Omaha daily bee., 1908-04-10
SAINTS DISCUSS DIVORCE
Sentiment Unanimous that soHethinE
should he Done 60 Curb
Evil.

INDEPENDENCE Mo-. April s.--(spe-
eial Telegram.)--A record-breaking crowd
was in attendance at the business session
of the conference Of the Reorgsnized Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints today.
the large attendance being due to an nntici-
pated warm debate on a matter which had
been made the special order for this day at
the last conference. namely, the question OF
divorce and remarriage. The resolutions
which were made the special order are:
Resolved. That in our opinion the mar
riage of persons who were formerly d-
vorced for any other cause than fornica-
ton or adultery is wrong and should not be
approved or condoned BY the church.
Resolved further, That our ministers be
required to honor this declaration and to
refuse to perform the. marriage ceremony
in all instances among persons within or
without the church where said wrong is
involved.
Resolved further That where It is in evil
dence that said crimes have led to-Ihe OBJ
tanning of divorce, we do not deem II to
be absolutely necessary that they shall have
been urged in the civil court proceedings.
Resolved further, That the above is not
to be construed as seeking to prevent or
pass upon the question of reuniting the
same persons who have been formally d.
vorced.
The special order was scarcely taken up
before a substitute was moved, which, in
tions pending, except that inhibition for
ministers to perform marriage in the case
of divorced parties was eliminated. Debate
on. this substitute had proceeded but little
way before an amendment was had to the
substitute placing the inhibition in 1t.
The debate on this question consumed the
entire session and was still in progress
when adjournment was had. 1t was appar-
he fef Int ha
ministers Of the church deem this a highly
| important subject.
| While the Batter Day Saints, owing to
the confusion in the minds Of the people
/ concerning this organization and the Nor
mons of Utah, are thought to be some
what lax on the marriage question: any one
who listened today to the debate on the
floor OF their conferences would be i'm
| pressed with the fact that they are peculiar
| in their views on marriage, but the pecu-
| liarity consists of the rigidness with which
| they insist that there is only one ground
! for divorce and that the scriptural ground
| as given by Christ; namely, violation of
the marriage vows
No debater on the floor today seemed to
| question that this was the unequivocal at
| titude of the church. but the heat OF the
debate is developing along the line of
whether or not It is polite or proper for
| the church to inhibit their ministers from
exercising liberty OF action or conscience as
to whether or not they shall perform the
marriage ceremony for divorced people.
The debaters seem to recognize and
greatly deplore the wide extent OF the di-
vorce evil, as 1t is termed, or as one
| speaker spoke of It. the curse OF the ma
tion" and it is evident that these men are
earnest in their search for remedy for
| the divorce evil.
1t is anticipated that the debate will con-
sumo the sessions of conference for two OF
| three days.