President Taylor knew that the attack the United States was making upon the Church was directed against their marriage relations only because that was the enemy's best means of attack against God and His Kingdom upon the earth. If the Celestial Marriage Covenant had not been revealed to the Saints, then Satan would have found some other ordinance or covenant or system of practice which he would have made to appear heinous to the world and obnoxious to their fine sense of values. However, God HAD REVEALED this sacred law and Lucifer and his cohorts had seized upon it as the point of greatest weakness in the armor of the Latter-day soldiers of Christ, and it was their intention to use every feint and wile to so vilify and degrade this holy principle in the eyes of the world that the Saints would feel justified in yielding its practice in order to obtain peace.
President George Q. Cannon said:
"'The direst persecutions we ever had to suffer occurred before the doctrine of polygamy was taught or believed in (by the people). There is nothing short of complete apostasy, a complete denial of every principle we have received, A THROWING AWAY OF THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD, that can save us from persecution. When this takes place, when all the chief features of the Gospel are obliterated, when we can float along with the stream and do as the world does, THEN AND NOT TILL THEN will persecution cease, or until the adversary is bound." JD 22: 373-4
Satan was not particularly interested in obliterating the practice of plural marriage as such, nor was it the chief design of his henchmen. Their ulterior purpose was to get the Saints to apostatize - to deny one of the eternal principles of the Gospel that had been revealed to them in this last dispensation of time, in which God had said, through His prophets, that the Gospel should never be taken from the earth again, nor given to another people. If the Saints could be made to agree to forfeit this holy law, then they would forfeit their integrity and become like the rest of the world, having made an "agreement with hell and a covenant with death." The prince of darkness knew that his fight was to overthrow God's Priesthood, but the Saints seemed unaware or unmindful of this apparent truth and as the pressure increased, during the administration of President Taylor, there were ever increasing numbers among the harassed members of the Church, who were growing ever more willing to make a "deal with the devil". In relation to the principle of celestial marriage, God had said:
''In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; And if he does not, he cannot obtain it. He may enter into the other but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase." D&C 131 : 1-4
God had revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that he must prepare his heart "to receive and obey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; (in relation to God justifying His servants in having many wives and concubines) for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same."
"For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory." D&C 132: 3-4
Furthermore the Lord had said:
"For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world. And as pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, it was instituted for the fullness of my glory; and he that receiveth a fullness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God." D&C 132: 5-6
Now God's word had herein been given in great plainness to the Prophet Joseph, and the early leaders of the church had again and again emphasized the necessity of abiding this sacred covenant and law, if they were to enter into the fullness of God's glory, or "if the Church and Kingdom of God were to advance as God wished for it to advance."
When God told His servants that if they desired to enter into His Presence and enjoy the fullness of His glory, they must abide this law in all its fullness. He knew what He was revealing and the afflictions and persecutions that would be attendant upon their obedience thereto. Nevertheless, he was justified in anticipating faithful adherence to all of His Holy Laws and revelations, and He promised the saints that if they would be faithful He "would fight their battles." He had lovingly revealed to His Church that ...
"all they who suffer persecution for my name, and endure in faith, though they are called to lay down their lives for my sake yet shall they partake of all this glory. Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full. Therefore, care not for the body, neither the life of the body; but care for the soul, and for the life of the soul. And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life. WHEN MEN ARE CALLED UNTO MINE EVERLASTING GOSPEL, AND COVENANT WITH AN EVERLASTING COVENANT, THEY ARE COUNTED AS THE SALT OF THE EARTH AND THE SAVOR OF MEN; They are called to be the savor of men; THEREFORE, IF THAT SALT OF THE EARTH LOSE ITS SAVOR, BEHOLD, IT IS HENCEFORTH GOOD FOR NOTHING ONLY TO BE CAST OUT AND TRODDEN UNDER THE FEET OF MEN." D&C 101 : 35-40
The scriptures are replete with evidence that in the last days the gospel was to be restored in its fullness NEVER TO BE TAKEN FROM THE EARTH AGAIN! Now, if the Devil should and could succeed in getting the Saints to lay aside one single principle that God had restored to the earth in these last days it would, in the eyes of the world and the devil, be tantamount to making God a liar. Naturally, those representatives of God, who were upon the earth would have to assume the responsibility of having forfeited a holy principle, which God had promised to maintain and keep alive, and, under such circumstances they would earn the disapproval of the Lord as well as the laughs and the scorn of the world. Such was Lucifer's purpose, and such was the intent of those who were his emissaries in the flesh.
