Mormon History

Saints Better be Obedient - 1896

The Salt Lake Tribune

April 21, 1896

SUSTAINED  AGAIN.

THE  MANIFESTO  JUST  SUITS  THE  SEVIER  SAINTS...
______

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.

 

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