Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-04-05

tion In temporal affairs ALI this we
esnphatically deny. That the Church
Claims the right 10 counsel and advise
her members IN temporal as we'll
as in spiritual affairs Is admitted. Lead
Ing Church officials, men of practical
experience In pioneer life, have aided
the people In establishing settlements
throughout the inter-InOuntain west.
and have given them, gfatuit0usly, the
benefit OF their broader knowledge OF
things through counsel and direction.
which the pc 0ple have followed TO their
leaders and the good sense OF the pe0-
Pile are indicated In The results
achieved All this has been done with
out the exercise OF arbitrary power. 1t
mas resulted from wise counsels, per-
sussively given and willingly followed
Ii has also been the policy OF the
church to foster home industries.
Where there has been "a lack of conf
dence In SOME of these enterprises, and
private capital has been afraid to In
vest, the Church has furnished funds
that the practica bflity of the undertake
Ing might be demonstrated; and re-
peatedlS the wisdom of this policy has
been made manifest Thereby the re-
sources OF various localities have been
developed. community industries di-
verslfied, and the people especially the
poor, given Increased opportunity or
employment aud better chance TO be-
come self-sustaining,
No Arbitrary Power.
We deny the existence of arbitrary
power In the Church; and this because
ITS government IS moral government
purely, and It's forces are applied
through Kindness reason. and persua.
sion. Government by consent OF the
governed Is the rule OF the Church.
Hose N..s Ee- a.
of the Lord, setting forth the princ
pies ON which the Church government
is to be administered;
The rights OF the priesthood are in
separately connected with the powers
OF heaven, and the powers of heaven
cannot be controlled nor handled only
upon the principles of righteousness.
That they may be conferred upon men,
Is trues but when they undertake to
cover their Sins or crafty their pride,
their vain ambition or exercise con-
troll, or dominion, on compulslon. upon
the souls OF abe children OF men, in amy
degree OF unrighteeu sness the Spirit
of the Lord Is srieved; and when 1T If
withdrawn, amen to the priesthood, or
the authority OF that man No power
or Influence can or Oughr TO be main
taned hs virtue OF the priesthood, only
by persuasion. by long suffering. by
gentleness and meekness. and by love
unfclgned by kindness, and pure
knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge
the soul without hypocrisy and without
guile,
NomInat lions 10 Church office may be
made by revelation; and the right OF
nomination ls usually exercised by
those holding high authority, but Il Is
a law that no person is 10 be ordained
10 amy Office In the Church, where there
IL regularly organized branch OF the
Al ,t..ta .Fa
This law - operative AZ 10 all officers
of the Church. from The president
down 10 the deacon. The ecclesiastical
government Itself exists by the wall OF
the people. elections are FREQUENT, ana
this members are AT liberty to vote as
they choose True the elective prlnuI-
rlo here operates by popular 9ecPpt-
ance rather than through popular se-
lection. but 1t Is none the less real.
Where the foresolng facts exist AS to
any system II Is not and cannot be arr
bitrnry.
The Church officers in the exercise OF
their functions are answota Die TO the
Church, No officer, however exalted
his position IL exempt from ths law
An denIsions, rulings and conduct OF
ofIicials are subject 10 Investigation
correction, revision and flnal rejection
hy the general assembly Of the priest
mood OF the church, It's Anal court OF
appeal Even the president it's high
eft officer rs subjecS 10 thfse laws and
sperlai nrovision iE made for his trial
and M necessary, his deposition. Where
these facts exist in any administration
OF government, IL cannot BE- Justly
ala ssed AIS d tyranny, nos considered "A
menace 10 free institutions
Tne Tithlns System,