Show l DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES ISSUED 81 FIRST PRESIDENCY I I Seventy Eighth Annual General Conference Con-ference of the Church of Jesus I Christ of Latterday paints a Memorable one Snit Lake CltyTho chief feature of the opening session of the seven jelghth annual general confcienco of the Chinch of Jesus Christ of Latter Lat-ter day Saints which convened In this city on April II was the leading of the declaration of prlnclpleb and its approval by the thousands of members uf the church present at the morning session together with the address of President Smith which was largely large-ly I In tho mature of a review of the work of the chinch during tho year Addresses were also made by Apostles Hiram Smith George A Smith D O McKay and Geoigo V Richards Their addresses were devoted largely large-ly to theological themes The tabernacle wa crowded at least 8000 people being present With tho assertion that tho members mem-bers of tho Church of Jesus Christ of hatter day Saints are living better lives than over before that they paid more tithes during 1900 than In any other year in the history of the church and that as a result the bonded bond-ed Indebtedness of the church has been wiped nut President Joseph F Smith opened his address President Smith denied the charges that have been made to the effect that tho olllclnls of the church have been diverting the tithes to their own personal per-sonal use by saying Not one general gen-eral authority of the church draws a dollar from the tithing fund for his own use and pi oil t President Smith then proceeded to plnln whore this money goes sayIng say-Ing I want to take you into a secret In tho past money belonging to tho church has been used to help start i number of institutions such ns the K C iL 1 I the sugar factories and other enterprises Every cent of tho Amount so Invested has been returned to the church tho stock of all these concents Is now paying dividends anti from these dlrldcnds the expenses of the general authorities of the church are paid We are not using ono cent of jour tithing except for tho purpose for which It was Intended When ton go home and hear some of the old charges about what Is being done with the tithing fund I want you tony to-ny that we are not using this fund for the imposes which they accuse us of that the tithing fund Is Intact mil we have II little to spare And I would like to say to borne of those who have charged us with misappropriation misappro-priation of this fund Put that In your pipe and smoke 1t In referring to tho general financial finan-cial condition of the church the piesl dent said Today the ohmch does nut owo one cent to anyone that It cannot pay We do not want to borrow bor-row money and wo do not have to borrow any Ve expect to sea the day In tho near future when wo will nut havo to ask you for one cent In donations that you dont wish to give with the freest kind of will I hope to see the day while 1 yet live In the flesh President Smith referred to tho dec laratlon of principles which had been formulated by the church authorities and Immediately after he had finished tils address tho document was rear by Apostlo O P Whitney and adapted by tho members present a rising vote being taken tho voto being unanimous Tho document Is quite a lengthy one and wo are unable to give it in full but tho following covers the pertinent points Declaration of Principles Tho prInciples purposes of the church are widely misrepresented affil seriously misunderstood Tho religion is founded on tho revelations rev-elations of God It teaches pure Christianity Chris-tianity and Its theology Is Imbed on tho doctrines of the Redeemer If it bo true Christianity to accept Jesus Christ as divine to revere him as tho Son of God through whom alone mankind can attain salvation IJ accept his teachings as a guide to comply with tho requirements prescribed pre-scribed by him ns essential to mem beishlp In his ehurch If this be Chi 1st unity then we me Cluistlniib Tho theology of JIll church Is the theology taught by Jesus Christ the theology of scripture and reason Those who accept of Mormonlsm are among the best men and women of the nations from which they como honest IndustrIous virtuous nnd reverent Phey nro opposed to vice nnd crlmo by instinct and training There Is nothing In Mormonlsm to attract tho selfish or the vile The Mormon people all not good honest hut misguided folks and their leaders the personification of all that Is I bad Priesthood and the people are inseparable and stand together The charge that the church relies on duplicity and shuns Investigation Is contrary to reason and fact Enlightened Investigation Is the means by which the church seeks to promote belief In Its principles Tho hIstory of the chordh and the precepts of Its leaders are iilllclent proof tht tho charge that Mormonfsm Is opposed to education is false It Is impossible for a man to bo saved in Ignorance A man Is saved no faster than ho guts knowledge Mormonism is not destructive of tho sanctity of tho marriage relation Marriage was not designed as merely an earthly union hut a union for eternity eter-nity The geneiatlons of people bom and reared III Mormon homes will compare faroi ably In Christian virtues with any communltj In this or any other country The charge that the church alms at absolute domination In commercial affairs is untrue It Is true that tin church claims the right to counsel and advise members In temporal as well as spliltua nffalis This has been done without exorcise of arbl trnry power and has resulted from wise counsels persuasively given and willingly followed It has been tho policy of the church to foster homo Industries Government bv consent of the governed gov-erned Is tho rule of the church The ecclesiastical government exists Itself by the will of the people elections are frequent and members are at liberty lib-erty to vote as they choose Tho elective system operates by popular acceptance rather than through popular selection All church olllclnls me answerable to tho chinch for their conduct Such a government cannot be classed as a tyranny nor considered a menace to free Institutions The tithing system is not an oppressive oppres-sive tax but a system of free will offerings It Is a voluntary offering for religious purposes and not a scheme of extortion for the enrichment enrich-ment of higher officials Neither in mental attitude or In conduct has the church been disloyal to tho government rte only I conduct seemingly inconsistent Incon-sistent with the profession of tho Mormon people as loyal citizens Is involved in controversies concerning plural marriages The law against polygamy passed in ISlilf was conscientiously consci-entiously disregarded by Inttciday Saints in their observance of a principal prin-cipal sanctioned by their religion ama am-a > being contrary to tho constitution Tho supreme court decision did not obtain until 1878 and no attempt was made to enforce the law until six years later Suiely this toleration hinds the people of the United States to the exercise of patience and charity char-ity in dealing with this question What tho Mormon people did in disregard of tho court decision was in the spirit of maintaining religious rights and because tho law developed a conflict between a duty to God and a duty to government The Mormon people have now bowed In respectful submission submis-sion to the laws enacted against plural plur-al marriage The union of church and state domination dom-ination of the state by the church ecclesiastical ec-clesiastical Intelfcrenco with tho political po-litical freedom of citizens are contrary con-trary to tho policy of the church This doctrine is predicated upon tho understanding un-derstanding that there shall be no interference In-terference by the state with the church Mormonism Is In the world for the worlds good |