The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-06-12


especially the latter. to take counsel"
This means that they are to be advised
by their Immediate superiors. These SUI
periOrs IN turn TO take their instructions
from those above them, and so on back
TO the point whence most, If not all,
these directions emanate-that Is, the
first presidency and twelve apostles.
As was said BY Mr.. Chief Justice Zane,
Of Utah, in 1887.
At the head Of this corporate body. ac-
cording to the faith prOfessed, is a seer
and TevelatOr, who receives in reveal
lions the will Of the infinite God con-
corning the duty that man owes to him
self, TO his fellow beings. to society, to
human government. and TO God In SUI
bOrdinatiOn to this head are a vast num-
Der Of officials Of various kinds and de
sCriptiOns, comprising a most minute and
complete organization. The people com
prlsing this organization claim TO direct
and lead by inspiration which is above
all human wisdom, subject to power
above all municipal government, above
all man-made law. CVOl. !, p. So
The phrase take counsel does not
mean that the members of the church
shall inquire Of those above them in all
cases concerning their action but that
they shall receive cOunsel-that is, direc-
tiOn-frOm those above them, and this
counsel they are to implicitly obey. II
they fail to do so they are excOmmunt-
Gated from the church and deprived, not
only of the privilege Of membership IN
the church, but, as they are assured and
believe, they thereby forfeit all hope of
happiness in a future life The absolute
submission Of the great mass Of the Nor
mon church IS illustrated by the fact
that it is laid down by the leaders OF the
church as a cardinal principle to the
members that, If their file leaders say
white is black, 1T is their duty to say
white is black.
Instances of the interference of the
leaders of the Mormon church in the
secular affairs Of their followers could
be multiplied almost without number.
In auc isl of 9
depOsed from his offices in the church
because he promised to obey the laws
against pOlygamy.
Another official of the Mormon church
was accommodated for belonging to an
organization for the enforcement Of the
laws and opposing the interference Of the
church in public affairs.
Another Mormon official was degraded
in the church for refusing to obey his
file leader
In another case the members Of a firm
doing business in Salt Lake City were eX-
PEELED from the Mormon church because
they persisted in engaging in mining Op-
erations contrary to the command of the
authorities of the church.
In another instance the church authOTi-
ties inteTfered i'm the matter of the es-
Enlistment of an electriC-light plant.
In 1903 two members Of the Mormon
church who built dancing pavilion in
authorities were summoned for trial and
accommodation, and finally cOmprcm-
ised the matter by turning over to the
church officials the management OF pa
viliOn and , per cent Of the net earn
ings
In another case there was a general
understanding that the church by Its
authorities, directed the location Of
railroad station In 1863 four members Of
the Mormon church were eNcommuni-
Gated for apOstasy in desiring ito open
up mines against the teachings Of the
holy priesthood
In another and recent instance. occur
ring as late as the early part of 1903.
Mormon official was depOsed from his
official position for writing a letter to
newspaper criticising Mr. SmOOt and his
political ambitions.
In another instance. occurring in 1897,
Mormon Official was depOSed from his
official relation to the church for dis
tributing at d school election a ticket
different from that prescribed by the
church authorities.
In the year 1893 a teacher in the Nor
mon church was cut off from the church
for apOstasy, the Ostensible foundation
for this charge being a criticism Of the
head Of the church for his pOlygamOus
practices the real ground being that the
accused had persisted in engaging in the
manufacture Of salt. against the inter-
ests Of the president OF the church and
some of bis associates.
In what is known as the BirdsaII case
the officials of the Mormon church as
sumed jurisdiction of a controversy con-
corning title to a tract of land. but went
tuaf penalties As has already been stat
ed. no member Of the Mormon church
with possible a single exception has ever
been disciplined for DUlygamy or DOlIg-
amOus cohabitatiOn in defiance of the
law and of the manifesto, but an obscure
and feeble woman was communicated
from the church and driven 10 the verge
Of insanity for refusing to obey the die
tates of the church leaders and relin-
uuish the title to piece Of land in favor
OF one who had no shadow of legal title
thereto As was testified by one Of the
witnesses for the prOJestants.
Whenever man diSTCgaTGs the teach
ings and instructions or cOuusels of the
leaders of the church he has the spirit
of apOStaSy-
forcibIe illustration Of the domino
ton Of the leaders of the Mormon church
over the secular affairs Of the people is
furnished by the fact that while a ma
Jority of these leaders have for years
been living IN pOlygamoUs relations, in
defiance of law. no one daTeS to attempt
to bring them 10 justice for fear of the
consequences which would be visited by
the church on the one who should make
the complaint And whenever one has
beer daring enough 10 make complaint
for pOlygamouS coha bItatlon against any
member Of the church the officers OF the
law have refused TO prosecute. OF those
VINO were prosecuted and convicted have
been released after the inflictiOn Of
merely nominal punishment
The control which the governing body
of the Mormon church exercises over the
secular affairs Of the state of Utah is
well illustrated by the fact that for
many years past what are known as re
FgiOn classes" have been taught in con-
nection with the public schools of that
state. In these classes the youth Of Utah
are instructed in the doctrines Of the
Mormon church by teachers in the pub
lie schools, supported by state taxation
the course of study being prescribed by
officials Of the church. This course Of
study includes the lives Of noted Nor
mons whose chief claim to eminence in
the church lies in their having taken a
multiplicity Of wives and in their con-
tinuance in the crime Of pOlygamous CO.
habitatiOn.
The teaching OF the doctrines. faith,
and practice Of the Mormon church in
the public schools of Utah, under the di-
rpctiOn of the high priesthood of the
church. is not only contrary to the gen.
eraI law governing the use of school
houses as eXpOunded by the courts Of
tbis country, but is expressly forbidden
nv the constitution Of the state of Utah
which provides, in article ], section T. as
follows:
No public money or property shall be
aDDroDriated for or applied to any relig-
fOus worship. exercises, or instruction
tho c11nuoTT nj any ppPIpCi1 ct puI