Mormon History
Saints Better be Obedient - 1896
The Salt Lake Tribune
April 21, 1896
SUSTAINED AGAIN.
THE MANIFESTO JUST SUITS THE SEVIER SAINTS...
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Richfield, Utah, April 19.
-- Joseph S. Horne, one of the members of the City Council of Richmond and one
of the counselors of the president of the Mormon stake, William H. Clark, lately
returned from his post as sergeant-at-arms of the State House of
Representatives, and another counselor of the Sevier stake presidency; and
William H. Seegmiller, who was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for
Representative last fall and is the president of the Sevier stake of Zion,
occupied the pulpit at the Latter-Day Saints meeting-house in this city this
afternoon....
President Seegmiller's allusions to the much-mooted topic [polygamy] were yet
more forcible. He thought man's first allegiance was due his church, and that if
he could not conscientiously obey the authorities he should sever his connection
with the body. If his political party did not like his views he could not help
that. Whenever political belief should conflict with church tenets, he would lay
politics on the shelf. Recent mamifestations were but a re-enactment of events
that transpired in the early life of the Mormon church. At first Joseph Smith
gathered about him the brightest minds of the day. Among his most brainy
followers were Oliver Cowdery and Sidney Rigdon. In the beginning they were
content to assist Joseph in his labors, themselves remaining in the background,
but after a while they grew jealous and attempted to depose the prophet and
become the leaders of the church. The result was that they were dropped by the
Mormon church, and died in ignominy. Just so it is at this time. Moses Thatcher
is an eloquent speaker and a great thinker, a man of profound learning. He did
much good so long as he was willing to submit to the will of those above him.
But now he had taken upon himself the responsibility of dissenting from the
minds of his co-laborers and superiors, and had been suspended from his
position. In this there could be no cause for so much criticism among his
political friends, but in it was contained a good lesson to all true Saints.
President Seegmiller of the Sevier stake says the Thatcher suspension
contains a good lesson to all true Saints, and he cites the example of Oliver
Cowdery and Sidney Rigdon, who because they were not content to obey "were
dropped by the Mormon church and died in ignominy." Rough language that, and
revolting, too, under all circumstances.