The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-04-13

Luru Cu6 Id1Gl- OF The -Latt6c-QaN
Saints by sophistry, or faIsehood, o.
folly, it amounts to nothing. We
are in possession of the principles o.
eternal life; and are operating
to build up the Zion Of God, where
liberty can be proclaimed to all men
of every color, creed and nation,
Being placed in communication
with God the sophistries anC
vagaries of men have no influence
with them. Their faith is built upon
the rock of ages; and that rock is rev.
eiGtion. This is the position that we
occupy. Now then, this is the re-
ligiOus part of it. We behave in
virtue. purity, honesty, integrity, III
telling tie truth, in treating all men
justly and honorably, in fearing
God and keeping his command
mentS. Do all do this? No; wish
we did. A great majority are do
ing so, and you that do not, beware.
AS we are here for the purpose OF
building up Zion, God expects us to
be honorable with one another and all
men. One part of the gospel is that
we should be gathered together.
Have we been doing it? Yes
Some object to it. Have we injured
anybody by it? Is this the land Of the
free and the asylum of the OPP
pressed? Cannot the United States
listen to the principles of truth ?
Have we been opposed to the gov
eminent of the United States? No!
no! mol and we are at the defiance
of all men to prove to the contrary.
We believe the constitution was
given by inspiration of God, because
it was Zone Of those instruments
which proclaims liberty throughout
the land, and to all the inhabitants
thereof, and it was because of those
noble sentiments and the prOmulga-
ton of these principles given to
man, that God said this constitution
was given by God to man. Did we
any wrong in coming here the way
we did? l think not. Did we
transgress the laws of the nation we
left? / think not. Now, then, we
gathered simply because we were
told there was a Zion to be built.
The term Zion means the pure in
heart. This is in the Bible; there is
certainly no harm in believing the
principles fthe Bible. We are al
ways glad to receive the constitu-
ton of the United States and to be
governed by it. Being gath
cred together we necessarily
required some kind and of social
organizations; for when we came
here we brought our bodies with
us and titled the soil and produced; ;
and as we increased, we built vii
lagos and cities. Was there any
harm in it? We finally petit
toned for a state. The people
called a convention and a constitu-
ton was framed and forwarded to
Washington. The Congress refused
our application for a state, but
gave US territory called "Utah."
Strange to say how mems notions
change. They are trying now TO in
terfere with us, because OF our
polygamy; but at that time they APP
pointed a pOlygamOus governor.
But men change; l suppose they
called it progress. They said they
did not know this principle then.
This was not so, for as soon as it
was revealed, OrsOa Pratt went to
he city Of Washington, published
5he doctrine, lectnred on it and pub
ished paper called The Seer, as
many of you know. Some time
after that we had United States
officials sent here; not pelygamous.
One Of them wanted to let us see
low civilized he was when he came, !
md he brought a strumpet with
him and placed her on the bench
With him. He left his wife at home. |
lie did this to edify the people. |
fortunately, there was no Edmunds
ill then. (Laughter). Perhaps it
vas considered very beautiful or
away from here; but we
lid not feel edited, the people were
and he others went back
o Washington and said the Nor
mons were rebelliouS. These men
we're as untruthful as many of the
minister's are to-day. We know
heSe men here, and the word Rev
rend to their names covers a multi
ude Of sins. We all know these
zen here. Now, then, we go
ack to Judge Drummond, and
theirs. We did not like their civili-
alton, and they were not enamored
f ours. If there is any lascivious-
ess in our people, we are indebted
D our Christian friends for ii, and
D the judges for protecting it. Till
hese people came in our midst, we
ad no houses of ill-fame; we need
OF to lock our doors to prevent
lieves from praying upon us; we
ad no drunkards among us. These
lingS have been introduced by our
nod. kind, pure Christian brethren.
We go back TO the statements of
leSe friends. They were believed
/ Washington. They said that We
III burned the state library and
)urt records and instead of sending
ut persons to investigate, they
)ok the words of these Lotharios,
nd sent an army. After knawing
Jules legs at Bridger, Qaughter) we I
mt them salt which they refused g
, receive. While we knew that
ley had beautiful military outfit, !
e did not want them to try the
.mper of their arms upon us. That q
lie statements are false which I
ldge DrummOnd and others made [