The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-07-07
TO STOP LAWLESSNESS. L

Not long ago a very enthusiastic, 1T
unwise, member of the Mormon church
was heard to say: ''I am getting tired
Of the blanked Tribune running the af-
fairs Of our church. 1t has seemed to
me that for a long time the authorities
have done Just what that paper has
said they would do. ] m tired of it. -
Al the risk of offending this devout
Mormon, but with no intention of doing
so. The Tribune Will here make an
other suggestion to the hierarchs. 1t
is presented in all good feeling, and
we are convinced that its adoption
would tend very greatly to lessen the
feeling of opposition to the church
which now exists throughout the Ma
ton. For a certainty 1T would fulfill
a most solemn promise made by the
president of the church to the Senate
Of the United States in the year 1904,
Let the first presidency Of the Nor
mon church issue Il signed document
which shall read about rs follows:
To the Officers and Members of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints Throughout All the World:
much as laws have been enacted for
bidding plural marriages, which laws
have been pronounced constitutional by
as the practicers of polygamy have, I'm
years gone by, received amnesty from
the Government for their ofenses upon
condition that they would thereafter
dent Wilford Woodruff, I'm 1890, promul-
gated TO the world revealed manifes-
to, inhibiting the practice Of plural
marriage; and inasmuch as the Doctrine
and Covenants contains the revelation of
Joseph Smith, Jr. commanding the
saints to practice plural marriage. whose
members OF the church as proof that
the church has not abandoned the prac-
tice OF polygamy, and as conferring
wives. now. therefore. we do advise the
saints as follows:
That they Immediately take such
copies of the Doctrine aud Covenants as
they may have in their possession and
cut therefrom section l32, entitled
Revelation on the eternity OF the mar
riage covenant, including plurality of
in Nauvoo Hancock county. Illinois,
July IL, lSI3". and that they substitute
in lieu thereof the manifesto OF Wiford
Woodruff, adopted by the church in con-
ference assembled on October 8, 1890
We feel that. in view of the promises
made by the, church to the Nation. it
fully by all the laws. OF the land: and
we have felt that while the revelation
referred 10 was continually before the
saints as the law Of the church, many
have been led into transgression There
fore. we now make this recommendation,
having sent to the bishops of the sew
eral wards throughout the church suf-
hcient number of copies Of the mani
festo to supply the needs occaSoned by
this recommendation.
Perhaps the suggestion is not graced
with the expression of inspirations; but
it will do. 1t would be effectual and
practical notice TO the whole world that |
the church is determined to keep its
sacred pledges. There could be no
doubt in the minds Of the saints, after
it's promugation, that the presiding au,
Of the church were sincere in /,
their undertaking to forever abandon a
practice which is in opposition to law
and moral order There would he 10
more skipping TO Canada or 10 Mexico, /
IN order TO escape the legal wife and
the consequences of plural marriage, if
committed within the jurisdiction of
the United States. At the next confer
ence of the church it would not be
necessary for the authorities TO con.
fess that there had been some "spo,
radio cases Of polygamy within the
church, and TO express wonderment that
there had not been more. and to say
that the small number of such cases
speaks well for the sincerity Of the
saints
Try the experiment, brethren; and
see if it will not bring about the result
which you profess to the world you de-
sire to see accomplished, At the very
worst, it will do no harm to your rcpu.
tation before the world, and it may be