University of California • Berkeley 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2007 with funding from 
 
 Microsoft Corporation 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/epistleoffirstprOOchurrich 
 
LjTjajTjTnjTTLruTJiruiJxrijrmn^^ nxuinrLruxruTJU ._ 
 
 OTLrtJ 
 
 AN 
 
 EPISTLE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 F^IF^T PRE}$IDE}NGY, 
 
 TO THE 
 
 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 
 in General Conference Assembled. 
 
 READ APRIL 8th, 1887, 
 
 AT THE £ 
 
 FIFTY-SEVENTH GENERAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE, | 
 
 HELD AT PROVO, UTAH. 
 
 c 
 c 
 c 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 c 
 c 
 c 
 
 SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, c 
 
 z 
 
 THE DESERET NEWS COMPANY, PRINTERS. £ 
 
 1887. C 
 
 "iJT-nJinjirinnjTjriJLnjTJTriJiJiJxr^ 
 
Ill 
 
 . 3- 
 
 AN EPISTLE OF THE FIRST PRESIDENCY 
 
 To the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 
 General Conference assembled. 
 
 INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 Dear Brethren and Sisters : 
 
 Once more, in the providence of the 
 Almighty, we are permitted to address 
 you in an Epistle. It would give us very 
 great pleasure to be able to communi- 
 cate to you our views orally; but 
 through circumstances with which you 
 are all familiar this gratification is de- 
 nied us. We rejoice, however, that the 
 privilege of communicating a few 
 of our thoughts in writing is still at 
 our disposal. We have profound feel- 
 ings of thanksgiving to our God for 
 His goodness and mercy unto His peo- 
 ple. Personally we have reason to be 
 very grateful to Him for His preserv- 
 ing care in our behalf. 
 
 Zion has been passing through a 
 series of trials which God will un- 
 doubtedly overrule for our good. The 
 experience of the past two years and 
 a half has convinced us that there has 
 been a divine providence in all that has 
 taken place, and in the shaping of 
 ordeals to which the Saints have been 
 subjected. Painful as they have been 
 to very many, the day will come when 
 they will be acknowledged as having 
 been the means of- bringing great bene- 
 fits to Zion. 
 
 The Twelve Apostles and their 
 Counselors have labored with great 
 efficiency, as far as they have had op- 
 portunity, among the people, and have 
 been active in attending to the duties 
 devolving upon them. The health of 
 all has been good. Recent letters from 
 
 those outside the Territory convey the 
 intelligence that they 1 are enjoying 
 ♦heir labors and are successful in the 
 performance thereof. The latest ad- 
 vices from President Woodruff assure 
 us of his good health. Though he is 
 now past 80 years of age, his bodily and 
 mental'vigor appear unimpaired. 
 
 We ourselves are in the enjoyment 
 of good health, and able to perform 
 our duties with satisfaction to our- 
 selves and pleasure in the liberty that 
 we enjoy. President Joseph F. Smith's 
 health has been somewhat impaired, 
 but he is now fully restored. 
 
 ZEAL AND DILIGENCE OF THE PEOPLE . 
 
 The most gladdening news we can 
 communicate to the Conference of the 
 Church in our Epistle is that from 
 every part of the Jan,d which we in- 
 habit, gratifying reports have been 
 received of the zeal and diligence of 
 the people in attending to the duties of 
 their religion. Probably at no time in 
 our history has there been a better dis- 
 position manifested by the people to 
 attend their meetings on the Sabbath 
 day, and on fast days, and the prayer 
 meetings which have been held during 
 week day evenings. Meetings have 
 been held at suitable private residences 
 on many of the blocks in the city and 
 country wards throughout these 
 mountains. These have gener- 
 ally been crowded, and have been 
 occupied by the Elders in giving in- 
 struction, and by the Saints in bearing 
 
testimony and in prayer. All the 
 Elders who have been free to travel 
 who have reported the results of 
 their labors to us, agree in say- 
 ing that at no time in their 
 experience have the meetings which 
 they have held been so crowded as 
 during the past winter. These evi- 
 dences of the faith and diligence of 
 the people are exceedingly gratifying 
 to us. We have been cheered in listen- 
 ing to them ; for we know that when 
 the Latter-day Saints repent of their 
 sins and devote themselves assiduous- 
 ly to keeping the commandments of 
 Go'l, their enemies cannot have much 
 power over them. 
 
 As a people, in times past we have 
 been careless and indifferent in many 
 directions. Neglect of duties has been 
 too common everywhere. Hypocrisy 
 has been indulged in to some extent, 
 and a laxity has prevailed in many 
 quarters concerning the keeping of the 
 laws of God which is not in accord 
 with the spirit of the Gospel. Under 
 these circumstances the Lord has 
 permitted persecutions and trials 
 to come upon His people that have had 
 the effect of stirring them up to greater 
 diligence. When the Lord, for any 
 reason, turns His face away from His 
 people, and is slow to hear their cries, 
 thorough repentance on their part and a 
 complete abandonment of their evil 
 ways are sure to bring back His favor, 
 and to cause His countenance to shine 
 upon them. This has been the case in 
 every age when God has had a people 
 upor the earth. In our own day we 
 have seen frequent illustrations of this. 
 W* have never feared for the people, 
 nor lor the prosperity of the work, 
 when the Latter-day Saints have been 
 fully alive to the duties and require- 
 ments of their religion. But when 
 they have been careless and neglectful, 
 or disobedient and hard in their hearts, 
 then we have trembled; for when the 
 Saints are in such a condition 
 the displeasure of the Lord is 
 sure to be awakened against them, and 
 His scourges are likely to fall upon 
 
 them. The Lord does not permit His 
 enemies, nor the enemies of His peo- 
 ple, to prevail over them for any 
 length of time when they are living 
 near unto Him and complying strictly 
 with His will. All His promises, of the 
 brightest and most glorious character, 
 encouraging and hopeful, are given to 
 those who keep His commandments 
 and who seek earnestly to carry 1 out in 
 their lives the principles of salvation 
 which He has revealed. When a peo- 
 ple are in this condition their enemies 
 cannot have much power over them. 
 
 WHY OUR ENEMIES HAVE FAILED. 
 
 We attribute the failure on the part 
 of our enemies to accomplish their 
 wicked purposes during the last session 
 of Congress to the fact that the Saints 
 were more true to their professions, 
 and were offering up, in sincere hu- 
 mility and faith, their petitions to the 
 God of heaven for His interposition 
 in their behalf. When we consider the 
 character of the measures which were 
 framed in the first place, and which it 
 was the evident purpose of our ene- 
 mies to force through and make law, 
 it is clearly to be seen that our 
 Father in heaven has restrained the ef- 
 forts of the wicked and defeated them 
 in their iniquitous designs. For a 
 while it seemed inevitable that every 
 liberty would be wrested from us, and 
 that we should be brought into sub- 
 jectiora to a most odious tyranny and 
 be stripped of every right which be 
 longs to free men. And though the 
 measures which have been enacted are 
 odious to the principles of true repub- 
 licanism, still our enemies are dis- 
 appointed in their schemes and 
 feel that they have been 
 defeated; while the Saints rejoice in 
 the goodness of God, and feel assured 
 that by His help and their continued 
 faithfulness in keeping His command- 
 ments and relying upon Him, they will 
 be able to endure, with patience and 
 without grievous loss, all that the ene- 
 mies of His Kingdom shall have 
 ] power to bring upon them. 
 
