Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-03
ABOUT DISCRIMINATION.
Deseret News:

EDITOR DtstEeN NtNHs
Please answer the following question
for the benefit OF several Of your read
ers.
When ward Is dsorganized, the
Blshoprlc voted out, does II AFFECT the
other organizations OF the ward
CORRESPONDENT
The expression used In the foregoing
l. Incorrect and gives rise to the mis-
understanding which Is evident by the
question presented. The death, resigna-
ton or removal Of Bishop OF ward
OF the Church does not disorganlze the
ward, but only the Bshopric. There
fore, the ward remains. although 1t has
no Bishop. Consequently. all the other
organizations remain intact. The coun-
sellers to the Bishop may be placed in
charge OF the ward, " that is consider
cd desirable, or other means may be
employed for the conduct of Its affairs,
until a new Bishop Is duly Installed.
Through carelessness OF speech, adj
vantage Is sometimes given to carpIng
critics or INSCRIPTIONS decelvers, to
convey very different impression to
that Intended by words used With
out due thought. After the death Of
the Prophet Joseph Smith, which dis
organized the First Presidency OF the
Church, the duty OF taking charge OF
everything pertaining to the Latter-day
work devolved upon the Council Of the
Twelve Apostles, with Brigham Young
MS their president, ms given by revela-
ton IN Section l2i, Doctrine and Cove
nants, and In consonance with section
iO1
After the Church had continued for
about three and half years under this
regime. II was announced that the
Church would be ''reorganized with
First Presidency" This expression has
been perverted deliberately by sup
porters OF counterfeit organization
as an admission that the Church had
been dsorgnnlzed. That Is the sort Of
pettlfogglng to which they usually re-
sort. The evident Specification Of the
term used was, that the First Presl-
dency OF the Church would be re-or-
ganized according to the pattern given
in section 1o7 D. and c.
II Is absurd to intimate that the
Church. with all its quorums and coun-
ellis and Offices In the Priesthood, was
disorganized through the death OF It's
president. The Council OF the Twelve
Apostles had been endowed with equal
authority and power" TO that OF the
three Presiding High Priests consti-
tuting the First Presidency. That
body was established as a presiding
quorum growing out OF or appointed
Of or from among those who were Or
dained 10 the several offices in the two
Prlesthoods;' that Is. the Melchlsedek
and the Aaronic.
The reorganization OF the First
Presidency did not by any means con-
yey the notion that the Church had
been dlsorganized or that the Church
itself was recognized. II was simply
one quorum OF the Church that was re-
organized. all the other quorums and
authorities and offices In the Priesthood
having been continued without a break.
When stake presidency or the pres
idency OF any ward or quorum or or
ganization OF the Church becomes dis
organized from any cause. that does
not affect anything but that which has
been thus dissolved.
Therefore, when "A change is made in
any presidency, either OF the Church
or OF any of its departments or Offices.
the proper term should be used IN re-
latlon TO ii, and II should not be an
nouneed that a ward, or stake. or coun-
Gil or quorum or association has been
recognized, but simply lis presidency.
This VIII save many disputes and much
confusion. II Is always well when say
ing anything to say just what Is meant
and no more, A word to the wise
should be sufficient.