Members should know their place

To anyone who grew up in Mormon culture, it should not be surprising that this section is by far the longest. This thread is woven into almost every letter Udall received – members should not question the leaders!

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”…Seek not to counsel your God. …Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. …Let’s let the Lord decide when to reveal a change concerning the Priesthood.” (Negative Letter 3, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”Your insistent demands that the LDS Church bestow the rights of the Priesthood of God on the Negro race are somewhat foolish and vain as whether or not the Negros gain this priviledge is between them and the Lord, not between you or I. …Just because you happen to be in a currently powerful political position in the world does not give you the right or responsibility to dictate what the Lord must do to His children whether they be Negros or any other race upon the face of the earth.” (Negative Letter 4, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”I am very much displeased with you as a public servant and as a representive of the LDS Church! To think that the Lord has discontinued to give His word and instruction to His Prophet and has now spoken to a “lay” member of the church, makes me happy to know really where the TRUTH is. I have always been taught to keep my eye on the Prophet, and not a person who claims, because of his government position, to be in the “Know how” concerning church doctrine!!” (Negative Letter 5, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”The fact that your parents were Mormans before you were born does not make you an authority on running the affairs of the Church of Jesus Christ.” (Negative Letter 6, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”Have you no civility nor sympathies for our leaders, burdened with so many unsolved problems? Or who do you think you are to presume you can force by public declaration on man, David 0 McKay, to open up the windows of security on the negroes? Are you beyond polite, personal communication?” (Negative Letter 8, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”Too many people have the mistaken concept that this is a convention of man and can be merely altered by decision of a committee or counsel. This is not possible when one realizes the nature of our church and it’s complete dependence on revelations for which is the only means that the revelation concerning the denial of the priesthood unto the negro can be changed. …It is not for a priesthood holder to contend with the church or the general authorities on matters concerning direct revelation by speculation, it is rather his responsibility and obligation to see that it be promulgated and carried out. …it is scriptural doctrine that the Negro will receive the priesthood when the time comes. This time will be revealed by revelation and not due to political or social expediency or any other means. ” (Negative Letter 10, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”You know what happened to Lucifer when he told God how to run affairs. In a God inspired church even the highest don’t dare tell God our father how to run the affairs on earth. Don’t make a fool of yourself for your worthy ancestors sake” (Negative Letter 11, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”It is the Lord’s priesthood and he has the power to designate to whom it shall be given, and that power of designation has never been given to man. You certainly owe an apology to President David O McKay. ” (Negative Letter 13, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”The fact that you, Mr. Secretary, and others like you and the churches of the world, as it were, seek in ignorance to deride and malign the church and its ordained authorities, and “pursuade” through pressure and innuendo, said church and authorities to a supposed “popular” position will do nothing more than cause us to resolve the stronger to sustain truth at all cost. ” (Negative Letter 14, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”A few of the left-wing Church members seem to think that this doctrine is man-made. This fortunately is not true. This doctrine comes directly from our Father in Heaven, for which I’m grateful. When our Father in Heaven decides the time is right for the prophet to change the doctrine of the Church, I’m sure this will be done – – but not until. … leave the affairs of the L.D.S. Church doctrine to the leaders of the church.” (Negative Letter 16, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”Why don’t you run the Interior Department and let the General Authorities administer the doctrine of the “Mormon” Church. If the Lord wants these doctrines changed I feel he is capable of sending an angel to the proper authority and giving them instructions. …If the Lord felt you are the one to establish his doctrines why then were you not called to be Pres. of the Church instead of Mr. McKay?” (Negative Letter 21, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”The Lord’s purposes will move on. You must realize that the Mormon Church is, in actuality, the Church of Jesus Christ. Evidence, both scientific and spiritual are testaments to this fact and any sincere person would believe this message. You must humble yourself from your high throne and seek the scriptures before seeking doctrinal change through changing social conditions. We are not Catholics, Mr. Udall. when the time comes, The lord will speak but not through the Secretary