Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-23
me NOT LED AsTRAY.

The visit Of two gentlemen from MIS-
souri, to this city has occasoned some
specuiatlon as TO the object OF their
presence, and. consequently, those VINO
have INDUCED In guess-work about II
have fallen into amusing errors. We
respectfully suggest that In extra en-
deayors 10 give the news, anxiety for
SCOOPS" frequently plunges the enter
prslng reporter into a whirlpool OF
mlsunderstandings in which he often
involves the reading public. II is better
10 be right than to be too rapid
The society to which the two gentle
men referred 10 belong, Is called the
Church OF Christ. 1t is not a very large
organization. and It's members are
chiefly found In the neighborhood OF
Independence, Jackson county. Mis-
souri,. They are followers OF Granville
Hedriok. now deceased, who separated
from the Church Of Jesus Christ OF Lat
ter.day Saints when It was driven from
the State Of Missouri He imbibed the
notion which was also entertained by
the late David whitmer, that Joseph
the Prophet departed from the faith,
and that after 1895 the revelations he
received were not TO be relied upon as
divine. They accepted the Book Of
Mormon and the earlier revelations to
the Church, and endeavored, In their
way. to live according to those pre-
cepts.
The site selected for the Temple to
be erected in Zion, originally owned by
the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter
day Saints. aud lands IN the immediate
neighborhood owned by members of the
Church. were vacated in consequence Of
mobooracy and the discriminating order
issued by the governor of the state.
The Saints moved into Illinois and were
thus deprived OF the real estate which
they had purchased and to which they
held legal title Much Of 1t was subse-
Quently sold for taxes, and the He'd
rickltes gradually gained possession Of
II by purchase. until they acquired a
tract now known as the Temple lot and
embracing a spot designated for the
House OF the Lord This they hold sub
ject to the Divine word and sacred for
the original purpose.
An attempt was made by the so-called
"Reorganized" or "losaphlte church
to gain possession Of the land In Ques-
ton. and a suit was entered which at
first was decided In favor Of the plain
tiffs, but the decision was reversed by
the court Of appeals and the lawful
holders retained the title and are still
In possession. A small meeting house
was erected on the Temple lot. which
was destroyed by fire and a new build
ing has been put up in which the He'd
rickltes hold their services. They are a
sincere body Of worshlppers aud are
entitled to credit for the struggles they
have made in what they believe to be
righteous cause. The two gentlemen,
Messrs Cole and Frisby, who have
been visiting this city, have learned
many things while here which We hope
will be Of profit 10 them and to their
associates
The idea that the two visitors from
Missouri came as representatives. OF the
JosephItes' as published here is a pal
pable absurdlty. and shows how mis-
leading are imaginary notions abou;
Church matters, entertained and put
forth by persons who are not familiar
with them, Those gentlemen came on
their own volitlon and account, for
business purposes and to seek informa-
ton.
The statement published that Mr.
Hedrick and his followers separated
from the Church at the death Of Joseph
Smith, the Prophet Is also a mistake
They recognize the fact that the
Church in Nauyoo. that now has ltS
headquarters In salt lake City, Ia,
followed the Commandments and coun.
sells given through that great leader
but they are In doubt as 10 the divinity
OF those teachings. They believe. how,
ever, they have a mission TO perform
IN the preservation Of the Temple LOT
until the time comes for the building
Of the Temple in Zion as revealed to N,
Church in 1894
The Latter-day Saints understand
that the redemption Of Zion vii
come In the due time Of the Lord, an,
win be directed by revelation through
the man who stands at the head OF tn
Church as Prophet, Seer and Revelator
holding the keys which have come dow
In regular succession in the Priesthoo,
from the Prophet Joseph Smith. witt
received them by direct ordination from
heavenly beings There has been n
break In this chain. All the authorit.
held by Joseph, the Seer. is now veste'
in Lorenzo Snow, the President Of IN
Church. which Is the same Church tina
was organized by commandment o
God April G, 1880.
This Church Is ONE. II has man
branches In various countries. but the
all grow out Of the parent tree. Their
are no factions in 81. There is bu
one body as there Is but one lord, ais
one faith and one baptism There
only one way Of entrance into an
union with this Church. and that Is b
the door and there is only one divin
authority. That alone holds the powe
OF direction In It's affairs,
When the time comes for the fulfil