Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-04-04
To THE SWEDISH SAINTS.
.oos o the First Presidency in Regard to the Holding Of
''' Meetings, Amusements, Social Gatherings, Etc.

.,,,her last We recelVeu p'''
In NO. the proceedings IN the
t''i asa ,.ar5 Of this city in which otto
Tssli'n W." s.s the accused. Joined to
@dinan an, WAS a petition asking that
BIZ p ,Ytb saints be allowed TO nave
Dc sSs s Of worship in their own
a'eupss ,oo,rate from the Danish ana
sg ", saints L., - rooo,yo .
We W., the findings of Bish-
'f''' 'a, rt II is well understood by the
ops 'VI ,not If the accused in case
saln's ' notore a Bishops court is not
lI'utH, ,,ib the decision, he can APP
atls1eu nigh Council Of the stake
real 70 Wv bis case submitted to the
ld ha'' ~ ii impartial men, who are
aleu ,o ,u5ge whether the decision ol
abe r ~ tg l. Just or not From the
he bsnCt the High Council the case
dt1son oCnealed TO the First Presidency,
on pe Xxx .bhv discover any irregularities
Ind meetings In either court they
10 he NJ hearing Of the case, The
az ,tas provided sufficient safeguards
D y ,Se motection OF the rights ana
~ ,.eeges OF His saints. 80
lflNeseerr Rydman appealed TO the
. biv' SSoonrcD and that body confirmed
hsh O .ision of the lower court. The
ns presidency next reviewed the
"" md they affirmed the decision OF
M High Council c,.,A III. ,ho
llV .o5rts must not be influenced by
enu ,.y clamor In mass meetings, or by
Ppus, bowever numerously signed.
FvT," The duty OF any officer OF the
ois..h who Sits in Judgment on his
,.o,tsp 10 hear the case with q pray
..Sg heart and the earnest desire To
guy dghteous decision. Latter
WV ,irts know that this IL the course
s2.rsd and therefore, 1t is rarely
.sa, INV ever protest against the pro-
A IN a Church court, and those
~ An not belong to the Church can
s w not claim the right to do so.
Tss ueht Of petition is denied no one
~. AZ ma Presidency of the Church are
y. Wiling to consider and to meet
AZ wishes Of the members of the
Church,
.,",s IKE disregard the expressed
v,hes Of the petitioners, or because we
N nal consider the matter mentioned
n M petition important, but because
:. desired 10 make ourselves thorough
\ ssogainted with the conditions exist
M throughout the church where
sSn6lnayian meetings are held. We
S,srei also to know who the signers
a lhe petition were, and In order to
n his Information we have sent men
rhom they aud we have confidence,
d vslt them personally, and to ascer-
IAN from them what arrangement they
wntad in their own locality In regard
b WpaIate meetings.
Ne have now received answer from
Marty ali the places where the petition
IA i've. In examining the status Of
a, Seners as given in the returns, we
td hundreds who have no standing IN
b. Church and a number belonging TO
eAer natlonalities and even other de-
,snnatons. II is not easy to under
rind what motive such persons had in
tnlng the document They could not
lllm a right to be heard, either in the
EATER Of Church discipline or In the
Engagement Of the meetings for wor-
Ap IN our Church. II Is TO those only
| yt0 are members Of the Church, that
/ " ieel under obligation to explain our
@tion IN regard TO holding religious
|retlngs in which languages other than
| 2glish are spoken.
Al the jubilee Of the Church in 1880,
+ liheren. natonalltes were repre-
/ giiel Since then the Gospel has
asched more lands, and the number Of
ntOnalties which have joined US has
tNome stll greater. and this increase
ril continue until the divine message
b. reached every nation, and kim
nd and tongue and people 1t gives
much JOY TO see that the Saints
nIhertd 10 Zion from so many differ
"a nations are striving TO become one
5pple
he counsel Of the Church TO all
N1ls Of foreign birth who come here
hat they should learn TO speak Eng
81 As soon as possible adopt the man.
isH and customs Of the American peo-
III themselves 10 become good and
gal citizens OF this country, and by
DID good works show that they are
IN and faithful Latter-day Saints.
Maona antagonisms have been almost
-,0oWn In the stakes outside OF this
Nv We commend the Saints in gem
~ Tor taking this broad view Of the
i,ltnal question and we have pointed
pa pride to the fact that the members
ne Church, though gathered from
lHent lands, yet under the unfyng
Se Oh The Gospel and the peaceful in
-aee Of the Holy Spirit, have blended
Iher and become one.
Sne OF the petitioners seem TO have
aea that the Swedish-speaking
sls have been wronged by the au-
o2uss Of the Church. Men have aired
pa views In public print. and have
Nssi Them abroad and caused distrust
u. hearts Of investigators. Mis-
-lhes have informed us that sew
I. antilles have taken offense on this
syul' and turned away from the
s.Nh gan persons taking upon them
lnls fearful responsibility--of
.ls onense 70 the hurt Of souls, claim
ny ,,hey love the work Of God,
I n meie hes been any Partially shown
pansh or Norwegian Saints we are
aware OF Il. The scandinavian