tor tar especially against the mormons cormons act acting ingin in church capacity these efforts have received considerable prominence of late and in them has been the uniform assumption mat hat the church of necessity must be un olk patriotic and antagonistic to the inter eats of the state the truth to Is that be 80 far as the church of jesus christ of latter day saints is concerned the very opposite is the fact we recall a remark of hon HOD J N X crose of new york one of the emigration mi corn sent to europe by the states i 0 1891 in reference to the latter jay day saints he said toe mormon ahu rob is the most patriotic of all churches so far as the united states la Is concerned it is americanism in the 1116 fullest sense I 1 in a its belief that the coo con ailt alit ution Js is a revelation from god and that hat the united states slates is the land of zion where the beautiful bt city to is to be boullt jv budke cross had bad made a 0 thorough investigation and arrived i at a S COD which every in intelligent n t and broadminded man would reach on 08 the facts that ex at there has been considerable said in this locality of late about obedience to the prie chood as being contrary to the genius of the gove government of the united states slates and anti coritta ral 1 and in violation of the doctrine au and covenants of the mormon ch church 11 1 1 yet with a strange gooon ois toncy advocates of that position quote from the bible the Sav lols loi teaching leaching that the things of cr should be rendered to aawar and the DooL doctrine rine and covenants regarding the obligation of men to earthly governments ern ments and to their maker and they add that these aboa references deny the jurisdiction of the priesthood on anything but spiritual earn corns J the conclusion thus arrived at is wholly at ai variance with the sate facts particularly when n spiritual conc concerns ersOl are interpreted as being apart from temporal actions the rho doot riLe enunciated by the savior in the he reference made and re iv asser asserted teel in the doctrine and covenants is an emphatic claim for tk priesthood to direct in spiritual and temporal tem tomi Doral affairs the priesthood as we mean it here Is the authority of J jeus a us cb christ riot exercised either inho in his person or by those whom he has hall called to 10 not act la in the words attributed to him in the scripture he assumes not only to direct the people in spiritual concerina con cerna but to command them as to what whal they shall do in their rete tion to earthly mattere on oa the deft sion referred to in judea hicom he corn banded the people to be obedient to the law then in force notwithstanding the fact that mat it was exceedingly als tasteful to the jewe upon w whom bum it was oppressive the saviors attitude abre re effectually disposes of th the 0 claim that obedience to the priesthood la Is un on scriptural and establishes the con arary 4 I 1 now as to later times and the allegation gation u that such obedience is in don contrary tray to the genius of the united states v government or to abe doctrines of the church of jesus christ battor day sainte this bis allegation to Is completely overturned so tar far as the latter listner list ter day saints are concerned by the tact fact that they recognize that the tiou of the united states Is ia inspired of I 1 shod that being the case his author C Z ty or priesthood can only command jones thereto in matters that re tee to earthly government obedience 40 the priesthood in this regard is the highest type of patriotism for the rea oa that it to la recognizing as aa the divine k will the giving of the r i and laws lawe in support there el f there can be no suga suggestion estion that those holding the priesthood mi liht ht usurp the functions of the civil official SM jar thai aba would be in itself a violation of the law to which obedi ace la is commanded hence the doc adoo of obedience to the priesthood to in atch aeh waiters matters la Is in perfect harmony with the aenita of the government of the abe untied united state which is ia the alt of the inspiration iL of him who gave cave that priesthood and with the aa church arob doctrines doctrine it is honoring every iman aan in his hie station Ili rulers ulers sod aud magis ustes as such up to god himself f there is not the slightest excuse for f the mormon position a tola point of upholding the jonsto faion and laws law in harmony thereat lmh in the doctrine and covenants Co C of the she ceuron it 19 is saiu 7 tat let no man break the laws lawa of the land for er he thai thad keeneth the laws of gcoy hath ft no need to break the laws of the land wherefore be subject to the powers that be until he reigns whose it is to reigo reign and subdues all enemies under hia feet and now ELOW verily I 1 say unto you con anz ahe laws lawa of the land it ii is my that my people should observe to 10 do ah things whatsoever I 1 command them hd d thai law of the land which is in coned Cut tuti lonal coul supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and eriv dieges belongs to all mankind and is justifiable before me therefore I 1 the aard justify you and your brethren of my mj church in befriending that law irich is the constitutional law of the dmd laad and as pertaining to law of man whatsoever au oever is more or less than these of evil there have been issues raised by the people here as to 90 he abe LU Liona lity ol of rein lawf law similar issues have been on other laws jaws in other parts of the abe country and not through jack of patriotism patrio griot tiem ism either and when the constitutionality null ty of those alws was finally determined the mormons cormons accepted the result there are no people la in this land who have sacrificed so much to prove the depth and sincerity ef f their patriotism to in this respect as have the mormons cormons Mor mons and it ill becomes those who have made no such sacrifice tol to taunt gunt others with lack of patriotism moab jacb tenets sod and accusations ar aft themselves unpatriotic and un amerl ameri ims baffi with the latter day saints their patriotism Is deep as their heir religion which to Is part of their heir life they have been taught it from the earliest inception of the church they look upon it their destiny to 10 be chief among those who will in the hour bout of peril uphold the be national constitution in spited at 01 heaven for the be greatest and best government un on the earth and mat ceuron member who in such houf would disobey the priest 1 hoba in its teachings to 0 o uphold toe constitution and we be laws made in por pursuance suanee thereof would have to violate the me most sacred obligation of alil oiti to do so patriotism Is a oar car dinal doctrine of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints its author ity or priesthood commands it from the highest source and according to the church belief expressed in see tion of the doctrine nod covenants and numerous other places man is as responsible for his bis display of that qua quality to his big maker as in respect to any other church doctrine |
