THE PEOPLE

THE SAINTS

Whether by actual practice or pretense, those who allied themselves with the leaders of the church and upheld the doctrines, practice and goals of Mormonism were called saints. It was not the intent that this designation should in any way imply canonization for reasons of piety or personal holiness as in the traditional usage, but rather that it should serve as a means of distinguishing those who had by baptism separated themselves from the world in the restored latter-day covenant. To acquire a degree of saintliness, to indeed become sanctified in Christ was the ideal, but obedience to the council of the brethren and recognition of the authority of those who presided in the priesthood were the best outward signs of good standing.

During the early years, for all practical purposes, the system of government was something of a priestly theocracy presided over by Apostle Lorenzo Snow and the leaders of the High Priests' Quorum. Subsequently, until late in the nineteenth century, in spite of a conscientious pretense of separation of state and church, local and county governmental officials continued to be functionaries of the ecclesiastical body or were directly under the influence or council of its leaders. In fact, matters of political, economic, and social significance continued to be discussed and decided in the regular meetings of the High Priests' Quorum. As late as April 1892, the president of the High Priests Quorum remarked to the members of that body, some of whom had been involved politically without realizing their identity with the opposition:

……some of those who had of late taken part in the opposition witnessed in our town say, "We do not with to work vs. the priesthood, and we do think we have done so." Most of the brethren are aware that a meeting of the leading men of the city and various quorums was held in the Tithing Office before the city authorities made any definite move. With this fact in view, how can our brethren excuse themselves on the grounds of ignorance.?"