The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-15

misuslng t. My desire only is TO see the
church take it's place as an honOred So
ciety in this land: consistent with its
own doctrines and principles; when IL
cannot find itself Inconsistent with the
rest OF the country for the plain teach
ing of the New Testament ana OF our own
Doctrine and Covenants, as mentioned in
another place in this paper is IA strict
conformity with the spirit and letter Of
the laws of the United States and the
laws Of any other land where we may
dwell
Again. 7 decline 20 leave this church. or
10 be forced to leave It. because 1 need
II. and it needs me so long as L use my
powers and my lie according TO the laws
imposed Dy our creator; and 50 long as
this is true (and TO make it true is my
endeavorl have a right to the fellowship
and services OF this church as an origi-
nal right Investment. ] must remain at
liberty 10 pursue such Investigations and
10 reach such conclusions as L may wish.
they are matters OF public moment In
i brief. have a right 70 this church, and
4 unless Other causes shall arise, L cannot
be excluded from 1t without injustice
Demands Free Speech.
demand for myself and for all the
members Of the church liberty to think
a and 70 act and TO speak. When say
& this I do not mean that IL shan be re-
stricted to private conversation, or to the
newspapers and magazines; ! mean IN
q church as we'll. il il is alleged that this
4 right has never been disputed, leave It
10 the consciences of the Latter-day
Saints to answer as 10 whether or not
81 they have it as a possession
Speaking for a vast number OF tnc
4 saints, say we have liberty only 70
speak such things as viii be agreeaDle
q TO so-caied authority. while they have
q liberty to say just about what they please
e in the pulpit as well out OF II. All
civilization agrees that a man has the
X fCkf NJ 4gGe his intellect In manner
he sees fit provided he does not interfere
with the rights Of others. This incluGeS'
. first. the right 10 pursue what studies
81 he pleases; and, secondly, to puollsh theI ~
when and where ne pleaSes. The church
3 has no right 10 prevent one OF It's mem
hers from using arguments TO make as
81 ,ntnv converts as possible to his view
"a Others of its members may similarly use
he avenues Of the church to promuISate
their views. To say that this is danger
Gus, and that thus the church could ne
a led astray, is 10 say that error is stronger
Fl nan truth. that what exists IS more dlIIl-
cult to prove than what does not exist.
With free discussion, error may be re-
futed by argument: and in this contest
truth has always the advantage. Iruth
Is what exists: error Is what does not
exist. So 1t Is palpably easier TO prove
that which exists. and therefore can be
seen and heard and felt, than what does
not exist. and therefore cannot be seen
nor heard nor felt
one keen ethical writer thus conciseiy
sums UP the argument for free speech:
The prohibition of discussion leaves
things precisely as they were, and gives
80 error the additional advantage OF the
presumption that It could not be an
swered by argument; that is, that it is
the truth"
Says Error Is Admitted.
Thus any attempt to infringe upon this
sacred right. in any manner whatsoever
either by acknowledgements or by eX-
IS communication, Is virtually an admission
that it is error which it is wished TO es-
.N.Ts I'll
of the community is the deliberate aim
Thus. if the church places any one OF
its members under this condition, it is
guilty of the most odious tyranny, and
seems to me to take from him what God
i has conferred: GO We into all the world
and preach the gospel to every creature
No such narrow construction can by any
s stretch be placed upon the word "gos-
pei as TO make it other than all truth
: NO one in possession OF the truth can do
# his duty to God without prOmUl eating II.
r. otherwise ne cannot be said ito love his
l.eiEhDOr as himself" He that vOlun-
81 tarily continues IN ignorance is guilty
.of all the crimes which that ignorance
produces, as, 10 Linn that should eNJln-
- guish the Japers of light house, might
be Justly imputed the calamities of ship
1FSwrecks."
q Therefore. Insist that If this church
possess the truth, il is bound TO permit
~ Tree speech. even against the church and
Is faith; because if the church possess
Az the truth the pronunciation Of error
MY malLes the truth more apparent
lmilarly, If the president of the church
Pc righs in thought and action. that is
he be true. then no harm can come
rom criticism of him, for sucn criticism
would be error and his beautiful charac-
or would be thereby made TO shine the
more oy contrast When the church
therefore,, tries to suppress what it may
designate as heTe5y concerning itself and
= president II merely admits that il is
lrald 10 allow these heresies to come
nlo competition with its professed truth
Asserts AXioms of Government.
As further argument that can
lot DC excluded from the church, MOI
~ rom the right Of free speech in Du1Di
pr elsewhere in the church. 1 assert tn,
n GLOWING 2XiOrGs:
The church. being established Of God
perfect society. In such a soci
ety II follows GJ We were all euua
before we Joined the church. % w,
e4ually made concessions to the church
81 therefore, we have remaining to u.
-Qual rights in the church.
Having offered these views, I insis
pon a recognition by the governing body
of the church of the following propo
T1aciples. which / insist are self-prOv
ne doctrines OF the church. / ask IN,
insist upon them).
l. No man can lead this church excep
b. revelation: or. in the absence o
eNelauon- the strict application Of tn
Doctrine OF COCmOu consent When H.
iocs attempt TO lead without both thes
uaiilc4tlons. ne Is without authority
S.. No man leading astray should b
g. The members Of the church mus
,oey The laws of the land i'm which the.
we Lei Gp m7G break the laws O
ne land. for H. that beepeth the law
" Goo bath TO 'ncco TO break the law
I the lana Revelation TO the prophet
oscph Smith. Aug. T. 1851. prior 20 an
cVelatioa on any point of present oil
gIence-
Declares Faith Is Broken.
g. Utah was admitted TO the Union up
81 n pledge Of the leaders made for tn
81 cope that we would not continue {
e ini:nical 10 the general government an
- y lnsutuLl0u. solcraL in the repulLi-