Now, if God had a revelation which could be surrendered if appears that the proper time to have done it would have been in Joseph Smith's time, at the inception of the Church. Under such circumstances the people of God might have avoided all the warfare pressed upon them during the following decades. And, if the surrender of this principle - to gain peace with the world - was to have been made to that end, without reaping eternal consequences of a damning nature - then why did not the Lord make His will known to that end at the beginning of the dispensation? That the Lord had no such intentions at any time is evidenced throughout all the holy scriptures, whenever the surrender of His Holy Principles are contemplated. And that he had no such intentions at any time in relation to this particular principle which the Saints in many instances were so ready to barter away for statehood, was made most clear by the Lord Himself, and by his servants from time to time President Heber C. Kimball stated:
"Let the presidency of this Church, and the Twelve Apostles, and all the authorities unite and say with one voice that they will oppose that doctrine, and the whole of them will be damned." JD 5 :203
Now, in President John Taylor's day, the time had come when the warfare against God's Priesthood, upon this subject, had reached a climax. The law was being opposed from within the Church, as well as from without. All the forces of Churches and parties and government and of hell itself were combined in a supreme effort to overthrow God's Kingdom and get His servants to apostatize and deny the Gospel. If they were successful in getting the Church to turn from one principle, then they were well upon the way to getting them to turn from others, until finally the Priesthood itself would be forfeited and taken again from the earth. Under such circumstances the Devil's Kingdom would again be ruling triumphant upon the earth; men would "have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof."
Many of the leaders of the Church were fearful that they would lose their properties. Already the possessions and the properties of the Church were being threatened. There were big men whose souls were so racked with fear that they were perfectly willing to sell their birthright "for a mess of potage." They saw great merit in the suggestions of the enemy, that if they would make a covenant with the government to give up this principle, the warfare against the church and this people would cease and they could obtain statehood, and "be at peace with the government and those of their fellow citizens not of their faith."
It was under these conditions that President Taylor had the following editorial published in the Deseret News. April 23, 1885, which read as follows:
Speaking of the efforts of the enemy to crush the Saints: "The chief object of the crusade is to get the Church to apostatize. That arrived at, nothing more would be necessary for the satisfaction of the enemies of the work of God. That accomplished they would be jubilant and hell would rejoice."
"What would be necessary to bring about the result nearest the hearts of the opponents of 'Mormonism' more properly termed the Gospel of the Son of God? SIMPLY TO RENOUNCE, ABROGATE OR APOSTATIZE FROM THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT OF MARRIAGE IN ITS FULLNESS. (Plural marriage). Were the Church to do that as an entirety God would reject the Saints as a body. The authority of the Priesthood would be withdrawn, with its gifts and powers, and there would be no more heavenly recognition of the administrations among the people. The heavens would permanently withdraw themselves, and the Lord would raise up another people of greater valor and stability, for his work MUST, according to his unalterable decrees, GO FORWARD, for the time of the second coming of the Savior is near even at the doors. Therefore the Saints HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE but to stand by the truth and sustain what the HEAVENS HAVE ESTABLISHED AND PURPOSE TO PERPETUATE. THIS THEY WILL DO, COME LIFE OR DEATH, FREEDOM OR IMPRISONMENT, and there is, so far as we can observe, no use to attempt to disguise this".
"As already stated, were the step so much desired on the outside, to be taken, there would probably be but little need of any further opposition, because the Church would be shorn of its strength, HAVING SURRENDERED ITS INTEGRITY because of earthly opposition. Its adherents would no longer be distinctive, but would be like the rest of the world, whose hate would turn to affection (as the leaders today joyfully claim to be the case), because of the love it has for its own. The Saints might have the meager satisfaction of having ALL MEN SPEAK WELL OF THEM, but it would be overshadowed by the miserable reflection that they were subject to the woe and misery consequent upon their getting into that lamentable situation."
In spite of the efforts of the faithful leaders of the church, there were in those times as there are in our own, men who were more than willing and even anxious to lay aside this principle in order to avoid persecution and have peace with the world and his majesty, the devil; they were willing to lay aside and help to sink out of existence an eternal principle, in order that they might retain their properties and personal possessions, which they prized above the glories of the eternal world. They loved their sheep, and their cattle, and their business more than they loved God, and they dared not trust in His care.
The enemies of the Lord had upon several occasions submitted to the authorities suggestions as to how they might circumvent the present persecutions that were being heaped upon the faithful saints. They were told that there would be no further imprisonment's and that the church could avoid the bosom of destruction that the government and its cohorts were preparing for them, if they would only make a promise that they, the leaders, would cease advocating this doctrine of Celestial Marriage as a part of their religion. Oft' times the leaders had been promised that - if they would but forfeit this one principle they could by this means secure a cessation of hostilities. Henceforth, (they were promised) they would have the love and friendship of the government and her liberty loving peoples and all the world would honor and praise them for their wise choice.
The time arrived when certain prominent men in the Church became convinced that there was merit in these suggestions of the devil's representatives. Consequently, they met with advocates of this program and drew up agreements which they hoped would not appear too obnoxious to the Prophet of God. Such men as George Q. Cannon, Bishop Hynum Clawson, James Jack, Franklin S. Richards, and John T. Caine advocated making such an agreement. They argued that the leaders could OFFICIALLY make such a covenant with the Government, while the faithful would continue perpetuating the celestial law beyond the jurisdiction of the U.S. Government. In this manner they could obtain statehood and then write their own Sovereign laws provisions which would guarantee the perpetuation of the fullness of the Law of God as revealed in this last dispensation.
