Background
1886 was a difficult year for the Church, a great number of Latter-day Saints were convicted of polygamy, and a great many of them, including Apostle Lorenzo Snow, were put in jail. Some of the Saints who had previously fled to Canada found themselves no longer safe, as it now became against the law there too. Two thousand Mormon women involved in plural marriages protested the government’s persecution against their husbands, but were largely ignored. Ironically this was the year the statue of liberty was erected, however, it seemed that Mormons weren’t entitled to such liberty, freedom and justice as the rest of Americans. Even Church President John Taylor had to go into hiding as there was a price on his head for his capture, and his picture (along with George Q. Cannons’) featured on wanted posters throughout the territory.
Despite being out of the public’s eye, John Taylor still had an important role and mission to fulfill as God’s prophet, and even though the United States and many of the Saints had forsaken him, the Lord was mindful of him, and he found refuge in the homes of a few trusted Saints. John Taylor had faced persecution and death before at the hands of the mob that killed Joseph Smith, but as the Lord revealed to Wilford Woodruff half a decade before he went into hiding, “I have saved my servant John Taylor for a wise purpose in me.” (Woodruff Journal, 28 Dec 1880) A few years later God reiterated how important Taylor would prove during such difficult times when he stated, “For by him only can you be sustained in the time of trouble which is fast approaching.” (25 Dec 1884, Unpublished Revelations 87:16) This is the story of how he fulfilled that prophesy, from someone who witnessed it.
The Visitation of Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith to John Taylor
While the brethren were at the Carlisle residence [in Murray] in May or June of 1886, letters began to come to President John Taylor from such men as John Sharp, Horace Eldredge, William Jennings, John T. Caine1, Abraham Hatch, President Cluff and many other leading men from all over the Church, asking the leaders to do something, as the Gentiles were talking of confiscating their property in connection with the property of the Church.
These letters not only came from those who were living in the Plural Marriage relation, but also from prominent men who were presiding in various offices of the Church who were not living in that relation. They all urged that something be done to satisfy the Gentiles so that their property would not be confiscated.
George Q. Cannon on his own initiative selected a committee comprising himself, Hyrum B. Clawson, Franklin S. Richards, John T. Caine and James Jack to get up a statement or Manifesto that would meet the objections urged by the brethren above named. They met from time to time to discuss the situation. From the White home, where President Taylor and companions stopped, after leaving the Carlisle home, they came out to father’s. George Q. Cannon would go and consult with the brethren of the committee, I taking him back and forth each day.
On September 26, 1886, George Q. Cannon, Hyrum B. Clawson, Franklin S. Richards, and others, met with President John Taylor at my father’s residence at Centerville, Davis County, Utah, and presented a document for President Taylor’s consideration.
I had just got back from a three days’ trip, during most of which time I had been in the saddle, and being greatly fatigued, I had retired to rest. Between one and two o’clock P. M., Brother Bateman came and woke me up and asked me to be at my father’s home where a Manifesto was to be discussed. I went there and found there were congregated Samuel Bateman, Charles H. Wilkins, L. John Nuttall, Charles Birrell, George Q. Cannon, Franklin S. Richards and Hyrum B. Clawson.
We discussed the proposed Manifesto at length, but we were unable to become united in the discussion. Finally George Q. Cannon suggested that President Taylor take the matter up with the Lord and decide the same the next day.
Brothers Clawson and Richards, were taken back to Salt Lake. That evening I was called to act as guard during the first part of the night, notwithstanding the fact that I was greatly fatigued on account of the three days’ trip I had just completed.
The brethren retired to bed soon after nine o’clock. The sleeping rooms were inspected by the guard as was the custom. President Taylor’s room had no outside door. The windows were heavily screened.
Sometime after the brethren retired and while I was reading the Doctrine and Covenants, I was suddenly attracted to a light appearing under the door leading to President Taylor’s room, and was at once startled to hear the voices of men talking there. There were three distinct voices. I was bewildered because it was my duty to keep people out of that room and evidently someone had entered without my knowing it. I made a hasty examination and found the door leading to the room bolted as usual. I then examined the outside of the house and found all the window screens intact. While examining the last window, and feeling greatly agitated, a voice spoke to me, saying, “Can’t you feel the Spirit? Why should you worry?”
