Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-01-07
\ cmlnoE NGN1N NErUTED.

IGNORANCE OF OWING 10 lNN i'tai N'
praWty OF it's nature Insists that
"rhere is only one spot in Utah where
there could hy amy possibility Doe said
~ boz any government not by the
church and thot Is in this city
the Church governs aud sways AN with
this one exception
The truth is that The church does not
Interfere with the affairs Of commu-
nities or the state anywhere iu Titan.
or anywhere else Tho statement thar
the church governs and swaps every
thing has g1inel currency among peo-
PIE who DO not stop to consider Che
terms they are using. and it is relied
upon TO create proiudlces against the
church leaders and Church members.
The church is an organization that
expresses its views through regular
channels. and takes action on any mat-
Ter submitted in the regular order of
business in conferences, on meetings
appointed for thar purpose. In this
rospec, IL does not differ from other
organizations. Tho church does not
claim jurisdiction over secular mat
tore 10 never has attempted TO i'm
torfere with the duties OF civil officers
As cariy SIS 1919 the Pioneers Of Utah
issued a can for political convention
20 consider the political needs Of the
community The proposed constitution
adopted ot that time recognized that
"ciyIl governments and laws are ncc-
e5sary for the security. peace, and
prosperity 90 society" it recognized as
q fundamental principle OF republican
government THAT an political power
is Inherent IN the people and govern
ments instituted for their protection
security. and uvneht should emsESte
nom tho same" it provided FOR civil
Offices and officials. such as governor
secretary of state, etc; for legislature.
judiciary a state militia. ETC. This
was in 1919 Tho Pioneers were not
OF. the opinion that the ecclesiastical
government could direct the affairs Of
state Neither are the Iatter-day
Saints today. The Pioneers under
stood the principles Of American gov
eminent. and were always anxious 20
bring their settlements into conformity
with those principles. History is our
witness And that has always been,
and Is now, the aim Of the people
here
u is not denied that individual
Church members have. al times. OK
etcised great influence upon municipal
and state affairs THAT was newt
able when the vast majority OF citizens
were members OF the Church. IL Is
Inevitable In any community where that
condition obtains. But as American
citizens they have a right 20 exercise
as much influence for the good Of all
as their fellow citizens are willing they
should have. They have a right TO
have an opinion ana express it at the
proper time and place. That is, we
Believe. good American doctrine Some
Church members are well versed in an
matters pertaining TO the affairs OF the
communities In which they live and
~ matters Of state. Some of them
are eloquent speakers. and otherwise
gifted. IL Is inevitable that they
should make their influence felt among
iheir fellow citizens. whenever they
choose TO take an active part IN public
affairs But as citizens. they have
perfect right to have such an influence.
and even TO become leaders N their
fellow-citizens care 20 follow their lead
That ia "a right every American citizen
has NO matter what his religion may
be-, on II he has no religion az AN. That
81 right accorded TO Catholic. a
Methodist, Baptist. "a Hebrew, or am
Agnoatic No American citizen can
arbitrarily be deprived OF this prerog-
ntve
II is due either 10 Ignorance or mall
Zee, that whenever prominent Church
member essays TO do his duty az AN
American citizen. The opponents cry
"Church interferencew II is raised for
the sole purpose of deprivlng him OF
his political rights as far AS that can
be done by opposing 90 them a frantic
storm OF preiudlcos there being NO
reason for the opposition. This rs alto
gefher wrong A Church member no
matter how prominent is not the
Church. For the sako OF ulustra
tion we may suppose that "a lead
ms so-callcd American" politician may
bc "a member of the order of Elks for
instance. or some other order But %
would bee the height OF folly 90 say that
the Elks therefore rule the political par
Is he happens 20 helons Co The two are
entirely different organizations Thrv
ore not in amy way identical no mattor
how many members of one are also
members of me other 100 mo Same
way The church and state are entirely
separate. although ihoy of necessity
are composed ot the same individuals
10 some extent and even occupy ln
some respects the same ndd For
thqt reason b. is conummate folly 30
r-r church. rule,' because prominent
Chrr.h uembers sometimes exercise
Fnrr rights under the Constitution ana
iaus uf tho land
We, COO, are opposed to Church rule
OF ihe state. The organization of tho
Church exists for tho purpose of proc
noting unity m faith TRUTH ANA right
oouaneaa and for the proclamation of
thc gospel of peace boz au thr world.