There were scores of prominent men, such as Ira Hinckley, Abram Hatch, W. W. Ritters, W. W. Cluff and others, who were men of considerable means, and insisted that something be done along this line in order that they might retain their properties and not confiscate them to the Gentiles. They did not want to lose all they had, as the faithful leaders and saints had done in the past.
Though the Lord had twice instructed them that He would fight their battles if they would keep His commandments, their faith was weak and they feared the world and what it was about to do to them.
In the year 1880 the Lord had spoken through His servant Wilford Woodruff and had said:
"The devil is ruling over his kingdom and my spirit has no place in the hearts of the rulers of this nation, and the devil stirs them up to defy my power, and to make war upon the Saints".
"Therefore, let mine Apostles and mine Elders who are faithful obey my commandments which are already written for their profit and guidance".
"Let no man be afraid to lay down his life for my sake, for he that layeth down his life for my sake shall find it again and have eternal life".
"This nation is ripened in iniquity and the cup of the wrath of mine indignation is full and I will not stay my hand in judgments upon this nation or the nations of the earth".
"I have decreed wars and judgments upon the wicked and my wrath and indignation are about to be poured out upon them, and the wicked and the rebellious shall know that I am God."
"As I have spoken, so will I fulfill. I will spare none that remain in Babylon, but I will burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts."
"As I the Lord have suffered, so will I put all enemies under my feet; For I the Lord, utter my word, and it shall be obeyed, and the day of wrath and indignation shall come upon the wicked."
"And I say again, wo unto that nation or house or people, who seek to hinder my people from obeying the Patriarchal law of Abraham, which leadeth to Celestial glory, which has been revealed unto my saints through the mouth of my servant Joseph; for whosoever doeth these things shall be damned, saith the Lord of Hosts, and shall be broken up and wasted away from under heaven by the judgments which I have sent forth, and which shall not return unto me void."
"As I have decreed so shall my judgments begin at the house of God."
"There are those in my church who have a name among you, who are adulterers and adulteresses, and those who blaspheme my name and those who love and make a lie, and those who revel and drink with the drunken." STAR OF TRUTH, Vol.1, pp. 235-6
Can the Gospel fullness find any room in the hearts of adulterers and adulteresses? Can those who love and make a lie have the spirit of God with them sufficient to make them valiant in the cause of Truth?
Are those who revel and drink with the drunken entitled to the spirit and revelations of God? Is this the type of people who are clamoring for a manifesto and who want to be friends with the world?
Here the Lord gives President John Taylor instructions as to how His people should conduct themselves:
"And let my Priesthood humble themselves before me, and seek not their own will but my will; for if my Priesthood, whom I have chosen and called, and endowed with the spirit and gifts of their several callings, and with the powers thereof, do not acknowledge me I will not acknowledge them, saith the Lord: for I will be honored and obeyed by my Priesthood."
"And then, I call upon my Priesthood and upon all of my people, to repent of their sins and shortcomings, of their covetousness and pride and self-will, and of all their iniquities wherein they sin against me; and to seek with all humility to fulfill my law, as my priesthood, my Saints and my people; and I call upon the heads of families to put their houses in order according to the law of God, and to attend to the various duties and responsibilities associated therewith, and to purify themselves before me, and to purge out iniquity from their households.
"And I will bless and be with you, saith the Lord, and ye shall gather together in your holy places wherein ye assemble to call upon me, and ye shall ask for such things as are right, and I will hear your prayers and my spirit and power shall be with you and my blessings shall rest upon you, upon your families, your dwellings and your households, upon your flocks and herds and fields, your orchards and vineyards, and upon all that pertain to you; and you shall be my people and I will be your God; and your enemies shall not have dominion over you, for I will preserve you and confound them, saith the Lord, and they shall not have power nor dominion over you; for my words shall go forth and my Zion shall be established and my rule and my power and my dominion shall prevail among my people, and all nations shall yet acknowledge Me. Even so, Amen. STAR OF TRUTH. Vol. 1, p. 244
It was under such circumstances, while President Taylor was in exile and in hiding, at the home of John W. Woolley, in Centerville, Utah, on the night of the 26th day of September, in the year 1886, that certain of the leaders came once again to President Taylor to ask him to submit to the Lord, for HIS approval a "Manifesto" that would officially put to an end the practice of Plural Marriage in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
STATEMENTS OF Lorin C. Woolley and Daniel R. Bateman
Given at Salt Lake City, Utah, September 22, 1929. With reference to the Revelation of September 27, 1886, on the subject of Celestial or Plural Marriage, which Revelation was given by the Lord to President John Taylor.
Prayer was offered by John Y. Barlow.
