Show THIGH COUNCILS ft ALLUSIONS are frequently made in the public print sto the mormon 11 ormi high council as if it were some mysterious tribunal armed with terrible powers and clothed with dreaded authority some explanations tlona tiona in regard to this matter may be of benefit to persons unfamiliar urfa millar with alth our eur church government and will ill ili dono do no harm to thlu tha la latter ater day saints many af whom a are re not I 1 W as thoroughly acquainted as they thet might be with the order of the priesthood as revealed through the prophet joeph joseph many years ago and published in the book of doctrine and covenants in every properly organized stake of zion there is a high coun cil ell A A stake of zion Is an or organization aul ani composed comp ased of a number nur ver ven of contiguous wards each jor lof which is under udder the watchcase watch care eare orn bishop the stake is directed by a president and two counselors the high council I 1 ia composed of f twelve high priest selected li andset andret ll 11 apart dorthis for this purpose purposes and sustained in that position by the people of the stake for which they act jat at th the regular quarterly conference at which all mem members beni beri male and fe mid male have an equal vote jn in its the high council is presided OV over er bythe by the presidency of 1 he Stake in the absence of his counselors the president ean can pre pro fide alone zelone should any of the high C councilors councillors Counci 0 lors be abs absent ent eDt if seven or more are present the places of the absentees can be tempora temporarily rl ily lly filled by other high priests ests eats select ed by the voice of the council the duty of these councils is laud id adjudicate upon important cases of r which may arise among the members of the church iti tir the stakes to which they belong g cases of lesser importance are to be taken before the bishops who with their counselors f each ench each forna forni a lower court appeals from which h can be taken to the tho high coun conn councils el 19 A appeals from the ja iatter latter ater cau cah be taken to t the he presidency of the church but not from nom rom high hial binl blai council to another er as each edeh H high 19 LL council stands on an equal footing a as 4 to authority aud power with any other standing high council in trying any cae case presented six councilors Counci lors lorb sit git on one side of the council room and aud six on the facing each ot other with the Preside cy at the beada oneil derk eik also aiso being at hand band from frona one half alf of the tho council speakers act for the accuser and from the other half those for theae ehe accused in simpie simple cases one on each side is buffi sufficient clent elent in dim cult cases two on each hide side being required but in no naso pase c q se mo relian U six speake ppe akers rs are p permitted e rm bitted take tike t ike turns as ipei pe A c ease case ise is presented by a written accusation which is read by the clerk when the accused may unter enter ent er his tyis bis ilia plea the evidence ia is then presented pren ted and witnesses heard the counter evidence and fsr follow next the councillors councilors Counci lors on oil each bide side speak for ai or against the case and the accuser and accused then have the privilege of speaking per so nally legal technicalities atles are not considered facts fact P justice justlee alid and equity being desired and enors being required to contend corf cori tend for truth and righteousness antl anu avold avoid bli partiality and personal favor the speakers speak erm era for tbt accuser are not required to leah lean toward his ills the caad cagel neither are tho sefor the accused expected to defend him by taking advantage of anything wrong to screen or unduly as ial him pettifogging is not in order tim council la is not a court of law hitt but of equity equit and sought fr fir so that otie the case ease may be seen di it is in truth hAnd hud as viewed liy by gb glod d and angels angel after millie evidences are in arid the speakers aund annd and principals have havu been heard the president gives his bis decision calling upon the council to sustain it if tuey luey do so bythell by their unanimous or majority vote it if any councilor perceives an error in the decision the case can be reviewed rev rov Jewed anti and if it additional light Is 8 presented showing a nece necessity salty for a it ch change drig irig in theW liln it can ean be a d acco accord ipaty it IV re remains effial ns aa as 6 enunciated d U n d v the tho e high co counce luit bas bag 1 pa power cwb yur yer to enforce abe made mado in n a all sil A eek ek neb nes ne s ralpj anu and ids justice td tj by thu nicacio p ol on ender Udder from ironi tae te cpu rb lait cealma no nig rig h or power poyer to inflict any auy ot material ar penalty N of tile thie mei member ur r ael i denmer thew M remy reely pay for nor any as from froin parties tod suits before buorg their thir are entirely these councils are of vast asil benent tf to the latter day saints they sa save sethe the lex Iet pense pemp acrimony strife and dissatisfaction ilessa is faction that attend all law laev huits before secular they rhey the best of tuil tull that can bo be furdea af fue foe the brough th anve investigation and arbitration of cases eases in lif dispute Th eyare composed of men who wao are disinterested and unbiased and acting in the fear of god as aa HW his servants ber eer they have the highest motives to render a just judgment Itis rare that their decisions are re rejected acted for the general is that a conclusion arrived at atly ay a body of dis dib interested disinterested men like those of which these councils are composed ought to be in by ali alj persons immediacy ly concerned when it is con considered that overy every high council tri trl involves sence ounce from bu business siness sineas of fifteen men meni besides the parties to the sult suit ana aul and BUA their it will be clearly perceived that trivial and anti unimportant por tant cases cmel should never b brought before buch euch a tribunal dle the secret and mysterious nature and power of high councils is 18 like a great many other popular notions or marmo mormon n polity a mere figment 91 of 1 a disorder disordered old oad ain aln they form the thih in most moat dat in corruptible Inex inexpensive equitable lequita ble and satisfactory courts b or r boards of in the and their co aul aut authority procedure 11 ff uen and eject ditl afford dill dnn ne very iday important evI evl evidence defide pi 91 ti tle origin of the charcy af christ blatter oi latter da day y zaw SAW saints it ff 1 I L 1 |