Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-09-02
LATTER DAY SAINTSHEPs
a high and H"iy letter from the Pee
siding Elders.

sizing Eis1-&r9.
SALT LAKE, Utah, Aug. 31.-The following
extracts are taken from an address to the Lat
ter Day Saints signed by Jno. Taylor, George
Cannon and Jas. !. Smith, published in the
Church this evening: There have been many
times in our past history when
great exiEeneies haze arisen
and it has been the imperative duty Of the first
presidency Of the Church OF Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints to give plain aid pointed
counsel to people over whom,
IN the providence OF God,
they have hsen called to preside.
A condition of affairs exists Of the preseut
time which makes it eminenGiy proper that we,
as the first presidency OF the church, should
address you this epistle. The Edtaunds law,
designed for the repression and destruc-
ton OF portion Of your religion by
diSfrancaising all persons in the territory or
other places in which rhe United States nave
exclusive Jurisdiction, who had adopted, in
obedience tc the requirements of their religion,
the principe Of celestial marriage, became &
law Of The land on Mnrch %, 1882.
missionera selected by the president
and confirmed by the senate, were sent to this
territory TO enforce lis provisions AS a
church we have repeatedly testified in the
most solemn manner, that the Institution of
marriage, which this law is aimed at, has
been revealed TO us by the Almighty,
and that It is part CT cur religion,
that il is interfering with our desrest and
h3liast hopes connected with eternity, and
that lot from any lustfnl motives, but be-
cause we believe we should incur the eternal
displeasure OF our Heavenly Father
If we did not comply with
LIS requirements, we have espoused this doe
trims. II has been argued by those VINO are
lgaorant OF the true nature OF this doctrlne
aud hew inSepsrably connected it ia with ali
our hopes Of eternal happiness in that world
beyond the tomb, that it is not G. part Of the
relis jon; that this systss1 of marriage is not
religion; that it is an Immoral and an odious
practice mat ia shocking TO the religious
sense OF the nation and to- tie civilization OF
our age, and that legislation framed for
It's repression and extirpation should be en-
acted. The federal legislature has therefore
passed the set aad the fedora! executive has
&hlXed to it his signature. In regard TO our
religion O. our eternal covenants, we have no
compromise TO make, nor DO principles to
barter away. They enlaDate from God aEd
are founded on toe rock of eternal ages. They
will live and exist when empires, powers and
nations shall crumble and decay, and with
the help OF the Almighty, we will guard ga
credly our covenants ard maintain
CUR 10LereSss and De true TO our
God while time exists or eternity
endures. Let Us guard well our franchises
sod in one unbroken phalanx maintain and
sustain our political status and as patriots and
freemen operate together in the defense Of
what few liberties are left to us in the defense
OF the constitution and in the defense Of the
11estjmable rights OF man, which rights al
ways exist and are above and before all consti-
buttons, ana thus to perpefuate to posterity
the inestjmA0le blessings of freedom, in
Guiding the right TO be free aud the right TO
pursue happiness unmolesied by any influence,
power or comb ations
all this racket Ia because ths com mission
ers prescribed the following oath: 81, being
first duly sworn Tor affirmea) deDose and saT
that / am over tweaty-one years Of age aud
have resided in The territory of Utah for six
months and ia toe precinct Of -, and ara
native born or naturaiiZe6, as tie case may
be, citizen of the United States, and a tax
payer in this territory (or, if female, am
native born or naturaZsd or the wife, widow
Or daughter, IS the case may be, Of native
born Or naturallz ID citiZ4n of the United
Staies) aud 90 further seemDIy swear Tor
atirm) that / an not o biaamist nor
a polygsmist; that l am not vIolstor of the
laws of the United States prohibiting bigamy
or polygamy; that l do not live or cohablt
with more tnan one woman in the marriage
relation nor does any relation exist between
me or any woman whi-h has been entered into
or countenanced in violation of said laws of
the United States prohibiting oigamy or poly
cams aus (ff SumAG} tGas ! an not the
wife OF poiygam.st nor have I entered into
relations win apy ran in violation OF the
laws Of the Uot.d States concerning poly
gamy or bjgamy.