Appreciate your right to vote!!

On Aug 26, 1888, a newspaper article appeared in the New York Times describing the disenfranchisement of Idaho voters, which means they would not be allowed to vote or run for election. The means by which this was accomplished was requiring each person who votes to give an oath that

he is not a member of any order sect organization which teaches, advises, counsels, or encourages its members, devotees, or other persons to commit the crime of bigamy or polygamy, or any other crime defined by law, as a duty arising or resulting from membership in such organization, or which practices bigamy or polygamy, or plural or celestial marriage as a doctrinal rite;

The oath went on, but in practice this essentially prevented Mormons from voting which at the time in Idaho consisted of one fourth of the population of the state. In 1890 the US Supreme Court refused to overturn the law. And Congressmen were preparing to draft federal versions. After the Manifesto was given, and people started to believe it was for real, it was eventually recinded in 1892.

So as you go to vote today, and you are voting, aren’t you? Be grateful for the privilege.