Lorin C. Woolley related the following:
While the brethren were at the Carlisle residence in May or June of 1886, letters began to come to President John Taylor from such men as John Sharp, Horace Eldredge, William Jennings, John T. Caine, Abraham Hatch, President Cluff and many other leading men from all over the Church, asking the leaders to do something, as the Gentiles were talking of confiscating their property in connection with the property of the Church.
These letters not only came from those who were living in the Plural Marriage relation, but also from prominent men who were presiding in various offices of the Church who were not living in that relation. They all urged that something be done to satisfy the Gentiles so that their property would not be confiscated.
George Q. Cannon on his own initiative selected a committee comprising himself, Hyrum B. Clawson, Franklin S. Richards, John T. Caine and James Jack to get up a statement or Manifesto that would meet the objections urged by the brethren above named. They met from time to time to discuss the situation. From the White home, where President Taylor and companions stopped, after leaving the Carlisle home, they came out to father's. George Q. Cannon would go and consult with the brethren of the committee, I taking him back and forth each day.
On September 16, 1886, George Q. Cannon, Hynum B. Clawson, Franklin S. Richards, and others, met with President John Taylor at my father's residence at Centerville, Davis County, Utah, and presented a document for President Taylor's consideration.
I had just got back from a three days trip, during most of which time I had been in the saddle, and being greatly fatigued, I had retired to rest.
Between one and two o'clock P. M., Brother Bateman came and woke me up and asked me to be at my father's home where a Manifesto was to be discussed. I went there and found there were congregated Samuel Bateman, Charles H. Wilkins, L. John Nuttall, Charles Birrell, George Q. Cannon, Franklin S. Richards and Hvrum B. Clawson.
We discussed the proposed Manifesto at length, but we were unable to become united in the discussion. Finally George Q. Cannon suggested that President Taylor take the matter up with the Lord and decide the same the next day.
Brothers Clawson and Richards, were taken back to Salt Lake. That evening I was called to act as guard during the first part of the night, notwithstanding the fact that I was greatly fatigued on account of the three days trip I had just completed.
The brethren retired to bed soon after nine o'clock. The sleeping rooms were inspected by the guard as was the custom. President Taylor's room had no outside door. The windows were heavily screened.
Sometime after the brethren retired and while I was reading the Doctrine and Covenants, I was suddenly attracted to a light appearing under the door leading to President Taylor's room, and was at once startled to hear the voices of men talking there. There were three distinct voices. I was bewildered because it was my duty to keep people out of that room and evidently someone had entered without my knowing it. I made a hasty examination and found the door leading to the room bolted as usual. I then examined the outside of the house and found all the window screens intact. While examining the last window, and feeling greatly agitated, a voice spoke to me, saying, "Can't you feel the Spirit Why should you worry?"
At this I returned to my post and continued to hear the voices in the room. They were so audible that although I did not see the parties I could place their positions in the room from the sound of the voices. The three voices continued until about midnight, when one of them left, and the other two continued. One of them I recognized as President John Taylor's voice. I called Charles Birrell and we both sat up until eight o'clock the next morning.
When President Taylor came out of his room about eight o'clock of the morning of September 27, 1886, we could scarcely look at him on account of the brightness of his personage.
He stated, "Brethren, I have had a very pleasant conversation with Brother Joseph." (Joseph Smith) I said, "Boss, who is the man that was there until midnight?" He asked, "What do you know about it, Lorin?" I told him all about my experience. He said, "Brother Lorin, that was your Lord."
We had no breakfast, but assembled ourselves in a meeting. I forget who opened the meeting. I was called to offer the benediction. I think my father, John W. Woolley, offered the opening prayer. There were present, at this meeting, in addition to President Taylor, George Q. Cannon, L. John Nuttall, John W. Woolley, Samuel Bateman, Charles H. Wilkins, Charles Birrell, Daniel R. Bateman, Bishop Samuel Sidney, George Earl, my mother Julia E. Woolley, my sister, Amy Woolley, and myself. The meeting was held from about nine o'clock in the morning until five in the afternoon without intermission, being about eight hours in all.
President Taylor called the meeting to order. He had the Manifesto, that had been prepared under the direction of George Q. Cannon, read over again. Then he put each person under covenant that he or she would defend the principle of Celestial or Plural Marriage, and that they would consecrate their lives, liberty and property to this end, and that they personally would sustain and uphold that principle. By that time we were all filled with the Holy Ghost. President Taylor and those present occupied about three hours up to this time. After placing us under covenant, he placed his finger on the document, his person rising from the floor about a foot or eighteen inches, and with countenance animated by the Spirit of the Lord, and raising his right hand to the square, he said, "Sign that document -- never! I would suffer my right hand to be severed from my body first. Sanction it, -- never! I would suffer my tongue to be torn from its roots in my mouth before I would sanction it!"
