BY JOHN JAQUES, ELDER IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY
SAINTS.
_Elder B_. Good morning, sir. How do you do to-day?
_Mr. W_. O! good morning, sir. How do you do? I hope you are well. I
am happy to see you. Come, walk in and sit down. I have been expecting
you, and wishing you would come. I have many things of which to
ask you to-day, if you will be kind enough to inform me concerning
them. Since you were here last week, my mind has been much exercised
respecting your principles. What I heard from you then, has appeared
to me as near the truth as anything I ever heard before. If I had any
prejudice against the Latter-day Saints previous to my meeting with
you, I think it is now well nigh gone. Still there are some things
connected with your people, of which I wish to learn a little more. I
had not opportunity last week to name these things to you, as our time
was short, and we seemed to occupy it so well with other conversation,
that many questions which I wished to put to you, I really was obliged
to postpone till a more favourable opportunity. But after dinner, I
took my pipe, as I generally do, and sat in the corner, canvassing and
weighing over what we had conversed upon, and other things which we had
not. When I get my pipe, I reckon myself in my study, so I puzzled for
full two hours over matters relating to your people. Finally, I thought
I should have the privilege of seeing you again in a few days, when
I could inquire of your more fully. Now you are here, for which I am
glad. Would you first of all give me a brief description of the origin,
progress, and present position of the Latter-day Saints, and of the
organization and different officers of your Church?
_Elder B_. I will do so. About the year 1820, there was a great revival
excitement among the religious societies in the town of Manchester,
Ontario county, New York. This revival {53} was kept up with spirit
by a series of camp meetings, in which preachers and people of all
denominations joined. A multitude of converts was the result. But as
they began to attach themselves to this or that society, a scene of
strife and confusion prevailed, which contrasted strangely with the
professions and former demeanour of both priests and people. In this
town lived a young man, then in his fifteenth year. His father's family
clung to the Presbyterian faith, and four of them joined that body.
This young man was deeply impressed during the above excitement. But
the divisions and contentions of the religious societies puzzled him,
and he reflected seriously upon their conduct, asking himself who,
amidst all the strife, was right, and whom he must join. While in
this anxious state, he one day opened his Bible, and read that golden
counsel given by James--"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
that giveth unto all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be
given him."--i. 5. This precious passage came with great force to the
mind of this young man. The teaching exactly suited his case. He was
unlearned, he was ignorant, he lacked wisdom. The preachers all claimed
to be right, though, at the same time, they differed, and strove with
each other. It was therefore folly to go to them to learn the truth.
He wisely resolved to follow the advice of James, and "ask of God."
Accordingly, this young man retired to a secluded spot, and kneeling
down began to pray earnestly to the Almighty for guidance. The youth
had scarcely done so, when he was suddenly seized by an invisible
power, which rendered him speechless and helpless. Darkness seemed to
hover around him. However, he exerted all his power to ask deliverance
from the Lord, when a pillar of light, surpassing the brightness of
the midday sun, appeared above the youth, and descended gradually till
it fell upon him, and he felt released from his distressing bondage.
When the light rested upon him, he saw two most glorious personages
standing above him in the air. One spoke to him, pointing to the other,
saying--"This is my beloved Son, hear him."
_Mr. W_. Then this young man actually saw and spoke to the Lord, and to
his Son Jesus Christ!
_Elder B_. Yes. The young man asked the latter person, which of all
the religious societies was right. In answer, the youth was informed
that all were teaching incorrect doctrines, and that he must join none
of the sects. To a certain extent this satisfied his mind. But on the
evening of the 21st of September, 1823, he again prayed to the Lord for
a manifestation from Him. While thus engaged, a light appeared in the
{54} room, which increased until it became brighter than noonday, when
immediately a personage appeared at the bedside, standing in the air.
_Mr. W_. A second vision!
_Elder B_. Yes. The personage had on an exceedingly white robe. His
person was very glorious, and his countenance like lightning. Around
him shone a halo or light superior to that which filled the room. He
said he was a messenger from God, and was named Moroni [See Joseph
Smith, the Prophet, page 19]. He called the young man by name, and told
him that God had a work for him to do, which should cause his name to
be good and evil spoken of among all people, and that a book written
upon gold plates, and giving an account of the ancient inhabitants of
America, was deposited in the earth, and with the book two stones in
silver bows fastened to a breastplate, which were called anciently
the "Urim and Thummim," and by which God revealed intelligence to His
people. See Ex. xxviii. Lev. viii. 8. Deut. xxxiii. 8. I Sam. xxviii.