At this I returned to my post and continued to hear the voices in the room. They were so audible that although I did not see the parties I could place their positions in the room from the sound of the voices. The three voices continued until about midnight, when one of them left, and the other two continued. One of them I recognized as President John Taylor’s voice. I called Charles Birrell and we both sat up until eight o’clock the next morning.
When President Taylor came out of his room about eight o’clock of the morning of September 27, 1886, we could scarcely look at him on account of the brightness of his personage.2
He stated, “Brethren, I have had a very pleasant conversation all night with Brother Joseph.”3 (Joseph Smith) I said, “Boss, who is the man that was there until midnight?” He asked, “What do you know about it, Lorin?” I told him all about my experience. He said, “Brother Lorin, that was your Lord.”
We had no breakfast, but assembled ourselves in a meeting. I forget who opened the meeting. I was called to offer the benediction. I think my father, John W. Woolley, offered the opening prayer. There were present, at this meeting, in addition to President Taylor, George Q. Cannon, L. John Nuttall, John W. Woolley, Samuel Bateman, Charles H. Wilkins, Charles Birrell, Daniel R. Bateman, Bishop Samuel Sedden, George Earl, my mother, Julia E. Woolley, my sister, Amy Woolley, and myself. The meeting was held from about nine o’clock in the morning until five in the afternoon without intermission, being about eight hours in all.
President Taylor called the meeting to order. He had the Manifesto, that had been prepared under the direction of George Q. Cannon, read over again. He then put each person under covenant that he or she would defend the principle of Celestial or Plural Marriage, and that they would consecrate their lives, liberty and property to this end, and that they personally would sustain and uphold that principle.
By that time we were all filled with the Holy Ghost. President Taylor and those present occupied about three hours up to this time. After placing us under covenant, he placed his finger on the document, his person rising from the floor about a foot or eighteen inches, and with countenance animated by the Spirit of the Lord, and raising his right hand to the square, he said, “Sign that document, - never! I would suffer my right hand to be severed from my body first. Sanction it, - never! I would suffer my tongue to be torn from its roots in my mouth before I would sanction it!”
After that he talked for about an hour and then sat down and wrote the revelation which was given him by the Lord upon the question of Plural Marriage4 [the 1886 revelation to John Taylor]. Then he talked to us for some time, and said, “Some of you will be handled and ostracized and cast out from the Church by your brethren because of your faithfulness and integrity to this principle, and some of you may have to surrender your lives because of the same, but woe, woe, unto those who shall bring these troubles upon you.” (Three of us were handled and ostracized for supporting and sustaining this principle5. There are only three left who were at the meeting mentioned - Daniel R. Bateman, George Earl and myself. So far as I know those of them who have passed away all stood firm to the covenants entered into from that day to the day of their deaths.)
After the meeting referred to, President Taylor had L. John Nuttall write five copies of the revelation. He called five of us together: Samuel Bateman6, Charles H. Wilkins, George Q. Cannon, John W. Woolley7, and my self. He then set us apart and placed us under covenant that while we lived we would see to it that no year passed by without children being born in the principle of plural marriage8. We were given authority to ordain others if necessary to carry this work on, they in turn to be given authority to ordain others when necessary, under the direction of the worthy senior (by ordination), so that there should be no cessation in the work.9 He then gave each of us a copy of the Revelation.
John Taylor’s 1886 Revelation
My son John: You have asked me concerning the New and Everlasting Covenant and how far it is binding upon my people.
Thus saith the Lord: All commandments that I give must be obeyed by those calling themselves by my name unless they are revoked by me or by my authority, and how can I revoke an everlasting covenant; For I the Lord am everlasting and my everlasting covenants cannot be abrogated nor done away with; but they stand forever.
Have I not given my word in great plainness on this subject? Yet have not great numbers of my people been negligent in the observance of my law and the keeping of my commandment, and yet I have borne with them these many years because of the perilous times. And furthermore it is pleasing to me that men should use their free agency in these matters.
Nevertheless I the Lord do not change and my word and my covenants and my law do not. And as I have heretofore said by my servant Joseph: All those who would enter into my glory must and shall obey my law. And have I not commanded men that if they were Abraham’s seed and would enter into my glory they must do the works of Abraham.
