Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-04-06
TO THE SAINTS:

To the officers and members Of the
Church Of Jesus Christ OF Latter.
dsy Saints, In General Conference
AiembltG;
Dear Brslhrer and slsieu-Evefy
Latior.day Saint will recognizes the
value Of unisn, not only In Ao,lon but
In matters OF faith and discipline. A.
to the rlghts auI authority Of the
Priesthood Of the Son OF God, II is Of
the highss, importance that there
should be no differences OF opinion
among the officers and members Of the
Church Of Jesus Christ OF LAttet-day
Saints. Feeling the necessity Of cor.
rect understanding Of this prln.
olple, We deem II proper at
this ,lSly.sXih antivsrary Of the
organization Of the Church In thee
last dsy,,t to prepare and present n state.
msnt on the subject, embOdying The
doctrine which has always prevailed
In the Church, and cur Views upon II.
We are prompted to Adop, this oouus
At the present time because Of events
which have happened during the late
political contest A great diversity Of
opinion on the suit vct has been sE.
pressed, and even by leading Elders In
the Church, which latter fact has
naturally led 10 some instances TO
considerable division Of sentiment
Its Of great Importance that We up-
dertAnd each other AMI that there be
harmony 10 cur teachings. 1t 10 o,pse.
tally important tina. these Teachings
shall be In accordance with the rules
and regulations aud doctrines which
have been taught And which have pre-
vailed from the beginning until the
present. time, having not only the
sanction Of uudl,putsd usage. but the
approval Of oil faithful leaders In the
Church and Of Him In whose name
and by WHOSE authority they act.
In the late exciting contest, to which
Isisreuos has been made, the Prssiiipg
aulhorlils, In some Instances have been
misunderstood. In other Instance,
they have been misrspre,ented,
which has led to wrongful
conception Of their real We've
Il has been asserted too freely, |
snd without ioundatlou, that there has
been disposition on their part to To-
lsrisre with inoivi .uAl Liberty and to
Tsbuks 10 some men a course which |
was applAudsd In others. In a word,
that they have arpeSied to desire TO |
hS'sr, aud maintain an unjust aud op' |
pTetive control over the actions Of the |
members OF the Church, snd 10 thus
doing have end,ayyred to efCc, a
union Of Church ami state. In The
heat Of political discussion, ssser.
tons have teen made and Rr'
Eumsuu used conveying to the pub
lie mind false Idea clpoeTning /
the position Of tho tfiloeu Of lhe
Church, and leaving the impTsf.
slon that there has been and was
now being made an attempt to nc.
compllsh the union above referred 70.
NV that the excitement has passed,
and cAlmyr reason has resumed III
away, We Ibiuk It pIu cut 10 set forth,
20 IhsI may understand, the exact
position occupied by the leading au.
thoTtlss OF the Church.
10 the Gnt place W. wish to state In
she most positive and emphatic la.
Guage that At no time has there ever
tssT lay sIIempt or even desire on ths
Ps'' " 'ts lealiul authorities referred
T. ~ have lhs Church In any manner
eneroscn upon No right. Of tho Stat
OF to unite Ia any ,vgreo the Ia o.ion,
Of the one with tho'e n the other.
P,ollar olrcumslsrcss have sur
rounded the Ieorle Of Utau. For mani
year, a m'loriIy Of them In every pot
ton oi'as Territory belonged to one
Church, every reputable membs
Of which was entitled to hold Rbi
I'D hold some ecclesiastical Glee. Il,
AZ sA'y to eco how, to the casual OF.
server It might nPp,Sr singular that
no macy 1tiicpfs Of he Church wers
also nice" Of the State; but while
'Al' Wa in TACT the case, the dlItlbe.