The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-23
".THAT WE MAY CONTROL" /"

| The priesthood nj tho salt Lake STAKE
of Zion held a general meeting on the
nigh, Of January II, 1910, at which
President Joseph f. Smith of the. Nor
mon church delivered one of his charac-
tcristic sermons.
II seems that President Nephi j..
Morris Of the Salt Lake stake had first
spoken, urging the priesthood TO buy up
as much real estate rs possible IN This
vicinity This was commendablc, be
cause there is no better investment than
that made in property in this progress
sive city He pointed out the fact that
others were so investing their money,
and were reaping good profits from their
Investments, and he thought that his
fellow church workers were equally en-
titled 10 share in the benefits. With
all OF which no fault whatever can be
found-it was sensible and businesslike,
and the only criticism that could pos
sibiy he made would come from those
who hclieve that there should be no
such attention paid TO business affairs
nj A religious gathering, But inasmuch
as the Mormon creed includes temporal
affairs as a part of the religious ac
tivity of The sect. such criticism would
naturally carry no weight with the
priesthood.
President Smith. however. proceeded
to enlarge upon tho prompting of Mr..
Morris. He advised the brethren to SC.
cure all the lands possible in the out
lying counties, and especially in new
districts where lands were becoming
available 10 requirement by private in
dividuals He said that there was no
longer necessity 10 form colonization
schemes outside of the State of Utah:
that once such necessity had existed,
and colonies had been established by
consent and approval of the church,
and had been assisted with the means
of the church. He also reprimanded
those who recently had formed COM
panies for the purpose of exploiting
foreign colonization schemes, first be-
causc these men had proceeded without
consulting the heads of the church or
obtaining their consent, and second be.
cause, as before stated, such schemes
were no longer necessary to the welfare
of the church
Doubtless President Smith had refer
ence to the necessity, once upon a time.
of establishing colonies in Canada and
Mexico, which could be utilized as refu-
ges for polygamists. No doubt these
are the ones that he mentioned as hav
ing been by church official approval and
financial aid. That was when Utah was
under the control of the United States,
when ii was moro dangerous than now
for an elder to engage in polygamous
marriage. Now that we have State
hood and with the church in control
materially lessened-and il the court
records be taken for it, the danger has
disappeared altogether. Therefore, also.
the necessity for further foreign colon
ization had passed out OF the church
economies.
Yet there was another and very po
tent reason advanced by President
Smith in support Of the position he took
upon The matter, and which he plainly
set forth. 1t was to the effect that it
was desirable to retain as much Nor
mon population as possible in Utah, in
order that "we may remain in control
of affairs here
OF course, the Descrct News and
other exponents of the priesthood of the
church would not have it to be under
stood that President Smith indicated
that it was the desire of the hierarchy
TO remain in control of politics and
the State government; but the onlooker
will be unable to see that he meant any
thing else.