I have not revoked this law nor will I for it is everlasting and those who will enter into my glory must obey the conditions thereof, even so, Amen.10
Lorin C. Woolley Account - Continued
I am the only one of the five now living, and so far as I know all five of the brethren remained true and faithful to the covenants they entered into, and to the responsibilities placed upon them at that time.
During the eight hours we were together, and while President Taylor was talking to us, he frequently arose and stood above the floor, and his countenance and being were so enveloped by light and glory that it was difficult for us to look upon him.
He stated that the document, referring to the Manifesto, was from the lower regions.11 He stated that many of the things he had told us we would forget and they would be taken from us, but that they would return to us in due time as needed, and from this fact we would know that the same was from the Lord. This has been literally fulfilled. Many of the things I forgot, but they are coming to me gradually, and those things that come to me are as dear as on the day on which they were given.
President Taylor said that the time would come when many of the Saints would apostatize because of this principle. he said “one-half of this people will apostatize over the principle for which we are now in hiding, yea, and possibly one-half of the other half”12 (rising off the floor while making the statement). He also said the day will come when a document similar to that (Manifesto) then under consideration would be adopted by the Church, following which “apostacy and whoredom would be rampant in the Church.”13
He said that in the time of the seventh president of this Church, the Church would go into bondage14 both temporally and spiritually and in that day (the day of bondage) the One Mighty and Strong spoken of in the 85th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants15 would come.
Among many other things stated by President Taylor on this occasion was this: “I would be surprised if ten per cent of those who claim to hold the Melchisedek Priesthood will remain true and faithful to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, at the time of the seventh president, and that there would be thousands that think they hold the Priesthood at that time, but would not have it properly conferred upon them.”16
John Taylor set the five mentioned apart and gave them authority to perform marriage ceremonies, and also to set others apart to do the same thing as long as they remained on the earth; and while doing so, the Prophet Joseph Smith stood by directing the proceedings. Two of us had not met the Prophet Joseph Smith in his mortal lifetime, and we -Charles H. Wilkins and myself -were introduced to him and shook hands with him.
(signed) Lorin C. Woolley, 1929
In the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses
I was privileged to be at the meeting of September 27, 1886, spoken of by Brother Woolley, I myself acting as one of the guards for the brethren during those exciting times. The proceedings of the meeting as related by Brother Woolley are correct in every detail.
(4 May, 1934, Daniel R. Bateman, Sworn Statement)
See further evidence of this event
In Conclusion
The year of 1886 is past and gone. It has been an important year in the History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints. It has sent to Prison hundreds of the Leading men of the Church and driven into Exile the Presidency of the Church & Twelve Apostle and many other Leading Men all for obeying the Celestial Law of God and the patriarchal order of Marriage And our Nation are uniting in passing unconstitutional Laws for the purpose of Destroying the Latter Day Saints from off the Earth. Our nation is becoming vary wicked and fast ripening in iniquity and preparing for the Just Judgments of God which await them.
(Wilford Woodruff Journal, 31 December 1886)
Footnotes
1. “He was President of the convention and strongly urged the adoption of the clause in the proposed constitution prohibiting polygamy, believing this to be the true solution of the ‘Mormon’ problem, and the only course that would satisfy the government and people of the United States.” (John T. Caine, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia 1:733)
2. “And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.” (Exodus 34:30)
3. “he [Joseph] yet lives, and is with me where I am.” (Revelation to John Taylor, 27 June 1882, Unpublished Revelations 81:19)
“Elder [Lorin] Woolley testified that he knew the Prophets Joseph, Brigham and Heber lived for he had seen them as they appeared to President John Taylor in brother John Woolley’s house.” (Andrew Kimball Journal, 25 January 1897.)
