Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-05
A MORMON EPISTLE.
An A Address 30 the SaInts-The Ed
munds Law InveIghed Against.

The following extracts are taken from an
address to the Latter Day Saints, signed by
John Taylor, Geo. @ Cannon and Joseph F.
Smith, published In the church at Salt Lake
City last Thursday evening: "There have
been many times In our past history when
great exigencies have 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 and pointed counsel to
the people over whom In the providence of
God they have been called to preside. A
condition of affairs exists at the present
time which makes 1t eminentlY proper that
we, as the first presidency of the church,
should address you this epistle. The Ed
munds law, designed for the repression
and obstruction of portion of
your religion by disfranchising all persons in
the Territory or other places over which the
United States have exclusive jurisdiction,
who had adopted In obedience to the re-
quirements of their religion the principle of
celestial marriage, became the law of the
land on March %, 1882. AS the law re-
Quired, five commissioners, selected by the
President and confirmed by the Senate, were
sent to this Territory to enforce It's provis-
ions. AS q church, we have repeatedly
testified In the most solemn manner that the
institution of marriage, which the law is
aimed at, has been revealed to us by the
Almighty, and that 1t is a part of our re-
hgion; that 1t Is interviewer with our dear
est and h0liest hopes connected with eter-
nifty, and that not from any lustful motives,
but because we believe we should incur the
eternal displeasure Of our Heavenly Father IL
we did not comply with its reQuirements
We have espoused this doctrine. 1t has
been argued by those who are ignorant of
the true nature of this doctrine and how
insepaTably connected 1t Is with all our
hopes Of eternal happiness In that world
beyond the tomb, that is not part of our
RELIGION, that this system of marriage is not
religion, that it is an immoral and odious
practice that is shocking to the religious
sense Of the nation and to the civiliz ltion
of our age, and that legislation framed for
its repression and extirpation should
be enacted. The Federal Legislature
has therefore passed this act. and
the Federal Executive has affixed
to 1t his signature. In regard to our re-
ligion or our eternal covenants we have no
compromise to make nor principle to barter
away. They emanate from God, and are
founded upon tbs rock of eternal ages.
They will live and exist when empires,
powers and nations shall crumbIe and decay,
and with the help Of the Almighty we will
guard sacredly our covenants and maintain
our interest, and be true to our God while
time exists or eternity endures. Let us
guard we'll our franchise, and In one un-
broken phalanX maintain and sustain our
political status, and as patriots and freemen
operate together in defense of what few lib.
critics are left to us-in the defense of the
constitution and in the defense of the in
alienable rights Of man, which rights always
exist and are above and before all constitu-
tions-and thus perpetuate to posterity the
inestimable blessings of freedom, Including
the right to live, the right to be free, and
the right to pursue happiness, unmolested
by any influence, power or combination.U
This illumination is said to have been
caused by the Commissioners prescribing
an oath for those who are to testify. in
which they are required to swear or affirm
as follows: 81 do further solemnly swear
(or. sfirm) that am not a blgamist nor a
polygamist; that am not yiolator of the
laws OF the United States prohibiting
Oigamy or polygamy; that do not live or
conabit with more than one woman in mar
rage relation, nor does any relation exist
between me and any woman which has
been entered into In violation of or is con-
tnuance of violation of said laws of the
United States prohibiting bigamy or poly
gamy, and Qf womsn) that l am not the
wife OF polygamist, nor have / entered
into relation with any man in violation of
the laws OF the United States concerning
polygamY or bigamY."