Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-05-09

deeply interested in the remarks OF
Brother Reed Smoot. lie referred to
the individuality OF the members OF this
Church. and il struck me while he was
speaking that that is the strong feature
OF what is called Momonism-ihat all
i,s members act on their own response
biliiy and according to their own knowl'
ledge, Il they are living as they should
do. There has never been time when
the people were forced to follow the
counsel Of those who presided over
them. We believe more FIRMLY than
any other religious body, and We carry
out more strictly, the principle OF IN
d,yidual agency. believing that this IS
ordained OF God. While Their, arc
penalties, in Church sense. attached
10 disobediencc to counsel there are
no physical punishments inflicted upon
those who disregard the advice oil Their
ecclesiastical officers. know that the
rumor has been very diligently cireu'
lated in many places tina, when tue
Latter.day Saints had control IN THIS
country, they were not slow to V'l'
those who were disobedient with
severe punishment. and even win
death. Blood atonemeni, as we be-
lieye II. has been misrepresen,ed' ana
we have been accused OF seeking the
death Of those who disobeycd counsel
or who apos,a,ized from the Church.
Those who have circulated such rumofs
have. believe, wilfully misreprssen'ed
facts. II they have supposed they were
telling the truth, they have certainly
neglected their opportunity oil gaming
correct information. am free to adj
init that we have been a people OF per
haps too strong prejudiccs. We have
had set views. Indeed, a people sueh
AS we are could not help but feel AS
many Of Us have done; yet believe
God Is soitening out hearts by the eN'
n.rences through which We are now
nassing, and which we have already
had and will bring Ms eventually INTO a
condition were We will be able 10 look
win the utmost charity. longsuiiefing aud
,,,,i.nr. uoon the weaknesses OF our
teiinup,en. and lie will give Us SO strict
!, s,.rs,. III iustice that our Church courts
viii assume the position which they once
accounted in the estimation oil many
neoplr of the world.w were willing to
submit their differences and their
t,nubirs 10 the arbitration OF the
Church officers, feeling that even
where one OF their own community
stood upon the one side and a non
Mormon upon the other, these courts
yould only take cognizauce OF facts and
of equity, and decide accordingly !
trpst that this condition viii soon pre-
vaiI among this people, u II does not
aireaJy. ior cannot believe that God
ain mstiiy US In treating improperly any
man or woman who lives upon the
earth. whether he or she sees as We 90
OF not We believe that the Loid Ie-
signs to place power IN our hands pc
cause OF the principles by whleh we
will be governed. II Is consequently Oh
the utmost importance that we us
brought into a condition where We WIN
have these Christlike qualities whien
will make our counsel sought anu VIII
compel the good and tbs noble every
where to sustain our decisions
have so much confidence IN my
brethren who preside in the WARDS ana
Stakes OF ZION that ! cannot now con-
ceiye OF any case that might arse m my
experience that ! would not be Wiling
10 submit to them ior judgment; and IN
hearing Of appeals that nave come 10 the
First Presidency from the various stake,
of Zion. and they sitting as an impartial
4 al lao
careful the High Councils arc when Il
Is known tina, Il is very unusual for one
OF their decisions to be reverse. can
appreciate the fact that these men
living in Utah Stake might become
preiudced against a fellow member.
Being so closely associated, they would
naturally partake more or less OF the
spirit Of prejudice and ill.ieeling which
might be aroused against man OF
woman in this Stake, yet | cannot be-
lieve that single member OF this High
Councillor any other, Tor that matter
would dare, In the face OF the coven-
aAts he has made before God and the
people, to knowingly sustain or pass an
unjust decree, however much their pre-.
JUDGES might be aroused against the in
dlvidual whose case was investigated.
know, as | know that live, that the
man who would raise his voice or his
hand to do a wrong to a member of the
Church must answer Tor his wrong TO
God and to his lellow-man. know the
Lord has record OF everything we do.
Even the thoughts OF our hearts are re.
vealed unto Him; anu II we In our
official positions are tempted TO treat
unlustly the poor aud the meek, or the
rich and the proud, we will be held TO a
strict account therefor and we will be
required to make restitution and to
humble ourselves to the complete salts.
faction Of the wfonged one before we
can receive the blessings for which we
claim TO be so earnestly striving. Men
may err in judgment, and do frequently
make mistakes; but even under those
circumstances, II the one who is mis-
judged and considers himself wronged
will adhere strictly to the command.
menis Of God, the mlsiudgment, the
wrong, will be overTuled for his good
and God will vindicate him before the
people and before those who have done
him wrong.
This Is the condition, believe, that
prevails In Zon-a desire on the part OF
the Priesthood to care ior aud toprotect
the interests OF the people, to give them
all their rights and privileges, to eker'
else no unTghteous dominion over them, |
but rather TO suffer wrong patiently than |
10 see soul turned to the broad path