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History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

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648<br />

SCHISMS AND APOSTASIES.<br />

which <strong>of</strong>fenders are examined before being sent for<br />

trial by the high council, and though the most serious<br />

charge against them was the publication <strong>of</strong> the article<br />

on mineral developments, both Godbe and Harrison<br />

were expelled from the church. 13<br />

That the elders should have openly advocated the<br />

development <strong>of</strong> the rich mineral resources <strong>of</strong> <strong>Utah</strong><br />

may appear from a gentile standpoint a slight provocation<br />

for so extreme a measure ; but it should be remembered<br />

that from the earliest occupation <strong>of</strong> the<br />

territory mining for the precious metals had been<br />

strongly discountenanced by the priesthood. _ This<br />

was in fact a most essential part <strong>of</strong> the policy in accordance<br />

with which the Mormons had sought for<br />

seclusion in the vales <strong>of</strong> Deseret, in order to preserve<br />

their liberty and individuality as a religious community.<br />

From the day when news arrived <strong>of</strong> the gold<br />

discovery, their leaders had denounced all emigration<br />

to California. Gold-seekers were indiscriminately<br />

classed as worldlings and apostates, or at least held<br />

to be weak in the faith. Nevertheless, the accounts<br />

received from members <strong>of</strong> the Mormon battalion, who<br />

had witnessed the discovery and shared, in the excitement<br />

which followed it, produced a crisis that threatened<br />

their very existence as a people, and one which,<br />

perhaps, none but the Mormons could have withstood.<br />

When, in later years, mineral prospects were disclosed<br />

in <strong>Utah</strong>, and prospecting largely carried on by gentiles,<br />

all such efforts were discouraged ; for they could<br />

result only in drawing into the territory a class <strong>of</strong><br />

men dangerous to its institutions, and might even seduce<br />

from their allegiance the members <strong>of</strong> the church.<br />

Thus in the light <strong>of</strong> its full history must the policy<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Mormon hierarchy be considered in excluding<br />

from its fold this disturbing element.<br />

No attempt was made, however, by either <strong>of</strong> the<br />

elders to excuse this portion <strong>of</strong> the charges brought<br />

against them. Their defence was confined merely to<br />

the question <strong>of</strong> their alleged apostasy, and to the au-<br />

13 Ibid.; Harrisons Crit. Notes on <strong>Utah</strong>, MS., 48.

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