| Show i uT F J CONTROVERSY If S ALBERT COMERS ANSWER uJ ww i D Dy s special request the Nos Newa pub publishes lishes the following which Is Albert Comers Comur answer to the church which preferred charges of Q against him on the tho Grounds AND SPECIFICATIONS Branch vs a Albert Comer The charge of apostasy from the tho faith of the n Reorganized Church of oC Jesus Chrtt ot of Saints Saint Is III hereby rondo and filed by the of the Lamont Branch Dranch of said church against Albert Comer based upon the lie following rt to WIt 1 lIe holds that the church chulch le III n a man manmade made institution Z L lie He holds hold that the church holds no authority other than of man 8 3 lie claim that if Ie theN thew bo be an any divine divino authority on the earth It Is with the Utah Church Signed J A President M lJ J DANIELSON Priest A It Ie ANDERSON Teacher C E BLAIR Deacon l 1 one ne At Lamoni Lamon Jowo Iown October 1699 1599 To ro the Lamont Branch Dranch and to J A Gunsolley M J A If Ie Anderson and C E Blair liae Four IJ of oC the tho Lamont Branch BranchI I am not aware that the branch has t ever r investigated 1 me nor questioned the tho integrity of oC ny my views regardinG the Iho faith of oC the and or dead der d Its Ita four Cour presidents to pursue mo me Into the retreat of oC my retirement This it 10 somewhat mysterious to me When the built the basement wall on which the now stands they Clam named d nine resolutions resolution all as the sources ot of light to guIde them In their work The sixth one reads Ue Resolved That Thal the whose whole law or of the church of Jesus Jc u Christ Is contained In the tho Bible Dible Book Dook ot of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenant I turn urn to thane books but tall Call to find any provision for tor four Cour presidents for any branch nor any authority for tor branches to order their presidents to III alt In council aid a d accUsations the In any oC them Buti I do rend In a and and Coe Cove Covenants nants Behold I am God Oai and have hoo spoken tt It the these commandments ore are ot of me and were given ghen to my servants In th their lr weakness after aCter the tho manner of oC their language that they might come corne to understanding and Inasmuch na 8 they sought wisdom they mIght bo be In instructed and inasmuch as the they finned they ther might be chastened etc Please show mo me by these books wherein I have hae sinned agaInst the faith of the eorgan An Any measure not endorsed by those thole books mUst of oC be In valid or why seek Peek understanding Inand In Inand and by them therefore therdore In the ab absence nce or of nil all for your assumption and for tor the further reason that I per tonally and In 11 a public meeting for Cor business convened distinctly and em i announced my withdrawal from all connection and affiliation with the Church ChulCh of Jesus Jeu Christ of oC Saints sInce which time I 1 have taken no active parlin part in any of oC the or of that bo body y In an any respect whatever I For or these there reasons I am m fully rully ed d that tha t you have mill mistaken taken your calling and jurisdiction In your zeal seal to do Q a useless and act tn in con concocting an accusation for tor my hurt I laving no use ule for lor your our document I return It to yuu y eu But I 1 will t us use this opportunity to Jo lIa say to you that your our statement that flaying diligently la labored labored bored with you ou to reclaim you ou to the church and to bring about etc Is a concession that you OU and andI I 1 were not In fellowship with each oth other other er and that the church has lost Its Ita claim upon me whIch statement amounts to I a confession that I had withdrawn from Crom the church and that you OU knew it II Then Thon why Vh seek reek to prose prosecute cute cuto me I came Into the church of oC m mown my myown own act and I IAm Iam Am not aware that I sold lold my personal personalIty Ity It or right to personal liberty and choice of oC action In so eo doing In with withdrawing drawing from Crom an organization which hat had to M for Cor me and hid its lis behInd the scepter of authority I I have committed no sin against it for Cor having entered of oC my own free will and choice l 1 had the rIght to withdraw on the same bails basl j line and for Cor you to hurl the Invective of Apostasy I after r me Is III neith neither er manly Just nor Christian but cow cowardly cowardly ardly and anel vindictive and such lIuch A position only wants the opportunity to reestablish the pillory and relight the faggots of the inquisition period M as a acure acure cure for heresy heres and has no affinity with that Christian sUfferAnce and suffering described b by the poet thus thuI Lord whence those thole blood drops all the way oy That mark out the mountains trAck The They were shed for Cor one who had gone astray astra Ere the shepherd rd could bring him back Lord whence us are th thy hands so rent and torn The They are aro pierced tonight b by many a athorn athorn thorn The Christian example the shepherd to be the bleed bleedIng bleeding Ing must be sought not cared for Cor forGo Go 00 for tor my wandering boy tonight Go 00 search for tor him where you OU will But Dut bring him to me with all hl hi I blight tell him I love hIm still Again Though they are