Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-20
AS TO BLIND OBEDIENCE. "

The Deserot News recently paid some
attention to an article that appeared In
the Northwestern Christian Advocate.
the greater part Of which was culled
from an effuson that appeared In the
organ of the "ReorGanlzed' church
over the signature of Fred NJ. Smith. a
counselor IN the Presidency OF that So
clety From what appeared in those pub
licatlons the article had found place in
a local sheet to which we pay little II
any attention, because It descends far
below the level of decent Journalism,
and therefore most OF the persons whom
II attacks have ceased even to read. let
alone reply 10, It's scurrilitles.
our first response to the misrepresen-
tations of the writer whose name we
have mentioned. was simply TO correct
the false impression conveyed by his
assertions and implIcations,to the effect
that the members of the Church Of
Jesus Christ OF I.atter-day Saints. par
ticularly in Utah. were In condition
in which they dared not assert their
right TO think and speak without en-
dangerlng their social and religious
standing" and further, that they were
under an Oppressive priestcraft result
ing from unquestionlng obedience to
the priesthood"
The writer named endeayored to
make It appear that he was In Utah
for the purpose Il delivering the Nor
mon" people from the letters which he
assumed they were bound with. and to
induce the Saints here to think for
themselves and read for themselves.
outside OF prescribed courses laid down
by u dominating priesthood" His ar
ticle contained many sneers and slurs
against 1.-THE Holy Priesthood" and
some personal illusions to the editor OF
the Deseret News. which were easily
accounted for by tho company that Mr..
Smith delighted to keep, but to which
we paid no attention, In an editorial
that appeared Dec. 2. 1905, We made
some reference to the charges and In
situations mentioned. and stated that
There Is no domination by the men
holding authority In this Church No
member Is prevented from thinking and
speaking as he wishes, or from read
ing whatever he chooses. There Is no
course prescribed for them in that re-
spect which they are required to take
or that Is made exclusive. 'Unquestlon-
ing obedience TO men Is not q doctrine
OF the Church. nor Is II exacted OF any
of It's members, Therefore, the pre-
tended desire to free them from such
alleged bondage is nothing but
sham"
We showed also that in ali the
organizations. quorums and associa-
tions of the Church the utmost freedom
OF thought and speech Is encouraged
and exercised, but that this does not ex-
tend TO assaults upon individuals. the
defamation OF character, Rroundless
charges or destinations OF purely
personal nature, and further that order
and decorum in all the assemblies of
the Saints are necessary 10 be main
tanned. As to courses OF reading we
explained that there was nothing OF an
exclusive nature In advice given as to
the ''best books To be perused by
members OF the Church. nor any COM
mand or requirement that limited the
perfect freedom OF every Church MEM
Der TO study that which he or she de-
sired. Therefore. the lnslnuations
made by the individual who claimed 10
have come 20 Utah for the purpose OF
delivering them from alleged bond
age, were unfounded and his pretended
endeayors to give them liberty were
like beating the air with stuffed club.
The woud-be champion OF free
thought and free speech, who has moth
ing to fight on that field, then came out
with n batch Of excerpts from discourse
as delivered away back in 1889 and
more particularly and profusely In 1857.
IN order TO prove, after the style OF
logic adopted 10y his helper that the
doctrine Of 'unquestioning obedience TO
men" Is tenet OF the Mormon faith.
His article was recently noticed IN the
Northwestern Christian Advocate, and
was published in full by the Saints
Herald, the official paper Of the Re
organized church
The discourses from which the quot
ed sentences we're picked out, were de.
livered during q time Of great excite
ment chiefly when the army sent
here In the time OF President Buchanan
was on its way, threatening To hang the
mormon" leaders and connscate Nor
mon" property, appropriate Mormon"
women and run riot IN footing general
ly when they arrived on Utah soil.
Some very extreme denunciatlons were
INDUCED in, and the speakers advocated
strict obedience 20 the councils OF their
leaders, President Young az that time
being the Governor of Utah as well as
President of the Church. II was neces-
sary In order to carry out the means
Of defense established. that the peo-
pie should be united and willing to
follow Instructions suited to those
times.
The strong urgings, particularly re-
marks made by the late Heber c. KIM