After that he talked for about an hour and then sat down and wrote the revelation which was given him by the Lord upon the question of Plural Marriage. Then he talked to us for some time and said, Some of you will be handled and ostracized and cast out from the Church by your brethren because of your faithfulness and integrity to this principle, and some of you may have to surrender your lives because of the same, but woe, woe, unto those who shall bring these troubles upon you." (Three of us were handled and ostracized for supporting and sustaining this principle. There are only three left who were at the meeting mentioned - Daniel R. Bateman, George Earl and myself. So far as I know those of them who have passed away all stood firm to the covenants entered into from that day to the day of their deaths.)
After the meeting referred to, President Taylor had L. John Nuttall write five copies of the revelation. He called five of us together: Samuel Bateman, Charles H. Wilkins, George Q. Cannon, John W. Woolley, and myself.
He then set us apart and place us under covenant that while we lived we would see to it that no year passed by without children being born in the principle of plural marriage. We were given authority to ordain others a necessary to carry this work on, they in turn to be given authority to ordain others when necessary, under the direction of the worthy senior (by ordination), so that there should be no cessation in the work. He then gave each of us a copy of the Revelation.
I am the only one of the five now living, and so far as I know all five of the brethren remained true and faithful to the covenants they entered into, and to the responsibilities placed upon them at that time.
During the eight hours we were together, and while President Taylor was talking to us, he frequently arose and stood above the floor, and his countenance and being were so enveloped by light and glory that it was difficult for us to look upon him.
He stated that the document, referring to the Manifesto, was from the lower regions. He stated that many of the things he had told us we would forget and they would be taken from us, but that they would return to us in due time as needed, and from this fact we would know that the same was from the Lord. This has been literally fulfilled. Many of the things I forgot, but they are coming to me gradually, and those things that come to me are as clear as on the day on which they were given.
President Taylor said that the time would come when many of the Saints would apostatize because of this principle. He said "one-half of this people will apostatize over the principle for which we are now in hiding, yea, and possibly one half of the other half" (rising off the floor while making this statement). He also said the day will come when a document similar to that (Manifesto) then under consideration would be adopted by the Church, following which "apostasy and whoredom would be rampant in the Church."
He said that in the time of the seventh president of this Church, the Church would go into bondage both temporally and spiritually and in that day (the day of bondage) the One Mighty and Strong spoken of in the 85th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants would come.
Among many other things stated by President Taylor on this occasion was this: "I would be surprised if ten per cent of those who claim to hold the Melchizedek Priesthood will remain true and faithful to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, at the time of the seventh president, and that there would be thousands that think they hold the Priesthood at that time, but would not have it properly conferred upon them."
John Taylor set the five mentioned apart and gave them authority to perform marriage ceremonies, and also to set others apart to do the same thing as long as they remained on the earth; and while doing so, the Prophet Joseph Smith stood by directing the proceedings. Two of us had not met the Prophet Joseph Smith in his mortal lifetime, and we -- Charles H. Wilkins and myself -- were introduced to him and shook hands with him. (Signed) LORIN C. WOOLLEY
Daniel B. Bateman, being present while the above experience was related by Brother Woolley, testified as follows:
I was privileged to be at the meeting of September 27, 1886, spoken of by Brother Woolley, I myself acting as one of the guards for the brethren during those exciting times.
The proceedings of the meeting, as related by Brother Woolley, are correct in every detail. I was not present when the five spoken of by Brother Woolley were set apart for special work, but have on different occasions heard the details of the same related by both Lorin C. Woolley and John W. Woolley, and from all the circumstances with which I am familiar, I firmly believe the testimony of these two brethren to be true. (Signed) DANIEL R. BATEMAN
STATE
OF UTAH )
ss.
County
of Salt Lake )
J. Leslie Broadbent, John Y. Barlow and J. W. Musser, being each duly sworn, on oath, depose and say, that the above and foregoing four pages, constitute a full, true and correct copy of a signed statement of Lorin C. Woolley and Daniel R. Bateman, made in their presence, as the statement purports September 22, 1929.
(Signed)
J. LESLIE BROADBENT
JOHN Y. BARLOW
J. W. MUSSER
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 4th day of May, 1934:
Notary Public of Salt Lake City, Utah
STATE OF UTAH
Ballard-Jenson Correspondence, pp 99-105
My son John, you have asked me concerning the New and Everlasting Covenant how far it is binding upon my people.
Thus saith the Lord: All commandments that I give must be obeyed by those calling themselves by my name unless they are revoked by me or by my authority, and how can I revoke an everlasting covenant, for I the Lord am everlasting and my everlasting covenants cannot be abrogated nor done away with, but they stand forever.