DUTIES OF THE PRIESTHOOD. 
 
 It is of the utmost importance that 
 the teachings which have heretofore 
 been given to the officers of the 
 Church, and which it is not necessary 
 to repeat at length here, should be kept 
 in mind and carried out in the spirit in 
 which they were given. Great respon- 
 sibility rests at the present time upon 
 those Eiders who have liberty of ac- 
 tion, and they should be untiring in 
 their efforts to magnify their Priest- 
 hood and to do everything possible to- 
 wards building up and strengthen- 
 ing the Saints in the practice 
 of those holy principles which God has 
 revealed. Much depends in these days 
 of trial upon those who bear the Lesser 
 Priesthood. They have opportunities 
 which are of unequalled advantage. 
 They visit, or should visit, the people 
 at their homes. They talk to them by 
 their firesides. They can see their in- 
 ner lives, and learn wherein they need 
 strengthening aud guiding, in order to 
 be more efficient Latter-day Saints. 
 When Priests and Teachers understand 
 their duties and seek to enjoy the spirit 
 of their offices, they can do an im- 
 mense amount of good; for they are 
 brought directly in contact with the 
 people; they learn their wants, are 
 made familiar with tneir weaknesses, 
 and are in a position to check 
 the growth of evil tendencies in 
 parents and in children. There 
 is, in many instances, doubtless, too 
 much formality in the character 
 of these visits— a disposition to drop 
 into routine and to ask stereotyped 
 questions, without conversing in a way 
 to bring out the real feelings and spirit 
 of the households which they visit. 
 Visits of this character are compara- 
 tively barren of results. To make 
 them as productive of good as they 
 should be, live, active men should be 
 used as Priests and Teachers. The 
 best ability in the various wards 
 can And ample field for usefulness in 
 performing these duties. Young men 
 who have not had experience should 
 be associated with those who have had | 
 
 experience, and they should be im- 
 pressed with the importance oi seek- 
 ing for the Spirit of God to rest upon 
 them in power, to dictate to them the 
 very things that should be said to the 
 family which they visit. The 
 teachings which might be appro- 
 priate to one family, and be 
 the very instruction which they 
 might need, would not perhaps be so 
 suitable for another family. There-, 
 fore, the necessity of having the guid- 
 ance of the Spirit of God is appar- 
 ent. 
 
 THE WELFARE OF THE YOUNG. 
 
 There is a tendency, almost amount- 
 ing to an epidemic in some places, 
 among the youog people to indulge in 
 cigarette smoking. The habit is filthy, 
 unhealthy, and pernicious geuerally. 
 God has spoken so plainly on this sub- 
 ject that there is no room to question 
 the impropriety of this practice. The 
 Teachers should make it their especial 
 business, in all kindness and in a mild, 
 instructive spirit, to reason and re- 
 monstrate with young people upon 
 this habit. Every effort should be 
 made to check its growth amongst us. 
 The habit also, which some young peo- 
 ple fall into, of using vulgarity and 
 profanity, is one which should receive 
 the attention of Teachers. This 
 practice is not only offensive to all 
 well-bred persons, but it is a gross sin 
 in the sight of God, and should not ex- 
 ist among the children of the Latter- 
 day Saints. 
 
 At the Priesthood meetings of Wards, 
 Bishops and Counselors and other ex- 
 perienced Elders can do great good to 
 the young men by imparting to them 
 instruction upon these points and giv- 
 ing them explanations concerning 
 questions which they may be asked 
 upon the live issues and topics of the 
 hour. There is a body of young men 
 growing up in Zion, who, if taught as 
 they should be, can be made most 
 efficient in building up the Church and 
 in strengthening its members against 
 the various temptations to do wrong 
 
to which they are exposed. These 
 yoftig men are generally full of zeal 
 and energy and good desires, and only 
 need to be directed aright to 
 accomplish immense results. 
 
 PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT. 
 
 Connected with our temporal labors 
 there is probably no point of more 
 importance than the providing of em- 
 ployment for our people. The spirit 
 of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ 
 is opposed to idleness. We do not be- 
 lieve that a man wh© has that spirit 
 can rest content if he is not busily em 
 ployed. There are many who come 
 from other parts who have been ac- 
 customed to following branches of 
 trade at which they cannot find em- 
 ployment here. There are a great 
 many young men and young women 
 growing up also, who do not have the 
 necessary experience or kaowledge to 
 employ themselves. These cases 
 should receive the attention and con- 
 sideration of the Bishops and Presi- 
 dents and other officers of the Church. 
 We should aim to create industries at 
 which the people can find em- 
 ployment. If all who have the 
 influence of position, or the power 
 that the control of means gives, would 
 keep this subject constantly before 
 them and work unitedly in the proper 
 direction, a great many industries 
 might be started in this Territory that 
 would result in profit to their founders 
 and give fixed employment to many 
 who are now in want of it. In every 
 Ward or Stake where there are oppor- 
 tunities of this character, judicious 
 men should be selected to take the 
 direction of such affairs and to make 
 wise investments, so that discourage- 
 ment will not follow through the loss 
 of means or the unskilful handling of 
 the business. 
 
 LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL TYRANNY. 
 
 Erom the day of the organization of 
 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- 
 day Saints, the adversary of souls has 
 stirred up the wicked to accomplisn its 
 destruction. Various agencies have 
 been employed to effect this purpose. 
 
