The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-07

To the officers and Members of the
Church OF Jesus Christ of Latter
day Saints. in General Conference
Assembled:
Dear Brethren and Sisters-Every
Latter-day Saint will recognize the
value Of union, not only in action but
in matters of faith and discipline. AS
TO the rights and authority of the
priesthood of the Son of God, it is of
the highest Importance that there
should be no difference of opinion
among the Officers and members OF the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. Feeling the necessity of cor
rect understanding of this principle,
we deem it proper at this sixty-sixth
anniversary of the organization of the
church in these last days, to prepare
and present a statement on the sub
iect. embodying the doctrine which has
always prevailed in the church, and
our views upon it. We are prompted
TO adopt this course at the present
time because of events which have
happened during the late political con-
test. A great diversity of opinion on
the subject has been expressed, and
even by leading elders in the church,
which latter fact has naturally led in
some instances to considerable division
OF sentiment.
1t is of great Importance that we I'M
derstand each other. and that there be
harmony in our teachings. 1t is especi-
ally important that these teachings
shall be in accordance with the rules
and regulations and doctrines which
have been taught and which have pre-
vailed from the beginning until the
present time, having not only the
sanction of undisputed usage, but the
approval of all faithful leaders in the
church and of him in whose name
and by whose authority they act.
THE RECENT ELECTION.
In the late exciting contest, to which
reference has been made. the presiding
authorities in some instances have
zen misunderstood. In other in
4ances they have been misrepresented,
shich has led to a wrongful concep-
ton of their real views. II has been
asserted too freely. and without
foundation, that there has been dis
position on their part to interfere with
individual liberty and to rebuke in
some men a course which was ap-
plauded in others. In a word, that they
have appeared to desire to assert and
maintain an unjust and oppressive con-
troll over the actions of the members of
-, hing f,ot
enc Favored TO effect a union of church
and state In the heat Of political dis
cussion, assertions have been made and
arguments used conveying to the pub
lie mind a false idea concerning
the position of the officers of the
church, and leaving the impress
sion That there has been and was
now being made an attempt to ac-
conplish the union above referred to-.
Now that the excitement has passed.
and calmer reason has resumed its
sway. we think it prudent to set forth.
so that all may understand. the exact
position occupied by the leading au-
ahorities of the church.
NO UNION OF CHURCH AND
.. STATE
In the first place we wish to state in
the most positive and emphatic Ian
guage that at no time has there ever
been any attempt or even desire on the
part of the leading authorities referred
to to have the church in any manner
encroach upon the rights of the state.
or to unite in any degree the functions
of the one with those of the other.
Peculiar circumstances have sur
rounded the people of Utah. For many
years a majority of them in every por-
ton of the territory belonged TO one
church, every reputable member of
which was entitled to hold and did hold
some ecclesiastical office. 1t is easy
to see how, to the casual observer, it
might appear singular that so many
officers of the church were also officers
of the state; bat while this was in fact
the case, the distinction between church