First Presidency Letterpress: May 1887

First Presidency Letterpress Copy Books

1887—June

William Budge arrest, one hundred new missionaries, movements of the Twelve, territorial re-districting, removal of district attorney Dickson and assistant Varian, preparation for constitutional convention.

	June 4, 1887 to President Wilford Woodruff	President: President of the Quorum of the Twelve
William Budge arrested	William Budge, of the Bear Lake Stake, was arrested in Ogden by deputy marshal Exum on suspicion that he might be wanted. An officer from Idaho was telegrammed to take charge of him, presumably on a charge of unlawful cohabitation. We are doing all that we deem wise and prudent to maintain and secure our people's political rights.
People's Party central committee arranges election	To this end the territorial central committee of the People's Party is expected to meet in Salt Lake City on Sat. to perfect arrangements for the August election, and especially to provide for the calling of conventions for council and representative districts.
Over a hundred new missionaries Death of Jeremiah Kimball	More than a hundred missionaries have left the borders of Zion for their fields of labor during the past two months, and a few more are still called for. Among the last company of missionaries for Europe was Elder Jeremiah H. Kimball, a son of the late President Heber C. Kimball, who has met his death by falling off the train during its passage through Kansas, under circumstances that excite more than ordinary sympathy for our deceased brother and his desolate family.
	John Taylor, George Q. Cannon
	June 7, 1887 to President M. W. Merrill, Logan Temple
Second anointing for deceased sister	Sister Eliza R. Snow Smith writes to me that a deceased sister by the name of Jones was sealed to the prophet Joseph Smith at the St. George temple. It is now desired that she should get her second anointing, and I am informed that Sister Zina D. H. Young has her genealogy and is prepared at Logan to act for her. You are hereby authorized to administer this ordinance to her for the deceased.
	John Taylor
	June 13, 1887 to Elder Brigham Young
Meeting with Gov. Zulick	Your visit with the brethren to Governor Zulick will no doubt be attended with good results. …
Utah officials bent on destroying Mormonism	The difficulty with most of the officials which we are brought in contact with in this territory is that they consider that they have a mission given them to destroy us and our religion, and they seem to act upon that idea in all their proceedings. It is this that has placed the government in the false position which it occupies upon our question and has given us all the trouble for which we have suffered. …
Arranging election Mormons indifferent to politics	There is a great deal of interest being taken just now in arranging for the approaching election. Our enemies are on the alert doing all in their power to secure every advantage. Our people have to be stirred up constantly in political matters, or they would fall into a supine, indifferent condition that would be exceedingly dangerous.
	John Taylor, George Q. Cannon
	June 13, 1887 Elder F. M. Lyman
Woodruff nervous Cruel persecutions	We are pleased to hear from you concerning your movements. It is gratifying to hear from you of President Woodruff's good health and spirits, though we regretted that he felt any degree of nervousness, for that feeling must interfere with his enjoy. However, it is natural for him to feel somewhat so, and it excites feelings of indignation to think that a man who has lived so inoffensive and pure a life as he should, at his advanced age, upwards of 80 years, be compelled to leave his home and his family and seek refuge from the cruel persecutions of our enemies.
	John Taylor, George Q. Cannon
	June 14, 1887 to Erastus Snow
Movements of the Twelve	Elders Francis M. Lyman and John Henry Smith have gone to Arizona intending to visit your region before they return. There are but two of the Twelve in the city–Franklin D. Richards and John W. Taylor. Heber J. Grant is in the East. Moses Thatcher, Logan. [-] Arizona, Brother Woodruff at St. George. Lorenzo Snow is traveling through the southern stakes.
Dickson and Varian removed	You will notice through the newspapers the changes which have occurred here in our officials. The removal of Dickson and Varian has been hailed with great delight by our people, and it has resulted in a decrease of the severity of the persecution, though the marshals are still kept busy in arresting those against whom they obtain information. But this business is not so vindictively pursued as it was when Dickson was in power. Our enemies are not happy.
Territory re-districted	The re-districting of the territory has been done with a design to give our enemies all the power that is possible, but like their other schemes we think they will derive very little comfort from it.
Submitting your question to attorneys	The questions in your last letter concerning incorporation under the laws of the territory, to carry on our business in Mexico, struck us very favorably but before acting upon them we thought it better to submit the questions to the attorneys, they are now examining them.
Congress limits amount of land owned by territorial corporations Will organize in a state	A statute was passed Congress last winter, it is said, which places a limit on the amount of land that can be held by territorial corporations, besides our incorporation law does not permit the organization of companies to hold any land. It will be, therefore necessary to organize under the laws of a state which has a liberal and suitable incorporation law. This is a point which the attorneys are examining.
Getting Mexican law translated	They also have taken steps to get a translation of the Mexican law respecting foreign corporations, so as to understand all the bearings of the subject, and to be in a condition to take every precaution to make the organization effective and safe.
Joseph F. Smith to New Zealand and Europe perhaps	Our last advices from President Joseph F. Smith were that his health had greatly improved. He had some idea of leaving the islands and visiting New Zealand, and if we thought best to proceed from there to Europe, but we thought it better for him not to take such a voyage, and suggested that if he decided to go the Europe it would be better to go by a more direct route.