6. xxx. Ezra ii. 63.
_Mr. W_. I recollect reading of the priests using the Urim and Thummim
among the children of Israel.
_Elder B_. Just so. On these plates was engraven the fulness of
the everlasting Gospel, as Jesus Christ taught it to the ancient
inhabitants of America. These sacred things were not to be shown to
any person, except by commandment from the Lord. The place where they
were deposited was shown to the young man's mind in this vision.
After giving many more instructions, the messenger withdrew. While
the young man lay musing on what he had seen and heard, the same
messenger appeared again to him, repeating the former instructions,
and adding others. A second time the messenger withdrew. Before
morning he appeared a third time, and repeating what he had before
communicated, added still further instructions, cautioning the youth
to beware and not to be led astray. Whilst in the field the next day,
the same messenger again stood before him, commanding him to go and
tell his vision and the commandments he had received to his father. The
youth obeyed, and his father told him that he must do as he was told
by the angel, as it was of God. The young man accordingly went to the
place where the records were deposited in a stone box, covered over by
another stone, the middle part of the top of which was just visible
above the ground. He raised the stone, and beheld the plates, the Urim
and Thummim, and the breast-plate. He made an attempt to take them out,
but the messenger again appeared to him and forbade {55} him, telling
him the time had not yet come, but it would be four years longer. He
was commanded to go to the place once a year, until the time appointed,
and was informed that the messenger would meet him there. This
commandment the youth obeyed, and received instruction and intelligence
each time.
_Mr. W_. Though he was young, he certainly underwent a considerable
course of experience before he was entrusted with the commission of the
work.
_Elder B_. Truly so. The magnitude, importance, and sacred character of
the work to which he was chosen, required the simplicity and obedience
of youth, combined with the soberness and wisdom of maturity. Had an
old man been chosen, he might have been too much indoctrinated with the
opinions of the age, to readily obey the instructions of the heavenly
messenger. Had not the youth been qualified for his great work, by a
course of instruction and preparation, he might have been liable, in
the lightness and thoughtlessness and inexperience of youth, to trifle
with the sacred things committed to his charge.
_Mr. W_. Very true.
_Elder B_. On the 22nd of September, 1827, the angel placed the
plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breast-plate, in the youth's
hands, charging him with the responsibility of their safe keeping.
The plates were near eight inches long by seven wide, and a little
thinner than ordinary tin. Engravings of the Egyptian hieroglyphic
species filled both sides of the plates. They were bound together by
three rings, at one edge, and were altogether about six inches thick.
A part of the plates were sealed. The youth immediately prepared for
their translation, which was done by means of the Urim and Thummim,
as the language in which the plates were engraved was peculiar to the
ancient inhabitants of America, and unknown to the present generation.
About this time, he suffered much persecution, chiefly from religious
persons, who had heard of his having visions, &c. He was compelled
to flee for safety from Manchester, New York, to Pennsylvania. He
continued to translate the record until he had finished those plates
which were unsealed. All the plates were then delivered up again to
the angel. After the translation, the Lord, by a heavenly messenger,
showed the plates to three witnesses--Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer,
and Martin Harris. The youth also showed the plates, by commandment, to
eight other persons--Christian Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, Peter Whitmer,
jun., John Whitmer, Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, sen., Hyrum Smith, and
Samuel H. Smith. The testimony of these eleven witnesses precedes
{56} the translation, which is entitled the Book of Mormon, the first
edition of which was published in 1830.
_Mr. W_. I have heard much concerning this Book of Mormon, and have
always understood it to be of an apocryphal or a fabulous nature. Your
history of it is certainly strange, but, to be candid, I cannot say
that it is any more improbable than many things which are contained in
the Bible. It is not right to hastily condemn any thing that may appear
strange, for it is truly said that "truth is strange--stranger than
fiction." Could you give me a short description of the contents of this
far-famed book?
_Elder B_. I know that many rumours and false statements are actively
circulated concerning that book. Its true history I have just
related. The book contains accounts of two separate and distinct
races of people. The first were called Jaredites, and they emigrated
from the tower of Babel. Being a righteous people, their language
was not confounded, and they were led by the Lord over the ocean
to the continent of America, where, occupying the northern portion
principally, they became a numerous, powerful, civilized, and
refined nation, and had Prophets living among them. But they finally
degenerated and became corrupt, so much so, that, after inhabiting the
land about fifteen or sixteen centuries, the Lord utterly destroyed
them. The records of this people were engraved on twenty-four gold
plates which were found by the second race who peopled this continent.
