A Piece of Impertinence
A gentleman in Ozark, Mo., addressed a letter
to the editor of the Deseret News a short time ago, asking for information
concerning the teachings of President Brigham Young in relation to Adam. A
personal letter was written in reply, giving the desired explanation. The
Lamoni, Iowa Herald, organ of the "Josephites," prints this private
latter and endeavors to make it appear that the writer is taking up a controversy
with the author of a work called "Utah Mormonism in Contrast." The
Herald makes very free with the name of the editor of the "News," and
also strains a point to show that he has undertaken to "apologize for the
teachings of President Brigham young" on this subject.
We regard the action of the Herald in this
affair as contrary to the ethics of respectable journalism and an unwarranted
liberty to take with a private communication. We simply addressed a personal
letter to a gentleman who made private inquiry on the subject mentioned. And as
to the book to which the letter is made to refer, we know nothing. We have
never seen the book, or any quotations from it, and never heard about it until
the article in the Herald was received, headed "Penrose vs Pres. B.
Young." If our correspondent sent the letter to the editor of the Herald,
he was guilty of a breach of good manners, and if it was obtained surreptitiously
the blame lies with the paper that published it.
To show that there was nothing in the letter
of which we are ashamed, or that might not with propriety be given to the
public if it was obtained in a proper manner and with the consent of the
writer, we here append it in full, as published in the Herald:
"Salt Lake City, Utah,
Feb. 17, 1900,
"Mr. Quincy Anderson, Ogark, Mo.:
"Dear Sir--In reply to your letter of
inquiry, I have to say that President Brigham Young, in the discourse of which
you speak, did not say that the 'virgin Mary was not overshadowed by the Holy
Ghost.' He did not say that it was 'Adam.' He did not say that 'Adam was our
only God.' What he did not say, on this subject, was that Jesus was not
'begotten' by the Holy Ghost. He taught that Jesus was the 'first-begotten' of
God in the spirit, and the 'only begotten' of God in the flesh. As to Adam, he
taught that he was Go in the sense of being at the head of the human family.
That he was Michael, the Ancient of Days and in the resurrection would be at
the head. In that way the whole human family will be related to him as his
children and in the Patriarchal order he will be the personage with whom they
will have to do, and the only one in that capacity. President Young taught faith
in that Eternal Being to whom Adam and all his race should bow in humble
reverence, who is our Eternal Father and the Father of our elder brother, Jesus
Christ, and is the Great Elohim. The Journal of Discourses is not now in print
and I do not know of any volume now on sale; however, I have given you the
substance of President Young's teaching as to Adam. Hoping that this will be
satisfactory.
I am
"Yours truly,
"C. W. PENROSE,
"Editor 'News.'"
Anyone who has carefully read the discourse
delivered by President Young on this subject, will perceive that our brief
statement of its purport is correct, that there is nothing in one that is in
conflict with the other; that we have neither "apologized for" nor
disputed anything contained in that one sermon, which has been so much
misunderstood and perverted by the enemies of our late venerable President. We
are familiar with the doctrine he taught, and which he did not attempt fully to
explain the discourse which has been published. And it should be understood
that the views entertained by that great leader and inspired servant of the
Lord, were not expressed as principles to be accepted by mankind as essential
to salvation. Like the Prophet Joseph Smith, his mind was enlightened as to
many things which were beyond common understanding, and the declaration of
which would bring upon him the opposition of the ignorant.
The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints has fundamental principles to present to
the world, the reception of which is essential to salvation. They are to be
found in the written standards of the Church, and are simple and easy to comprehend and
obey. There are men in the Church who entertain ideas of a more advanced
nature, some of which, although they may be expressed in public, either upon
the stand or in works that have been written, are not put forth as binding upon
any person. This distinction ought to be clear to all who interest themselves
in such matters.
That which
President Young set forth in the discourse referred to, is not preached either
to the Latter-day Saints or to the world as a part of the creed of the Church. In answering the letter of our
correspondent we simply explained in private that which was asked in private,
so that he might understand the tenor of President Young's views, and not with
any intention of advocating or denying his doctrine, or of controverting
anything that may have been said upon the subject by opponents of his
utterances. We do not regard the course of the Lamoni Herald in this matter as
commendable, or even ordinarily respectable. It is a piece of journalistic impertinence.
(Charles W. Penrose in Deseret Evening
News, 21 March 1900, p. 4 [available here], emphasis
in bold added)
Further Reading
Matthew B.
Brown, Brigham
Young's Teachings on Adam
