216

Joseph F. Smith and the First Presidency.

Letter explaining why membership in secret societies is prohibited.

Salt Lake City, UT, 18 November 1911
Typed Letter signed in carbon by Joseph F. Smith as President and by inked stamp by Anthon H. Lund as Counselor, to President H.C. Austin and his counselors of Bingham Stake, ID. 3 pages, 10¾ x 8¼ inches, on 3 sheets, one on First Presidency letterhead; folds, minimal wear. 

  • Notes: This circular letter was written to address the question of what attitude the Church "should take towards those of its members should take towards those of its members who had joined secret societies." 

    "The advice . . . is not to ally themselves with any secret organization. . . . The Church . . . must stand alone and independent, entirely free from alliances of any kind with any other organization, religious or otherwise, the fraternal orders included. . . . Members of the Church who join secret societies after having been made acquainted with the attitude of the Church with respect to them bar themselves from the temple." 

    Provenance: collection of Larry Faria.
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