 Falsehood, tradition, deep - rooted 
 piejudice, the learning, wealth and 
 power of Christendom, mob violence, 
 fire, fetters, the rifle and the sword, 
 wholesale expulsion and military force 
 having been tried in vain, a new cru- 
 sade has been inaugurated in the form 
 of legislative and judicial tyranny, 
 prompted by Satan and carried on by 
 cunning adventurers and reckless fa- 
 natics. Perhaps the most shameful 
 and unrepublican attempt of this char- 
 acter was the latest scheme devised 
 by the local conspirators. What is 
 known as the Edmunds law— the act 
 of March 22nd, 18S2— was hoped to be 
 broad enough in its intended scope tQ 
 secure the political control of the Ter- 
 ritory to the anti-"Mormon" voters. 
 Alarjre number of both sexes were by 
 that ace deprived of the franchise. 
 That it did not wrench the control 
 of the Territory out of the hands of 
 the majority of its residents, is not 
 to be credited to the absence of such a 
 wish and design on the part of its au- 
 thors and promoters, but to the over- 
 ruling providence of the Almighty. 
 The ground which those who favored 
 this measure seemed to take was, that 
 it was both praiseworthy and justifia- 
 ble to violate the soundest political 
 principles, and even the Constitution 
 itself, to take the political control of 
 the Territory of Utah from the "Mor- 
 mon" majority and concentrate it in 
 the hands of the anti -"Mormon" mi- 
 nority. Having gone thus far to ac- 
 complish this end, it was scarcely to 
 be expected they would hesitate to 
 make other and more outrageous at- 
 tempts, when they found that the Ed- 
 munds law had not answered the full 
 purpose for which it was intended. It 
 appears to be one of the effects which 
 follow a departure from sound repub- 
 lican and constitutional principles like 
 the enactment of such a strange piece 
 of legislation as the Edmunds 
 law, that every future attempt 
 in the same direction will be more re- 
 gardless of the settled principles of 
 political liberty than its predecessor. 
 
The Edmunds law, instead of appeas- 
 ing the anti- ,4 Mormon" appetite tor 
 power, only whetted it. The success 
 of its promoters in securing its pas- 
 sage, and the results which have fol- 
 lowed, emboldened them to make the 
 most extraordinary demands upon 
 Congress for further legislation. Em- 
 issaries from Salt Lake City were em- 
 plojed and sent to Washington, sus- 
 tained by funds levied upon and col- 
 lected from the non "Mormon" popu- 
 lation of the Territory, to secure the 
 passage of a law which would bind the 
 "Mormon" people nand and foot, and 
 leave them, their liberties, their proper- 
 ty and all that makes life valuable and 
 desirable, at the feet of their deadly 
 enemies. They did not appear to doubt 
 that their demands for legislation of 
 this character against us would meet 
 with ready acceptance on the part of 
 the National Legislature and the pub- 
 lic generally. 
 
 On the first day of the rirst session 
 of the Forty-ninth Congress, Senator 
 Edmunds introduced a bill (numbered 
 10 on the Senate calendar) which con- 
 tained shameful unrepublican features, 
 the evident purpose of which was to 
 entirely destroy all the liberties of the 
 majority of the people of Utah. There 
 were a few Senators wbo stood up 
 manfully and resisted the passage of 
 this measure as an attack upon re- 
 ligious liberty; but their protests and 
 arguments were in vain. The bill 
 passed the Senate and was sent to the 
 House. It was ably discussed before 
 the Judiciary Committee of the House 
 by our friends, and everything was 
 done that was possible to enlighten 
 that committee concerning the affairs 
 of Utah and the conspiracy which ex- 
 isted here to obtain the political con- 
 trol of the Territory. A new bill was 
 reported by the chairman of that com- 
 mittee, as a substitute for the Senate 
 bill, and the provisions of the new bill 
 were found to be equally objectionable 
 with the bill for which it was a substi- 
 tute. The measure was modified and 
 changed by wiser and more conservative 
 
 legislators, in spite of the efforts of 
 those who inspired it— a result which 
 we view as due to the ove ruling povv 
 er of Providence and the reluctance of 
 some reasonable public men to sanc- 
 tion a measure so utterly subversive 
 as this was of the rights of citizens. 
 An agreement was reached by the Con- 
 ference Committee, composed of mem- 
 bers of the Senate and of the House, 
 and in its amended form the bill was 
 reported to both houses, and passed 
 without alteration. It finally became 
 law, without theftigqature of the Presi- 
 dent. In its original form the palpa- 
 ble intention was to destroy the 
 Church. 
 
 It is generally admitted that no such 
 law was ever enacted in this country 
 before; and to find its parallel 
 one must search the records of 
 mediaeval times, when men's ideas 
 of liberty were confined to such grants 
 as despotic governments and rulers re- 
 luctantly chose to give them. The provi- 
 sions interfering with the property of 
 the Church, and looking to the es- 
 cheating or other disposition of its 
 funds in a manner contrary to the in- 
 tention of the donors, are in violation 
 ©f ecclesiastical rights and in the 
 nature of confiscation and spoliation. 
 
 The disfranchisement of all the 
 women voters, without cau-^e and 
 without even the allegation of crime 
 against them, is an arbitrary exercise 
 of despotic power without parallel in 
 republican history. No reasonable ex- 
 cuse can be offered for such an inva- 
 sion of political rights exercised 
 without hiudrance for seventeen years ; 
 and the vr.in pretence of the enemies of 
 the Latter-day Saints that they wish 
 to rescue the woman of Utah from 
 bondage has, by this outrage upon 
 freedom, been effectually silenced for- 
 ever. Taken with other portions of the 
 law it betrays an attempt to pave the 
 way for the domination of the major- 
 ity by the minority, because the 
 former is composed of members of 
 an unpopular Church. It should be 
 the purpose of good citizens and 
 
% 
 
 faithful Latter-day Saints to maintain 
 the liberties which are dear ttb every 
 citizen, by all legal and consistent 
 means within their power. And while 
 many of the men and women who, with 
 divine assistance, opened this region 
 to human occupation and fitted it for 
 civilized existence, are arbitrarily de- 
 prived of any personal participation in 
 Its government, it becomes the duty as 
 well as the privilege of those who can 
 do so under the operation of unjustly 
 discriminating laws, to stand up man- 
 fully and use ail diliSence and vigi- 
 lance in the retention aud prevalence 
 of the local rule of the local majority. 
 In thus sustaining the right and assist- 
 ing in tne prevention of wrong, they 
 will hare the blessings of a just God 
 and the approval of an enlightened 
 conscience. 
 
 A redeeming feature of the new law 
 is the exemption of wives who are 
 viewed as legal from testifying against 
 their husbands in cases arising under 
 the Edmunds act. This and the de- 
 cision of the Supreme Court of the 
 United States condemning the segre- 
 gation system, by which the extreme 
 penalties imposed by law were un- 
 lawfully multiplied upon "Mormon" 
 defendants, are cutting rebukes to the 
 Utah Courts and District Attorney, for 
 their excesses and malice in pursuing 
 persons acting under the strongest re- 
 ligious convictions. The relief thus 
 afforded to many subjects of judicial 
 persecution would doubtless be con- 
 siderably extended, if other extreme 
 rulings of the Utah Courts were re- 
 viewed by the highest tribunal of the 
 land. 
 
 As to whether the Church is a 
 corporation, grave doubts are enter- 
 tained. This is a question yet to be 
 determined. But if it should be decid- 
 ed that it is a corporation, is it pos>i 
 ble that after a Territory has gianted 
 a charter of incorporation, and Con- 
 gress has for long years permitted 
 the Territorial act to stand unchal 
 lenged and unquestioned, the latter 
 body can now revoke the charter and 
 
 appropriate the proceeds of the prop- 
 erty to such uses as the majority of 
 Congress may designate? If this be 
 possible, well may we, with all the 
 people of the Territories, ask : Are we 
 living under a government of law, or 
 are we and all our rights as freemen 
 subject only to the whim and caprice 
 of Congress? 
 
