| 363 in defiance of the law, but after much suffering and tenacious resistance submitted.
President Woodruff, at the October Conference of 1890, represented that he had sought the Lord in their extremity, and received information directing him to issue a "Manifesto," which was at the time interpreted by them and understood by others to mean an entire abandonment of the practice of polygamy in every sense. 1
Subsequently a State Constitution was adopted, receiving the support of church leaders, which prohibits forever plural or polygamous marriages. Since this the church in Utah has construed both the Constitution and the Manifesto to forbid the celebration of polygamous
1 President George Q. Cannon said: President Woodruff, as doubtless the members of the conference are aware, has felt himself called upon to issue a Manifesto concerning certain things connected with our affairs in this Territory, as he is desirous to have this submitted to this conference; to have their views or their expressions concerning it, and Bishop Whitney will read this document now in your hearing.
Following is the Manifesto as read:-
"OFFICIAL DECLARATION.
"To Whom it May Concern:-Press dispatches having been sent for political purposes, from Salt Lake City, which have been widely published, to the effect that the Utah commission, in their recent report to the Secretary of the Interior, allege that plural marriages are still being solemnized and that forty or more such marriages have been contracted in Utah since last June or during the past year; also that in public discourses the leaders of the church have taught, encouraged, and urged the continuance of the practice of polygamy;
"I, therefore, as President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, do hereby, in the most solemn manner, declare that these charges are false. We are not teaching polygamy, or plural marriage nor permitting any person to enter into its practice, and I deny that either forty or any other number of plural marriages have during that period been solemnized in our temples or in any other place in the Territory.
"One case has been reported, in which the parties alleged that the marriage was performed in the Endowment House, in Salt Lake City, in the spring of 1889, but I have not been able to learn who performed the ceremony; whatever was done in this matter was without my knowledge. In consequence of this alleged occurrence the Endowment House was, by my instructions, taken down without delay.
"Inasmuch as laws have been enacted by Congress forbidding plural marriages, which laws have been pronounced constitutional by the court of last resort, I hereby declare my intention to submit to those laws, and to use my influence with the members of the church over which I preside to have them do likewise.
"There is nothing in my teachings to the church or in those of my associates, during the time specified, which can be reasonably construed to inculcate or encourage polygamy, and when any elder of the church has
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