[Apostle Rudger Clawson] 2 p.m. Continuation of the meeting of the brethren on Friday. The principal topic of discussion was the attitude of the brethren when arrested and found guilty of unlawful cohabitation. Would it be proper for them to promise to obey the law—or rather express their intention to do so?
President Snow said, he did not see how we could very well do otherwise, in order to satisfy the honorable people of the nation, who are willing to send their sons into battle for the defense of our country, and when they fall in battle it is looked upon as an honor. They are willing to make this sacrifice for their country. They look upon the United States as the greatest nation on the earth and feel that its laws are supreme—and that when it comes to a question of law, the Latter-day Saints should bow. It is necessary sometimes for the saints to make sacrifices for the good of their fellowmen, that the honorable ones of the earth perchance may be saved. This is one of those times. There are, he said, about 300 plural wives among the saints who are bearing children, as against the body of the church—say 350,000—who are not in polygamy. These 300 women for the good of the nation and of the church should be willing for a time to refrain from having children. They would lose nothing
by it, for the Lord would reward them abundantly.
Though no formal vote was taken the brethren generally seemed to endorse the views of President Snow. Meeting adjourned sine die.
[Source: Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
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