 The Supreme Court of the United 
 States, in 19 Howard, page 499, said : 
 "The power of Congress over the per- 
 son and property of a citizen can never 
 be a mere discretionary power under 
 our Constitution and form of govern- 
 ment. The powers of the government 
 and the rights and privileges of the 
 citizen are regulated and plainly de- 
 fined by the Constitution itself, and 
 when a Territory becomes a part of 
 the United States, the Federal 
 Government enters into possession 
 in the character impressed upon 
 it by those |who created 
 It enters upon it with its powers 
 over the citizen strictly defined and 
 limited by the Constitution from which 
 it derives its own existence, and by 
 virtue of which alone it continues to 
 exist as a government and sovereignty. 
 It has no power of any kind beyond it, 
 and it cannot when it enters a Terri- 
 tory of the United States put off its 
 character, and assume discretionary or 
 despotic powers which the Constitu- 
 tion has denied to it. It cannot create 
 for itself a new character separate 
 from the citizens of the United States, 
 and the duties it owes to them under 
 the provisions of the Constitution." 
 
 To appropriate the property of a 
 private corporation by saying that 
 all beyond a certain value shall 
 escheat to the Government is an act 
 worthy of the dark ages when the right 
 of the state to such property was 
 maintained by feudal theories. In 
 latter days the more equitable doctrine 
 prevails, even when corporations are 
 dissolved for violation of law, that the 
 property of the defunct corporation 
 goes to the corporators. 
 
 As has been well said by the court in 
 
the case of Wilkinson vs. Leland, (2 
 Peters 65) in dealing with the question 
 of taking the property of one and liv- 
 ing it to another, without judicial in- 
 quiry and by legislative enactment: 
 "That government can scarcely be 
 deemed free, where the rights ot prop- 
 erty are left solely dependent upon the 
 will of the legislative body, without 
 any restraint. The fundamental maxim 
 of all free governments seems to re- 
 require that the rights of personal 
 liberty and of private property should 
 be held sacred. * * * 
 
 A different doctrine is utterly incon- 
 sistent with the great and fundamental 
 principles of a republican govern- 
 ment and with the right of 
 the citizens to the free enjoyment 
 of their property lawfully acquired." 
 
 Iu a case which was appealed to the 
 United States Supreme Court, (Terrett 
 vs. Taylor, 9 Cranch,) which involved 
 church property, that the Legislature 
 of the State of Virginia had undertak- 
 en to take from the corporations hold- 
 ing it-and turn over to trustees, as this 
 law attempts to do, Judge Story said : 
 •'But the property was, in fact and in 
 law, generally purchased by the par- 
 ishioners or acquired by benefactions 
 of private donors. The title thereto 
 was indefeasibly vested in the churches, 
 or rather iu their legal agents. It was 
 not in the power ot the crown to seize 
 or assume it, nor of the Parliament 
 itself to destroy the grants, unless by 
 the exercise of a power the most arbi- 
 trary, oppressive, and unjust, and en- 
 dured only because it could not be re- 
 sisted. It was not forfeited, for the 
 churches had committed no offense. 
 The dissolution of the regal govern- 
 ment no more destroyed the right to 
 possess or enjoy the property than it 
 did the right of any other corporation 
 or individual to his or its own proper- 
 ty. * * * * We think our- 
 selves standing upon the principles 
 of natural justice, upon the fun- 
 damental laws of every free gov- 
 ernment, upon the spirit and letter 
 of the Constitution of the United 
 
 States, and upon the decision of the 
 most respectable judicial tribunals, in 
 resisting such doctrine." 
 
 It seems to plain men that this new 
 law, in its attempt to seize and dispose 
 of our property, lawfully acquired, is 
 in direct conflict with the provision of 
 the Constitution which declares that 
 "no person shall be deprived of life, 
 liberty or property without due pro- 
 cess of law." A well known writer has 
 said : "They have first of all to remove a 
 very stubborn prejudice which has 
 been confirmed by immemorial usage 
 that what a person honestly acquires 
 and legally possesses is his own and 
 not another's." 
 
 THE TEST OATH. 
 
 Probably no portion of this law has 
 received so much attention since its 
 passage as the section containing what 
 is known as the "test oath." The 
 municipal election at Brigham City, 
 immediately after the bill became law, 
 and the pressing necessity for a de- 
 cision 'on the part of those who are 
 eligible to vote in order that they might 
 register, forced this point in the law 
 into immediate prominence Our ene- 
 mies have circulated the most atro- 
 cious falsehoods, accusing our people 
 of resorting to perjury when by so do- 
 ing they could shield themselves and 
 friends from punishment; but none 
 knew better than they that in making 
 these charges they were uttering de- 
 liberate untruths. The proof of their 
 falsity has been witnessed in the Feder- 
 al Courts every day during the past 
 thirty months, when Latter-day Saints 
 were being tried for taking care of and 
 acknowledging their wives and chil- 
 dren, and refused to give the promise 
 which the courts endeavored to extort 
 from them under an assurance that if 
 they would only make it— which they 
 were told they might easily do— they 
 should be permitted to go unpunished. 
 
 Having tender consciences upon the 
 subject of saying or doing anythin 
 that would have even the appearance 
 of relinquishing any principle of their 
 
religion, oV people have carefully ex- 
 amined this oath and fully weighed the 
 effect the taking of it would have upon 
 themselves, their children and the 
 world at large. Understanding fully, 
 therefore, all its consequences, they 
 who can do so have generally resolved 
 to take the oath. But their willingness 
 to do so does not divest it of its enor- 
 mity or unconstitutional character. 
 The rule of law is that a man is pre- 
 sumed innocent of offenses and of the 
 intention to commit offenses until he 
 is proven guilty. But by this iaw it is 
 presumed that the citizens of this 
 Territory are disposed to violate the 
 law and they . must therefore rebut 
 the presumption by taking the 
 oath! If the oath was expurgatory, 
 and to be required of people who had 
 been in rebellion, it might have a show 
 of justificatioE ; but to require such an 
 oath as this from citizens who have 
 violated no law is without a parallel 
 even among despotic governments. 
 
 CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES 
 TRAMPLED UPON. 
 
