The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-02-29
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.


self
Next above the bishops come the presidents O.
stakes. A stake is much larger subdivision o.
territory inhabited by Mormons. The president o.
a stake has two counselors, also appointed by him
self. The president of stake is the highest author
ity locally in the Mormon church, outside of Utah
Above the presidents of the stakes about
dozen officers with different designations and diff
feren powers, until you to the twelve apostles
who stand next in authority to the president of the
church himself. All of these officers, including the
apostles, appointed directly by the president OF
the church, without consultation restraint by
anyone, or else as in the case of bishops they are
approved by the president of the church before their
selection be made valid. In the case of the Sc
lection of apostle to fill vacancy in the apostolic
quorum the theory is that the apostles themselves
fill this vacancy; but it is fact that the president
of the church claims he received revelation from
God that some certain man should be selected for
this apoStleship and the apostles unhesitatngly
cept this revelation and select the named by
the president of the church
Ecclesiastical preferment in the church means OPP
portunity for temporal advancement. The business,
social and political future of every Mormon de-
ponds upon his standing with the church. Every
avenue is open to him long as he implicitly obeys
the counsel and does the bidding of the church, while
every avenue is closed to him whenever he loses his
fellowship in the church. There is nothing left for
a Mormon who refuses to obey implicitly whatever
policy the church may determine upon, except to
leave the church entirely and take his chances with
the world, the same n-Mormons do For a
which bind him to all his Kindred and the associa
tons, teachings and trainings of lifetime, is we'll
nigh appalling 1t means social ostracsm The pretty
fiction is given to the Mormon people and the world
that all these officers of the Mormon church, nclud
ing the president himself, selected by the people
at the various conferences. This they attempt to
prove from the fact that at these conferences the
names of the first presidents and the apostles, the
presidents of the seventies the presidents of
stakes and the bishops are submitted to the people
and they asked to. sustain them by holding up
their hands The list includes a great many of
course. Lately in one or two instances individ-
ual Mormon has arisen in his place and objected to
sustaining" the head of the church. 1t never was
contemplated that any member of the church would
question the divine right of the authorities to select
these officers, and imagine that these members will
have to withdraw their objections or else they will
be disfellowshpped Be that as it may, no attention
whatever was paid to the objection raised by these
individuals. When you take into account that not
only political perferment is involved in their ac-
qu1escence but that every opportunity for advance
ment in all the walks of life is dependent upon their
accepting the DEGREES of their leaders, you can COM
prehend partially, the tremendous power politically,
which this Hierarchy Yields 1t gives the church
absolute control their followers in everything
and makes complete the union of church and state.
[ will not make of other illustrations to show
the radical difference between you and them, al
though many obtrude themselves. You stand for
American ideals and liberty. They stand for priest1y
rule and servitude.
1t is an anomaly that in the beginning of the goth
century, in the most enlightened period in the his
tory of the most enlightened nation earth, it
should be necessary for body of American citizens
proclaim against the union of church and state and
polygamy This conflict has been going for
than half century, certainly ever since Brigham
Young promulgated polyganmy divine insti-
tuition in 1852
Before that time, and from the beginning of the
Mormon organization, they were in conflict with
American citizens wherever they came in contact
with them in Ohio, Missouri and Illinois; and since
they driven from these communities and settled
in Utah in 1885, this conflict has been perpetual
between the laws and the sentiments of the American
people and the polygamous Hierarchy. The wonder