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Show WESTERN AMERICANS"" iritititititiKititititititititititititititititititit A A A A ititititititiKitititititititititit it it A it it The DncSependenf J IKWE S1&J Dedicated To The Constitution, Liberty, Morality, and Truth Number 14 Volume 250 Salt Lake City, Utah 84115 Mwd Edgar Hoover special kind of killer crime victim responds immediately; officers in a police cruiser race to the scene of a reported crime or disturbance without question each is an act of duty . A haunts many of our communities today. He is the cowardly jackal who murders law enforcement officers. For many of his victims, he will be forever faceless because the fatal assaults are at the officers' backs and they have no opportunity to defend themselves. For others, the murderers leering face is their last cognizable reality before the deafening explosion of gunfire brings their lives to an end. Last year, 126 local, county, and State law enforcement officers were murdered. This is 26 more than the number slain in 1970. For the years 1962 through 1971, 722 law enforcement officers were killed by criminals. period, During the same of the 965 offenders arrested on charges relating to the killings, 73 percent had prior arrests for criminal charges. Firearms were used in 96 percent of these slay10-ye- and human compassion. But today, all too often it turns out to be a dastardly planned scenario for deranged killers bent on the ambush slaying of peace officers. Too many people are misled by the revolutionary romanticism babbled by guerrillas who cry of repression and abuse while plotting to overthrow the Government and undermine society. The law enforcement officer, as the front-lin- e symbol of the orderly process of justice, has become a primary target of assas- sination. After some police slayings, certain insurgents have gloatingly pronounced their groups were responsible. This indicates the depths of depravity to which men can sink. Most ambush slayings are not caused by the negligence of the victim officers. However, the increasing frequency of these self-styl- ed FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover pieke out against extremists who have brutally murdered increasing numbers of law enforcement officers. ber of police officers slain from ambush is particularly alarming and foreboding. During the period 1968 71, 49 officers were killed from ambush. There were seven ambush slayings in 1968, three in 1969, 19 in 1970, and 20 ar ings. The sharp increase in the num- - in 1971. The murdering of a police officer from ambush is a shocking, unconscionable act. Beyond this, in many instances it is the ultimate penalty exacted from an officer because of his availability. A foot patrolman hearing the cries or screams of an alleged tragic incidentsop&kes it imperative that eaclrwolice officer be wt to the planned constantly terrorism directed against him by extremists. No complaint or call for police should be handled as "routine. This fact has been made evident by the number of officers slain while on their regular patrols. The barbaric murderers must come to know that when law enforcement officers pay. the supreme sacrifice, our society will demand a supreme penalty. To allow police killers to go without just punishment would be to encourage the growing assaults against the rule of law and the principles of self-governme- Further, the blood of every slain officer is on the hands of those who, by word or deed, condone, encourage, minimize, or excuse the terrorist tactics of extremists. (Reprinted from FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin April 1972.) the new Presiding Bishopric was bom in Salt Lake City in Sept. 1923, and he and his wife have five daughters. He has been a bishop, a stake president, and a Regional Representative of the Twelve. He is a partner in the Engineering Corporation of America. Bishop H. Burks Pstarson of Phoonix is tht new first counselor to Bishop Victor L. Brown in the Presiding Bishopric. Bishop Vaughn J. Festherstone of Boise is the new second counselor in the LDS Church Presiding Bishopric. Two New Authorities LDS Church The Presiding Bishopric of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-daSaints has been reorganized and now includes two new general authorities who were sustained in a general conference session Apr. 6 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Bishop Victor L. Brown, formerly the second counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, is now the Presiding Bishop and has chosen Bishop H. Burke Peterson of Phoenix as the new first y counselor and Bishop Vaughn J. Featherstone of Boise as the new second counselor. Sustained as new Assistants to the Twelve were Elders John H. Vandenberg and Robert L. Simpson, who were both in the Presiding Bishopric prior to the April conference. Elder Marvin J. Ashton, ordained an apostle after the death of Elder Richard L. Evans, was sustained by the conference as a member of the Council of the Twelve. Bishop H.- Burke Peterson of Bishop Vaughn J. Feather-ston- e was bom in Stockton, Utah in Mar. 1931, and is the father of six children. He has served in a bishopric and has been a stake mission president, a member of the YMMIA general board, and a stake president. He is corporate training manager for Albertson supermarkets. Church Growth The LDS Church was organized in New York state Apr. 6, 1830. On Apr. 6, 1972 the church released a statistical report showing the membership at the end of 1971 as 3,090,953 persons. The 1971 membership increase was over 160 thousand. Conference Talks Portions of the general conference addresses of the three members of the LDS Church First Presidency and of Elder Ezra Taft Benson of the Council of the Twelve are included in this issue of the Utah o t Joseph Fielding Smith, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Lsttar-da- y Saints, said there is no cure for the ills of the world except the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan Dwells in Hearts President Joseph Fielding Smith (The following article consists of excerpts from addresses of President Joseph Fielding Smith at the general conference of the LDS Church in the Salt Lake Tabernacle Apr. 6 and Apr. 8, 1972. The last three paragraphs are from the Apr. 8 address. President Smith, horn July 19, 1876, is the president of the Church of Jesus Latter-da- y - Christ Saints. The UTAH INDEPENDENT of His grandfather Hyrum Smith was a brother of Joseph Smith, with whom be was martyred in 1844.) To the world we. say; These are the last days. They are days of trouble and sorrow and desolation. They are days when Satan dwells in the hearts of ungodly men,, when iniquity Continued On Page 3 Second Class Postage Paid 2459 Major Street; Salt Lake City, Utah 84115 at Salt Lake City, Utah it Order Department C7C of Utah LlbrarieJ University S.. It Lake C i ty Utah 84 lip |