| Show fk 1 EPISTLE OP OF THE y presidency k I 1 I 1 at H i OF JESUS GHRIST CHRIST or OF LATTER DAY SAINTS 4 0 4 1 aar wf brethren miu and sisree six montte p have bave passed away since 7 6 ft t had d the pleasure of addressing addres sing 4 IMAR our general epistle enist e and wa fah ida face to face with tile the fifty sixth semiannual semi annual conference 1 of in this dispensation the he past six months have been very fruitful in events in which all of us have been deeply interested the seaon season has been a healthful one no sickness worthy of note has affected our people the summer has bl been eh both bath unusually bryand dry and hot and many of the crops have not yielded vi elded as good a as nevertheless our land is still filled with alt plenty lenty and man and beast have suf E to supply their bauts persecution AND ITS EFFECTS y our enemies during the past half year have not slackened their activity in the wort work of persecution if the there has been any an difference it has been jf 4 pursued with greater vindictiveness 51 and more flagrant diere disregard ard of law and justice than at any lime time previous those who have been compelled toen to en cu dure the p penalties inflicted upon them have submitted iu in nearly neaily every instance with a cheerful equanimity and fortitude that must have won tile the i admiration of heaven and of all just ipen that which has been accod pushed burnishes f urnis hes but little cause cause for gratification to those who have hae ben been be n 0 engaged in fil the inhuman task of persecuting a people tor for the practice of their reli religion don there have been but all who have been tried and convicted who have felt sufficient jy terrified ter rifled at tile the prospect ot of punish ment ta express a willingness to accept the mie aul xul fulinas cu linas I 1 of the court ot the A law of G god 6 d as the gul dior their heir con sciences the fath of the blatter day saints seems to grow stronger from these efforts to destroy it and men m n noruen and children child itin who have been living in the practice of the requirements of their religion leel feel more determined than er to maintain their integrity and to 7 do ail that the lord requires at their hands with ul willingness willing what eve ever may be the consequences consequence s from a worldly point of view this persecution is not without its e effects upon those who have made a v pretense of being faithful members bers of T the church iniquity is be it zut dolight to light the wrongdoer is ib being made to feel in a mot remarkable manner that his sin wi ditl 11 flud find him out and the evidence that thai gull gud is ale pleading adan FN rith ith and awakening the conf sciences of those who have bave been living livid in ill sin is frequently furnished to us hae hax e been many violations of the law of god practiced among us which have bave been ti hidden dd en horn from tile the public gaze the trials through which we are aie passing cassid have the effect of causing these evils to be brought to light it seems as though the lord i tearing the covering abt not only f from roul tile the nations of o f the earth but fro from inthe the latter day saints and the time ie not far distant in fact it has beached leached us already in part when tile the sinner in zion shall tremble and fear shall s eize zd upon the hypocrite THE purification PURiri CATION OF ZION V so 60 far arwe as we can learn there isan in greased ler eased disposition on the part oi of the faithful officers ot of the church to do all in their power howerto to cleanse the wards and shakes bakes in their charge from those wha will not conform 0 to o the requirement i of the gospel greater gi eater strict ess is beins being shown show it and the 8 baines ai n ts w who go have h av e alie love of the truth within them feel that the time has come to put away their toll lollies ies and their sins hem and to conform to a higher J fr standard of the great crying 1 sin of this generation geneia tion is lascio lausness lous ness in its various forms satan how powerful an agency tuis ilyn S 1 u corrupt corrupting ii ng men and women aud abid in a dri driving ving the spirit froin them and n ng ahw under condemnation b before at r the lord uses it to the greatest extent possible it requires an inces sant warfare to check sheck its spread and to prevent ent the people of god from be bc coming its vie S no 0 people who cou these sins can SA S A 1 cc n d oath d arnd or lond favor W 1 i t bis am ang anger er will tall fall upon thero hg unless they thoroughly and heart fy fly bennt r at of cf every such evil vy dwle tape into consides consi dei aaion the teach t we have received upon this sub ct ift ante holy covenants into which we eject ye vye entered and the professions aich demake should have kia tence among us it is hi sorrow th ful u I 1 to contemplate that satan finds those ose among us who are willing to yield to his temptations and thus 0 r I 1 ug misery upon themselves and all connected with them we e sol solemnly anly call as ab we have done so often before upon all the officers of the church to set their faces like flint against practices ot of this character illo 1 bosc who indulge ein in them must be dealt with according acco iding to the laws ot of god and ami they