Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-10-07

| decndence OF those raccs-the prugeni-
tors Of the American Indians, describes
their cities. temples, forts, etc, and con-
tains the account u the visit TO this
land u Jesus Christ. after illa rcsur-
rectlon and ascension. with particulars
u Ills minlrtry In establishing His
Church here with the same idncipies.
precepts. ordinances priesthood and
blessings a. the Church on the Asinilc
continent II also speaks u the gradual
] npostnfy Of the people and IRE woes
that came upon thom through trans
! erosion.
The Book u Mormon does not take
the place OF the Bible but r. auxiliary
20 it and corfoboratca and supports IT,
The Bible IL the record Of Gods deal
ingn with Ills people IN the eastern
world. the Book OF Mormon Is the rcc-
ord Of His dealings with his people on
this western land. separated from the
other homi-rhvrc ana thcn unknown TO
10 Inhabitants.
Joseph Smith from time 60 time re-
coiyod revelations from God. by his
voice. by the mlnlatrhtlon u angels,
by visions and By the lnapifntlon Of
/ the Holy Ghost Many Of these are
/ Published ir the Book OF Doctrine ana
Covenants and IN the Pearl of Great
Price, and these. with the uook Of Nor
n ca ana the Bible. are the standards
u doctrine and discipline ~ tho church.
Joseph Smith. after accomplishing the
work entrusted 10 him by the Lord.
scaled his testimony with HE blood. be-
Ing cruelty slain, with bic Brother Hy-
ruin, at Carthage, Illinois By a mob
dlsNiisod. ON June "a. lsN Previous
20 bis martyriom the body oi the
church. which h. established by divine
direction, was driven from Kirkland.
Ohio. to jackson county. Missouri then
90 clay county. and Afterwards 90 Han
cock county. Illinois whore thoy built
the city OF Nauvoo-thc beautiful and
whore a grand tomple was built on a
pattern revealed from heaven.
After the death Of tho Prophet ana
pa;uorch. tho church was driven out
or Illinois and proceeded 20 Iowa where
Winter Quarters were established on
the banks OF the Missouri river. and
there i've hundred OF the ablcst men u
The camp were enlisted IN tho United
States army and marched into Mexico.
accompanying nm unparalleled journey
and loav.ng tho body ~ the people IN
an Indian country. IN isE the Pioneers
Ted By President brigham Young. NUM-
boring ii3 men, two women and three
children. Travelled across the plains ana
mountains with teams and on foot. and
reached the spot where salt Lake city
now stands July 2ith. ist1.
Here they commenced 20 make settle
ments, and here the Saints followed
from year 10 year from all parts OF the
world where the Gospel had been car
riod ~ the missionaries OF the Church.
The Territory OF Utah was organized by
Act Of conFrena approved September ..
1850. Brigham Young was appointed
Governor and after serving four years
was rcappointcd. Other prominent
"Mormona" were appointed or elected
10 civil ofhccs. Almost the entire pop
ulntlon were OF that faith. This gave
rise TO the idea that Church and state
were united In Utah. but az u matter
OF fact they were kept separate oven
az that early date ana the affairs Of
the Territory were always distinct and
apart from these OF tho Church.
A conflict arose between the Church
and tho national government on ;ho
system Of plural marriage which had
existed In Utah from the time Of ~
colonization. Special laws were enact
ed by Congress FOR It's suppression. It
was practieed under solemn religious
ceremonies and Church regulations.
The Latter-duy Saints took the ground
that the legislation against II was void
on the provision Of the frHt amendment
10 the Constitution OF the United
States. viz, Congress shall make no
law respecting an establishment OF re-
llgion or prohibiting the free exer-
clso thereof" The Saints held
that their system Of marriage
was purely IAN establishment u
religion" seeking no recognition
from tho olvil law. The matter was
tested In the courts through long siege
Of litigation. during which a large NUM-
bar Of prominent men and several wo-
mon were sent to the penitentiary and
heavily fined.
me Hhlfttnt Court OF tue ihlltl
States finally ruled that tho anti
polyEamy laws were constitutional and
the "Mormons," only small minority
OF whom had violated those laws, sub
mlt,od. as one Of the rules Of their
Church ia obedience 20 the oonstltu-
tlonal law OF tho land" The President
OF the Church. who alone held the keys
OF authority In the Priesthood 10 solom-
nlze "A plural marriage. issued mani
feato advising the people TO refrain
from contracting any marriages com
trary to the laws and announcing his
intention TO observe them himself This
was ratified by the church In general
conference October G. 1890. and Is still
strictly observed. Men who had preyl-
ously married more than one woman
continue 10 regard them AZ wives be-
cause the marriages were solemnized
for an eternity under a sacred scaling
ordinance and contract Their num-
beers, howovog are rapidly decreasing
as they are chiefly aged persona and
comparatively little r. left OF the prno-
tice. when the state Constitution was
framed. u was provided that Poly
famous or plurnl marriages are forever