[First Presidency letter]
Special Fast Day-- ...
The reference in this letter to a pending decision of the Supreme Court of the United States presumably was relative to the validity of the Idaho Test Oath Law which was upheld as constitutional February 3, 1890 in a decision in the case of Davis vs. Beason.
The list of things for which the Saints should pray during their special fast might be classified as the Mormon "Bill of Rights" of 1889.
...There never was a time probably in our history when the Latter-day Saints needed more than they do at present the assistance which God has promised to render to us. ... And that we may do this in a proper manner we have felt led to set apart the next anniversary of the birthday of the Prophet Joseph Smith-December 23rd-as a day of fasting and of solemn prayer unto the Lord.
We think the fast should be from sundown on Sunday, the 22nd, to sundown on Monday, the 23rd, covering a period of twenty-four hours. ...
All labor that can be dispensed with should be suspended on that day...
We should pray for the plots and the schemes which are being framed for the purpose of robbing us of our civil and political rights and of obtaining control of our cities, counties and Territory, to be confounded, and their authors to be thwarted in their evil designs.
We should pray for all who conspire, in any manner, to injure or destroy the work of God, or to take from the people their rights and liberties, to be defeated in their wicked purposes.
We should pray for the unfavorable action of courts and of officials to be overruled in such a manner that no injury will be done to Zion....
We remain, your Brethren, WILFORD WOODRUFF, GEORGE Q CANNON, JOSEPH F. SMITH, First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
[1889-December 2-Original circular letter, Church Historian's Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. See also Deseret News Weekly as quoted in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
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