-- Nov 22, 1899; Wednesday
Presidents Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith were at the office.
Attorney F[ranklin]. S. Richards called. He had just come
from court, where he had appeared in the case of Elder Joseph E. Taylor, charged with unlawful cohabitation. The defendant had been asked as to his future intentions, that is whether or not he proposed to obey the law. Brother Richards, holding this to be a new phase of the case, had asked that it be not pressed, but the prosecuting attorney had insisted on an answer to the question. The court then informed Brother Richards that he should deal with this class of cases as with all others, and that this question would therefore be asked of the defendants.
Now arose the consideration, what course ought to be taken by the brethren who might be made to answer to this charge. In view of the evident determination of our enemies to work up public opinion against us for the purpose of securing a constitutional amendment forbidding polygamy, it was thought advisable for the brethren who may hereafter be placed in the position of defendants, to promise to obey the law.
Brother H[orace]. G. Whitney met with President Snow, in relation to the employment of an architect for the [Deseret] news building. He was requested to see Mr. Richard Kletting and try to get him to modify his charges.
Brother Whitney also brought to President Snow's attention the matter of an agreement which the latter had made some time ago, to purchase a piece of the Whitney estate property. The President now agreed to pay $1,000 down, and to give five notes, payable in two, four, six, eight, and ten months time, at six per cent interest. (1)
-- Nov 22, 1899
Presidents Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith were at the office.
Attorney F[ranklin]. S. Richards called. He had just come from court, where he had appeared in the case of Elder Joseph E. Taylor, charged with unlawful cohabitation. The defendant had been asked as to his future intentions, that is whether or not he proposed to obey the law. Brother Richards, holding this to be a new phase of the case, had asked that it be not pressed, but the prosecuting attorney had insisted on an answer to the question. The court then informed Brother Richards that he should deal with this class of cases as with all others, and that this question would therefore be asked of the defendants.
Now arose the consideration, what course ought to be taken by the brethren who might be made to answer to this charge. In view of the evident determination of our enemies to work up public opinion against us for the purpose of securing a constitutional amendment forbidding polygamy, it was thought advisable for the brethren who may hereafter be placed in the position of defendants, to promise to obey the law.
Brother H[orace]. G. Whitney met with President Snow, in relation to the employment of an architect for the [Deseret] news building. He was requested to see Mr. Richard Kletting and try to get him to modify his charges.
Brother Whitney also brought to President Snow's attention the matter of an agreement which the latter had made some time ago, to purchase a piece of the Whitney estate property. The President now agreed to pay $1,000 down, and to give five notes, payable in two, four, six, eight, and ten months time, at six per cent interest.
The devil is mad and is trying to start old conditions. They want our brethren to promise to obey the law in hopes that the brethren will refuse and then they can herald it over the land that the Mormons will not obey the law and nothing would put the people unacquainted with us more against us than this cry. (2)
Endnotes:
1 - First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes
2 - Journal History; Anthon H. Lund, Letter to Ferdinand F. Hintze
LDS History Chronology: Lorenzo Snow
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Lorenzo Snow
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
--
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "LDS Church History" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to LDS-church-history+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