 It is extraordinary to what extremes 
 men will go in their eagerness to strike 
 a blow at the Church of Christ. We 
 felt this when the Edmunds law of 1882 
 was enacted; but this feeling became 
 one of amazement when the second 
 Edmunds bill was rushed through the 
 Senate at the first session of the 49th 
 Congress, and afterwards, in a re- 
 modeled form, through the House of 
 Representatives in the second session 
 of the same Congress. That a power- 
 ful government like ours, representing 
 a population of fifty-five millions of 
 people, should magnify the words and 
 acts of a community numerically as 
 weak as our Church is, and exert itself 
 in so tempestuous a manner to destroy 
 its influence and growth, is sufficiently 
 remarkable to excite surprise; but 
 when to effect this the very principles 
 upon which the whole superstructure 
 of government rests are dis- 
 carded, and the Constitution it- 
 self and its guarantees are trampled 
 
 upon, then the feeling becomes one of 
 wonder at the madness which seems to 
 take possession of men when what is 
 called the "Mormon question" comes 
 up for discussion and action. In the 
 haste and zeal of this madness to des- 
 troy our religion, settled principles of 
 jurisprudence are disregarded, evil 
 precedents are established, and men 
 talk and act as if it were absolutely es- 
 sential to the happiness of the people 
 of the republic to override every true 
 principle of government to strike down 
 the majority of the people of Utah. It 
 is easy to predict what the result of 
 this contemptuous disregard of the 
 rights of citizens and the written 
 pledges of the Constitution will result 
 in. The precedents now being made 
 will, in the not distant future, be in- 
 conceivably fruitful of evil to the peo- 
 ple of this republic. No people or 
 government can defy the sound prin- 
 ciples of law which are essential to the 
 correct administration of justice and 
 to the maintenance of the rights of its 
 citizens, without calling into exist- 
 ence forces which are calculated to lead 
 to its destruction. 
 
 UNJUSTIFIABLE CONDUCT OP OFFICIALS 
 
 There has been no cessation in the 
 annoyances, persecutions and unjusti- 
 fiable conduct from which our people 
 have suffered at the hands of those 
 clothed with a little brief authority as 
 officials in our midst. Unlawful co- 
 habitation, an offense which, under 
 the law, is a misdemeanor, is magni- 
 fied into a crime of great turpitude, 
 and more zeal is maniiested in seeking 
 to ferrit but and punish those who are 
 accused of it than there is in dealing 
 with all the other crimes on the calen- 
 dar. All other offenses, however 
 gross and horrid, appear to sink into 
 insignificance in the eyes of our Fed- 
 eral officials in comparison with the 
 act of a man's caring for, furnishing, 
 or even visiting his wives, taken by 
 him, as he believes, in accordance 
 with a command of God, and his chil- 
 dren born to him in such wedlock. In 
 
former Epistles we have described the 
 conduct of some of these officials in 
 fitting language. Upon slight pretexts, 
 and where presumption merely exists, 
 men are still arrested and treated with 
 an indefensible severity which is noth- 
 ing less than persecution, and which 
 lifts those who endure it on to the 
 plane of martyrs. The treatment of 
 the Latter-day Saints in these Terri- 
 tories under the Edmunds law 
 will yet be read with surprise 
 and wonder, when the tacts all 
 become known. That American citizens 
 should receive such usage in a gov- 
 ernment like ours professes to be, 
 would appear incredible if it were not 
 substantiated by convincing proofs. 
 Aged men, whose lives have been up- 
 right and honorable, and against whom 
 not a word of reproach can be uttered, 
 have been ruthlessly and barbarously 
 consigned to prison cells because they 
 were too manly to disavow their fami- 
 lies and to break the solemn covenants 
 which they made in the presence of 
 heaven with their wives. 
 
 But this has not been the extent of 
 the inhumanity of those who have 
 taken upon themselves the role of per- 
 secutors. Blood has been shed, and 
 that in a most dastardly and cruel 
 manner. Edward M.Dalton, a respect- 
 able young man, of good family and 
 connections, while unsuspectingly 
 riding in the streets of Parowan, was 
 hailed by a deputy marshal— William 
 Thompson, Jr.— concealed behind a 
 fence, and simultaneously shot in the 
 back. He fell from his horse and died 
 shortly after. His slayer was indicted 
 for manslaughter by a grand jury 
 which he himself had summoned on 
 open venire, and was tried in the 
 Second District Court, at Beaver, 
 the prosecuting attorney mak-' 
 ing what was virtually a plea 
 in his behalf, and he was acquitted. 
 No other result could have been ex- 
 pected under the circumstances, with 
 such a jury, such a court, and such a 
 prosecuting officer; for, it is only the 
 truth to say, the deed was viewed with 
 
 satisfaction and approval by many, and 
 defended as an act that was entirely 
 justifiable. It might be thought that, 
 after such an occurrence, such a man 
 would be quietly set aside and kept 
 from public notice. But, alas! for our 
 country and the evil days upon which 
 we have fallen, this man is now re- 
 tained in the employ of the government 
 and acts as a deputy marshal! 
 
 Edward M.Dalton died, it maybe 
 said, a martyr to the principles of re- 
 ligious freedom. His innocent blood 
 was shed without provocation. His 
 name will yet stand out in history as 
 that of a victim to religious hate, and 
 his memory will be cherished by his 
 family and friends and our entire com- 
 munity with loving veneration. 
 
 Elder Lorenzo Snow, one of the 
 Twelve Apostles, was sentenced by 
 the First District Court to eighteen 
 months' imprisonment in the peniten- 
 tiary and $900 fine and the costs of his 
 trial. It was felt that this was an un- 
 just sentence; that the grand jury, un- 
 der the direction of the District At- 
 torney, violated the law in uegregating 
 the offense with which he was charged 
 and bringing in three indictments 
 against him. After some trouble an 
 appeal was secured to the United 
 States Supreme Court, which reversed 
 the decision of the lower court and 
 declared segregation to be unlawful. 
 After eleven months' confinement in 
 the Penitentiary, which he endured 
 with great patience and equanimity, he 
 was released from confinement. The 
 joy felt at thi3 action of the Supreme 
 Court was universal throughout the 
 Territory; not only because of its 
 effects on other cases, but because 
 of the deep interest which was taken 
 in the case of our venerated brother. 
 Though upwards of 72 years of age 
 and of a delicate frame, the Lord sus- 
 tained him during his imprisonment in 
 a remarkable manner, and he is now at 
 large and able to travel and visit the 
 Saints in their meetings and Confer- 
 
10 
 
 IN RELATION TO AMUSEMENTS. 
 
 Respecting amusements: We have 
 given the religious work) a lesson upon 
 this point. We have shown that social 
 enjoyment and amusements are not 
 incompatible with correct conduct and 
 true religion. Instead of forbidding 
 the theatre and placing it under ban, it 
 has been the aim of the Latter-day 
 Saints to control it and keep it free 
 from impure influences, and to pre- 
 serve it as a place where all could meet 
 for the purpose of healthful enjoy- 
 ment. Our leading men have, there- 
 fore, gone to these places with the 
 view, by their presence, of restraining 
 all practices and influences that would 
 be injurious to the young and rising 
 generation. Too great care cannot be 
 exercised that liberty shall not degen- 
 erate into license, and not to convert 
 that which should furnish enjoyment 
 and simple pleasure into a means of 
 producing unhealthful excitement or 
 corrupting morals. 
 