Have I not given my word in great plainness on this subject? Yet have not great numbers of my people been negligent in the observance of my law and the keeping of my commandments, and yet have I borne with them these many years; and this because of their weakness--because of the perilous times, and furthermore, it is more pleasing to me that men should use their free agency in regard to these matters. Nevertheless, I the Lord do not change and my word and my covenants and my law do not, and as I have heretofore said by my servant Joseph: All those who would enter into my glory must and shall obey my law. And have I not commanded men that if they were Abraham's seed and would enter into my glory, they must do the works of Abraham. I HAVE NOT REVOKED THIS LAW, NOR WILL I, for it is everlasting, and those who will enter into my glory MUST obey the conditions thereof; even so, Amen.
In the "Official Statement" from the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, signed by Heber J. Grant, A. W. Ivins, and J. Reuben Clark, Jr., "First Presidency," the words are as follows:
"It is alleged that on Sept. 26/27, 1886, President John Taylor received a revelation from the Lord. The purported text is given in publications circulated apparently by, or at the instance of this organization (fundamentalist).
"As to this pretended revelation it should be said that the archives of the Church contain no such a revelation; the archives contain no record of any such a revelation, nor any evidence justifying a belief that any such a revelation was ever given. From the personal knowledge of some of us, from the uniform and common recollection of the presiding quorums of the Church, from the absence in the Church archives of any evidence whatsoever justifying any belief that such a revelation was given, we are justified in affirming that no such a revelation exists."
If the revelation to John Taylor was not then in the archives of the Church, it is because it had been taken out from the archives of the Church in order to make the statement, for each of the brethren had been familiar with it and knew that it was in existence. These three men signed the false statement with full knowledge of its falsity and with the intent of deceiving the Saints.
To make the deception more complete, A. W. Ivins, one of the signers to the false statement, wrote one of our California friends as follows:
"The latter purported revelation of John Taylor (of 1886) has no standing in the Church. I have searched carefully, and all that can be found is a piece of paper found among President Taylor"s effects after his death. It was unknown to the Church until members of his own family claimed to have found it among his papers. It was never presented or discussed as a revelation by the presiding authorities of the church."
Then without any apparent thought of corroboration of this statement with facts, Apostle Melvin J. Ballard stumbles into a trap and leaves Brother Ivins out on a limb, as follows:
"The pretended revelation of John Taylor never had his signature added to it but was written in the form of a revelation and undoubtedly was in his handwriting." Joseph Smith didn't add his signature to many revelations either. Editor's note) Marriage - Ballard-Jenson Correspondence, p. 17
Thus the revelation is confirmed by two independent statements made by two leading Church officials, each of whom tried to destroy it.
The late B. H. Roberts, while Assistant Historian of the Church, stated to friends that he had seen, on more than one occasion, the original copy of this 1886 revelation, and knew that it was in the Church archives; and in his opinion it was genuine.
It is the opinion of this Editor, that if this revelation is not now in the archives of the LDS Church, it is held in the Presidents' vault which also holds other documents, manuscripts, revelations, and correspondence of such a nature, that the Church leaders refuse 10 publicly disclose them.
According to a recorded talk by Reed C. Durham, Jr., LDS Coordinator of Seminaries and Institutes in Salt Lake City and President of the Mormon History Association, speaking by assignment on 24 February 1974, to the High Priest Meeting of the Salt Lake Foothill Stake.
"There was a revelation that John Taylor received and we have it in his handwriting. We've analyzed the handwriting. It is JohnTaylor's handwriting and the revelation is reproduced by the Fundamentalists.
The following are excerpts taken from the trial minutes of special meetings of the Twelve Apostles held in the Salt Lake Temple, February 22nd, and March 1st, 1911.
Those in attendance were: Apostle John W. Taylor, President Francis M. Lyman and Apostles Heber J. Grant. Hyrum M. Smith, Charles W. Penrose, George F. Richards, Orson F. Whitney, David O. McKay, Anthony W. Ivins, and Joseph F. Smith Jr.
President Francis M. Lyman presided and specifically informed Apostle John W. Taylor that he had been summoned to the trial, "TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH."
My father received a REVELATION which however was never presented to the Church, and I refer to this not because it was a REVELATION to my father; I don't think a REVELATION because it came through him was any greater than one received through any other president of the Church, but because it seems to pertain to this question.
The REVELATION follows: The REVELATION was read by Brother Penrose. APOSTLE John W. Taylor:
There are two things I am drawing your attention to. I am not in politics and very little in the Church, but I do this as a matter of privilege. This REVELATION is either true or it is false. Assuming that it is true, it seems to me that it would be better to offer leniency on the side of the Lord if you are going to offer any leniency, than on the side of politics . . . .Brother Lyman what do you think of the REVELATION to my father?
PRESIDENT Francis M. Lyman:
If you ask me if I believe in the plurality of wives, I would say that I believe it is true and will always be so, but the Lord may suspend the practice of it, and how much of the responsibility remains with the people and with the government, I don't know. I am living with my wives now all the time, but I don't hold the Church responsible for it but shoulder the responsibility myself .... I have no fault to find with the REVELATION.
APOSTLE Charles W. Penrose:
Do you understand the free agency referred to in the REVELATION gives anyone
the privilege of taking a plural wife?
