The broad ax., 1897-11-20
THE GOSPEL CONCERNING
CHURCH AND STATE

After much wisdom being used
which a wise God calculated to
right certain matters and alay the
hostility of our enemies, the Mani
festo continues concerning the
members of the priesthood which
includes almost every reputable
man in the entire community, by
saying:
'They realized that in accepting
ecclesiastical Office they assumed
certain obligations. That among
these was the obligation to magni-
fy the Office which they held, to
attend to its duties in preference
to every other labor, and to de-
vote themselves exclusively to it
with all the zeal, industry and
strength they possessed, unless
released In part or for a time BY
those who preside over them"
From this obligation, which we
all understand, the rule laid down
by the Manifesto follows as natur-
ally as the night follows the set
ting sun. The rule as promul-
gated is as follows:
eve unanimously agree to and
promulgste as a rule that should
GlsOGgs be observed in the church and
by every leading official thereof,
that before accepting any position,
political or otherwise, which would
interfere with the proper and COM
plete discharge of his ecclesiastical
duties, and before accepting a
nomination or entering into en-
gagements to perform new duties
said official should apply to the
proper authorities and learn from
them whether he can consistently,
with the obligations already en-
tered into with the church upon
assuming his Office, take upon him
self added duties and labors and
responsibilities of the new posi-
ton"
THE MANIFESTO APPLIES TO ALL.
Some of the younger members of
the priesthood who are troubled
with stiff-neckedness, have assumed
that they knew better than their
superiors whether a political Office
would interfere with the proper
and complete discharge of his &C.
clesiastical duties;" and therefore
they deny that it is required Of
them that they should take coun-
sci in these matters. Gods house
is house of order, and none hold
ing an inferior position. can know
more about his duties than do his
superiors. All must therefore
obey this rule, or as it is put in
the Manifesto, sit should always
be observed in the church" Can it
"always be observed in the church"
when some in the church are re-
fusing to observe it and are assert
ing that it applies only to high
officials, simply because high Off
Gals are specially referred to? 1t
is not strange, therefore, that the
First Presidency should say in the
same document:
"Our view, and it has been the
view of all our predecessors, is that
no officer Of our church, especially
those in high standing, should take
a course to violate this long esfa6-
Hshed practice"
Can it be that God has given to
the inferior officers of His king
dom the right to decide for them
selves whether they "can consist
emily, with the obligations already
entered into with the church, take
upon themselves added duties, and
that he has not given that power to
the apostles?
Brother Joseph F. Smith was
speaking by the power of the Holy
Ghost when he said in the Provo
conference that:
cit 1.-THE Manifesto) applies not
only to those who signed their
names to it, but to every officer and
member of the church. "-Des.
Nelcs, april 25, 1896.
ITO be continued