 Our social parties should be con- 
 ducted in a manner to give grati- 
 fication to all who attend them, 
 however • delicate and refined 
 they may be in their feelings. 
 Rude and boisterous conduct and 
 everything of an improper character 
 should be forbidden at such assem- 
 blages. It is not always convenient for 
 the Bishop and his counselors to be 
 present themselves oh such occasions. 
 It would be well, therefore, to select 
 in every ward a committee of judi- 
 cious, wise, good-tempered and firm 
 men to take charge of the social par- 
 ties, and to see that order is main- 
 tained, and that no improper persons 
 are allowed to obtrude themselves into 
 the party to disturb the peace and en- 
 joyment of those who go there to meet 
 with their friends and neighbors. 
 We think round dances should net be 
 encouraged. And while there may be 
 no harm in granting the permission 
 which was given by a circular of the 
 Twelve Apostles some time ago, in 
 which it was stated that one or two 
 round dances might be held during the 
 
 evening, care should be taken that this 
 is not abused or carried to excess. This 
 style of dance has been taken advan- 
 tage of by many impure persons, 
 and respectable people have been 
 annoyed and grieved thereat, and have 
 felt that it should be entirely prohib- 
 ited. Committee-men and officers in 
 charge of parties should see lhat 
 dances of every kind are con- 
 ducted in a modest and becoming 
 manner, and that no behavior be per- 
 mitted that would lead to evil or that 
 would offend the most delicate suscep- 
 tibilities. 
 
 As the summer months are ap- 
 proaching, when open air recreations 
 will become common, we deem it nec- 
 essary to warn the Saints, and espec- 
 ially our young people, against the ex- 
 cesses and improprieties tnat often 
 attend such public entertainments. In 
 the inordinate desire to make money, 
 attractions are devised to draw crowds 
 of people together where the usual re- 
 straints that regulate good society are 
 greatly relaxed, to the detriment of 
 pure morality, and the breaking down 
 of those safeguards which should pro- 
 tect sobriety and virtue. Pleasure and 
 relaxation which in themselves may be 
 not only harmless but really beneficial 
 to mind and body, are often rendered 
 evil in the extreme, because of 
 their surroundings and associations. 
 The thoughtless and inexperienced are 
 frequently oblivious to the harm thus 
 attending something in which there is 
 no essential wrong, and are led to look 
 with allowance, it not actual approval, 
 upon things that would shock them 
 under other circumstances. The in- 
 discriminate commingling of the Saints 
 with persons not of their faith whose 
 Jiabits, history and purposes are bad or 
 'unknown to them, is fraught with evil 
 and to be strongly deprecated. To ex- 
 pose our youth to the contaminating 
 influence of vile men and women such 
 as often congregate in places of public 
 amusement, where they are thrown to- 
 gether in social intercourse, is more 
 than folly; it is wickedness. It is 
 
11 
 
 proper that strangers should be treated 
 with courtesy and respect but inti- 
 macy with them is not desirable, and 
 our young people should be cautioned 
 and guarded against casual acquaint- 
 anceship and the society of persons 
 whose intentions and influence may be 
 of the very worst character. 
 
 Excursion parties should be con- 
 ducted by persons of standing and 
 wisdom and under regulations that 
 will preclude the evils that frequently 
 attend such gatherings. When ar- 
 ranged for purposes of speculation, the 
 promoters are often too heedless of 
 consequences in their anxiety for 
 profits, and will mix together the 
 worst of characters and the good and 
 unsophisticated, with results that can 
 but be lamentable. Sunday excursions 
 to lake or canon, moonlignt trips and 
 late bathing trains should be emphati- 
 cally discouraged. The society of 
 persons who place themselves under 
 the baleful influence of intoxicants 
 should be avoided. Order should be 
 maintained in the midst of merriment. | 
 Indecorous language and conduct ! 
 should be frowned down. All excess | 
 is detrimental. Temperance should j 
 govern in everything. Amusement is 
 not the purpose of life, it should be 
 indulged in only by way of variety. 
 When people accustom themselves to 
 constant or oft-repeated rounds 
 of pleasure, the true objects 
 of human existence are forgot- 
 ten and duty becomes irksome and 
 detestable. Children should not be 
 permitted to attend public gatherings 
 without older persons accompanying 
 to guard them from accident and from 
 the contamination of the ungodly. The 
 responsibility for the evils attending 
 violations of these instructions will 
 rest upon parents i guardians and the 
 local Priesthood in the various wards 
 arid settlements. Persons who habit- 
 ually desecrate the Lord's day cannot 
 be held, in fellowship, and members of 
 the Church who neglect public worship 
 and the partaking of the Sacrament 
 and do not remember the Sabbath day 
 
 to keep i.t holy, will become weak in 
 the faith and spiritually sickly, and 
 will lose the Spirit and favor of God, 
 and ultimately forfeit their standing in 
 the Church and their exaltation with 
 the obedient and faithful. 
 
 SANITATION. 
 
 Amona: the pressing requirements of 
 the summer months is special atten- 
 tion to sanitary measures. The Saints 
 ought always to be cleanly in their 
 haDits, persons and surroundings. 
 But during the heat of the summer this 
 becomes particularly needful. Much 
 disease can be avoided by frequent ab- 
 lutions, simple diet and the destruc- 
 tion or removal of all refuse. Cleanli- 
 ness is part of godliness. Filth is ob- 
 noxious to the spirit of the Gospel. It 
 is the breeding place for epidemics. 
 Our bodies, our houses, our gardens 
 and outhouses should all be kept free 
 from uncleanly accumulations. Indi- 
 vidual effort in this direction is a ne- 
 cessity, and this should be supple- 
 mented by organized regulations in the 
 yarious wards so that the atmosphere 
 may not become charged with the 
 germs oi disease and death, arising 
 from decaying vegetable and other 
 matter festering in the sun, and from 
 unwholesome vapors aris.ngfrom dirt 
 and neglected refuse. Let pure air 
 and bright sunshine have free circula- 
 tion in every apartment; remove every- 
 thing in the house or around it that 
 sends forth sickening odors; avoid the 
 use of much animal food and of 
 stimulants; preserve a cheerful spirit 
 and a serene mind, and under the 
 blessings of our Heavenly Father 
 health and peace will abound and joy 
 will dwell in fthe habitations of the 
 Saints. 
 
 SELECTION OF MISSIONARIES. 
 
