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Show ii2 THE MORMON CHURCH. tution adopted in 1849 slightly amended.* They evidently foresaw the danger of Brigham's removal from office. As a State he could always be the Governor. Utah being in the very centre of the Indian country of the West, for several years after its settlement by the Mor mons the colonies were subjected to Indian outrages. Wherever a settlement was made the first work of the set tlers was to build a fort. But from the organization of the territory in 1850, noth ing remarkable in the history of the saints occurred until 1 857, when their usurpation of authority, and defiance of law, as well as their hostility to officers who were not of their faith ( particularly the Judiciary), led to the withdrawal of all * The following is an extract from a letter written by one of the most promi nent apostles to explain why the memorial was presented. The letter appears in the Telegraph of February 28, 1867: " In my late travels through this district, I have often been asked the ques tion : * Why did the Legislative Assembly again memoralize Congress for the admission of the territory into the Union as a State, after having so often done so before and so often been rejected ?' My answer has been, ' We wish to do the will of Heaven by asking for those rights and privileges which the Most High hath vouchsafed to us in the constitution of our common country. When forced away from our homes in Missouri, we were commanded of the Lord to importune for redress at the feet of the Judge, and if he heeded us not, we were required to importune at the feet of the Governor ; and if the Governor heeded us not, then we were to importune at the feet of the President} and if he heed ed us not, then would the Lord arise and come out of his hiding- place, and in his fury vex the nation, and in his hot displeasure, and in his fierce anger, in his time, would cut off those wicked, unfaithful, and unjust stewards, and appoint them their portion among hypocrites and unbelievers ; even in outer darkness, where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.' " The foregoing instructions were given to the church in the month of De cember, 1833 ( see Book of Covenants, third European edition, page 283, sec tion iz). Since the date of the commandment referred to, has the nation been vexed with a sore vexation, and is it still vexed ? Have many rulers singularly disappeared from their official stations ? These questions inspire grief and sor row in every feeling breast ; so much so that I answer them not, but leave the reader to furnish his own answer." So our national troubles are made by this writer to be attributable to the failure of the Government in the discharge of its duty to the Latter Day Saints, and it is intimated that President Lincoln and others have been sent to hell for denying to them their rights. The writer further remarks that the continued refusal of Congress " will cause the nation to mourn more sadly than it ever yet has done." |