Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-05-28
THE COURTS AND THE CHURCH

putcs arising between any Of its monl-
bers may be settled without litigation
The proper order vs. that 81 % member has
grievance against another he should
10 TO the person who he believes has
injured him and oudouvor 10 come 10
settlement or agreement FAILING In
this. he may unless he decides TO for-
give his brother or sister ass the ease
may be, without further dispute. obtain
the aid Of The Teachers whose duty IL
IS to see that there is no miQulty In the
Church. neither hardness Of heart nor
oyil speaking. and with their aid settle
the difficulty
II that cannot be thus accomplished.
he may enter a charge against the Of
fender in writing, addressed to the
Bishop Of the ward In which the Of
fender resides. specifying his COM
plant Tho Bishop, with his counsel.
ors, viii then take action in the mat
ter and when necessary VIII sit In
judgment upon II, citing before his
court tho accuscr and the accused.
each 10 appear with their Witnesses at
. given place and date. Tho parties are
then permitted TO present their case,
pro and con, and to establish their side
Of It by witnesses and documents II
need be. The Bishop, with the aid OF
his counselors, then renders his decis-
ion, which, to hc valid must be sup
ported by at least one Of the two coun.
aelors.
II the decision is not satisfactory. an
appeal may be taken 20 the High
Council Of tho stake to which that
ward belongs. It consists OF twelve
High Priests chosen and sustained as
High Councillors by the conference of
tho stake. and the council Is presided
over by the Stake presidency. That
body will Investigate the matter taxi
ing the minutes Of the Bishops court
ms the basis Of their deliberations. or
hearing the case de novo, in any event
giving the parties opportunity TO tes-
tify in their own behalf and plead their
eouse. Each of the parties Is entitled
10 the aid OF a councillor or councillors
and six Of the council are to watch
the case FOR the accuscr and the other
six for the accused. The appeal IS then
decided by the Stake presidency, ac-
cording to the evidence. and sustained
or amended or 0yerruled the votes of a
majority ~ the council being necessary
10 validate the decision.
IN case an injustice appears In these
proceedings, an appeal may he taken 10
the Presidency Of tho Church for re-
view who may endorse them. order a
rehearing or take such action as may
be deemed right and IN consonnnce with
the law Of God. An decisions rendered
by these courts or either Of them must
be equitable. fair and in accordance
with the testimony given and the
facts proven.
Charges Of un-Christlanllke conduct
against any member Of the Church may
be investigated In the manner herein
briefly described. That term covers all
kinds Of improper conduct. But il must
be distinctly specified In each mdIyid-
nal case. Mere disputes between mem-
bers may and should be settled With
out recourse 10 the civil courts. but
crimes against the law OF the state on
Nation are investigated and passed
upon by the Church courts. simply as
they affect the standing and fellowship
OF tho accused. The Church courts do
not prevent action hy the criminal
courts or Interfere with their iurlsdlc-
tlon. Every member OF tho Church IL
amcnable 10 the laws Of the land. as
wen as TO the discipline OF the Church.
The term Church member applies to
every Individual. from the President
down to the person latest baptized into
the fold As members they are all
equal before the Church and its rules
and regulations.
The church courts do not assume the
right to decide disputes as to land titles
or similar matters which require ad-
1udcaton by the courts " the land.
This is subject that should be clearly
understood But the courts Of the
Church have the right TO judge as to
matters Of Fellowship and the stand
ing of It's members Any act of inius-
tice. dishonesty, cruelty. oppression.
fraud or other criminal conduct. may
be inquired into and a decision rcudcr-
ed. SO far as 30 affects the smniinA