must be made to feel that it they do indulge in this wickedness they cannot have the fellowship of the babit nor a standing in the church chuich ot of chiist if men ami women w would only y profit by the experience of those woo who have fallen they would re the allurements allure ments of sin and wa in the pa path 11 ot of righteousness k the he wages of sin W s death the misery which it brings upon the guilty and upon all connected with thew them f furnishes urnis hes some idea of the dreadful die adful condition of the wicked wn ked who die in their sins and do not obtain the forgiveness of their god 0 that men dien and women could be warned und and that they would turn to the lord and seek unto him humble themselves belore io him put away then their sins and obtain his holy spirit to be their guideaux guide and aud their companion then no matter what tile the circumstances might be in which they were placed the they y would have the peace of heaven the joy of the holy ghost and a con sc ence void of offence offense towards god and nui inai and this is the condition in whichever which eveia y latter day saint should live FULFILLED BY THE SIT situation the circumstances which surround sui round us though in many painful and tr not such as to discourage ag e the faithful ful saint we have been taught to expect just such scenes as these through which we are passing or at al leaba just such opposition as we now have bave to contend with what we now behold la is in ia direct fulfilment fulfillment ot of tile the predictions of gods god s servants to us in this generation and unless these events take place his word could not be ful fulfilled tilled nut not only have the prophets in our day dav spoken about the events which should take place in connection with tile the latter day dal work and the opposition it would have to contend with but the prophets of old foretold with accuracy and minuteness eDess that tie people of god should be few aad their doald dominions should be small beca because use ot of the wickedness of the great gnat at ebore which should make war against them but notwithstanding that tha t tile the multitudes of the earth should fight against the church of abe lamb ot of god the power of god would dob des end upon the saints and upon his covenant people and they the should be armed with righteousness and with the power of god and great glory the scenes in which we ai are re bov taking part were known to mui men ot godby god by tue toe spirit of revel revelation atio n thousands of years ago but while they predicted the troubles and biffi cultists with which the people of god would hav have e to contend in the last days levei in every instance they broke out in language of encouragement respecting the result of the struggle and predicted predict ea the complete tl triumph of gods kingdom overall avei all the opposing appo aig powers of evil therefore in anis contest which lt is forced upon us we do co not wage a defense that thab is hopeless the god of heaven is ia on our oui hide bide he ba has made pio promises to zion which cannot fail he is mightier m ehtier than all of earths hosts and by his wonderful providence cau an bring bing b ing to pass in his own way the fulfillment fulfilment I 1 of all the words of P his 18 inspired bild servants nants fae upon this foundation we ve can rest secure no weapon that is i formed against zion can r ani every tongue abail her in judgment be coundi codi linned tin ed our enemies gloat over the prospect ot of our destruction even those who feel inclined to be friendly can caa see no prospect for our deliverance deave ance except by the abandonment of our religion gion but it is bettt better r for us tu to die than to abandon our god we cannot do this without throwing away awa all hope respecting the future and the great eternity that awaits us we know that tb ere is do faithful latter day saint who feel feels a for one moment like yi eldina to tile the demands of the ted our rel religion gion i is given to us from our god we have received it by bv tile the revelations reve latious ions ot of jesus to us when ii all the world was in iu darkness and struggling and cc contending n it enczi ng about doc doctrines nines and ordinances na lice H he e con descended to restore t the Eve everlasting lasting priesthood from the heavens 11 e al ans and nd his gospel is in its purity and ia falness I 1 natt s an and d lo 10 power we r we we were re I 1 left ef t no longer to grope rop in the dark and to follow the traditions of our fathers or the false teachings of uninspired men the path of salvation nas as plainly marked before us confirmed to u us 4 by the unerring testimony of gods bioly spirit our souls in walida hafting wafting enthat path have been filled with ineffable joy and peace while others who have rejected the truth have been beau apprehensive and fearful cooc ernina the events that were taking place and that were likely to take place we have had a peace a satis satisfaction fiction of mind and a contentment that have made our position unique god has alven unto us the fruits of his gospel in great abundance we bell old them I 1 in ll 11 our family organizations we behold them idour wards and in our stakes and in our entire church his blessing has visibly rested upon us and his