Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-23
CONCERNING EvILDOERs.

Wherefore | say unto YOU. that ye
ought to forgive one another, for he
that forgivath u his brother his tres
passes. standeth condemned before the
Lord, for there remaineth I'm him the
greater sin.
Il the Lord viii forgive whom I VIII
forgive but OF you it is required 20 for
give all men,
."And sc ought 70 sey In your hearts,
let God Judge between ye and me. and
reward thee according TO thy deeds.
"And he that repeuteth not or his
sins and confesseh them not, then We
shall bring him before the Church. and
do with him as the scripture saith UNI
10 you either by commandment or
revelation.-Doc. and Gov. Sec. 81;
verses 9-l2.
The foregoing is the law Of God TO
the Church Of Jesus Christ of latter
dry Saints IN reference to offenders.
The spiril OF charity is inculcated IN the
Church, and that Of compassion toward
the weak and erring. AS to individual
offenses between members, the former
part Of the Instructions referred to is 90
govern their course, When the Church
~ n DVl1 lfo u Ah4rt NkhluSA ~ ll'iii"
Der the latter part Is 10 be enforced.
This word of the Lord Is not always
carried into full effect, for human ma
ture in its fallen condition suggests
or causes anlmoslty to rankle I'm the
heart TO the prevention Of that for
glveness which II required. Also the
sins Of individuals which would justify
their trial and condemnation by the
Church as 40 organization. are per-
mitted frequently 20 pass without ac-
ton by the Church courts. In order
that case may be successfully car
ried through in those courts, charge
must be preferred. and sustained by
evidence, and decided according to that
evidence by the Bishops court. 1t Is
subject to appeal TO the High Council
OF the Stake IN which the accused re-
sides, and the whole proceedings must
be conducted according to the rules OF
the Church.
II sometimes happens that members
VI t'' 'HutNll nave tnt reputation OF
wrongdong Of kind that cannot be
proven by proper witnesses. who mast
be members OF the Church In order. to
have standing before the courts OF the
Church II the offender Is an unrepent-
ant sinner covering up his iniquties In
order To escape Investigation ana ex-
clusion from the Church, he is permit
ted for lack Of proof to pursue his evil
ways without formal trial and its
consequences. But It is the duty Of
the Teachers who visit the Saints to
give them home instruction. to labor
with such persons In a general way,
pointing out the evils of the course
they are understood to be pursuing.
with u view to their repentance and
reclamation
There are persons, however, who be.
come so stepped in sin and corruption
that the very leniency extended to.
wards them instead OF softening their
hearts and influencing them to confess
sion and reformation, renders them de-
FAINT and hateful, aud they become
the servants of Satan and slaves TO
their own lusts and excuses. They
may, at first, when appealed TO. shed
coplous tears and make promises that
they do hot keep ana assume a virtue
that their acts belle, They finally fall
into the condition here described
It "a the desire Of the servants Of
God who are In authority IN the Church
TO lead transgressors into compliance
with the commandments of the Lord
ana into lives of rlghteousness and
truth. But there comes time when
forbeamuce and COMMISSION and char
fly cease TO be "a virtue ana means
have to be employed to execute tho
rules Of the Church ana rid The bodv
OF the utterly corrupt and wicked men,
her. Actual sin invariably leads 20
neglect Of duty and to utter rebellion
against rules which all Christians are
required to observe. Brought before
the proper Church tribunals on such
charges as can be fully substantIatod.
the evidence being sufficient TO prove
them guilty, they are cxeommunlcateI
and left 10 walloW In The mire of their
chosen inlqulty.
once Ia a while such a sinner via
truly repent. turn from bis wrongdolnp
and seak forgiveness and "A return Of
fellowship. II he anpenrs 10 be sim