A Key to the Manifesto, Part 2 of Chapter 15 of Holy Priesthood Volume 6

Pages 258 to 277

The American dream of a land of freedom had turned into a nightmare of tyranny. It had become so corrupt that many states wanted to secede, while Utah was trying to join. For their devotion to the Constitution, the Saints in this area were rewarded with persecution and imprisonment. In a Dr. Jekyll/ Mr. Hyde performance, the lovely lamb of liberty had turned into a ravenous wolf. Instead of a military force to defend the Mormons, the U.S. Government sent an army out to destroy them.

If ever the Lord wanted to cleanse a nation, it was this one–and it certainly needed it. The Lord pleaded with the Saints to let Him fight their battles. In 1880, He revealed to Wilford Woodruff:

And what I the Lord say unto you, mine Apostles, I also say unto my servants the Seventies, the High Priests, the Elders, the Priests and all my servants who are pure in heart and who have borne testimony unto the nations. Let them go forth and cleanse their feet in pure water and bear testimony of it unto the Father who is in heaven.

And then, saith the Lord unto mine Apostles and mine Elders, when ye do these things with purity of heart, I the Lord will hear your prayers and am bound by oath and covenant to defend you and fight your battles. (Journal of Wilford Woodruff, Jan. 25, 1880)

And in 1889, about one year before issuing the Manifesto, President Woodruff was again told by the Lord:

Place not yourselves in jeopardy to your enemies by promise. Your enemies seek your destruction and the destruction of my people. If the Saints will hearken unto my voice, and the counsel of my servants, the wicked shall not prevail. Let my servants who officiate as your counselors before the courts make their pleadings as they are moved upon by the Holy Spirit, without any further pledges from my Priesthood. (“1889 Revelation to Wilford Woodruff,” SLC, as recorded in Revelations 1880-1890, Pioneer Press, p. 64)