The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-09-03
AN ADDRESS.
To THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF
JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY
SAINTS.
Dear Brethren and Sisters.


past history when great exigencies
have arisen, and it has been the i'm
peratlve duty OF the first preside ncy
Of the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat
ter day Saints to give plain and
pointed counsel to the people over
whom, in the providence OF God,
they are called to preside. A con-
dition OF sff8irs exists at the present
time, which makes it eUinentiy
proper that we, as the first presl-
dencS of the church, should address
you this epistle. =
We hear from many quarters, III ~
many Of you are not Clear III youi
mn ds as to the course you snou'u
take in view of the extraordinary
circumstances in which you are
plncsd By the action of Congress sno
the exec tive a. Washington, ano o.
,issioners created by the
law since their arrival 10
,r,s o,,v- ONE Viewing the require
rnAnts which are proposed IS 'niquIt-
~, Tiers having scruples about
,akInc an oath which embodies ail
the odium OF religious test; and, Sill
1tbers, who feel SO indignant that
q ey would rather suffer the loss OF
"a psbip thsn to seek to maintain
ertf a method as has been pro-
/, IL ccnr nissioners. 1t is as
community that We are
az lie your religious belief
M ices that are the objects OF
a tact. because you belong to a re-
ligions BODY. Nearly nine-tenths OF
Won. who have never been guilty OF
even ;alIeged crime, whose only
offense is q belief in q doctrine which
the prophets and holy men of God
practiced, and the fruits of which
was the Redeemer of toe world him.
self. are deprived OF the most prec-
ious rights OF ireemen; therefore, 1t
becomes your duty, as believers in re-
Iieion, to defend yourselves by exer-
oising to the proper extent the few
privileges lett toiyou, among which are
those of registration and voting. and
and not yourselves and your own
rights alone; but the right OF every
man. woman and child In thi;
broad land to believe and prsc'
lice their religion. as their conscien
ces may dictate, 90 long as such
practice shall not interfere with the
rights of their neighbors.
The EdmUnds law, designed To-
the repression and destruction of
portion of your religion, Oy disfran
chising all persons In the territories
or other place over which the United
States have exclusive jurisdiction,
who had adopted, in obedience to TIT
requirements of their religion, the
principle OF celestial msrriage-be'
came the law Of the land on Marct
22d, 1882. As that law required
five commissioners, selected Oy th'
President and confirmed by the Sen
a,e. were sent to this territory to en-
tcrce lss provisions. These commits
s;ouers reached Salt Lake City OF
1.-The 18Th Of this present month
Since their arrival they have, In IN
teryiews with prominent citizens
given assurances of their lot antlon t
carry out the law, line by line
strictly and fairly. Their first pub
llic announcement was that, In az
cordance with the law of Congress
an election Of a delegate to Congress
would be held on the 9TH OF NoVem
Der next. Following this announc'
ment, the commissioners have put
Iished nine rules which they hay
sdopted for the appointment an
government OF registrars. Judges
elections, etc., for that NoVemoe
election. The second Of these rule
contains the following oath or stll
nation, which The registration OH
Ger Of each preciDct Is qnired to al
minister to everyone who applies
have his name placed or Ietsint
on the registration list:
TERRITORY OF UTAH,