[Hosea Stout Diary] Friday September 4th 1846. Was at home reading a lot of news-papers got of Dr W. Richards[.] In the evening I went to a council at Rockwoods but there being no business the council adjourned. While here I saw Br Wilford Woodruff who informed me of the conduct of some young men towards some young women.President Young had also previously given me charge to keep a sharp look out for them and that they had undertakin to get hold of them and some one informed them what was up
Elder Woodruff said that they and the girls had been out for fifteen nights in succession untill after two oclock and that it was his wish & the wish of the President that I should take the matter in hand and see that they had a just punishment by whipping them and for me to take my own course and use my own judgement in executing the same[.] I told him that I would see to it[.] This was I believe the first step taken since we were in the wilderness to enforce obedience to the Law of God or to punish a transgressor for a breach of the same. The crimes of these men were adultery or having carnal communication with the girls which was well known to many and the legal punishment was death
[source: Diaries of Hosea Stout]
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