APOSTLE John W. Taylor:
I take it that it refers to the individual and relieved the Church of the responsibility
and placed the responsibility upon the individual.
PRESIDENT Francis M. Lyman: When did you find this REVELATION?
APOSTLE John W. Taylor:
I found it on his desk immediately after his death, when I was appointed administrator
of his estate.
PRESIDENT Francis M. Lyman:
Do you think anyone can solemnize plural marriages with authority now?
APOSTLE John W. Taylor:
I feel under certain circumstances they could, but it would depend on the circumstances.
PRESIDENT Francis M. Lyman:
What conditions?
APOSTLE John W. Taylor: I fully explained that last time.
APOSTLE Charles W. Penrose:
What are your views with regard to that REVELATION?
APOSTLE John W. Taylor:
I am not the one to pass upon that REVELATION. I think you are the ones to do
that.
APOSTLE Charles W. Penrose:
What I desire to get at is as to how you view the matter, whether you have been guided by that in your case. You brought the REVELATION to us and it has never been accepted by the Church or presented to it.
APOSTLE John W. Taylor:
I think the only thing to do is to go to the presiding priesthood of the Lord and get his idea on it and get him to inquire of the Lord what His mind is regarding it.
APOSTLE Charles W. Penrose:
I don't think Brother Taylor should come here and tell us what we need to do. But what I wanted to know is what he thought the President meant by the REVELATION, whether the man was placed upon his own responsibility by that REVELATION and the President and Church relieved of all responsibility or not.
APOSTLE Anthony W. Ivins:
Do you know how extensively this REVELATION has been circulated in times past and has guided people in their actions in this regard?
APOSTLE John W. Taylor:
Brother Joseph Robinson came to me and asked for a copy of it upon the suggestion
of Brother Cowley and he got it from Brother Badger. Brother Joseph F. Smith Jr. also got a copy but I don't know how many have got copies from these.
APOSTLE Anthony W. Ivins:
You don't know what inference was place upon it in early times?
APOSTLE John W. Taylor:
No I don't know.
APOSTLE Anthony W. Ivins:
I ask this question because I have heard some of the brethren interpret this REVELATION in this way, and I would like to find out to what extent they had the endorsement of the Church in view of this REVELATION, and what was the reason these brethren went to Canada and Mexico. Do you know what they based their belief upon; as they seemed to be sincere. Whether it was from this REVELATION or from the President of the Church or from what
grounds were taken that they could come in contact with the law of the land and still win out. I would like to know from Brother Taylor what he knows about this and if they were justified in it.
APOSTLE John W. Taylor:
President Smith has come out on numerous occasions with the statement that there have been no marriages of a polygamous nature solemnized with the approval of the Church, since 1890. He stands at the head of this dispensation at this moment and has adopted that policy, and as far as I am conceded I don't want to come in conflict with President Smith on this proposition. I don't know what others have taken from this REVELATION. If the REVELATION
is true, it would certainly impress me that the Church was relieved of responsibility in this matter and the responsibility placed upon the individual.
APOSTLE Orson F. Whitney:
Was it not the policy during your father's administration to leave everything to the mind of the individual? I know this was the case with me when I went to inquire if I should take the test oath. I was told to exercise my own judgment. Also there is no authority as far as I can see, in that REVELATION, no authority given to man to exercise such authority in marrying any one, but the question of whether they should go into the relationship was left with the individual, as in President Young's time men were commanded to go into it.
APOSTLE Charles W. Penrose:
I feel that we should not express our own views on the REVELATION but should have
Brother Taylor's views if he will give them, if not we can get through with that question.
PRESIDENT Francis M. Lyman:
The date of this REVELATION is September 1886, four years before the manifesto of President Woodruff and I remember at that time that President Taylor and all his brethren were very strongly entrenched in the principle of plural marriage. From 1880 to 1890 men were almost commanded to enter it, especially the officials of the Church. We were all pretty well engaged in this question. The change came in 1890 when President Woodruff felt the necessity that plural marriage should cease and alter that he felt just as strong against it as President Taylor had felt for it before. It was subsequently to this that President Smith made his declaration that the Church took no responsibility for the unlawful co-habitation of those
in plural marriage and the performance of plural marriages. I would like to ask if you have encouraged others to take plural wives, or taken them yourself or if you think these brethren who have copies of this REVELATION have taken it as an encouragement, for instance Brother Robinson.
APOSTLE John W. Taylor:
I will answer that by asking if anyone you have had here before you has ever said that I encouraged him.
PRESIDENT Francis M. Lyman:
No one except Wolff, and you admit having encouraged him under the direction of a superior officer.
APOSTLE David O. McKay:
I would like to know who the man is that directed you to instruct Brother Wolff to marry a certain party.
