The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-15
CASES Of POLYGAMY
STAND CONF FESSED
The Smith Declaration of 1904
and "the Brethren's" Com
ment Oh 1t Read.
Special to The Tribune.

Special to The Tribune.
PROVO, Nov. 14-'rhe following let
ter. which explains itself, was read IN
all the wards of Provo at the services
last night and in three of the wards
where conferences were being held,
Bishop O. II. Berg and counselors,
Provo, First ward. Dear Brethren:-On
October I, 1910, we received a communi-
cation from the first presidency of the
church in which was a copy OF the dec
laration promulgated by President Jo-
seph +. Smith to the church at the gen.
eral conference held April o, 1904.
We sending you copy OF the
same as a guide for you to follow when
necessary. The declaration and resolu-
ton rcao as follows,
''Inasmuch as there are numerous re-
ports in circulation that plural marriages
have been entered into, contrary to the
official declaration by President Wood
run of September 20. 1890, commonly
by President Woodruff and adopted by
the church al its general conference Oc-
tober G, 1890 which forbade any mar
riages violative OF the law of the land,
Church OF Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, hereby affirm and declare that
no such marriages have been solemniZed
with the sanction. consent or knowledge
day Saints: and
81 hereby announce that all such mar
riages are prohibited, and II any officer
or member of the church shall assume TO
solemnize enter Into any such mar
riage he will be deemed in transgres-
sion against the church and will be liable
to be dealt with according 10 the rules
and regulations thereof and excommuni-
ca ted tnerefrom.
And thercupon the following resolution
was unanimously adopted:
Resolved That we. the members OF
the Church of Jesus Christ OF Latter-day
saints. in general conference assembled.
hereby approve and indorse the state
ment and declaration of President Jo-
seph f. Smith just made at this confer
ence. concerning plural marriages, and
will support the courts OF the church
in the enforcement thereof
Comment by 1.-THE Brethren
Following this are some comments by
the brethren which we quote and which
will serve 10 construe the intent and
meaning OF the foregoing declaration
After the church had thus spoken
plainly. We took II for granted tlpt none
OF It's members would be found disobey
ing its voice. But In the face OF this
action emphasized repeatedly in private
and in public BIZ u.s. and the apostles as
well. we now find that some person or
persons have assumed authority to SOL
emnze plural marriages, and that men
and women have entered into polygamous
relations through having been married by
such pretended authority.
Some of the violators Of this official
action Of the church have been cXcom-
municated. But there are rumors afloat
(and some OF these rumors seem TO be
well founded) that there are still others
equally guilty. and IT is to such cases
that VIC desire TO direct your attention.
.''It Is matter OF deep regret that
men processing membership in the Church
OF Jesus Christ of Batter-day Saints
should disregard the commsr rds OF the
church. and by doing so value their
standing in il az lightly as to lay them :
selves liable TO he excommunicated. New
erthcless. IL becomes our duty 10 re-
quest you TO instruct each bishop in your
stake 10 carry out the provisions OF the
foregoing resolution by dealing with Of