The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-06-22
HIS DISHONESTY OF MIND.

In the scold which Elder Roberts
fred at the Ministerial Association of
Salt Lake City in his notorious and
scandalous address in the Tabernacle
ne took pains to convey to his hearers
the impression that the ministers had
quoted from 1.-The Seer lot Of doe
trjnes and declarations that had been
repudlated by the Mormon church. But
OF course, while Elder Roberts tried
to make his hearers believe this, he
knew for himself thar the impression
he was seeking TO create was wholly
false, He knew that not one of the
extracts quoted by the Salt Lake Min
lsterial Association from The Seer had
ever been condemned by any authority
whatever
The fact about this matter concerning
The Seer is this Apostle Orson Pratt
departed from this city under appoint.
ment and Endorsement of the first presi.
dancy of the Mormon church Nwith
the sanction Of a special conference of
the church Of Jesus Christ of Latter
day Saints held in Great Salt Lake City
on the 2Sth of August, 1852, to preside
over the Saints throughout the United
States and the British Provinces in
North America. He also carried with
hlm letter of appointment signed by
Brigham Young. Heber c. Kimball, aud
Willard Richards, the presidency of the
Mormon church, This letter authorized
him to preside over the affairs of the
church throughout the United States
and the British Provinces of North
America, "and also to write and pub
llsh periodicals., pamphlets, books, etc.
illustrative of the principles and doc
trlnes of the church y 1t also empow-
cred him "to do all other things nee
essary for the advancement of the work
of the Lord among all nations Fur
ther it stated: Elder Pratt is au-
thorized and required to receive and
collect tithing of the Saints through all
elders and other officers and members
of the church to give djligent heed to
his counsels as the words Of life and
salvation, and assist him TO funds to
enable him TO travel, print, establish
book agencies, and perform all other
duties of his calling; and the blessing
of our Father in Heaven shall rest upon
them. Surely no more complete, IN
restricted. absolute credentials, authori-
ty, and Endorsement could be given to
anyone than was thus given to Apostle
Pratt. He was selected by the first
presidency, indorsed by special con
ference of the church. and had letter
from the presidency of the church Civ
ing to him unlimited authority to do
everything to the advantage and in the
name Of the church and also enioining
upon the elders everywhere TO yield him
obedience and aid
And under this complete and unlimit.
ed authority Apostle Pratt established
in Washington little periodical which
he called. "The Seer In its pros
pcctus he set forth his authority and
credentials, and IN his Hfirst epistleD
be included all Of the recommendations
which he possessed giving him the COM
plete and absolute authority referred
TO. above. In that publication, The
Seer. Apostle Pratt set forth his views
in extenso on many things, especially
on the doctrine and practice of celestial
marriage: on the pre-existcncc of man;
on the power and eternity of the priest
hood, on repentance; on the resurrec
tion of the Saints; on the substituted
names in the covenant; on prepara-
tions for the second advent; and his
commentary on the missionary prophecy
of Joseph the Seer delivered in
February, 1881.
In these publications by Apostle
Pratt are found the groundwork, argu.
meut, and pleas for large number of
the more pronounced Mormon doctrines.
Much OF it was what, in theological
parlance, is called ''strong meat" a
little Of it was found too strong even