4. “There was a revelation that John Taylor received and we have it in his handwriting. We’ve analyzed the handwriting. It is John Taylor’s handwriting and the revelation is reproduced by the Fundamentalists…The revelation is dated September 27; that fits the account of the meeting, 1886.” (Reed C. Durham, LDS Stake High Priests meeting, 24 Feb 1974)
5. “You will live to see men arise in power in the Church who will seek to put down your friends and the friends of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Many will be hoisted because of their money and worldly learning which they seem to be in possession of; and many who are the true followers of our Lord and Saviour will be cast down.” (Joseph Smith to Mosiah Hancock, as recorded in his Journal, p. 19)
John Woolley was excommunicated in 1914 , Lorin Woolley was excommunicated in 1924, and so was Daniel R. Bateman at some point.
“… woe unto those who cut men off from the Church for private pique, or to exercise undue dominion, or for any reason not prompted by truth and righteousness!” (Millennial Star 40:262)
6. In 1888 John M. Whitaker recorded in his Diary that Samuel Bateman had told him of some “very interesting incidents that occurred while he was with the late President John Taylor,” but he says he did not include them because they didn’t fit in with the direction the Church was then taking. (Whitaker Journal,16 September 1888.)
“Samuel [Bateman] spoke of the 8 hour meeting in Centerville, the sermon of John Taylor there and the subsequent calling of certain men there.” (Life of Samuel Bateman,Olive A.K. Neilson,1944).
7. In the Spring of 1839, Joseph Smith, Sr. gave the young John W. Woolley a Patriarchal Blessing which prophesied, “Thou wilt obtain blessings, glory and honour, and through it though wilt receive keys, world of knowledge and power, and thou wilt be called the Lord’s anointed.”
8. “…no year will ever pass, … from now until the coming of the Saviour, when children will not be born in Plural Marriage. And I make this prophecy in the name of Jesus Christ.” (Apostle Abraham O. Woodruff, Quarterly Conference in Colonia Juarez, 18-19 November 1900.)
9. “..the time would never come when children of Polygamous parents would cease to be born in the Church.” (Apostle Marriner W. Merrill, Rudger Clawson Diary, 11 July 1899.)
A.B. Irvine told me that Apostle Woodruff told him that a certain number of worthy people had been commissioned to keep alive the principle of plural marriage. (Carl Ashby Badger - Apostle Reed Smoot’s secretary - Journal, 8 October 1904.
“President Taylor died in exile for this principle and he gave men authority to perform the ceremony of marriage, which authority I have been told was never revoked.” (Mission President to Apostle Francis M. Lyman, 19 Oct 1906, Quinn - Origins of Power)
10. John Taylor Papers, Church Historians Office
11. “the powers of hell will do their utmost to get this people to give up that holy law which God designs to maintain.” (Brigham Young, Mosiah Hancock Journal, Spring 1863)
“We have made a covenant with death, And with hell we are in agreement.” (Isaiah 28:15)
12. “What would be necessary to bring about the result nearest the hearts of the opponents of ‘Mormonism’? Simply to renounce, abrogate or apostatise from the new and everlasting covenant of marriage in its fullness.” (Pres. Charles W. Penrose, Deseret News, 23 April 1885)
“To be at peace with the government and in harmony with their fellow citizens who are not of their faith, and to share in the confidence of the Government and the people, our people have voluntarily put aside something which all their lives they have believed to be a sacred principle.” (First Presidency, Petition of Amnesty, 19 Dec 1891)
13. “You men and you women that lift up your voices against that holy principle [plural marriage] that has been introduced among this people, the time will come when your daughters will run these streets as common harlots” (Pres. Heber C. Kimball, as related in General Conference, Oct 1901, p. 32)
“the sin of adultery is running rampant through the Church.” (Harold B. Lee, Ensign 4:7:101)
14. “A spirit of speculation and extravagance will take possession of the Saints, and the result will be financial bondage.” (Pres. Heber C. Kimball to Amanda Wilcox, 1868)
Heber J. Grant mortgaged the temple for $30 million in 1923 (for 50 years) to help out the Utah and Idaho Sugar Co.
15. “And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the sceptre of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God;” (D&C 85:7)
16. “… the ordinances must be kept in the very way God has appointed; otherwise their Priesthood will prove a cursing instead of a blessing.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 169)
“Surely a man cannot possess an appendage to the Priesthood without possessing the Priesthood itself, which he cannot obtain unless it be authoritatively conferred upon him.” (Joseph F. Smith, Improvement Era 4:394, March 1901)