Manifesto is issued as a press release
Wilford Woodruff met with councilor Joseph F. Smith and three members of the Council of the Twelve, presenting papers containing what Woodruff felt were the solution to the churchs current problems. Wilford Woodruff drew upon the previously discarded documents concerning polygamy, both generated within the outside the church, and delivered a 510 word document. George Reynolds, Charles Penrose and John Winder were instructed to take the document and arrange it for publication, to be submitted to us after they had prepared it. When it was read later that day, President Cannon suggested several emendations, which were adopted. Only three apostles were present Franklin D. Richards, Moses Thatcher, and Marriner W. Merrill. After a few small additional changes, George Reynolds sent the telegram for publishing in the eastern national newspapers. Apostle Lorenzo Snow was aware of the Manifesto, but was out of town. He was Wilford Woodruffs son in law. He had previously told the leadership that he was in favor of a Manifesto-like declaration. None of the other eight apostles knew of the press release since they were away from Salt Lake City at the time. The final document contained 356 words. (Quinn, LDS, p 44 & 45).
[Tungate, Mel, Mormon Polygamy, http://www.tungate.com/polygamy.htm]
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