power has been displayed in our behalf every faithful latter day saint has rejoiced in the abundance of the gifts of the sp spirit arit which he has bestowed and no promise that was made to the ancient saints or that has been made to us upon the condition of ocr faithful faithfully I 1 obeying the gospel has been withheld 1 from froin us we have been a people greatly blessed of the lord and our hearts hearts should swell with gratitude and thanksgiving to our god for his abundant mercies SHOULD BEAR EACH BACK OTHERS BURDENS we again call upon the presidents of stakes and the bishops of wards to look carefully alter after the wants of all who are within their jurisdiction and stand in need of assistance especially should the families ot those who are in prison or wao have been compelled to flee or who are upon missions be tenderly cared for they hey need both aid and sympathy oie upon whom the heavy hand of of persecution does not personally rest should be willing to share the burdens of their afflicted brethren and sisters by contributing to the comfort and sustenance of those who are deprived of the society and guidance of husbands and fathers for righteousness sake by so doing they will lay up treasures in heaven and share the reward for these trials the weight of this persecution tails upon the women and children deprived of the presence and support of their husbands and fathers upon whom they have been accustomed to rely they are comparatively helpless and ad naturally a prey to deep anxiety tile the care and training of the children thus bereaved devolves upon their burden is made doubly heavy to bear TheL the teachers eachers should be particularly diligent in visiting such families and in watching over their welfare thus the bands of the mothers should be strengthened the young encouraged encourage a the wayward way ward admonished and toe the heroic example of the heads beads of those households held up for admiration and everything possible should be done to make their situation tolerable and pleasant in this way we can bear each others burdens and so f ful ul fil the law of christ and witness to our god and to the world that though we may not personally suffer persecution our sympathy and faith are with those who are afflicted for adherence to their religion and that we are ready and willing wil liing to do our part and mani fest our devotion to the cause of christ JUDICIAL perversion AND oppression the district courts of utah still pursue their extreme vindictive and uti unrelenting relenting course the law is perverted not justly administered the object appears to be not tile the maintenance ot of social purity nor the rectification of alleged evil but the oppression and distress of individuals because of their religious position the latter day saints are under the most sacred obligations ligat ions to do the will of god at the sa same e time they wish to obey every valid law of the land but by the strained interpretation and the unwarrantable ran table application of the edmunds act men are made offenders offen derLa because af t belr religious scruples and rendered criminals when they are ale not dot fairly amenable to the law defendants who accordini according g to the evidence have only lived with one wife are presumed to have co cohabited b abated with another wife and thus are convicted of cohabiting with more than one woman when the presumption is obliterated ate d by the proof lu in other cases cabes when parties in their desire to observe the requirements of the edmunds act I 1 have privately riva telY agreed to the voluntary relin aliment of u f association as buscani sip wife the husband nas not escaped the e vengeance ot of ane law jaw though there are numbers of instances where such parties have honestly endeavored to live within the law yet vet whenever indictments have been found husbands have almost invariably been convicted and sell sentenced to the full penalties of tine fine and imprisonment we take tak ethis this opportunity port unity of recording our high appreciation of the spirit of self sacrifice which has been manifested by 0 our ur sisters throughout tile entire crusade crusa de they hive shown a fortitude a courage I 1 a devotion and love which must be the admiration of posterity they not in their devotion to the principles of righteousness have not shrunk from the consequences attending obedience to gods law a w and have been a source of strength and encouragement coura gement to their sons their husbands ind and their fathers there are numerous instances which have come to our knowledge ol of wives offering to make most heroic sacrifices to save their hus husbands banas from the penalties of tie law contrary to the jurisprudence of centuries legal wives are ae compelled under threats of imprisonment ates tiby against their lawful lawf ul husbands hubb and disclose family secrets that should never be bared to the public eye this is a gross violation of the law jaw under which they act and opposed to recognized public polity yand and family rights and by the system ot of segregation I 1 an offense which according to the law is puni punishable shalle at the utmost extent by six montas tm and a fine hofmo of W is multiplied into many offenses and the full sentence cre inflicted for each fraction of |
