Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-02-11
THE UTAH CONVICTIONS.

The Territorial Supreme Court of Utah
has rendered a decision sustaining the con-
viction of Apostle Lorenzo Snow of un-
lawful cohabitation. The court recites that
Snow in Nauvoo first illegally married two
women at one ceremony and the contract
therefore was null and void. He then mar
ried successively other women, all of whom
he supports and holds out to the world as
his wives. This is shown by the testimo-
ny, while at the same time he dwclls with
Minnie, his latest polygamous wife, who
has three months old child. The Court
says this is one of the most fragrant cases
of polygamy in the Territory and that no
error was made in convicting Snow. The
court also sustains the conviction of Brig
ham Young Hampton of conspiring to es-
tablish disreputable house for the purpose
of Turing thither prominent Gentiles, and
says that the testimony disclosed wicked
and disgraceful conspiracy which must be
condemned by all.
Snow is probably the most intelligent
man in the Mormon church and is look
ed upon by the adherents to the Mormon
doctrines as leader. His conviction and
sentence to the Penitentiary for eighteen
months may have a salutary influence,
though he is defiant and upholds polyga-
NOUS doctrines to the last. Pending his
trial he delivered an address to his people
in the Tabernacle, report of which we
have in Utah paper, the Southern Ltonid,.
He compares the prosecution of the polyg-
amists to the prosecutions of the Saints and
in anticipation of meeting those Saints
hopes to be able to say that we have also
passed through similar trials to those which
conduced to their eXaltation. In his adj
dress he acknowledged several wives, and
said: 81 told my wives to admit their
marital relations to me, and my attorneys
to admit in my case that claimed these
women in days gone by as my wives : that
l do so now and expect to throughout all
eternity"
AS showing the method Of distilling the
peculiar doctrine of Mormonism in the
minds of this deluded people, we quote
further from Apostle Shows remarks:
When l was called and ordained into
the Holy Priesthood Of God, asked my
self this question: "Am willing to offer
myself living sacrifice to this work ?"
And l accepted the conditions. Inow wish
to counsel all to prepare themselves for ev-
cry ordeal that may await them. Now is
the time that love should abound-that all
pickering feelings should be eradicated,
and peace and harmony prevail in the
midst of the brethren and in their house
holds.
The Lord designs to bring honor and
glory to Himself and to His work through
us, as well as to ourselves. l am pleased
that we have the privilege of showing to
the world that there is religion in eX-
istence that is worth living for and worth
dying for. Some may ask, "What can l
do to show my worthiness of the society of
the tried Saints in Missouri, who were driv-
en- from their homes and compelled to
sign their property over at the point of
the bayonet, to defray the expenses of the
mob?" | say, now is the time-it is ap-
preaching like a whirlwind. Let no heart
| fail. Fast and pray that you may enjoy
the spirit and testimony of the holy re-
ligion.
I am speaking to you in view of meeting
you in your glorifed state in yonder world ;
not, expect to see you there. The pros
pect of having a sentence passed upon me
next Saturday is but small matter. 1t has
been shown unto me as clearly as the sun
shine that, as we are now, God once was
and worked his way onward and upward,
step by step, to His glorious state; and why
should we not do likewise, by His aid and
guidance? We are the descendants OF Abra-
ham, who is now sitting upon his throne
enjoying his glory, and that is our destiny
if we are faithful. God has shown to me
that this gospel is true. bear this testi-
mony to you, and bear it to all the world.
I Qntpr96 into the
tenn of plural marriage if God had not
shown it to me to be true, and that he had
revealed it for the fulness of His glory; and
| bear this testimony. The Prophet Joseph
also explained it to me. l never acknoWl-
edged one wife TO be more legal than anoth-
err In the sacred covenent which God re-
vealed, they are all the same.