Mexico providing transportation	The success which has attended the application to the Mexican government for transportation for our people is exceedingly gratifying. It is, as you say, the first instance of the kind which has occurred in our history.
	John Taylor, George Q. Cannon
	June 15, 1887 to President George Teasdale, Liverpool
News from Mexico and Canada encouraging	We are happy to say that we continue to receive encouraging reports from the Mexico mission. We have also spread over the United States border northward but to prevent any excitement like that which arose over the formation of our colonies in Mexico, as little as possible is being said about it.
Redistricting favors Liberal party	You will doubtless have noticed the ingenious manner in which our territory has been re-districted by the officers appointed under the Edmunds Tucker law for this purpose, so that every possible advantage is given to the Liberal party to elect as many members to the next legislature as possible. This is not only done by what is generally termed "gerrymandering," but also by dividing the electoral districts very unequally, so far as numbers are concerned, some having within their limits many more voters than others have.
Knowledge and revelation increase	You may probably hear before long of some very important and possibly startling developments growing out of the efforts of our brethren who still hold political rights and have a voice in the government of the territory. We know that God is nigh unto us, angels have charge concerning us, and the heavens are nearer to us than they ever were since we became a people. Although clouds of darkness may seem at times to obscure its rays of light from the eternal world, yet the channel of communication between God and this people continues, and knowledge and revelation increase from on high.
	John Taylor, George Q. Cannon
	June 15, 1887 to Elder Helaman Pratt, Juarez, Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico
Patience in dealing with Mexican promiscuity	You allude to the necessity you have been under of dealing with cases where the law of chastity has been violated among native Saints. From what we know of that country by the reports which have reached us this, we suppose, is a besetting sin of the people of that land, and it will require patience and much instruct aided by the presence of the spirit of God to check the evil tendency.
Degraded, but promised people	The descendants of Lehi are very degraded, but to them great promises have been made and the Lord has pledged himself by covenant to fulfill them.
Mexican government transportation offer They govern largest group of House of israel	It is very interesting to learn of the success which has attended your efforts to get the aid of the government in transporting over the railroads the native Saints whom you desire to move to our new settlements. As Brother Snow remarks in his letter it is the first time in the history of our people where a government has extended that kind of aid to Latter-day Saints. It may be that the Mexican government has the spirit of being a nursing father or mother to the House of Israel. There is more of that blood under their jurisdiction than under the greater part of the governments of the earth.
Eastern press less hostile Removal of Dickson and Varian positive	It appears as though a change had taken place in public feeling in the East. The papers have less to say against us, and there is not that hostility manifested which we witnessed some time ago. The removal of Dickson and his assistant Varian from office has thus far had a good effect.
	John Taylor, George Q. Cannon
	June 20, 1887 to President Wilford Woodruff
People's Party calls mass meetings to elect delegates for constitutional convention	Since our last letter to you we have received intelligence which encourages us with the hope that a better day may be dawning upon us. You will see that the territorial central committee has issued a call for mass meetings to elect delegates to form a convention to frame a constitution for Utah. They seem to think the occasion an opportune one and desire to take the necessary steps looking to the accomplishment of this purpose.
LDS state government best for everyone	Our enemies, will, of course, be angry over this. If they could see their true interests, they would not oppose this movement, for it would be to everyone's advantage connected with the territory to have a state government here administered as it would be by the Latter-day Saints.
Business reliability yields political capital	We have shown [men?] of capital, by the most abundant profits, that in no place is capital so safe and so free from the burdens of taxation as in our territory. Our past conduct in this respect will have weight with thinking men in connection with this movement for a state. We have gained a credit and a character that cannot be brushed away by slanderous articles in the newspapers—that is, among men who are familiar with the facts.
Unity	Whatever is decided upon should be carried out with unanimity by our people. There should be no division of sentiment nor any disposition to pull back or to wait to see what others will do. We want our whole strength to move together in the same direction, without hesitation or reluctance, and with a determined purpose and a united effort.
Erastus Snow's eyesight failing	Respecting Brother Erastus Snow's sight, we have heard, not directly however, that his sight is affected. We have hoped that this was only a temporary weakness, as he has always been more or less subject to weakness of the eyes. But your letter would convey the idea that it is something more serious.
	John Taylor, George Q. Cannon
	June 29, 1887 Elders Brigham Young, Francis M. Lyman and John Henry Smith, Snowflake, Arizona
Working for constitutional convention	As you will see by the papers, our people are taking steps looking to the formation of a state constitution, with the hope that something may be done towards giving us that object so long sought for—a state government.
	John Taylor, George Q. Cannon
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