[Illustration: SALT LAKE TABERNACLE (EXTERIOR.)]

In the year 1869 a number of prominent elders in the Church opposed
President Young and the authorities, and were cut off from the Church. One
of these elders was Wm. S. Godbe, therefore those who followed him were
sometimes called "Godbeites." These men joined with the anti-"Mormons" and
formed what was called the Liberal Party. It was the object of this
organization to oppose the "Mormons," and they were aided in this by the
officers sent to Utah by the government. It had been the policy of
Presidents Lincoln and Johnson to let the "Mormons" alone, but when General
Grant became president he changed the program and at once sent officers to
Utah to "straighten out" the "Mormons." President Grant, no doubt obtained
much of his information about the "Mormons" from his friend, the Rev. J.P.
Newman. This minister had held a three days' discussion in the Tabernacle
at Salt Lake City with Apostle Orson Pratt on the subject of polygamy.
Elder Pratt seems to have got the better of the argument, and it can well
be imagined what kind of information this preacher gave to the president.

The Saints never had more bitter enemies than some of these territorial
officers, especially Governor Shaffer and Chief Judge McKean. For years
these officials, aided by the Liberal Party, tried to run affairs their own
way; and you can easily understand that they could do a great many hateful
things against the "Mormons," having the officers of the law, if not the
law itself, on their side. Especially was their hate directed towards
President Young and the leading brethren who were accused of all manner of
crimes. They were arrested, tried, and placed in prison in many unlawful
ways.

Notwithstanding all these annoyances, the Church continued to grow in