In a sermon from 1859, Brigham Young addressed the question of those who
die for their religion; I bring this up as many modern LDS attempt to justify
theological ecumenism as many non-LDS faith traditions contain many "good
people" who are moral. In reality, however, such moral goodness is in
spite of, not because of, their false religions:
There are thousands
in this kingdom who are willing to die for their religion, but are not willing
to live it. This is a great difficulty. The most ignorant, blind, and
superstitious pagan upon the earth will die for what we call their nonsense,
though to them it is as true and sacred as our religion and God are to us. What
a man will suffer for his religion is no proof whether it is true or false
Brother Pratt, in his remarks, said that we should not be governed by
tradition. Yet we are, and so are the whole world, more or less; and those who
are traditioned in a false religion are as willing to die for it as men and
women are for a true religion and Priesthood. That a man is willing to die for
his religion is no proof of its being true; neither is it proof that a religion
is false when one of its votaries apostatizes from it. Our religion teaches us
truth, virtue, holiness, faith in God and in his Son Jesus Christ. It reveals
mysteries, it brings to mind things past and present—unfolding clearly things
to come. It is the foundation of mechanism; it is the Spirit that gives
intelligence to every living being upon the earth. All true philosophy
originates from that Fountain from which we draw wisdom, knowledge, truth, and
power. What does it teach us? To love God and our fellow creatures—to be
compassionate, full of mercy, long-suffering, and patient to the froward and to
those who are ignorant· There is a glory in our religion that no other religion
that has ever been established upon the earth, in the absence of the true
Priesthood, ever possessed. It is the fountain of all intelligence; it is to
bring heaven to earth and exalt earth to heaven, to prepare all intelligence
that God has placed in the hearts of the children of men—to mingle with that
intelligence which dwells in eternity, and to elevate the mind above the
trifling and frivolous objects of time, which tend downward to destruction. It
frees the mind of man from darkness and ignorance, gives him that intelligence
that flows from heaven, and qualifies him to comprehend all things. This is the
character of the religion we believe in. (JOD 7:140-41 | May 22, 1859)
