Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-08
THE OGDEN LETTER.
OGDEN. Utah, Dec. 2lst, 1896.

OGDEN. Utah, Dec. 2lst, 1896.
Elder b. II. Roberts. Centerville, Utah:
Dear Broher-There seems TO be "A
well defined and growing idea among an
important portion of the thinkers OF our
Church that the leaders are saddling the
Lord with some things for which He is
not responsible. The feeling exists that
the name OF the Lord is used too freely
when pertaining 10 matters upon which
there ought 10 be charity. The admitted
truism Tor unity In things essential, lib
erty in things non-essenlial, but in all
things charity, seems 10 have been abro-
gated; at any rate, that is what II great
many are thinking, because it appears to
be Impossible Tor any man to express an
opinion dissenting from the views OF the
leaders without being threatened with
The loss OF his ecclesiastical position, and
with the fear Of concomitant complica-
tons in his political or commercial ior-
tunes.
These things are fast DESTROYING the
faith of the people, especially of the
younger classes, and IL their faith IL once
shaken they will have to live iufidel, and
will, in all human probability, reach tho
final resting place believing that Gods
authority on The earth has been
phanto m-the cloak OF designing men.
The true, and best, and only loyalty to
the Church iii the present unfortunate
crisis seems TO me 10 defend The right OF
ffeo speech which, Whatever, denial may
bo attempted, Is not u lact In Utan at he
present time. Free speech may exist
theoretically but not in lac. TO all intents
aud purposes.
1 have reason to behave that you stand
in the front rank OF the nobler thought
in Uinh, and becauseof your exceptional
mental and physical qualifications ought
to be the foremost champion of the peo-
pie in their ability 10 govern their
ala ~ NtRas. IL.
TO be entirely dominated, as ut present
by a few.
series of leading articles in the
DEsERET News published Mt various
Times in November sets up the right of
The Church leaders, specifying The First
Presidency, TO make. alter, change or
revoke the laws" OF tho Church. Con-
firmatory OF this view, (revolsing 1t is 10
DO reasonably assumed the laws OF
tho Church with reference to the
attitude OF the First Presidency towards
civil affairs), tho DEsERET NEWS pre-
sumes to voice the sentiments OF the
body Of the Church in the declaration
Gee editorial OF Nov. 18th last that the
election OF certain man (reIerring to
Moses Thalcher) to the Uuifed SAFES
Senate by the coming Utah Legislature
would be an "insuip' to the body of the
Church. | say ''presnmes" because IL ~
impossible that the NEWS can have any
httnb Ol lne oil the
body OF the Church, although doubt ess
fully and officially representing the view
of one or two leaders.
The Doctrine and Covenants distinctly
lays down the principle Of Church gov
eminent by common consent" q prin-
ciple which comedies the right OF dis
cussion and Of dissent, There can be no
common consent II the people cannot
dissent without incurfiDg the displeasure
OF the authorities. That dissenters do
incur this displeasure II they presume to
dissent from the mere within OF certain
leaders you are probably us well able to
testify TO as any man in Utah; tho Phil
istines have been alter you more than
once.
II the First Presidency has the right
TO "chsnGe, alter, or revoke, or make
laws" for The Church, common consent
ID obsolete, rs there cab never exist two
supreme law making powers in any or.
ganization at one and the same time.
IL the doctrine of common consent Ia |
true, and God has so declared 1t, and
nothing can be done in the Church with
out II, lit is only reasonable to imply that
If the common consent Is withheld, there |
resls no authority in the First Presi- |
dency 10 make, alter, change, or re-
woke the laws"
man holding the Priesthood is resi- onsi- |
BILE to God for the conduct OF the affairs |
OF tho Church., and for its purity. Be- |
lieving thus ii becomes my duty TO use |
whatever ability and influence 1 may |
have in the suppression of wrong-doing |
IN the Church regardless by whom done, |
realizing that the liability to err is as
great in the presiding quorum OF tho
Church as in the lowest. Infallibility is
the Gibraltar upon which absolutism is
safe, but before which the pillars OF
liberty crurnble TO dust.
1t is with profuud regret that find
myself unable 10 accept the so-called
manifesto as the word of the Lord, or
tue policy that IL is the duty OF every
member Of the church TO carry out. On
Tho other hand, l believe IL is tho duty
Of every man, viewing the subject as /
view it, to do all he can towards its re-
peal.
That you once held similar position,
whatever change your views may have
undergone since, have every reason to
believe. because / was present on April
9Th last THE DAY after the manifesto was
read and adopted az general conference,
and after it had obtained your signaturel
NJ the residence of Moses Thatcher in
Salt Lake when you, in connection with
some others, administered the ordinance
Of the sick 10 Brother Thatcher. You
viii remember you We're mouth. re-
ported the blessing in short hand, sitting
by tho side OF Brother Thatcher, and
you then made use OF tho following Ian
guage: "And now, o God the Eternal
Father, In all humility we appeal unto l
Thee in behalf of this brother; and