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Show 66 which is said in general conferences as official. Statements of General Authorities as Individuals While what might be general authorities regarded as such their statements far as general conferences official, the Church has attempted clear that church officials may speak the current say in are or write as to make it individuals and not to be considered official. president of the Church, Spencer W. as Even so, Kimball, has gone so to admonish the entire Priesthood of the Church to be very cautious in their political pronouncements. He has stated: Please avoid, even by implication, involving the Church in political issues. It is so easy, if we are not careful, to project our personal preferences as the position of the Church A as does problem an issue.22 occur when general authorities speak in that their remarks often "the Word. II To such persons are a may not be the Church stand at as individuals interpreted· by lay members as being "Church stand" is presented when it a1l.23 Church News Editorials The final 22Spencer 6 (May 1976): page of the weekly Church News is reserved for W. 46. 23Ezra II Kimball, "Boys Need Heroes Close By, Ens i gn Taft Benson is very active in giving speeches in which to support the Constitution lIin the tradition of the founding fathers." It may be that some people who believe that cer tain laws are constitutional and some are not, have construed the Ben son statements to mean that they do not have to obey "unconstitutional" laws. An example is L. S. Brown, who was an American Party candidate for Governor in Utah in 1976. He asked the American Party to uphold him in his refusal to pay federal income taxes in past years because his religious training had taught him to obey only constitutional laws. Brown is a Mormon. See Salt Lake Tribune, 13 June 1976, p. 2-B. he urges people |
