The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-09-03

Whstsver the intention OF the
author of this law may have been,
tois ia certain, the words, I'm the
marriage relation. are not part OF
the law. Ii the law, therefore, were
strictlv enforced according 10 its lit
arsl tenor. not only would those who
hava obeyed the ductrIne OF celestial
marriage, a. a divine Command, be
Iexoluded fro voting and holding
office. but It Is mOr9 than prob
abb that many persons who have
urged legislation ssslns, the Latter
day Saints, and made war upon this
feature of their religion, would also
be disfranchised and disqualified for
holding office
AS a church, we have repeatedly
testified in the most solemn manner
that the institution of marriage,
which this law is aimed 1t, has been
reve 4led to us by the Almighty,
and that It il part of our religion;
that it is interviewer with our dear
est and hottest hopes connected with
eternity; and that-not from any
luStful motives, but because we be-
lieve we should incur the eternal
displeaSure of our Heavenly Father
if we did not comply with its re-
Quirements-We have espOused this
doctrine. 1t has been argued by
those who are ignorant of the true
nature of this doctrine. and how in
separately connected it Is with all
our hopes of eternal happiness in
that world beyond the tomb, that
this is not a part of our religion; ;
that this system of marriage
is not religion that it is an i'm
moral and an. odiOus practice; that it
is shocking to the religious sense Of
the nation and to the civilization Of
our age; and that legislation,
framed for its repression and eXtir-
patton, should be enacted. The
federal legislature has, therefore,
passed this act, and the federal ex-
ecutive has affixed to it his sigma
ture.
If proof were needed respecting
the truth of our prOteStatluns and
testimonies, that this is part of
our religion, and that the ObIecC Of
this law is not the erAdicatiOnsOf i'm
moral practices, but that it is in-
tended as a direct blow DIT our reli-
giouS faith and practice, we have it
furnished in this oath prescribed
by the commits siOners. 1t is mar
rage under the forms of religion,
and not immortality, which dis
franchises and dlsq Ialiies the citi-
zen under this Oatn- Every man
and woman, who, In faith, in all
solemnity, and in strict accord 4nce
with the require nents of their holy
, religion, have entered into sacred
covenants for time and all eternity
according to the patriarchal order
of marriage, are excluded by this
oath from registration; while those
2 of both sexes, who may be living the
} vilest of lives, in adultery, fOrnica-
ton OF the practice of RIGHTEOUSNESS
} of any kind, can take the oath and
be registered, vote and hold office
3 This oath is expressly framed SO as
= not to interfere with or disturb them
= one class of citizens to be stripped
: of citizenship for Obeying divine
, law; while the violation of the most
sacred of divine laws on the part
of another class does not render
them ineligible TO hold the highest
:, office in the Territory
1t has been with feelings of pro
. found regret that we have seen the
, Commissioners, men of high posi-.
) ton and bearing hOnOred names
J, take this view of the law, and
Is frame such an oath as this to be al
ministered unto the people, yet on
p the other hand, it is with unmixeO
J. satisfaction we perceive that the
e oath draws the line SO sharp
d " and distinctly between mar
Of rage and RIGHTEOUSNESS. by
r the attempt in the cOnstruc-
ss ton of this oath to shield from in
?. Jury those who, by their illicit con
! nections with the other sex, might
4. under the provisions of the Ed
- munds law, be disfranchised, the
n Latter-day Saints, who, in all sin
" certify and honor, have Obeyed re
violation from God, are not reduced
to their degraded level.
Our counsel, then, is to the Lat
10 ter-day Saints, who can truthful,
- take this oath, there is no reason
= that we know of in the gospel, or il
- anv of the revelations of God, which
y, prevents you from doing so. You
- owe it to yourselves; you owe it X
y your posterity; you owe it to thOsr
"a of your cO-rel gIOnists who, by thi
w. law, are robbed worse than ever
OF many of yourselves. Of their rights
IN under the Constitution; you Ow
it to humanity everywhere; you CIV
le it to that free and cOnStltu
Sc tional form Of government, whicl
lie has betn bequeathed to yOuthroug
IS; the precious sacrifices Of many @
or YOUR forefal hers-tO do all IN you
a power TO maintain religious libert.
or and free, republican government i
o these mountains, and to preserv
7 every constitutional right intac
m and not to allow, either throug
. supineness OF indifference, or an
y, feeling of resentment or indlgni
- ton because of wrongs lnfictee
- upon you, any right or privilege {
=" be wrested from you. Very man
20 Of you can take this oath with col
y, scientiousness and entire truthful
DC ness, as you could even if it were
form which many of your tn
ny dueers could not take without pc