Arizona republican., 1890-11-29

under the auspices ot the Mormon church, and resolutions have been adopted by which they have vigorously declared their intention to remain true to the old faith, will all it's teachings and practices. These have gone to the world with the sanction and approval of the leaders aud the great body of people. Are these solemn declarations to be brushed aside by the declarations of men who are interested in the deter imitation of legal proceeding, or by the unofficial, unsupported statements of the head of the church, made in private conversation, or by statements which are made in language intended to con vey definite meaning to others, but under mental reservations and careful wording explainable so as to mean nothing? The non-Mornons believe that polygamous marriages are being entered into, and that the effective en- iorcement of the law prohibiting them has driven the church to more secret methods.
 Under it's system of government the church has but one way of defining its position, and that is by public declar- ation either from the head of the church addressed to the people or by the action of the people in conference assembled. No such declaration has been made nor action taken, and probably never will be. There is no reason to believe that any earthly power can extort from the church any such declaration.
 It may be truthfully said that the church has determined that if polygamy is to be uprooted the Government must perform the task, as it will never do on it's part any act that will indicate an abandonment of polygamy.
 The claim is also made that the church does not in any way influence political action, and any statement to the con trary is declared to be ialsehood. If, in order to prove that it does so inter- fere, it is necessary to show that the specific orders emanate from the church office directing the people in their poiti- cal action, then the statement may be successfully denied. But there are many ways in which the political action of people may be influenced. When a people during long period of years have been taught from the pulpit, in official organs, by pretended revelations and otherwise, that the Lord has bestowed upon them certain leaders, and upon these leaders His priesthood, with power and authority to do His work upon the earth, and that they must obey these leaders in all things, temporal and spiritual, and, as a result of such teaching, the entire body of the people act in unison in all matters, it may not be necessary to issue a specific order in each case directing the people how to act. This is the condition oi affairs in the Mormon community today. From the time of Joseph Smith down to the present time the burden of the church teachings has been unity. A Mormon leader rarely rises to speak without impressing upon the people the ;--r~.tance of unITy. The resnlt io. ,,n orthodox Mormon entertaIns the idea qi acting for himself He may think for himself, but his thoughts never crystal lize into independent action. When they do he leaves the church. The orthodox Mormons believe they are dis charging religious duty when they obey their leaders and act in unison. People outside of Utah may wonder that such condition of affairs exists in this land, and may also wonder that the Mormons have not passed this age of faith and enthusiasm (through which it is said all religions must pass) and reached the age of mere critical examina- tion and inquiry. But this may be ex- plained by the fact that for many years they were isolated in territory distant from more civilized communities. Since the Territory has been better opened and more easily accessible they have summed as far as possible outside asso- citations and influences. They are con stantly advised to beware and avoid associations with the wicked world; in- formed they are the chosen people of God, and that they must consecrate themselves to his service; and that in the fullness of time all nations and peo- pies will accept their doctrines and look to them as the great light shining upon the darkness of all nations of the earth. The mental energies of the peo- pie have all turned to religious subjects, and their reading, instruction and liter ature have been largely confined to the bible, testament and Mormon pubhca- tions, and their enthusiasm recruited by the accessions of new converts. These teachings and influences have cemented them together and they obey their leaders with enthusiasm and without regret.
 Again, there are certain fundamental ideas which control Utah Mormonism in it's public relations and lead to the views which characterize it, state ment of which may explain more fully their complete devotion to the teachings of their leaders. The Mormon people are sedulously taught that their mis- sion is to convert and reform the people of the whole world; that everything which comes to them is directly from the Lord. If they attain success either in religious, political or business way, or if those whom they choose to term their enemies are unfortunate |