Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-03-12
SAINTS AND sGcnEr SOCIETIES.

SAINTS AND SECRET SOCIETIES
A correspondent calls the attention
Of the NEWS 10 the fact that persons
who have membership In the Church,
some Of Thorn Influential la the locality
where they reside, have taken upon
them the obligations, oaiha aHd agree.
monts Of certain secret societies, ,hu0
becoming members Of such orginiza.
lions. The inquiry is made as to
whether q. ia consistent for a protesting
Laller.day Saint 10 unite with a secret
order or society.
The position Of the Church on this
matter has been clearly defined In the
scriptures, by revelation, both ancient
aud moJcrn, aud by earnest, repeated
and consistent Instructions ffom those
in authority. Il IL almost inconoeiv-
able that there should bs any uucor.
taiuty or doubt as 10 what the rule Of
tho Church and the duty OF
tho Saints l. In this re-
gard. There has been no
change In the revelations, no change IN
tho teachings Of the Church, aud no
change that we arc aware OF Ia the
secret sdors aud organizations them.
selves. And yet there appears to be
necessity for fresh warning on tho sub.
Jeci lest some be- unwitungly led into
tfansgrossion through following the
uncondemned example Of Others.
Lot II be understood, therefore, that
those who are numbered with tho Lat.
tor.day Saints have no place whatever
In any Of the secret orders, societies,
combinations or unions ot the day.
The proper and safe course Tor each
member OF tho Church D. 20 leave this
class OF Organizations severely alone.
AT vahous times In the history OF
tho ancient inhabitants Of this con.
tlneut secret soololioi ilouFishod among
the people, 20 that "lhey did have their
sIguu, yo1, their secret signs, and their
secret woris;D they had their "oalh.,
thoir covenants, aud their agree,
ments;" their works In connection with
their societies were IN secret, or In
darkness. Ia every instance the OK.
islcnco OF those organizations brought
condemnation anu sorrow upon tue
people or the nation that encouraged
ihum, Ia accordance with tho declara
ton OF the Lord. "Yea, aud cursed
DO the land Tor ever ami ever unto
| those workers OF darkness aud secret
combinations, oven unto destruction,
except they repent before they arc fully
rlpe,n
The rhetorical examples referred 10
and the word Of tho LORD quoted
should be sufficient warning q
every Lstler.day Saint; for though
the nations In which those
societies existed have passed way,
leaving only remnant on "a,
land, tho Lori revealed through Ht
Prophets In ancient times that in thl
present age, In this nation, such organ,
.zltlons would again exist, "spcrol
combinations, oven as in timaso t old.
according to the combinations OF the
devil, Tor he Is the foundation OF OIL
those THINGS yea, the foundation OF
murders, aud WORKS OF darknrss; yen,
and ho leaielh them uy the neck with
naxcu u5rI, until he bludeih thcm
with hi8 strong cords forever" AMI of
lhyfu the LlrlRl "puat my cove.
uanlg may bu fulfilled which 1 have
made unto tho children %. men, that !
would 40 unto tuum while they are in
tho flesh, must needs da.
.tuy tnctrcrgt works OF darkura, ami
OF murders, aud ut auumluhuous," The
reason i5r ihu divine condemnation OF
such organizations may be- found lu
tue reason which tho Savior gave 20
! HIS disciples os TO why mon w0rhpI
lu secret combinations OF Boa iarSua..
"rboy llya daTkuou rather than
Hght, because their decIs arc oylL1
| Individual. WHO have mcm0eibip boz
tho Church should hold pgr,oc, com,
muniou through tho appointed chan.
ncls With Us Head. When any of
them unite with secret, oath,uuunI
societies, lhoy are thereby obligated 20
"hide their c0unsels from tho Llrd,n