The Administration of President Wilford Woodruff
1887-1898
Changes in Leadership
Following the death of President Taylor the duty of presidency again
devolved upon the council of the apostles, Counselors Cannon and Smith
resuming their places with the twelve. The apostles continued to act
in that position until the April conference in 1889, when the First
Presidency was again organized with Wilford Woodruff as President. He
selected George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith as his counselors. At
the time of this organization President Woodruff was 82 years of age,
but hale and vigorous. He was born in Farmington, Hartford County,
Connecticut, March 1, 1807; was baptized December 31, 1833, and
ordained an apostle April 26, 1839. President Woodruff was a natural
missionary and accomplished a great work in England and various parts
of the United States.
The vacancies in the council of the twelve were not filled until the
October conference in 1889, when Marriner W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund
and Abraham H. Cannon were called and ordained apostles.
Dedication of the Manti Temple
The temple at Manti, Sanpete County, was dedicated May 21, 1888, Elder
Lorenzo Snow offering the prayer. The services were repeated the two
succeeding days. This was the third temple to be dedicated in Utah.
The site was chosen in June, 1875, by President Brigham Young, and the
excavation was begun in April, 1877. The corner stones were laid April
14, 1879, with the usual fitting ceremonies. The building is situated
on a hill north-east of the city and is an imposing structure.
The Crusade Continues
The crusade against those who had entered plural marriage continued
after the death of President Taylor, but in some respects with
less severity. President Grover Cleveland pardoned a number of the
imprisoned men against whom the courts had been extremely severe. These
included Joseph H. Evans, a man of seventy, Charles Livingston and
Rudger Clawson. From this time on there was a more tolerant attitude
manifested by some of the officers. Nevertheless the government
continued with unyielding determination to suppress plural marriage,
and more drastic legislation was proposed by Congress.
The Crusade in Idaho
In Idaho the anti-"Mormon" feeling was intense. One officer--who
afterwards was honored with the position of United States senator from
Idaho--declared that he had selected "a jury that would convict Jesus
Christ." Nor was this blasphemous expression the only one uttered in
that campaign. Men were hounded and treated in an inhuman manner,
and the boast was that "Mormons" would be convicted with or without
evidence before the courts.
The Idaho territorial legislature passed a law in 1885, containing the
"Idaho test oath," which disfranchised all members of the Church. It
provided that electors should swear that they were neither polygamists
nor members of an organization which taught, advised or encouraged the
practice of polygamy. The supreme court of the United States sustained
this law in a decision given February 3, 1890. It was enough to deprive
a person of the franchise simply to declare that he was a member of the
Church.
The Strubble Bill
The enemies of the Church in Utah were greatly elated over this
decision of the supreme court in the "Idaho test oath" law. They knew
that no legislature in Utah would pass such a measure, but they had
hopes that Congress would, and thus the great majority of the people
of Utah would be disfranchised and their enemies be placed in control.
A bill called the Strubble Bill, following the lines of the Idaho law
was presented in Congress in 1890. Robert N. Baskin, who was as bitter
against the Saints as it was possible for him to be, brazenly declared
that the object was "to wrest from the hands of the Priesthood the
political power which it had wrongfully usurped and shamefully abused."
General John A. McClernand, of the Utah Commission, refused to be a
party to such wickedness, and made a separate report condemning the
proposed high-handed legislation. This bill never became a law for
several reasons. Many of the conservative non-"Mormons" of Utah opposed
the measure as being detrimental to the interests of the territory, and
petitioned Congress not to pass it. Secretary of State James G. Blaine,
used his influence to defeat the measure for political reasons, but
insisted that the Church do something to relieve the situation.
President Woodruff's Manifesto
While the Saints were in the midst of all these difficulties and
afflictions, President Wilford Woodruff sought the Lord for relief.
In answer to his earnest pleadings and constant petitions, the word
of the Lord came to him in a revelation suspending the practice of
plural marriage. The Latter-day Saints, with the feeling that the
anti-polygamy legislation was a restriction of their religious rights,
contested every move made by the government. When the supreme court
sustained these laws, there was nothing left for the Church to do but
submit or stand as violators of the law. They have never felt that the
action of the courts were just, nor did they feel that it was within
their power to suspend a commandment given to them by revelation from
the Lord. The "manifesto" of President Woodruff brought relief. The
people had done their duty. The Lord gave them the commandment and only
he could authorize its suspension. President Woodruff, writing in his
journal September 25, 1890 said:
"I have arrived at a point in the history of my life as the
President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where
I am under the necessity of acting for the temporal salvation of
the Church. The United States government has taken a stand and
passed laws to destroy the Latter-day Saints on the subject of
polygamy or patriarchal marriage, and after praying to the Lord and
feeling inspired, I have issued the following proclamation which is
sustained by my counselors and the twelve apostles."