slighting him Still lie Ho la Is waiting wallin Waiting lilting the nt child to receive Plead with them earnestly Plead with them gentle lie He will forgive if Ie they only believe bellec It Ie the methods adopted and practiced by the Reorganized authorities be the correct ones those hose blood drops drop I that mark the mountain track should have hae been shed b by the one who had bad gone astray rather than by the shepherd and the wandering and boy with all hi his blight should have hae been forever barred the parental root And those that were slighting alighting him have hae had the charge of oC Apostasy placed on file flIe and Instead of Pleading with them Gently reminded them that the they must think as we 0 think or ort off comes their thinker SurelY the Beor has forgotten or did Know then that every soul le Is tree To choose his life liCe and what wha t hell be For this Eternal truth t la given That God will force Corce no man to heaven henen Hell call persuade direct him right flies him with witt wisdom love and light fight In name nameless leu ways be good and kind But never force Coree the human mind Gentlemen It If you ou propose to pursue this secret Inquisitorial method of blackmailing character In secret loun dl and anil court trials behind doors I would advise you OU to remodel 1113 hymn or banish It from your our as S It If God says my any Soul le Is tree free freeto to choose m my life and what Ill be am amI I 1 to be heM held to the four Cour presidents of oC the Church for tor daring to exercise III right Now M as to the tho charge charle of oC Apostasy from the faith of the Church which is III declared b by the t tour ur presidents to be on tile file against me I have hae only this to say lay It the E of oC the faith and doctrine of oC the tho church hurch of oC Jesus Jesul Christ of oC Saints as published d by the l Church of oC Jesus Christ at Decature county Iowa expresses the faith referred to In the charge then Ihen I 1 challenge the four presidents CiC the tho branch or an any one of them or any ony person to la lay their finger nger on en any paragraph that I 1 have ever repudiated In any sense The Tho faith In It its simple verI verification u as declared b by the founders of oC the New Organization I 1 accept and endorse but an Independent Sabbath School Daughters of Zion Student Society Sons of Zion Secret Councils Council Secret Courts CoUrtl and charges of oC an un conduct by which a 11 aman man is 19 made In an offender for tor a 11 word were not part of oC that organization neither are they sustained or prot protected h by any shadow of Gospel law precept preceptor or precedent but are creations of oC the tho reorganized structure strictly m man manmade n made AS is the nook Book of flutes t tIt It Jason W David Powell if H 11 I Dram eam Z II 11 and Samuel Blair could withdraw from the church established lIy by God through the In Inv of oC the century prophet still sUII retain their heir standing with retain the priesthood bestowed upon them by the seer or by thc te hands of those ordained by him and I Inot not lie be guilty of apostasy Ing m is the tho brand branI ot of apostasy laid upon them b by the tho organized body under the tho apostleship established b by that seer over that people who were here not cut cast ort Ott Ottas as declared b by the revelation to Jason W Briggs November 1851 I 1 cant sec m why I or an any other man should hould be branded ApostAte for Cor lI a similar act att attIC If IC that revelation is III true the claim of oC Rejection and Die organization of oC the tho original Nauvoo church le II not true The Tho revelation to Elder Ehler declares no rejection nor disorganization neither does It but for Cor nor order orders the dut duty of oC the Gospel cry lie nd Of Bins Ii through through obedience to the Gospel I nanc nancen s as found Cound In the three thrle books book and In Gods own due time timeto to do the rent i But Dut Elders Elder Deam and Powell coup COUll select together and decided to t great influence of Elder lIder Z IC Gurley and gained him and Gurley turned the Yellowstone branch Eider Ourley Gurley says saI We appointed ap pointed II a daIn which to edGe the legal heir The revelation of oC Jason said God noli would do that In Iris JIls Own due time Elder Burley claims no authority from God and acknowledges only hUe hu human man agency and authority The rhe manifestation of tongues tongue etc which becomes a part of the hi history III or vt at this case was not cited In the revelation as nn an evidence nce that should follow follo action of choosing of the pro proper r heir 0 as asa a witness of the arrival of oC his Gods God GodOwn Own Duo Due time lime timeD D By suggestion of Elder Gurley Q a con conference ference wu was convened at al WI VU which resolved Brigham Young Strang Brewster Wm Smith etc etc out of oC the race os as candidates for lor the tn oC the mart and organized on the the Church organized on the day of oC April 1830 1630 exists as on that day wherever six or more saints are organized according to the patter of Doctrine and Covenants that the law of the Church is II contained tn in the three books These resolutions were Ore tit ills basic principles upon which the New Organization eventuAlly WA was built When the president of the ration offered his