The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt: One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry, and TravelsPratt, Parley P. (Parley Parker)
Religion
The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt: One of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Embracing His Life, Ministry, and Travels
Pratt, Parley P. (Parley Parker)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Apostles -- Biography; Pratt, Parley P. (Parley Parker), 1807-1857
_Editor's Chronicle_:--I perceive by the tone of the
press that politicians, moralists and religionists are in trouble
about Utah and Polygamy. "War!" "war!" "blood!" and "destruction"
to the poor heathen Mormons! But, thanks to the pious Methodists,
the Mormons are going to be converted first. Missionaries are going
to be sent to them.
It is the right of the President of the United States to appoint
a Governor, and to send troops to Utah. The citizens of that
territory know this, and have no objections. But suppose a Governor
and troops went there to interfere with the rights and liberties of
the people and trample on the laws, why then, of course, the
aggressors, in common with all others are amenable to the civil
courts, and are liable to fine, imprisonment or execution,
according to their crimes. Even if they only threaten, they might
be bound over to keep the peace. The courts of Utah have never yet
been found remiss in the execution of the laws.
What is the particular crime alleged against the Governor and
citizens of Utah, for which they are threatened with destruction or
conversion?
We will be told it is Polygamy. Well, "sin," says the Apostle,
"is the transgression of law." We should greatly prefer conversion
to murder, and here permit me to suggest a plan for a wholesale
conversion, without a drop of blood or even the trouble of a
journey to Utah.
I am here in California as an official member and representative
of the Church in Utah, for which I can produce credentials. I am
willing to meet a convention of the ablest lawyers and clergy to be
found in our country, and I hereby pledge my honor that I will
publicly renounce Polygamy, and that the church I represent will do
the same, on the following conditions, viz:
The Old and New Testaments, the Constitution and laws of the
United States, and the laws of Utah Territory shall be their
standard; and if in all this wide range one item of law can be
found wherein God, angels, men, prophets, apostles, the Son of God
or the Holy Spirit have made plurality of wives a _crime_, a
_transgression of law_ or an _immorality_, then, on these
conditions, we will renounce Polygamy. But till this is done
we shall hold the law of God on the subject of matrimony, including
a plurality of wives, as a most sacred institution, binding on our
own consciences, in the free exercise of which we claim the
protection so freely and fully guaranteed by the constitution of
our common country.
If editors in general throughout the country will please publish
this, it may tend to investigation and enlightenment, either of the
"poor, ignorant Mormons," or of those who think them so far out of
the way.
P. P. PRATT.
SANTA CLARA, November 22d, 1854.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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