 We are constantly calling for mis- 
 sionaries to go to the various fields of 
 labor in this coantry, in Europe, and 
 in other parts of the world. The 
 greatest care should bo taken to select 
 suitable persons for this duty. It 
 often costs a considerable sum to send 
 
12 
 
 men to the field of labor for which 
 they are selected; hence it is important 
 that proper persons should be chosen, 
 that their time and the means neces- 
 sary for their transportation be not 
 wasted. We have a large number of 
 young men who ought to be very suit- 
 able for missionaries. Our Sunday 
 schools and theological classes, and 
 our young men's mutual improvement 
 associations, should give our young 
 men who avail themselves of these 
 facilities an excellent preparation for 
 missionary labor. Every young man 
 who has faith should be taught to con- 
 sider a mission to the world as an 
 honorable event in his life, for which 
 he will diligently prepare himself, and 
 whica he will look forward to with 
 pleasure. There is an immense field 
 lying before us, which must be oc- 
 cupied by our Elders in order to 
 fulfil the obligations God has laid 
 upon us. Presidents ot Stakes, 
 Bishops of Wards, and Presidents of 
 Quorums should exercise a wise dis- 
 cretion in selecting for missions wor- 
 thy parsons, who *41l do the cause 
 they represent no discredit, and who 
 will be useful in the labor assigned 
 them. 
 
 SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 
 
 We suggest to the Bishops and 
 others whose duty it is to appoint 
 Sunday School Superintendents the 
 great necessity of care in the selection 
 of these officers, as on them depend, 
 more than on any other persons, the 
 conduct, progress and well-being of I 
 the schools. An efficient superintend- l 
 ent implies a good school. Three 
 characteristics, wherever obtainable 
 are most desirable in the Sunday 
 School Superintendent— a love of his 
 work, an aptness for control, and a 
 devotion to the cause of God. In the 
 last named we include, as a matter of 
 course, a life consistent with his pro- 
 fessions, that there may be no jar in the 
 minds of his scholars between the 
 force of his teachings and the influence 
 of his conduct. It is also desirable 
 that the superintendent be furnished 
 
 with the most experienced and devoted 
 help that the ward affords ; as that of- 
 ficer is placed at a great disadvantage 
 if he have an inefficient corps of teach- 
 ers, and the progress of our children 
 is materially retarded, and much val- 
 uable time and effort ill-spent, if his 
 labors are not sustained by his asso- 
 ciates. 
 
 Our brethren and sisters should al- 
 ways remember that the work of 
 teaching in our Sunday schools im- 
 poses upon them a moral obligation to 
 make their daily walk and conversa- 
 tion accord with their teachings. Of 
 all lessons, the living lesson is the 
 best. Children are surprisingly shrewd 
 in detecting inconsistencies between 
 the instructions and habits ot their in- 
 structors. Besides, the teacher who 
 seeks to live up to his own advice, not 
 only benefits his scholars, but. his 
 teachings exert a salutary influence 
 upon himself, and he profits by his own- 
 lessons. 
 
 AGRICULTURE AND TREE PLANTING. 
 
 The winter which has passed has 
 been remarkable for its mildness in the 
 central and southern parts of the Ter- 
 ritory. In the extreme north storms 
 have been more frequent and the sea- 
 son been more severe. But, taken as 
 a whole, the winter has been an ex- 
 tremely favorable one. The open 
 weather of the past two months has 
 enabled farmers to get in their crops 
 with a facility and to an extent rarely 
 equaled. Good health has generally 
 prevailed throughout our settlements, 
 and food for man and beast has been 
 generally abundant. 
 
 In former Epistles we have dwelt 
 upon the necessity of improving cur 
 system of agriculture. The Saints have 
 been counseled to select the best kinds 
 of grains, fruits and vegetables. Our 
 soil is admirably adapted for the pro- 
 duction of the best varieties of these 
 articles, and there is no reason why we 
 should not have them of as good qual- 
 ity as can be raised anywhere in our 
 zone. The same remarks apply to 
 
13 
 
 horned stock, horses and sheep, and 
 all kinds of poultry. It is only re- 
 peating a truism to say that it is as 
 easy to raise a good colt, a good calf, 
 or a good sheep, as to raise a poor one. 
 Tree planting should be systematical- 
 ly followed throughout these treeless 
 regions which we occupy. The best 
 varieties of trees should be sought for. 
 In the early days we had to use quick- 
 growing varieties that were easily pro- 
 cured. But with our present railroad 
 facilities we can select trees which are 
 best adapted for future use in building, 
 for manufacturing purposes, and for 
 ornament. In some of the prairie 
 States a day has been set apart in the 
 spring of each year for the planting of 
 trees, which is called Arbor Day . The 
 results which have followed the devo- 
 tion of one day to this purpose are 
 said to be very marked in regions 
 where it is observed. But we should 
 not confine our tree-planting to one 
 day. Every man who owns a piece of 
 ground should increase its value by 
 planting fruit and shade trees, and 
 make his selection of the latter from 
 those kinds that will prove valuable as 
 timber. The general planting of hard- 
 wood trees would be attended with 
 greater profit and much more satisfac- 
 tory results than the wide-spread cul- 
 tivation of varieties of the cottonwood 
 and poplar. These latter grow readily 
 and afford shade, but are of very little 
 further use except for firewood. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS MATERIAL MATTERS. 
 
 It is beyond doubt that the 
 exportations and general marketing 
 of the surplus products of our 
 Territory form quite an addi- 
 tion to the financial resources 
 of the people. More care, however, 
 should be exercised in putting up and 
 taking care of articles intended for 
 shipment to points within the Terri- 
 tory, or outside its borders. 
 
 The manufacture and care of butter 
 should receive attention. This article 
 is among the most sensitive to its sur- 
 roundings, so that cleanliness in every 
 
 stage if of vital importance. In this 
 direction great improvement has been 
 made in the Eastern States; and it 
 would be well for neighborhoods to 
 combine and purchase suitable plant 
 and machinery and acquire skill in the 
 improved method of manufacturing 
 butter. 
 
 Many of our Chee.«e factories now 
 turn out an article that is very desira- 
 ble and which commands ready sale 
 and the full price in the market. There 
 is room for the increased manufacture 
 of this product. 
 
 The income of the Territory from the 
 sale of eggs is not an inconsiderable 
 item. If any economical method could 
 be devise^* for preserving them when 
 abundant it would be a great advantage, 
 and the price would be more nearly 
 equal at, different seasons of the year. 
 
 The dried fruit business has been 
 quite remunerative in the past, but our 
 people need to be more careful in dry- 
 ing. Cleanliness is essential, and the 
 adoption of the Alden or other pro- 
 cess would help us to maintain the 
 old credit which our Territory ha'd for 
 the excellence of its dried fruit. 
 
 The shipment of hides from our Ter- 
 ritory ought to cease, and tanneries 
 should b^ fostered in every locality 
 where they can be maintained. 
 
