Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-16

To whom Il may concern:
Press dispatches having been sen
Tor political purposes from SAT- LAX,
Cily which have been widely pub
lished, TO the effect that the Utal
commission, In their recent repor, I,
the secretary Of the interior, allee,
t1at plural marriages are still bein,
solemnizod, aud that 40 or more sucl
marriages have been contracted #
tan since last June or during tn,
past year; also that in public dis
courses tho leaders of the Church hav,
taught, encouraged ana urged the con,
tlnuance az the practise Of pOlygamy
u therefore, as president Of The
Church OF Jesus Christ Of Latter-daJ
Saints. do hereby. in the most solemn
manner, declare that these charge,
are false. We are not teaching pOlyg.
amy, or plural marriage, nor permit.
ting any person to enter into It's prac.
tise. and | deny that either 40 or ans
other number Of plural marriages
have, during that period. been solcm
nlzed IN our temples on in any other
place In the territory
zone case has been reported In which
the parties alleged that the marriage
was performed In the endowment
house, I'm salt Lake City. In the spring
OF 1883. but / have not been able 10
learn who performed the ceremony;
whatever was done I'm this matter was
without my knowledge. In conse-
quence Of this alleged occurrence the
endowment house was, by my instruc-
lions, taken down without delay.
'Inasmuch as laws have been enacted
by Congress forbidding plural mar
rlages, which laws have been pro-
nounced constitutional by the court Of
last resort, ! hereby Declare my inten-
ton TO submit 10 those laws and 10
use my influence with the members
Of the Church over which l preside
TO have them do likewise.
There Is nothing in my teachings to
the Church or In those OF my asso-
clates during the time specified which
can be reasonably construed 10 incul-
cate or encourage polygamy and when
any elder Of the Church has used Ian
guage which appeared 10 convey any
such teachings he has been prompt
~ reproved. And | now publicly
declare that my advice 70 the Latter
day Saints is 10 refrain from contract
ing any marriages forbidden by the law
OF the land.
wILFORD WOODRUFF,
President OF the Church Of Jesus
Christ Of Latter-day Saints"
At the semi-annual general confer
ence OF the members OF the Mormon
Church. which was held on October 8,
1890, the foregoing declaration was
accepted "as authorita-
tive and binding" Two years later IL
was again approved by the general
conference OF the Church. Since IL was
first approved by the general confer
ence, In October. 1890, It has been and
still remains part OF the fundamental
law Of the Mormon Church, which can
be repealed or modified only by the ac-
ton OF a similar conference.
As to the effect Of the manifesto on
the power Of the president OF the Nor
mon Church, or any subordinate official
TO celebrate a plural marriage we quote
a part OF the testimony Of James T..
Talmage. Doctor Talmage prepared
and Issued. under the auspices OF the
Church authorities. a work called "Arti-
Giles OF Faith" which authoritatively
sets forth the doctrines Of the Church
having been submitted to, approved by,
aud published by the Church itself.
Vol. III, Up. II and 4s)
Mr.. Worthington-Doctor. YOU have
used the expression here holding the
keys In connection with that revela-
lion involving polygamy, when II was
given TO Joseph Smith. Jr., that he
vas the only man who held the KEYS
10 that power. He only at that time. or
some person delegated by him. could
make plural marriage that would be
valid according to the laws OF the
Church. Am ! right in that?
Mr. Talmage-Yes. SIR.
Mr.. Worthington-From that time on
down 20 the tivle that President Wood
RUIZ issued this manifesto, which the
Church approved in conference assem-
Dled. the same principle obtained?
Mr.. Talmage-Yes. sir.
Mr.. Northumberland a plural mar
Rage could not be valid according 10
he law OF the Church, only when cele-
brated by the president. or by some
body authorized by him 20 celebrate IL.
Is that right
Mr.. Talmage-That Is strictly true.
Mr.. Worthington-Then when this
revelation which Is called the manifes-
10 came and II was submitted 10 the
people and accepted by them. that
power was taken away from the presl-
lent. was Il not?
Mr.. Talmage-Yes, sir.
Mr. Worthington-So that since the
9Th day Of October. 1890. the president
n the Church had no power to solemn
re plural marriage according 10 the
aw 81 the Church. even?
Mr. TaimaRe-That is true.
MI. Notwithstanding no power 10
authorize anybody else to celebrate
lne7
Mr.. Talmage-That IL true.
MI. Worthington-So that II any per.
;on has undertaken 10 enter into plu-
al marriage, II any woman has be-
'ome the plural wife Of husband since
he 6the day Of October, 1890 she Is no
more a wife by the law OF the Church
han she is by the law OF the land?
Mr.. Talmage-That is true.
Mr. Worthington-And II is not IN the
'ower Of the president 10 revive the
I'D system 80 that he can make a valid
'lural marriage or authorize one
Unless he does IL through the general
conference Of the Church?
Mr. Talmage-Certainly. II is now a
ule Of the Church that that power
hall not be exercised. The power Is
here, but the exercise 81 81 is entirely
topped. and a rule Of the Church thus
made and sanctioned Is equally bind.
ng with the law founded upon reyels-
ion. and the president therefore has
n one sense. half ,tluntarily. mas |
much as he was the chief individual 10 |
ring II before the conference. but by |
he action OF the conference. properly |
peaEing, has surrendered that power |
= Oar as It's exercise Is concerned.
Mr. Worthington-lt takes the action |
4 the people 10 restore II. does II no,7
Mr. Talmage-Most assuredly-. O.
s. 80
The Enabling Act.
The enabling act. under which Utah
. January. 1906. was finally admitted |
1to the Union. was passed by Con-
ress on July l6 1894. (eS sta. l.. i071
~ section 3 Of that act Il was re.
uired that the state convention. which
as authorized 10 be called 70 organize
he state government should provide
BY ordinance irrevocAble wsthou,