-- Apr 8, 1887
Epistle to Saints in General Conference-- Historian's Library, Salt Lake City and in the compiler's personal library, Provo, Utah; also Deseret Evening News April 8, 1887.
This Epistle can probably be considered to be the first public official reaction by the First Presidency of the L.D.S. Church to the passage of the Edmunds-Tucker Act which became the law of the United States a little over one month before the issuance of this Epistle. ... Elder Lorenzo Snow, one of the Twelve Apostles, was sentenced by the First District Court to eighteen months' imprisonment in the penitentiary and $900 fine and the costs of his trial. It was felt that this was an unjust sentence; that the grand jury, under the direction of the District Attorney, violated the law in segregating the offense with which he was charged and bringing in three indictments against him. After some trouble an appeal was secured to the United States Supreme Court, which reversed the decision of the lower court and declared segregation to be unlawful. After eleven months' confinement in the Penitentiary, which he endured with great patience and equanimity, he was released from confinement. The joy felt at this action of the Supreme Court was universal throughout the Territory; not only because of its effects on other cases, but because of the deep interest which was taken in the case of our venerated brother. Though upwards of 72 years of age and of a delicate frame, the Lord sustained him during his imprisonment in a remarkable manner, and he is now at large and able to travel and visit the Saints in their meetings and Conferences. ... (1)
-- Jun 28, 1887
[Apostle Franklin D. Richards Diary] Bro[ther] Lorenzo Snow called took him to Bro C. Williams (CWP) to post him on prospects of statehood & efforts to obtain it. Word arrived from John W. Young that Jenks is on his way from &c &c Washington to commence suit in the court here to wind up the Church corporation, PE Fund corporation. (2)
-- Jun 29, 1887
[Apostle Heber J. Grant Diary] In the afternoon I dropped into the office of President John Taylor, where I met George Q. Cannon, George Reynolds, Franklin D. Richards, Lorenzo Snow, Charles W. Penrose, Le Grand Young, John R. Winder, Junius F. Wells, A. Miner, A. M. Cannon, James Sharp, Elias A Smith, William W. Riter, John T. Caine, and Franklin S. Richards. Among other things, the brethren talked over the organization of the Constitutional Convention tomorrow. This morning President Cannon communicated to Brothers F. D. Richards, Lorenzo Snow and myself the fact that President John Taylor was dangerously ill. We thought that it would be best not to make this fact known in view of the fact of the Constitutional Convention that was about to assemble and the important measures that would undoubtedly be adopted by them; also in consideration of the coming celebration of the Fourth of July ... Of course the brethren all felt solicitous that his life should be spared until such time as he could be at liberty to once more mingle with the Saints. The brethren decided that they would like the following officers for the Convention, viz. John T. Caine Pres[iden]t. H. M. Wells Secy Rob[er]t W. Sloan asst. Robert Harris DoorKeeper, Heber Cutler Messenger, Ja[me]s T. Hammond 1st Vice Pres[iden]t and E. G. Woolley 2nd Vice Pres[iden]t. (3)
Endnotes:
1 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)
2 - Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
3 - Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
LDS History Chronology: Lorenzo Snow
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Lorenzo Snow
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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