1885

E.  CONFLICT, DOCTRINAL/THEOLOGICAL DISPUTES, PLURALISM/DIVERSITY, RECONCILIATION [298]

[298] April 10, 1885 Saints' Herald Editorial Policy

With regard to certain measures proposed concerning the publication of articles in the Saints' Herald, it was resolved 

(1) That the enforcement of ironclad rules and arbitrary decisions by persons who were not governed in their work by broad and liberal principles of toleration, as is shown by the history of societies in the past, has had such a tendency to subvert the liberties and retard the progress of the race, as to make the enactment of any set of rules to be followed under all circumstances of doubtful propriety and final good. 

(2) That in our opinion there is a just and proper line to be drawn between the position of permitting a fair hearing of the views of any and all through the church paper, and the abuse of the sacred principle of toleration and freedom adhered to by the church by using to excess the columns of the church paper, in making a series of attacks upon the life of the body, or an undue effort to enforce personal views upon the people, when they are clearly in part antagonistic to the accepted faith of the body; and that the responsibility is upon the editor and Board of Publication to see that this line is truly made in their discrimination, the improper exercise or abuse of such discretion, or agency, to be remedied by the selection of such persons for these positions as will fill them in wisdom and fairness to all. 

(3) That where radical differences of opinion occur between leading representatives of the body, the discussion of them should take place in quorum capacity, and not through the columns of the Herald. 

(4) That in the acceptance of articles for publication through the Herald, the parties doing the same should exclude all such as make special attack upon the supposed private views and character of the dead, or that impugn motives and question the integrity of the living; there being neither sound argument nor wisdom attained by such methods. 

(5) That any man who accepts appointment and ordination as a representative of the church is under obligations to teach, sustain, and seek to establish the faith of the church; and no one, be he whosoever he may be, has any right to attack the divinity of the faith in part, or as a whole, as said faith is set forth in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants.