Download Entire Issue
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
00a_working cover.qxp 5/14/2008 1:12 PM Page 2 SUNSTONESUNSTONE MORMON EXPERIENCE, SCHOLARSHIP, ISSUES, AND ART 1 We believe that govern- ments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society. 2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exer- cise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life. 3 We believe that all governments nec- essarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in eq- uity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign. 4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul. 5 We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their own judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest; at the same time, however, holding sacred the freedom of conscience. 6 We believe that every man should be honored in his station, rulers and magistrates as such, being placed for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty; and that to the laws all men show respect and deference, as without them peace and harmony would be supplanted by anarchy and terror; human laws being instituted for the express purpose of regulating our interests as individuals and nations, between man and man; and divine laws given of heaven, prescribing rules on spiritual concerns, for faith and worship, both to be answered by man to his Maker. 7 We believe that rulers, states, and governments have a right, and are bound to enact laws for the protection of all citizens in the free exercise of their religious belief; but we do not believe that they have a right in justice to deprive citizens of this privilege, or proscribe them in their opinions, so long as a regard and reverence are shown to the laws and such religious opinions do not justify sedition nor conspiracy. 8 We believe that the commission of crime should be punished according to the nature of the offense; that murder, treason, robbery, theft, and the breach of the general peace, in all respects, should be punished according to their criminality and their tendency to evil among men, by the laws of that government in which the offense is committed; and for the public peace and tranquility all men should step forward and use their ability in bringing of- fenders against good laws to punishment. 9 We do not believe it just to mingle re- ligious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied. 10 We be- April 2008—$7.50 00b_inside cover.qxp 5/14/2008 1:08 PM Page 1 Make Plans Now to Attend the This year’s theme: 2008 Salt Lake The Spirituality of the Sunstone Symposium Rising Generation Preliminary Programs will be sent through the mail in late June. You can register to attend and view updates at WWW.SUNSTONEMAGAZINE.COM THE SALT LAKE SUNSTONE Hosting discussions from all disciplines The program typically comes together SYMPOSIUM is an annual gathering and presentations of all kinds, the quite quickly following the proposal of Latter-day Saints, scholars, and symposium is based upon the principles deadline. However, if you missed the others interested in the diversity and of an open forum and the trust that both official 15 MAY deadline, it still may not richness of Mormon thought and the cause of truth and the society of the be too late to be a presenter. experience and who enjoy pondering Saints are best served by free and frank the past, present, and future of the exploration and discussion. Please send proposals to EDITOR@ unfolding Restoration. SUNSTONEMAGAZINE.COM. 6–9 August 2008 SUNSTONE Sheraton Salt Lake City Hotel • 150 West 500 South 343 N. Third West At press time, hotel rooms were still available at the special Sunstone rate. Salt Lake City, UT 84103-1215 Call reservations at 801.401.2000. 01_TOC.qxp 5/14/2008 2:24 PM Page 1 SUNSTONE MORMON EXPERIENCE, SCHOLARSHIP, ISSUES, & ART APRIL 2008 Issue 149 FEATURES 14 . GORDON BITNER HINCKLEY, 1910–2008 16 Various authors. PERSONAL REFLECTIONS 21 Hugo Olaiz . GORDON B. HINCKLEY AND THE RITUALIZATION OF MORMON HISTORY 34 Ashley Sanders . COMPROMISING THE KINGDOM: An Interpretive History of Mormon Politics 52 Carl Brinton. IS THE BOOK OF MORMON A POLITICAL TREATISE? 