The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-09-16
fsnecial correspondence.a

Paris, Ida, Sept. 1.-THE quarterly
conference here has just adjourned.
President George @. Cannon and Sey-
nour 3. Young we're present and de-
livered discourses to the people. On
Sunday afternoon every available seat
IN the spacious tabernacle was occu-
pied by the people, vino had gathered
TO hear President Cannon. He spoke
upon the value OF the Bible. the Book
of Mormon and the Doctrine and Cove
naUts, but stared that the church and
the people would be in a, very feeble
condition without the living oracles OF
God.
There was an attempt made as
serted President Cannon. during the
life Of JOSEPH Smith, by some of the
priesthood, at the prophets request, to
write constitution for the kingdom of
God. committee was appointed OF
The most capable men. They tried and
tried TO draft it, and SO did the prophet
himself, but all in vain Joseph sought
the Lord, and he told him: 'Ye are the
constitution of my church. And so 1t
is; the priesthood, the living oracles,
are the word OF God unto us. and this
constitutes the growth and strength of
the kingdom OF God. Without this word
coming through this authority. this
work would stand still or go backward.
Without this Brigham Young could
never have led this people to these
Rocky Mountains. and there never was
a time in his life when he could do
anything without this living word.
The church Of Christ is led by the
same power and authority today-and
if you take away these living oracles,
the church would be as barren as any
sectaTidn church extant upon the face
of the earth.
APOSTLE DIVIDED THE PRIEST
HOOD
IT want TO talk TO the people here
very plain upon the great Importance
of respecting this authority. A man
who was gifted With the apoS6lesnip
has been guilty of dividing this priest
hood from the church. and the authori-
ties have been falsely accused of eXer-
cising power that they never had any
thought Of I don't know how it af-
feeted the people here in the Bear Lake
stake, but L want to tell you that there
has been a spirit of ddstrust for the
priesthood growing 10 among the peo-
pie, and some have said: I don't want
your advice. | can get along without
your counsel; don't want you to med
de in my affairs. The strangest thing
has happened of late, that a prophet of
God was not wanted, and the coalnsels.
have believed such a condition would
have existed, had you been told? Why,
men holding responsible positions
among this people have been ashamed
TO be seen going TO the president of the
church to seek counsel. There has been
a disposition to draw the people away;
and the priesthood have been told by
such individuals: There is certain
ground You cannot tread on. and when
you treSpass on IL, you are oVerstepping
your authority Have you been guilty
of ii here2 If you have. then be5eech
you, as a servant of Cod, and in the
name of Jesus Christ. to repent of 1t.
and go down in Gacllcloth and ashes
ST needs be, to be forgiven, for whoever
viii indulge in this spirit of seeking to
3iInit THE usefulness OF the priesthood
win lose the spirit of God sooner or
later. / do not wish TO convey amy idea,
that There is any disposition to inter
fere with the civil, political or other
rights of the people. There never has
been any disposition, since the founda-
ton Of this work. TO take away the lib
enty of this people, although there have
been falsehoodS circulated to the con-
trarT. There never lived q. people on
this continent more free than are our
people. You can take history for the
truth of this. What I want to impress
upon the people IS. that all that mas
worthy Of admiration is directly due TO
tlae influence the counsel and the di-
FectiUn OF the priesthood OF the Son Of
God Is that too strong a statement
Ask yourselves the question: What is
there about US that calls forth the
admiration of those outside this church
that mas not been accomplished by and
through the priesthood OF God?' do
not say this TO elevate the priesthood
not ut all. [ merely refer to it SO that
the people might reflect upon the prin-
ciDle involved"
SALT LAKES CHANGE.
PRECEDENT Cannon then referred at
some length TO the tax burdened condi-
tion Of the people in Salt Lake City, and
showed how the people had delivered
themselves into bondage. 1t reminded
him Of the people of Israel in the days
OF Samuel. They were prosperous and
free until they wanted q change. Moth
ing would satisfy them only a king.
Other peoples around them were ruled
by kings, and they must have one. We
read of the result. II was similar with
the people Of SAT- Lake City. They
wanted change. and got it. Now they
slaTe had enough, and they want an
other change. I expect to see a change
an through tais country. expect to see
men holding Office who love their fell
holding of Office a, profession: men who
Wiil not sink US into debt: men who are
honorable and above reproach. I ex-
pect 10 see this change come about.
Such blessed condition used to be the
case with the people. / can speak with
an understanding, SO far as the history
OF our people in Ufain is concerned. I
am not so well posted concerning Idaho.
But III al The sessions CT our legislature,
from 1850 until few years ago, there
never was a breath OF suspicion against
our iab0rs. Laws were enacted for the
welfare of the whole people. There was
no corruption and no legislation was
ever passed in the interests Of any cor
poratfDn. This truth had been demon
Strated time and again in congressional
inYsstiga tions. The honesty and the
integrity OF thu members of the Utah
legisla tuTe in those days was never
questioned They took no advantage OF
their positions for personal advantages
and never accepted a bribe. It was the
same with our city council and adj our
public bodies. And yet there never was
q people more free than We we're And
because good men in the church used
their influence TO see that good men
were elected TO Office it did not follow
that there mas a union of church ant
state.
"Now. I would like to see honest. men
FIJI our offices Of public trust BY this
DO not mean members Of this church
entirely; but Gentiles, JewS, Presbyter-
sans, or Of any religion, or for that
matter men with no religion at all
providing they are men OF honor. men
who MIL account for every cent they
spend OF THE peoples money.
DISRESPECT FOR THE PRIEST