The same day the manifesto was published as follows:
"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, alleged 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 instruction, 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 the 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 used language which appeared to convey any
such teaching, he has been promptly reproved. And I now publicly
declare that my advice to the Latter-day Saints is to refrain from
contracting any marriage forbidden by the law of the land.
"Wilford Woodruff." "President of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints."
The Manifesto Sustained
At the conference of the Church held in October following, the
manifesto was presented to the congregation and on motion by President
Lorenzo Snow of the council of the apostles, was accepted by the
Latter-day Saints by unanimous vote. Thus it became binding upon the
members of the Church.
Following this action President George Q. Cannon delivered a discourse,
reviewing the history of the anti-polygamy legislation and justified
the action of President Woodruff on the following grounds: First, when
a commandment is given to the children of men, and they are hindered by
their enemies, the Lord accepts their offering. Second, the authority
which gave the commandment had the right to revoke. In the course of
his remarks he quoted verses 49 and 50 of section 124 in the Doctrine
and Covenants.
President Woodruff followed the remarks of President Cannon and in part
said:
"I want to say to all Israel that the step which I have taken in
issuing this manifesto has not been done without earnest prayer
before the Lord. . . . I am not ignorant of the feelings that have
been engendered through the course I have pursued. But I have done
my duty, and the nation of which we form a part must be responsible
for that which has been done in relation to this principle.
"The Lord has required at our hands many things that we have
not done, many things that we were prevented from doing. The
Lord required us to build a temple in Jackson County. We were
prevented by violence from doing it. . . . It is not wisdom for us
to go forth and carry out this principle against the laws of the
nation. . . . The Lord has given us commandments concerning many
things, and we have carried them out as far as we could; but when
we cannot do it, we are justified. . . . The Lord will never permit
me or any other man who stands as the President of this Church to
lead you astray. It is not in the program. It is not in the mind of
God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would move me out of my
place."
Result of the Manifesto
Following the issuance of the manifesto the sentiment grew that those
who had entered into plural marriages before that date should not be
interfered with, and men were not to be compelled to desert their wives
and children. In time the two political parties, the "People's Party"
composed mostly of members of the Church, and the "Liberal Party"
composed of the enemies of the Church, disbanded, and the people joined
the two great national parties, the Democrats and Republicans, without
regard to religious affiliation. However, the more rabid anti-"Mormons"
held on to their animosities and organization until the opposition to
them among non-"Mormons" was so great that they could resist no longer.
The Granting of Amnesty
December 19, 1891, the First Presidency and apostles petitioned
for amnesty. This petition was endorsed by the governor, Arthur L.
Thomas, and Charles S. Zane, who had again become chief justice, and
many leading "Gentiles." It was read before the senate committee on
territories and became a part of the published record of that body.
President Benjamin Harrison, who a short time before had visited Utah,
on January 4, 1893, issued a proclamation of amnesty to polygamists for
past offenses, limited to those who entered into that relation before
November 1, 1890. The Utah commission, acting on the pardon of the
President, ruled that the restrictions against voters in the territory
should be removed.
Laying the Capstone and Dedication of the Salt Lake Temple
One of the great events in the history of the Latter-day Saints was the
dedication of the Salt Lake Temple, April 6, 1893. As previously stated
the corner stones were laid forty years before--April 6, 1853. The
capstone had been laid April 6, 1892, by President Wilford Woodruff,
in the presence of a vast congregation numbering about forty thousand
people. After the announcement from the architect from the top of the
building that the capstone was ready, President Woodruff stepped before
the people and said:
"Attention, all the House of Israel, and all ye nations of the
earth. We will now lay the top stone of the Temple of our God, the
foundation of which was laid and dedicated by the prophet, seer and
revelator, Brigham Young."
He then pressed an electric button and the stone was laid. A mighty
shout, of "Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! to God and the Lamb! Amen! Amen!
Amen!" under the direction of President Lorenzo Snow, went up from the
people and was repeated three times.
The dedicatory services, which commenced April 6, 1893, continued
several days, and each day the prayer was repeated, for the benefit
of the great number of members of the Church who, because of the
limited space, could not attend the first services in the building.
The ceremonies were impressive and many of the Saints saw visions of
heavenly beings and other manifestations during the dedication.
The Tabernacle Choir at the World's Fair
At the World's Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893, the Salt
Lake Tabernacle Choir entered the competition in the great choral
contest which took place early in September, and were successful in
winning the second prize. It was the general opinion of those who heard
the contest that if it had not been for prejudice they would have
received the first honors. On their way to Chicago and returning the
choir gave concerts in the large cities, which was a means of allaying
much prejudice against the Church.
