The Gospel and the Law

The Gospel and the Law recently Judge Nephi Jensen, while addressing a Sunday School class, made a statement about as follows: "It has fallen to my lot at different periods in my life to be a school teacher, a mis- sionary, a mission president, lawyer, prosecuting attorney and judge. In all these experiences I have never found anything that equals the Gospel as a means of impelling people to be law- observing." The student of "Mormon" tradi- tions and beliefs will agree with this conclusion. The true Latter-day Saint holds sacred the rights of his fellow- men, and laws can not be broken with- out infringing on the rights of others. The Gospel prompts men to serve and honor the Lord, and it is folly for a person to feel that he honors God if he wilfully violates the law of the land. Civil law can not be segregated from that of the Almighty. His lan- guage on this point is unmistakable: "Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God has no need to break the laws of the land. Wherefore be subject to the powers that be, until he reigns whose right it is to reign." However, it appears necessary to do something more than merely observe the law. Forces are at work which make it imperative that all who love liberty array themselves against the criminal element. It is no time for inaction, nor for languid, apathetic ac- tion. If the present condition is to be corrected, it must be done by cour- ageous, unselfish, determined effort on the part of upright citizens. Hereto- fore many of this class have felt that it was not their duty to assist in law enforcement further than to "stand" for it. "Stand," yes, by all means, but do not stand still. It is a singular and almost para- doxical fact that our worst criminals are foreign-born and come to the United States from European lands where the law is held in high respect. Usually their first lawless act is boot- legging. Americans contribute to their delinquency by patronizing them in their illicit liquor selling. Thereby they contribute not a small part to robbery, to immorality, even to mur- der. Some of these criminals are fre- quently arrested. Attorneys who will take any kind of a case, if the fee is large enough, are not lacking. That they bring an honorable profession into disrepute means little to them. A fine is imposed, perhaps a heavy one. As has been recorded in these columns, one boot-legger made $69,000 net in one year. What does such a man care for a fine. He could pay a large one every day. But going to prison is something different. Public thought On these matters must be intensified. Office-holders are servants of the people, and the people should do with them as they do with any other servant who ignores their request, discharge him and seek for one who will give satisfaction. Even cor- rupt officers, and we believe their num- ber is comparatively few in Utah and surrounding states, will read and in- terpret the hand-writing on the wall when prominent citizens manifest in- terest in the matter. If one is found so obtuse or defiant that he will not respond, he should be swept out of office. Our citizens know how to scratch their ballots, and no office- holder iin Utah wants further evi- dence of the fact.

June, 1929 EDITOR'S TABLE 687 Take, for example, the law against selling tobacco to persons under the age of twenty-one, which also makes it unlawful for minors to have this article, forbidden by the law of the Lord as well as that of the land, in their possession. All except the to- bacco interests concede this to be wise legislation, but how many of us ever went out of our way to have it en- forced? Very few, doubtless, in spite of the fact that every member of the Church desires it should be. Con- certed and determined action on the part of leading men and women in the stakes and wards would result in a vastly improved condition, and they owe it to the Church, to their sons and daughters and to the country to demand its enforcement. The Gospel places certain obliga- tions and responsibilities upon all who have accepted it. Our missionary sys- tem illustrates the thought in mind. It is not enough for us to save ourselves. We must do all in our power to bring salvation to our fellow-man, with kindness and love unfeigned pointing out to him the way revealed anew by the Almighty. Another point should be mentioned. It is natural for people to criticise, and much undeserved abuse is heaped on law-enforcement officers. If they are lax, people grumble at them; likewise if they are very strict. One of our district attorneys recently prosecuted two young chaps who drove into an old man with an auto, inflicting in- juries from which he subsequently died. Undoubtedly one of the boys, at least, was guilty of criminal care- lessness. Each admitted having taken a drink. But the widow of the dead man begged that the district attorney recommend to the court a suspended sentence, inasmuch as the young men had paid all the expenses of the case and were giving her ten dollars each per month with the promise that they would continue to do so during the rest of her life. The attorney, a wise and competent man who understood all the details of the case, did as the widow requested, thereby bringing upon himself the wrath of some peo- ple who thought the guilty parties should have been given a severe jail sentence, but who doubtless did not know all the facts. In a case of this kind the Gospel of Christ furnishes many precedents. Sometimes infinitely more good can be accomplished by forgiving the repent- ant sinner than by meting out to him harsh punishment. Every man worthy of the name will do his best if he knows his best is ex- pected, but very few will continu- ously do their best if they realize they are not trusted. It is a good thing to trust officers until they are proved un- trustworthy; then the public should follow that sterner example of Christ when he threw over the tables of the money-changers and forcibly drove them out of his Father's house. — C. Aim of the Saints There is no religion above or greater than the truth. Insignificant in numbers, wealth, education, but divine in origin, our religion has for its object peace and good will, love, meekness, humility, the conception of faith in Jesus Christ, his mission and sacrifice, his resurrection and passage to glory with the Father. To put in practice these ideals, a life of clean activity here upon earth, through earnest, righteous and energetic work, is the aim of every Latter- day Saint. — Edward H. Anderson.