| 608 preached by many of the elders is that he does not indorse [endorse]; but the very natural conclusion would be that whatever doctrine or theory came in contact with Mr. Strang's philosophy and administration, would be rejected.
We do not mean in what we have here written to call Mr. Strang, or Elder Hickey, bad names, or to say an ill word against them; we have dealt with the matter in plain words and without heat or anger. We do not call the right of these men to believe what they please in question, the privilege to do that is freely conceded. We do not in what we have stated call in question the honesty of the men in Kansas, including Elders Wake and Flanders. That has nothing to do with it. An attempt is made to force Mr. Strang upon us. We refuse to be so compromised.
The Reorganized Church took up the work of the latter-day dispensation where we understood that it was left at the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and upon the platform of faith and organization stated in the books acknowledged by the church before and at such death. Since that time the church has made her progress untrammeled by any factional phase of Mormonism, so-called; and always upon the same stead-fast confession of faith. We have offered no compromise to any for the sake of influence, or numbers; have accepted no compromise when offered; have denounced polygamy in any form; have refused credence to the claim of any king but Christ; have no room or place for spiritism as it has developed itself, and have never courted it nor feared it; have no Jesuitical orders known to the law of God demanding the fealty of the members of the church, neither within the pale of the church, nor out of it; and so far as we can now see owe no allegience [allegiance] to any but Christ, no fealty to any faith only that found in the books acknowledged by the church, and no service but to God, Christ, the church, and humanity. No matter what others may think, believe, or teach; no matter how strong the effort to compromise us with this or that order, or philosophy, we will not be so compromised; and the Saints everywhere will do well to bear this in mind; for we presume that now that the Lord's Spirit is prospering the preaching of the word everywhere, the crafty adversary of souls, and the ambitious among those who once have had connection with the faith will endeavor to disturb the faith of the Saints; and if possible by cunning craft to bring in vain and damaging doctrines and theories by which the weak among the Saints may be turned aside. If any one tells you or teaches you that Bro. Joseph believes this, or that, or indorses [endorses] this theory, or that doctrine; or accepts this or that new and strange thing, whether it be of a public, or of a private nature, an open or a secret order, do not accept such statement until you either see it published in statement from Bro. Joseph, or have it personally from himself. Bro. Joseph Smith is not responsible for any man's conduct and faith but his own; and he is not concluded; nor compromised by what another man may believe he believes, or seek to make him responsible for as a matter of teaching, or belief by implication; he reserves to himself the right to state his own faith and belief. Bro. Joseph is not a spiritist, as the term is
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