The Church and the Parliament of Religions
During this Exposition at Chicago, a World's Parliament of Religions
was held, commencing September 11. The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints was not invited to participate, but the Church
authorities deemed it proper to seek representation and steps to that
end were taken. Elder Brigham H. Roberts, of the first council of
seventies, was selected to represent the Church at the parliament. When
he requested the privilege of taking part and of speaking before that
assembly, where Christians, Mohammedans, Jews and Pagans, had been
given a public hearing, the privilege was denied him. The manifestation
of bigotry was very marked, and the Church was given to understand it
was "not of the world." Elder Roberts was granted the privilege of
delivering a paper in one of the committee rooms which would seat about
fifty persons. This privilege Elder Roberts very properly declined. The
matter did not end there, however, as Elder Roberts took the matter
up in the press, and the bigotry of the officials of the parliament
was exposed, and the Church was benefited by the advertisement thus
received.
Statehood for Utah
Delegate Joseph L. Rawlins of Utah presented a bill in the house of
representatives, September 6, 1893, entitled "An Act to Enable the
People of Utah to Form a Constitution and State Government and to be
Admitted into the Union on an Equal Footing with the Original States."
The bill met some opposition, one congressman (Morse of Massachusetts)
declaring the people of Utah were "criminals and vagabonds." The
bill, however, passed the house, December 13, 1893, and the senate in
July, 1894, and was signed by President Grover Cleveland. Utah had
made several attempts to obtain statehood and several constitutional
conventions had been held, but the opposition against the "Mormon"
people each time defeated the endeavor. Now both "Mormons" and
non-"Mormons" supported the movement, which was successful.
The Constitutional Convention
In the election held November 6, 1894, for delegates to the
constitutional convention, the Republicans were successful. The
constitutional convention met March 4, 1895, in Salt Lake City, and
organized by electing John Henry Smith, a member of the council of
twelve apostles, as president. "Mormons" and "Gentiles" who had
opposed each other in the past sat side by side in this convention for
sixty-six days, framing the constitution of the state of Utah. When it
was presented to the people it was ratified by an overwhelming vote.
President Cleveland issued a proclamation, January 4, 1896, and Utah
entered the great Union of states. Heber M. Wells, son of Daniel H.
Wells, was elected the first governor, and Charles S. Zane the first
chief justice of the newly created state.
The Escheated Property Returned
In September, 1893, Delegate Joseph L. Rawlins presented in Congress a
resolution for the restoration of the personal property of the Church.
The resolution was favorably acted upon by Congress and President
Cleveland signed it October 25. The real estate, escheated to the
government, was not returned until three years later. In the last
territorial legislature, in 1894, Mr. Charles S. Varian, formerly
United States attorney, presented a memorial to Congress asking for
this restoration, but the matter was not decided until after Utah
obtained statehood. President Cleveland, March 28, 1896, approved of
a memorial to this effect presented by one of Utah's representatives
in the senate and which had passed both the senate and the house of
representatives.
The Pioneer Jubilee
After Utah became a state, an era of good feeling prevailed among all
the people. Governor Heber M. Wells recommended in one of his messages
to the legislature, that the state hold an inter-mountain fair, or
jubilee, during the month of July, 1897, it being fifty years from the
entrance of the pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley. This recommendation
was approved and a committee was appointed to prepare for the
celebration. On the first day (July 20) of the celebration a monument
which had been erected at the intersection of Main and South Temple
Streets, Salt Lake City, in honor of Brigham Young and the pioneers,
was unveiled and dedicated, by President Wilford Woodruff, one of the
pioneers. The statue of President Young, which is on a base of Utah
granite, was designed by Cyrus E. Dallin, a Utah-born artist, and was
presented to the state by the Brigham Young Memorial Association, the
funds having been raised by popular subscription. James H. Moyle made
the presentation speech, and Governor Wells the speech of acceptance.
Judge Charles C. Goodwin, editor of the Salt Lake _Tribune_, delivered
an oration, and remarks were made by Brigham Young, Jr., the oldest
surviving son of President Young. The celebration continued until
the close of Pioneer Day, with parades, speeches, music and other
exercises. A badge of honor, made of gold and artistically designed,
was presented to each of the surviving pioneers of 1847, who were the
honored guests of the occasion.
Death of President Woodruff
One year later, July 24, 1898, the Pioneer Square--where the stockade
was built in 1847--was dedicated as a public park. President Woodruff
delivered his last public address at this celebration. A few days later
he departed for the Pacific coast hoping to benefit his health. He died
at the home of Colonel Isaac Trumbo in San Francisco, September 2,
1898. He had been very anxious to live to see the Church out of debt,
but this was not his privilege. Due to the escheatment of its property,
and the persecutions during the crusade, the Church was placed in
financial straits, but it was left for his successor to remedy the evil.
President Woodruff's remains were brought to Salt Lake City, where a
public funeral was held in the tabernacle, September 8, and his memory
was honored by all the citizens of the state. President Woodruff, at
the time of his death, was in his ninety-second year. His life was one
of marked simplicity and virtue. He served for many years as Church
historian, and kept remarkable journals, recording in detail all
important events of which he was a witness.