The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-02
.~fHE~ DEFIANT -MORM0NS
= : -. =. 80 - :, -: J. = - = =
POlygamy Still StrenuOusly Up
held by Prominent Leaders.
Issuing an Address ,Denoupoing the
Law Against :Polygamy

The arrest, trial and imprisonment OF
prominent Mormons for polygamous pract-
ces has stirred them up not q, little, and the
church organ at Salt Lake City prints five
columns and a half Of an address from John
Taylor and George o. Cannon, read in con-
ference at Logan. It is devoted to structures
on the judicial proceedings at Salt Lake City
calling them prejudiced and harsh, and says:
"We Join with all saints in invoking bless
ings upon the noble men and women who
have exhibited their integrity to God and the
cause and their devotion to principleby sub
mitting to bonds and imprisonment; rather
than deny the faith or break, the covenants
Their names will be held in everlasting honor
in time and eternity, not only as martyrs Tor
religious truth, but as patriots who suffered
in defense Of the principle Of religious lib
Those WHO 10 promised to obey the: laws and
so escaped imprisonment are referred to as
the foolish virgins who will not be ready to
get thel bridegroom. The address cdeplores
the prejudice existing against the saints In
the minds Of the people, and .fntinates that
the courts here persecate them: .el Ing wri'erS
EhiYe didreveal celestial marTiage;g we can
not withdraw or renounce IT, God revealed
il, and he has promised to maintain 1t and
bless those who obey it,, Whatever fate they
NAV threaten us, there is but one. course Tor
men of God to talse--taat is to keep inylolate
the holy covenants. They have been made
in the presence Of God and the an
gels. For the remainder, whether it be
life or death, freedom or imprisonwFent, pros
perity or adversely, we must trust in God. IL
is fallacious idea that there is a design to
propagate polygamy outside of our own
community, and thus introduce into the
United States an clement opposed TO the
Christian views Of this and other nations On
the contrary, our elde.s have been instructed
not to INTRODUCES the practice Of that prlnci-
pie anywhere outside Of the gathering places
OF the saints, iand they, DO not preach is
on occasions when it is called for: or when they
are assailed on account Of it.: 81 ~:"4i
After showing that those who receive the
gospel Of the new and everlasting covenant
must and shall abide the law, thereof; that
damnation was the awful penalty affixed to
a refusal; that it is indissolubly sinterwoven
in the minds ofits members With their hopes
of salvation, the address claims that it Is
practised only in the Mormon kingdom, not
tries and "it should also be un.
derstood that q. the practice Is not
generally admissible even among the Latter
Day saints. It Is strictly guarded, the inten-
ton being to allow only those who are above
reproach to enter into the relationship The
practice Of the doctrine is not for extension
beyond the church. and Is ever limited with
in its pale. At first the command to enter into
polygamy was atlherent to the leading men
and women Of the church, but tile command
of God was before them in language which
no faithful soul dare disobey,i "for behold l
reveal unto you O new and everlasting cove
nant, and IL ye abide, not IN that covenant,
thenare Ye damned.,s 1t was instituted for
the fulness Of my glory, and he that recelyeth
the fuluess thereof must and shall abide In
the lawor he's halltbe damned, saith the Lord
God" ,...,.-.. .ra.t, .; yg.:.. T. ~d%.
= The address has q, long arraignment OF the
world, of its wickeiness and the abundance
OF sin among all the people, contrasting the
saints in favorable light with those who as,
sail them and directing the people to be
faithful and true. 1t closes with an account
, of the work done by the officers and mission
aries for the spread Of the gospel, declaring
all is going well. !".Notwiths
all that we are now passing through
our hearts are filed with JOY
and peace. We can truly say, 'Hesanna TO
God In the Highest We know that Zion Will
not be overthrown or made desolate. Every
promise made concerning Zion by the Al
mighty will be fulfilled. =, -. n,.!
Although both Taylor and Cannon have
for months been hiding from the officers, who
have warrants for their arrest, the epistle Is
dated Salt Lake, October G. This Is decisive
on the question whether there would be q
weakening on po,ygamy at this conference
aud conf,ltes those who said there would be.