of the Interior or any other branch of the government.” (Negative Letter 22, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”You say the issue of the colored people and the Priesthood must be solved. May I ask you a question? Who are you to instruct the Lord’s Prophet? Further, is it any of your business how the Lord establishes His Priesthood on His Earth?” (Negative Letter 23, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”If you know anything about Church government, you should know that David O. McKay is the mouth piece of God and he does not take such matters in his own hands as it appears that YOU are going to have him do. This, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints is not just another social organization that can change its laws and by-laws to suite the will of its members. Jesus Christ is still at the head of His Church and His Will will be carried out by those who have been called to do so. …remember what happened to that one of the Children of Israel who tried to steady the Ark of the Covenant after they all had been told, not to touch it Take that as a parable unto yourself, and don’t try to tell President McKay what to do. This is a time for us all to see to it that our lamps are trimmed and full of oil. ” (Negative Letter 26, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”Could it be that you have forgotten the Church was organized through Divine Revelation from God and is still guided from HIM through our Prophet David 0. McKay? I am sure no one in Washington, D. C, including yourself, can take it upon themselves to make any changes. ” (Negative Letter 27, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”There is one thing you have forgotten with your background as a ”Mormon”. The Lord spoke to his Prophet Brigham Young concerning the Law of Plural Marriage. He and He alone will direct His Prophet on the earth today, President David O. McKay. Nothing anyone tries to do will change that fact. …The people of the world will change their religions to fit their personal desires, birth control, etc. But this isn’t from God. …The world will not understand “God’s will” by this type of demanding, we as Latter-day Saints should not be weak like the world and dare to think we can demand anything from our Prophet, This is a privilege we earned to prepare ourselves for Eternal Life and I abhore your tactics.” (Negative Letter 28, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”you are lacking in that one great principle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to witt: “To support the general authorities of the church”. …I am a convert to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints having come into the church in August 1957 at the age of 51, and I know better than to make statements, past, present, and future that you are supposed to have made.” (Negative Letter 30, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”I cannot help but believe you are not so presumptuous as to believe the reasoning of man preempts the wisdom of God who “Reveals nothing except through his Prophets”” (Negative Letter 37, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”…the wording of your letter indicates that you were telling the General Authorities what to do instead of voicing your personal opinion in the form of a suggestion. You also completely disregarded the fact that this Church is run by Jesus Christ by direct revelation. We do not have council meetings to debate and change Doctrines.” (Negative Letter 39, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”The fifth article of faith says “we believe that a man must be called of God…” What right and authority have you to teach doctrine which is contrary to the earliest church and try to make it appear as church doctrine? I hope Pres McKay, who has power and authority, will tell you to mind your own business and not informed, predict or prophesy regarding the doctrine of the LDS church. …You have authority to tell others when to open and close headgates on big dams, but please don’t assume that you have any right nor power to tell the leaders of the LDS church what they should do.” (Negative Letter 41, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”I would like to ask you how can you get the Lord to come and give a revelation when and what you want? We believe that the L.D.S. Church is led by revelation and this information has to come from God and it is his desire and not mans wishes toward his people.” (Negative Letter 42, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”I am well aware of our individual right to our own opinions, and, I exercise it frequently. However, this question is not one in which I feel that any member is qualified to judge. I am sure that you are aware that we should support church authorities in all matters pertaining to our spiritual welfare. I do, and I do not question the wisdom. I think you should too. …One thing I would like to make clear, God does not speak to us as individuals or collectively except on matters that pertain only to us as individuals. He has a prophet upon the earth and He speaks to him!” (Negative Letter 43, archive.org)[/stextbox]

[stextbox id=”alert” bgcolor=”F5F5F5″ bgcolorto=”E3E3E3″ image=”null”]”Stop trying to be the Prophet!!! A good Mormon sustains the leaders of his church. Are you a good Mormon? If you’ve been thru the temple you have stated that you would uphold the leaders of our church. Why do you publicly try to force the Prophet to change the church’s position?” (Negative Letter 47, archive.org)[/stextbox]