Show r r THE TUE TEMPLE LOT A Decision Has han Been Deen Beached by S Jud Judge e S Kansas City Mo o. o March larch 3 The 3 The temple lot a sacred piece of Mormon soil in Independence for which the Reorganized Church of Latter Latter day day Saints and the Independence faction faction faction fac fac- tion of the Mormon church chUICh have been fighting in the courts for four years was vas today decided by br Judge Phillips of the dt district court to be bethe bethe bethe the property of the Reorganized church The Independence faction faction faction fac fac- fac- fac tion of the Mormons is by th the opinion enjoined from asserting its title to the property the cloud is removed and full possession is allotted to the plaintiff T The le successful organization has its headquarters at Lamoni Iowa Its following numbers souls and its president ent is Joseph Smith jr son of the Prophet Joseph Smith of the Mormon church The temple lot comprises a block of property feet square squar It is located on one of the highest eminences in Independence In Judge Phillips' Phillips decisions the deeds receipts and other papers are quoted are quoted to show that the church hurch of which Joseph Smith was the prophet was the true church and the owner of the temple lot After th the killing of Smith at Carthage Illinois in June 1844 disintegration set in and the church was split spilt into factions The true church under Joseph Smith was established at Lamoni Iowa another branch went with Brigham Young and the third the Hendrick- Hendrick ites remained at Independence Incidentally to to the decision Judge Phillips unmercifully scores the Utah church He say says says' Among a quorum of twelve representing the apostles s was Brigham Young a man of intellectual power and aggressive if not audacious He lie led the greater portion of the Mormons to Salt Lake From this settlement sprung the powerful body known known- as the Salt Lake I or Utah church There can be no ho question that Brigham Youngs Young's assuming of the presidency was a bold and bald usurpation The Book of Doctrine and Covenants gave Joseph Smith tp be bethe bethe bethe the president of the church That book taught clearly that his succession succession succession sion should descend lineally and go to the first born Joseph Smith en cn t n if ini 1 tro Haf h tim lite til tt v u I and ard h he was as s IH o f of assumption r Youngs Young's Ithe i ithe from itself a departure the office was 1 the law of the church The Book of f Mormon pronounced pronounced pronounced pro pro- severest anathema the against the crime of polygamy polygamy- 4 |