The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-06

A Schlling &, Company San Francisco
anti-polygamy laws, and that some per
| sons within the church have sought 10
eyade the rule adopted by her. prohib-
iting plural marriages. the plain answer
Is that in every State and nation there
are individuals who violate law III spite
of all the vigilance that can be exer-
cised; but il does not follow that the
| integrity of community or a State
| is DESTROYED because of such Individual
transgressions. All we ask is that the
same cOmmon-sense Judgment be exer-
| cised In relation to our community
| that is accorded to other communities.
| When all the circumstances are
weighed. the wonder is, not that there
have been sporadic cases Of plural mar
riage, but that such cases have been
so few. 1t should be remembered that
a religious conviction existed among
the people holding this order of mar
| riage TO be divinely sanctioned. Little
wonder then that there should appear,
III community as large as ours, and as
| sincere, n few over-zealous individuals
who refused TO submit even TO the ac-
tion of the church in such matter, or
that these few should find others who
sympathized with their views; the num-
ber however, is small.
Those who refer to "Mormon polyg.
amy as menace to the American
home, or as serious factor in Ameri-
can problems, make themselves ridicu-
lous. So far as plural marriage is con
cerned, the question is settled. The
| problem of polygamous living among
our people is rapidly solving itself. It
is matter of record that in 1890. when
the manifesto was ISSUED there were
| 245l plural families; in nine years this
number had been reduced TO l543. Four
years later the number was 891; and
many of these have since passed away.
In answer to the charge of disloyaty,
founded upon alleged secret obliga-
clare TO all men that there is nothing
! reasonable or disloyal in any ordi-
nance, ceremony, or ritual of the
church.
Church and State.
The overthrow of earthly govern
mcnts: the union of church and state;
domination of the state by the church;
ecclesiastical interference with the po,
litical freedom and rights of the citi-
zen-all such things are contrary to the
! principals and policy of the church, and
directly at variance with the oft re-
peated declarations of the church it
self, speaking through its general con
| ferences. The doctrine of the church
on the subject of government, stands
as follows
"'Wc believe in being subject to
trates, in obeying, hnooring and sus-
tanning the law.
Such is our acknowledgment of duty
to civil governments. Again:
owe believe that all governments
necessarily require civil officers and
magistrates TO enforce the laws of the
same, and that such as will admins
tor In,
sought for and upheld by the voice of
the people Of .republic), or the will
of the sovereign -
f'We do not believe it Just to mingls
religious influence with civil govern
ment, whereby one religious society is
fostered and another prescribed in its
spiritual privileges, and the individual
rights of its members, az citizens, de.
MED. -
With reference to the laws Of the
church, il is expressly said
'' Be subject to the powers that he,
until He reigns whose right it is to
reign. and subdues all enemies under
His feet
"Behold. the laws which We have
received from my hand are the laws of
the church, and in this light We shall
hold them forth. y
That is to say, no law or rule enact
ed, or revelation received by the
church, has been promulgated for the
state. Such laws and revelations as
have been given are solely for the gov.
ernment of the church
The Church of Jesus Christ of Lat
ter day Saints holds TO the doctrine of
the separation Of church and state: the
nor-interference of church authority
in political matters: and the absolute
freedom and independence of the in
dividual in the performance of his po-
litical duties. If, at any time, there
has been conduct at variance with this
doctrine, it has been in violation of
the well-settled principles and policy
of the church.
We declare that from principle and
policy, we favor:
The absolute separation of church
and state;
No domination of the State by the
church;
No church interference with the
functions of the State:
No State interference with the func~
tions of the church. or with the free ex.
ercise of religion;
The absolute freedom of the indi.
vidual from the domination of eccles-
iastical authority in political affairs;
The equality of all churches before
the law,
The reaffirmation Of this doctrine
and policy, however, is predicated upon
the express understanding that politics
in the States where our people reside
shall be conducted as in other parts
of the Union; that there shall be
no interference By the State with the
church. nor with the free exercise of
religion. Should political parties make
war upon the church, or menace the
civil. political, or religious rights of its
members as such-against policy OF
that kind, by any political party or set
of men whatsoever, we assert TIE in
herent right of preservation for
the church, and her right and duty to
call upon all her children, and upon
all who love Justice, and desire the
perpetuation of religious liberty. to
come to her aid, to stand with her until
the danger shall have passed. And
this, openly, submitting the justice of
our cause to the enlightened Judgment
Of our fellow men, should such an is
sue unhappily arise. We desire to live
in peace and confidence with our feI-
low citizens of all political parties and
Of oil roIinionS