APOSTLE John W. Taylor:
I would not wish to take issue with the President of the Church or anyone who is at the head of the Church. I went to President Smith's office the other day and had a three and one-half hour talk with him and John Henry Smith and he said that he had never authorized anyone to perform a plural marriage. I am not saying that he is the one to whom I refer, but I do not want to say any more on this point.
APOSTLE Hyrum M. Smith:
I would like Brother Taylor to feel that we are not persuading him or any other man to do them harm but simply to get at the bottom of these matters. I feel that you are responsible for the circulation of that REVELATION.
APOSTLE John W. Taylor:
I am willing to put in a supplemental answer to the effect that I have never married anyone without the endorsement and authority of the President of the Church and, if you desire, I will give the names of those I have married. but I think this would be unwise. .
APOSTLE Charles W. Penrose:
Under this purported REVELATION from your father do you think this authority is given to anyone to perform a plural marriage on their own free agency?
APOSTLE John W. Taylor: if a man had been authorized in any way by authority to perform a marriage, under that REVELATION he would be.
"I the Lord have raised up unto you my servant John Taylor to preside over you and to be a lawgiver unto my Church. He has mingled his blood with that of the martyred Prophets. Nevertheless, while I have taken my servants Joseph and Hyrum unto myself, I have preserved my servant John Taylor for a wise purpose in me."
Revelation through Wilford Woodruff, 1880. "The laws prohibiting plural marriage were regarded as unconstitutional and unjust by the Church, and their execution was bitterly opposed. Suits were earned to the Supreme Court, which upheld the law, and more vigorous steps were taken to enforce it. While this storm raged John Taylor stood immovable in his conviction that the anti-polygamy law was unjust and DIED WITHOUT MAKING ANY CONCESSION. THIS WAS THE OUTSTANDING FEATURE OF HIS ADMINISTRATION." April, 1922 Conference Report, p. 38
There obviously is more to this controversy than just a 249 word revelation. The Prophet John Taylor was given specific instruction on the matter of plural marriage. That was, that the Lord had already been very plain about the subject. In finality the Lord says, "I have not revoked this law, nor will I, for it is everlasting, and those who will enter into my glory MUST obey the conditions thereof: even so. Amen."
It didn't take an entire night for the Lord to speak those words to President Taylor, yet the testimony of Lorin C. Woolley was that an all night meeting between the Prophet John Taylor, the Prophet Joseph Smith, and Jesus Christ took place. It should be obvious to the casual observer that a great deal more instruction took place that night, however it will only be obvious to the elect.
During the trial of Apostle John W. Taylor, Apostle Orson F. Whitney questions the authority to perform marriages since no authority appears granted by said revelation. Authority was not an issue necessary to be addressed by that revelation. Was Apostle Whitney so lacking in vision to forget that President Taylor already possessed the keys to that authority? Indeed, President Taylor's charge appears to be, that the priesthood was in jeopardy of being lost to the Church for its' lack of vision, which failing would shortly come to pass.
The Prophet John Taylor was filled with the Spirit of God that night, and continued in such Spirit during the eight (8) hour meeting held the following day. His counsel and conduct are evidence of what he learned the night before. During that meeting, President Taylor called five (5) brethren to a specific priesthood authority. That priesthood authority has not diminished. The authority was already held by President Taylor, and needed no more authority granted then. He only needed to act upon the direction and instruction given the night before, and do the will of the Lord.
This priesthood and authority was not anything new. Joseph Smith held this authority at the time he was martyred, and such men were called during his administration. Those men received such instruction and training in what we now know as the School of the Prophets, and during other such periods of instruction as were required. There were seven bearers of this priesthood that comprised a complete quorum. The priesthood they held was that of an High Priest Apostle.
This High Priest Apostleship also existed at the time of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. The history and names of the men who held position in those early quorums are unknown to the Editor. However, Lorin C. Woolley clearly names those who John Taylor ordained in his statement of 22 September 1929.
This "quorum of friends " has continued to exist for the past century, but from time to time it was necessary to be refreshed by proper authority due to the lack faithfulness and rebellion of its members. It should be remembered the charge President Taylor gave to these men, and the fact that it had the ability to perpetuate itself without interference from the "Popular Church". These men have perpetuated this principle of plural marriage with the authority of the Melchizedek priesthood.
To the best of his knowledge, the Editor has compiled a listing of this priesthood quorum over the past century. Pride and rebellion against the will of the Lord has from time to time forced a refreshing of this quorum. There have been times when the entire quorum, save one (1) has not been worthy of their calling through rebellion or lack of obedience to God, and thereby threatened its continuation. In such a case, one (1) man alone was required to start anew by calling new men to fill this priesthood office and quorum. The Editor stops at 1978 with the death of Rulon Allred to protect the privacy and security of those who may be in this sacred calling today. This listing is not complete, but through meditation and prayer the reader may certainly come to a sure knowledge of where the priesthood keys lie today. The story of how the LDS "Mother" Church has apostatized and lost the priesthood is a subject of discussion for another day.
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