The broad ax., 1897-10-02
THE GOSPEL CONCERNING
CHURCH AND STATE

THE GOSPEL CONCERNING
CHURCH AND STATE
sAI1 LAKr err. April l. 1897.
Dear Brother:
OF late my spirit has been. much
grieved By the murmurs OF dissen-
sion which has come up to me
from Zion. Ny old age has given
me much opportunity for media
ton and prayer, and the Lord has
TODAY impressed me to write this for
the edifcation of the Saints who
are pure and honest in heart, f1at
thew may the better understand the
vsys of the Lord and His King
dom, and not be led BY false spirits
to finding fault with the servants
of God, and accusing them OF
Qualification" "dishOnor, etc.
THE AUTHORS IDENTITY is M
MATERIAL.
Write. not for fame, neither for
money therefore ! withhold my
name Iwrite not by the author
ity of any man, but solely by the
authority of the spirit within me.
/ ask no man to give heed to NV
teachings, except as they agree ex-
actly with the written words of the
living oracles Of these latter days.
There are those who teach a differ
ent doctrine from that taught by
the apostles of God, but let it be
known that though an angel from
heaven teach such false doctrine
he will be accursed.
1t makes no difference who l am
or what / am; the only principle
you need consider is, do l put forth
correct doctrine? Upon this SUBJ
ject Brother Brigham, when our
enemies were finding fault with the
Prophet Joseph, spoke as follows:
ale Joseph Smith) may get
drunk every day of his life, sleep
with his neighbours wife every
night, run horses and gamble, l
do not care anything about that,
for / never embrace anv man in
my faith, but the doctrine he has
produced will save you and me and
the whole world. "a Jour. Of
Disc. 70.
TREAT THIS As CONFIDENTIAL.
The things of the kingdom are
for the children of the kingdom.
1t is the part of wisdom that you
should not consult much about this,
but keep it a secret, at least from
our enemies. Remember that you
may know for yourself whether
this is from God, anu : therefore
entreat you to pray diligently for g
testimony as to whether that which
/ teach is true.
1 GIVE YOU A SIGN.
IF any traitor among us should
put these words into the hands oi
our enemies, then the authorities oI
the church may be moved to deny
any responsibility for this letter
and therein viii they be telling thu
truth. But by a spirit of discern
ment you will see that they vii
not deny specifically any of the in.
spired doctrines herein set forth
and by this sign shall you know
that those In high places indoors,
these doctrines, for that God is TIT
same yesterday; today and forever
Another sign by which you ma,
know that the authorities indorsl
the doctrines taught by me is that
if they are moved upon to speak a
all, they will prefer 70 discuss ant
abuse the supposed author rathe
than to deny any special doctrin'
by me quoted.
FHE VOICE OF THOSE IN AUTHoRIT'
Is THE VOICE OF GOD.
Most of the trouble ofthose WHIT
are in the dark, it seems to me
comes from a wrong understandin,
of the weight which is to be givel
to the teachings of the authorities
1t has been asserted by man,
that the teachings of the Apostle
are not to be taken as doctrine.
feel, therefore, to set the brethreI
right on this important matter
through q wrong understanding o
which many are being led into thu
dark. Believers In the Gospe
should remember that whether
Is By Gods own voice or the vote
Of his servant it Is the same. -
Doc. & Coz. Sec. l-38.
aWhatsoeyer they shall speal