I guess they were their own independent nation, huh?
Utah was a territory under the sole and sovereign jurisdiction of the United States of America. The Congress had outlawed polygamy in the territories under its jurisdiction and the Mormons flaunted that law until the church was eventually disincorporated and the Government had begun seizing assets of the LDS Church.
It was only after the US Goverment began actively enforcing the laws that the LDS Church had their so-called "revelation" suspending the practice.
If you are trying to argue that the LDS Church was not in violation of the law then you have no knowledge of your own church history. Which doesn't surprise me since you think that quoting prophets from 100 years ago is "Living in the past".
Well the prophets I quote and from whom I derive my doctrine all lived thousands of years ago.
So yes, I do live in the past. 1878 is but a moment in time on the Biblical prophecy time line. Joseph F. Smith was not only a recent prophet, but a false prophet to boot.
Obsessed and ignorant is no way to go through life, son.
Isn’t it ironic that a country which espouses freedom of religion required a church to change their marraige practice to become a state in that country?