58 Don Nielsen . “WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH MORMONS?” 64 Various authors. HOW DOES YOUR MORMONISM AFFECT SUNSTONE (ISSN 0363-1370) is published by The Sunstone YOUR POLITICS? Education Foundation, Inc., a non-profit corporation with no official ties to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Articles represent the opinions of the writers only. POETRY SUNSTONE is indexed in the Index to Book Reviews in Religion 57 Deb Hohenthal . CONTAINING IRIS and Religion Indexes: RIO/RIT/IBBR 1975–on CD-ROM. 63 John Grey . TOUR OF VERMONT VILLAGES Submissions may be on IBM-PC compatible computer discs (MS Word or WordPerfect format), or by e-mail attachment. 71 Larsen Bowker . TIMING Submissions should not exceed 8,000 words and must be accompanied by a signed letter giving permission for the manuscript to be filed in the Sunstone Collection at the COLUMNS University of Utah Marriott Library (all literary rights are retained by authors). Manuscripts will not be returned; authors will be 4 . TOUCHSTONES: The Ward notified concerning acceptance within ninety days. 11 Dan Wotherspoon . FROM THE EDITOR: “Way” SUNSTONE is interested in feature- and column-length articles CORNUCOPIA relevant to Mormonism from a variety of perspectives, news stories about Mormons and the LDS Church, and short reflections 28 Andrew Ainsworth . BLOGWATCH: Why I’m Not a Disaffected and commentary. Poetry submissions should have one poem per Mormon page, with the poet’s name and address on each page; a self- addressed, stamped envelope should accompany each 30 Vickie Eastman . RIGHTEOUS DOMINION: Thinking “Outside submission. Short poems—haiku, limericks, couplets, and one- the Building” liners—are very welcome. Short stories are selected only through 31 Michael Vinson . SCRIPTURE NOTES: Nephi and Your Self- the annual Brookie and D. K. Brown Memorial Fiction Contest (next submission deadline: 30 June 2008; $5 fee per story). Righteous Brother-in-law Letters for publication should be identified. SUNSTONE does 32 Bryan R. Monte . THE ROAD TAKEN: One in a Thousand not acknowledge receipt of letters to the editor. Letters addressed to specific authors will be forwarded, unopened, to them. 33 James P. Harris. “A PLACE FOR EVERY TRUTH”: The Einstein Rumor SUNSTONE will not provide subscriber addresses to mail list solicitors without permission. 69 Boyd Petersen . MORMONS AND POLITICS: Mormonism and Send all correspondence and manuscripts to: Torture—Paradoxes and First Principles SUNSTONE 72 D. Jeff Burton . BRAVING THE BORDERLANDS. : Being 343 N. Third West Honest with Others about Our Spiritual Lives Salt Lake City, UT 84103-1215 (801) 355-5926 80 B.H. Roberts . AN OLIVE LEAF: “As Sovereigns in a Free fax: (801) 355-4043 Government” email: [email protected] website: www.sunstoneonline.com . UPDATE United States subscriptions to SUNSTONE are $45 for 6 issues, $76 for 12 issues, and $106 for 18 issues. International 75 . Thomas S. Monson ordained new Church subscriptions are $58 for 6 issues; $100 for 12 issues; $138 for president, chooses Henry B. Eyring and 18 issues. All payments must be in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. Dieter F. Uchtdorf as counselors; Church bank. All international subscriptions will be sent via surface mail. Bona fide student and missionary subscriptions are $10 less than weighs in on Utah immigration debates; the above rates. A $10 service charge will be deducted from Exploring the Mormon fallout from the Mitt refund amount on cancelations. All subscription prices subject Romney presidential bid; LDS missionaries to change without notice. vandalize Colorado shrine; and more! Printed by Copyright © 2008, The Sunstone Education Foundation. All rights reserved. Cover concept and design: Allen Hill. Printed in the United States of America. 02-03_Letters.qxp 5/14/2008 1:37 PM Page 2 SUNSTONE YEA, YEA NAY, NAY A GOOD BALANCE WHERE THE VITALITY LIES Founded in 1974 SCOTT KENNEY 1974–1978 CAN’T REMEMBER WHEN I HAVE AM TREMENDOUSLY PLEASED BY THE ALLEN D. ROBERTS 1978–1980 PEGGY FLETCHER 1978–1986 I enjoyed a SUNSTONE issue as much as I I December 2007 issue of SUNSTONE. Once DANIEL H. RECTOR 1986–1991 did the December 2007 issue.