service to the New or orn nt al Amboy Illinois April 6 1860 he sale I will come corne to you It IC you will receive cehe me give Ive m my ability and the influence my name may bring t together with what III little Ie power lower I possess and I 1 trust by your our prayer and faith to be 00 sustained I 1 pledge myself melr to promulgate SAte gate no doctrine that shall not IJo he ap by YOu or the coile codo of goal morals moral On the strength of this idea the con then Ihen voted that he be received Rf as a I successor of oC his hie tn Cn ther and Elder Gurley said lold Drother Joeph I present this church to you ou In Inthe Inthe the name of oC Jesus Christ This whole was a simple transfer of oC confidential trust between man and hl his fellow man the one pledges fidelity to society and Its up the other presents the conti den trust truet ot of jurisdiction as II the of a 11 people Thus there thero Is no thus saith the Lord lArd In the transact transacting ing but a del delegation of oC human authority ty Joseph said Mill that he carne came 11 By the influence of the spirit and that he had received manifestations pointing to the tho po position of presidency to be as assumed Elder Sheen put it thus U If Uthe the s spirit which promPted hint him In corn com there prompted his reception he would be with them Joseph In speaking of this matter under date of Nauvoo Novem November November ber mo owes his hll own sig signature nature said In nn an address to the seat toted saints When Whon I 1 assumed the i position I now occupy I covenanted that i I would never willingly or willfully do anything to Injure the tho cause of oC the true SaInts or make their con condition worn woree than It was when I 1 found thom them arId and I moan mean by GO Gals Is help to keep th t covenant In the tho absence ab nce of oC any thus the or divine command I tall fall to see sel anything more than the authority of man In the nol new organIzation or its lis sue the reorganization As I to the third specification rf ca viz Iz That If there I is an any divine authority on the earth It la Is with the Utah Church Those peo people le profess teach I and practice faith repentance bap urns Ulm Impartation of oC the Hol Holy Spirit healing prophecy tongues etc and the same manner of oC Church organization tion BS as did the New OrganizAtion and andas as Is now held by the reorganization with this The Church being n a prActical law governed people Interpret polygamy to he a crime sub jest to penally when the con IS as defined b by govern government meat ment Is violated The ne Be organization pays pas less attention to legal and Insists that Web Webster ler lerand and public opinion shall be the criterion of oC Interpreting th the polygamous ten deacy It If history la Ia true and nd I believe It Is according to a recorded all at glen given to J W N November 1651 the Lord says IlIS I he have not east cast ort off My Iy people The expression lon Is generic In character and amI if IC It applies to nn any part or of the Saints It applies to ail as there Is no excepting clause The Tho New resolved to recognize Ill all legal leal ordinations ordination and that the church t till as on the of April I 1530 30 wherever six or more are organized according to the pattern of oC Doctrine and Covenants In the absence of ox ex this recognition reached Utah This same lime Idea wn was confirmed by him who Covenanted to do nothing the church would not approve on the day of oC April 1891 1101 at Kirtland when ho said Mid It III 1 In my conviction that there thell are men In those Utah valleys lIe who hold n a legitimate priesthood who will have to tobe IJo be rec recognized Then I turn to pa page 34 H Doctrine and Covenants and anil read paragraph 4 which I Is suppo supposed to refer to the pep peppie pe pepIe pIe of oC those valleys Verll Verily there lire are some fome who are chosen vessels e ls to todo todo do good goot who have hae been estranged b by hindering rouses caus W h are In the world and nd tn In dUG Ime return U unto nto the Lord Lard it If they ario ot of hIndered by bythe bythe the men ot of m my church chulCh And that brother who pled to do nothing that would not nol be approved b by tho thou who accepted ac ted him has sub subscribed scribed himself and published to the ho world that he Believes nellee there are lady In the tho different factions that laid huld the priesthood and That where there are six alx or more regularly baptized members any one of which who is 15 an elder priest teacher or deacon there the church exl exists t That organization la necessary and such An organization as 05 th the number or of members and the will of clod enables enable them to attain to toNa Na Nay he gees farther tarther and teaches That wherever n a brAnch exists the power of church extension exists also alsoto to the fullest extent when acting In oc acv with the law lawIs lilt Is it me to say that If there thero Is any authority on earth that It II Is Ie In the Utah church when the tho fathers ot of the tho Reorganization d declared it as 1111 from Crom the tho mouth of oC Oo God l Dare DIHO you ou have the hardihood to brand me as nn an apostate for accepting all as truth what y ur resident declares and publishes to the church and the world 0 shame th the Lamont branch or of the Church of of |