 The same may be said about wool. 
 Wise economy would prompt the es- 
 tablishment of a sufficient number of 
 woolen mills to purchase and manufac- 
 ture all our home grown wool, so that 
 instead of exporting the raw material 
 we should manufacture it ourselves 
 and pay our own people the wages 
 therefor that we otherwise have to pay 
 to workmen in other places. 
 
 The Territory exports considerable 
 grain, lucern seed and potatoes. These 
 products have sometimes been poorly 
 cleaned and not been properly assorted, 
 and this negligence injures our credit 
 and spoils our market. Making the pro- 
 fessions which we do as Latter-day 
 Saints, and having the promises of the 
 Lord concerning the aid which He will 
 give unto us, our business affairs 
 
14 
 
 should be conducted in a way that will 
 show that our professions are not 
 vain. 
 
 A PERIOD OF TRANSITION. 
 
 Tne Chureh is now passing through 
 a period of transition, or evolution, 
 as some might be pleased to term it. 
 Such periods appear to be necessary in 
 the progress and perfecting of all cre- 
 ated things, as much so in the history 
 of peoples and communities as of in- 
 dividuals. These periods of transition 
 have most generally their pains, per- 
 plexities and sufferings. The present 
 is no exception to the rule. But out of 
 apparent evil, Providence will bring 
 abundant good, and the lesson which 
 the signs of the times should teach us 
 is one of patience, endurance, and 
 calm reliance on the Lord. The result 
 will be that we shall be stronger, wiser, 
 purer, happier, for the experience 
 gained, and the work of the Lord, de- 
 livered by His Omnipotence from all 
 the snares set for its retardation, or 
 plans laid for its destruction, will yet 
 triumph gloriously over ail its foes, and 
 the infinite atonement of the Redeemer 
 will accomplish its perfect work. The 
 final victory of the Saints is certain; 
 after the trial comes the reward. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 We cannot close our Epistle without 
 expressing, as we have often done be- 
 fore, our faith and hopes concerning 
 the great work in which we are en- 
 gaged. "The Lord hath founded Zion, 
 and the poor of His people shall trust 
 in it." Our hearts are filled witn grat- 
 itude and thanksgiving to our Great 
 Creator that we have the privilege of 
 living in this age of the world, and 
 taking part in this great work. We 
 feel that all who have entered into cov- 
 enant with God and who suffer perse- 
 cution for His cause, have reason for 
 rejoicing, even as Jesus told His dis- 
 ciples when He was upon the earth: 
 "Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for 
 great is your reward in heaven: for so 
 persecuted they the prophets which 
 were before you." If we are perse- 
 
 cuted for our religion, it is no more 
 than we have been taught to expect. 
 All who have been baptized into this 
 Church, and who were properly ta-jght 
 at the time, were led to expect that 
 they would have to suffer as our Lord 
 and Master and His disciples did. Our 
 Sayior has given us ample testimony 
 upon this point. We need not, there- 
 fore, be surprised nor disappointed 
 when persecution comes. We have, 
 however, many great and glorious 
 promises made to us. God has estab- 
 lished Zion, nevermore to be thrown 
 down, nor to be given into the hands 
 of another people. The most encour- 
 agiug words that could be uttered by 
 Our Almighty Father to His children 
 have been given to us. We have proved 
 them to be true up to the present, and 
 we know every word will be fulfilled 
 that has been spoken concerning the 
 future. They who fight against Zion 
 shall be destroyed; and the pit which 
 has been digged for our destruction 
 shall be filled by those who digged it, 
 unto their utter destruction. 
 
 The enemies of righteousness may 
 gather themselves together, and plot 
 evil, and effect secret combinations, 
 and say concerning Zion: "Let her be 
 defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion. 
 But they know not the thoughts of the 
 Lord, neither understand they His 
 counsel." The Lord has stretched 
 forth His hand and He has spoken His 
 word. He will not withdraw it, either, 
 until His purposes concerning the earth 
 and its inhabitants shall be completely 
 fulfilled. We need not fear nor trem- 
 ble. The afflictions which our Father 
 permits to come upon us will be made 
 light unto us, and they will be made to 
 appear as very trifling in comparison 
 with the calamities that He has said 
 shall come upon the ungodly inhabit- 
 ants of the earth. Great judgments 
 are pronounced upon Babylon, and 
 they will be fulfilled to the very letter. 
 But if we do as the Prophet says: 
 "Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the 
 earth, which have wrought His judg- 
 ment; seek righteousness, seek meek- 
 
15 
 
 ness; it may be ye shall be hid in the 
 day of the Lord's anger;" we shall be 
 saved from impending evils. 
 
 The Lord has given unto us an in- 
 heritance iupon this land, which He 
 declares is a choice land. He has told 
 us that whatsoever nation shall pos- 
 sess it shall be free from bondage and 
 from captivity, and from all other na- 
 tions under heaven, if they will but 
 serve the God of the land, who is 
 Jesus Christ. These words have been 
 fulfilled in the late which has befallen 
 nations in the past; they will be ful- 
 filled in the future. If we keep the 
 commandments of God, if we serve 
 Him with diligence and full purpose of 
 heart, the Lord will not suffer us to be 
 brought into bondage to our enemies, 
 but will give us freedom, and maintain 
 it upon the land to which He has led 
 us. We may rest confidently upon His 
 promises to Zion, and be assured that 
 the time will come when it shall be "a 
 land of peace, a city of refuge, a place 
 of safety for the Saints of the Most 
 High God ; and the glory of the Lord 
 shall be there, and the terror of the 
 Lord shall be there, insomuch that the 
 wicked will not come unto it and it 
 shall be called Zion. And it shall come 
 to pass among the wicked, that every 
 man that will not take his sword 
 against his neighbor, must needs flee 
 
 unto Zion for safety. And there shall 
 be gathered unto it out of every nation 
 under heaven; and it shall be the only 
 people that shall not be at war one with 
 another. And it shall be said among 
 the wicked, 'Let us not go up to battle 
 against Zion, for the inhabitants of 
 Zion are terrible; wherefore we cannot 
 stand.' And it shall come to pass that 
 the righteous shall be gathered out 
 from among all nations, and shall come 
 to Zion, singing songs of everlasting 
 joy." These promises are made to us 
 directly, and the Spirit of GoJ bears 
 testimony to us to-day that they are 
 true. 
 
 With full confidence that the dense 
 clouds which have darkened our 
 horizon during the past two or three 
 years will be soon dissipated by the 
 bright rays of the sun of righteous- 
 ness, and invoking the blessings that 
 come through patient endurance of 
 affliction and faithful adherence to the 
 right, upon the Saints of God in all the ' 
 world, we subscribe ourselves, 
 
 Your fellowservants in the great 
 work of the latter days, 
 
 John Taylor, 
 George Q. Cannon, 
 Joseph F. Smith, 
 First Presidency of the Church of 
 Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 
 April, 1887.