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Source: Church History Vol. 3 Chapter 29 Page: 556 (~1870)

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556 with those of the President, as well as on account of an expressed belief that members of the church held not only a right to think but to express their ideas on such subjects, the question was put to Elder Cannon whether "it was apostasy to differ honestly with the measures of the President," to which he replied, "It is apostasy to differ honestly with the measures of the President. A man may be honest even in hell." This idea President Wells confirmed by remarking that we "might as well ask the question whether a man had the right to differ honestly with the Almighty." Thus the doctrine was unqualifiedly asserted that the Almighty and the priesthood, so far as its official dictates were concerned, were to be accepted as one and the same thing, on pain of excommunication from the church.

"'William S. Godbe stated that his claim to conscientiously differ with the views of the leaders of the church on certain questions, could not be apostasy, inasmuch as he had always believed that such were his rights. While he bore testimony to the divine mission of Joseph Smith, and to the appointment of Brigham Young as his successor in the presidency of the church, he denied his right to enforce unquestioning obedience upon all subjects secular and spiritual from its members. He believed the preservation of our unity was worth any price short of the concession of the right of thought and speech or any other true principle. That price he was not willing to pay even for unity. He claimed that he entertained none but the kindest feelings toward the presidency and priesthood severally, and trusted, however much they might object to his views, that they would at least concede to him honesty and purity of purpose.

"'E. L. T. Harrison then stated that if it was apostasy to differ conscientiously with the priesthood of the church, he must be considered an apostate, for he certainly did differ with them on some matters. The point upon which he most particularly differed, was their right to expel people from the church because of a difference of opinion on matters of church policy. He admitted that they had a right to demand of him implicit obedience to every gospel ordinance,

(page 556)

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