Scope and Contents John Taylor and George Q. Cannon, letter to Franklin Spencer, 22 October 1885, says: "As to the proper method of dealing with what are called minor sins, the Presidents of Stakes and Bishops have it in their power to decide. That there has been too much looseness upon these points in many places appears clear to us from the reports which reach us. Sabbath breaking, drunkenness, blasphemy, and sins of this character forbidden by the word of God should not be allowed to pass unreproved by the...

Scope and Contents John Taylor, letter to Marriner W. Merrill, 27 January 1886, says: "It is not advisable to fall into the fashion of issuing certificates of the character you describe [i.e., of polygamous marriages]. The parties themselves should keep a record of the transaction and the names of the witnesses, and beyond this nothing more is necessary unless it should be required to prove the marriage for the purposes of heirship to property, when it can be procured. We do not think it proper for a young man...

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First Presidency, letter to Angus M. Cannon, 4 February 1887, says: "As the presidency of your stake meets tomorrow and there may be an inclination on the part of some to take up the question on round dancing at the University Ball and at some other parties which have been held in the city, we suggest to you that nothing be said upon that subject for the present."

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George Reynolds, secretary to the First Presidency, letter to Arthur Eroppe, 9 March 1888, says: "I will say that it is the universal rule that all our members should be re-baptized and re-confirmed when they reach Zion. This requirement has been observed by the President of the Church, and all its officers and members, and would be required of you on your arrival."

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First Presidency, letter to artists in Paris, 26 April 1892, says: "The walls of the Garden [of the Salt Lake Temple] ought to represent as well as can be done, the Garden of Eden in the condition in which it was when the Lord placed our first parents therein, as described in the scriptures, filled with the most beautiful vegetation, and with animals of every kind dwelling together without enmity.... We would like the designs to be as beautiful as it is possible to obtain."

Scope and Contents Wilford Woodruff and JFS, letter to Job Pingree, 23 January 1894, says: "With regard to your questions we will say that no one who has deliberately committed murder can be permitted to be baptized into the Church of Christ, and we regard those who intentionally destroy their children before birth as included in this prohibition; as to the lesser sin of preventing conception, no general rule can be laid down, there are so many different circumstances distinguishing one case from another and...

Scope and Contents [George F. Gibbs, secretary to the First Presidency], letter to Levi Savage, 17 December 1895, says: "I am directed by the First Presidency to say in answer to your favor of tenth instant that in the cases to which you refer, the same rule holds good with regard to both living and dead. For those who have associated with any upon whom rests the curse of Cain [the Blacks] baptisms can be performed, but endowments cannot be received. The fact of them being dead does not make any difference in...

Scope and Contents George Reynolds, secretary to the First Presidency, letter to Ben E. Rich, 11 March 1899, says: "If an Elder feels that he has just cause and is moved upon by the Spirit of God to wash his feet against a person or persons who have violently or wickedly rejected the truth, let him do so quietly and beyond noting it in his journal let him not make it public. Nothing should be published in the Southern Star or else-where on this subject. Elders should be...

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First Presidency, letter to Heber J. Grant, 12 October 1906, says: "It has always been held that a man tainted with Negro blood is not eligible to hold the Priesthood; neither is a white man who marries a Negro woman, or a woman tainted with Negro blood."

Scope and Contents First Presidency, letter to William Budge, president of the Logan Temple, 20 February 1912, says: "This will authorize you to permit the temple work to be done in behalf of the father of the bearer, Anna J. Keller, of Mink Creek, Idaho, and then perform the sealing ordinance in behalf of her parents, to whom she wishes to be sealed, leaving the record showing the sealing of her mother to Bishop Rasmussen unchanged. P.S. Please make a note on the record in connection with the sealing of the...

Scope and Contents First Presidency, letter to the General Boards of the YLMIA, Primary, and Relief Society, 22 September 1916, says: "We feel that there exists a pressing need of improvement and reform among our young people, specifically in the matter of dress and in their social customs and practices. Our women are prone to follow the demoralizing fashions of the world; and some of the daughters of Zion appear to vie with one another in exhibitions of immodesty and of actual indecency in their attire.......

Scope and Contents First Presidency, letter to Thomas J. Yates, 6 February 1917, in answer to the question, namely, "Where a mother and father have joined the Church and are doing work in the temple, we take it that the father is heir for his line and the mother is heir for her line. Question: Does the mother lose her heirship when her oldest son receives the Higher Priesthood, if he is a good and faithful man, or does she retain it, having commenced the work for her line?" says in answer: "The mother does not...

Scope and Contents John Taylor, letter to the First Presidency, 7 November 1877, says: "The subject of the present condition of the patriarchs has lately been considered by us. It has appeared to several of the members of the quorum [of the Twelve] that they had lately noticed a spirit amongst some of the brethren ordained to this office, to degrade it to a mere means of obtaining a livelihood, and to obtain more business they had been traveling from door to door and underbidding each other in the price of...

Scope and Contents L. John Nuttall, letter to Elder William Adams, 9 January 1882, says: "I am directed to say that the Liquor question is one that requires the best judgment and firmness of all concerned to properly handle and control, as any other one thing among us as a people. And in view of the complications attending the sale of liquors, President [John] Taylor thinks it will be best for your Cooperative Institution to handle it, where, under the wise counsel of the Board of Directors, such safeguards...

Scope and Contents George Reynolds, secretary to the First Presidency, letter to Edward Cliff, 14 March 1885, says: "I write by direction of Elder Franklin D. Richards. It is understood here that it would be desirable for reasons that need no explaining, that you should take a mission [in order to avoid imprisonment for polygamy]. Where would you prefer? How would New Zealand suit you? Our reason for asking is that at the present time there is no call for Elders in Great Britain; more have gone there than are...