This last race consisted of two colonies. The first were descendants of
Joseph, and left Jerusalem in the first year of the reign of Zedekiah,
about six hundred years before Christ, being directed by the Lord. They
travelled by the borders of the Red Sea, then struck for the ocean,
crossed the Pacific, and landed in South America. This colony, in the
early part of their career, became divided into two parties. One party
were termed Nephites, and were a righteous and enlightened people. The
other were termed Lamanites, and became a wicked and ignorant people.
The second colony were composed partly of the tribe of Judah. This
people left Jerusalem in the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah,
when the Jews were being carried captive to Babylon. These emigrants
landed in North America, and soon after removed to the northern
parts of South America, where, about four centuries after, they were
discovered by the Nephites, in a partial state of civilization. These
two peoples amalgamated, and became one great and enlightened people.
Prophets existed among them. Jesus Christ himself visited them, after
his resurrection, healed their sick, called twelve Apostles, and
established his Church in {57} the land, in partial fulfilment of what
he said to the Jews--"Other sheep I have which are not of this fold:
them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall
be one fold and one shepherd."--John xiv. 16.
_Mr. W_. But he did not bring them, and make them of one fold with the
Jews, having one shepherd. I have always understood that this passage
related to the Gentiles.
_Elder B_. The Gentiles were not reckoned sheep then. Besides Jesus
said, at another time, that he was "not sent but unto the lost sheep
of the house of Israel."--Matt. xv. 24. So he would not be likely to
speak of ministering among the Gentiles. He went to the Nephites, and
they heard his voice, and many followed after him. They will not be
brought into one fold with the Jews, until all scattered Israel are
gathered together, and "made one nation in the land upon the mountains
of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be
no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms
any more at all." The union of the stick or record of Joseph--the
Book of Mormon, with the stick or record of Judah--the Bible, will be
instrumental in producing this grand and glorious effect.--Ezek. xxxvii.
_Mr. W_. I certainly never saw so much apparent appropriateness and
force in those prophecies before.
_Elder B_. Perhaps not. But to resume. The Nephites and Lamanites,
after the visit of Jesus, ran well for a time. But they became corrupt,
as years rolled on, and were often engaged in contention and bloodshed.
Finally the Lamanites conquered and destroyed the Nephites, in the
beginning of the fifth century after Christ. Their records were hid up
in the earth by two of the last Nephite Prophets--Mormon and Moroni, in
the hill where heaven directed the young man to go for the plates. The
North American Indians are the descendants of the Lamanites, and what
few of the Nephites mingled among them.
_Mr. W_. Well surely, that is a most interesting story. The record of
half a world come to light! I must certainly read that book. How does
it agree with the Bible doctrinally?
_Elder B_. Most admirably. Both books being written by inspiration
of the same Holy Spirit, they run of course in complete unison. The
Book of Mormon does not coincide with modern apostate religions,
which have the form, but deny the power of godliness. That book, as
may be expected, takes a bold and decided stand with the Bible, and
fearlessly condemns all churches which are not backed up by the power
and gifts and blessings of the Holy Ghost as the Primitive Church was.
{58} On some vital points, which in the Bible appear ambiguous through
mistranslation, interpolation, or perversion, the Book of Mormon speaks
in the most plain and pointed language, so that none may misunderstand.
_Mr. W_. Indeed.
_Elder B_. I will now resume my narrative. On the 15th of May, 1829,
the young man and a friend--Oliver Cowdery, being convinced of the
necessity and the proper mode of baptism, went into the woods to pray
on the subject. While praying, a heavenly messenger--John the Baptist,
descended in a cloud of light, laid his hands upon their heads, and
ordained them saying--"Upon you my fellow-servants, in the name of
Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the
ministering of angels, and of the Gospel of repentance, and of baptism
by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken
again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering
unto the Lord in righteousness." The messenger said that the Aaronic
Priesthood had not power to lay on hands for the Gift of the Holy
Ghost, but that that power should afterwards be given, and he commanded
these two persons to baptize each other, and then re-ordain each other,
which they straightway did, and the Spirit of God came upon them, and
they prophesied. They afterwards received the Melchisedec Priesthood,
which has power to lay on hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and to
administer in spiritual blessings.
_Mr. W_. Why did they re-ordain each other? Was not the ordination of
the angel sufficient?
_Elder B_. There was no one on earth who had authority to baptize
these two persons, therefore the angel conferred it upon them, that
they might be qualified to baptize each other. They were required to
re-ordain each other after baptism, doubtless for the same reason that
Jesus was baptized--that they might fulfil the law of God in its proper
order, as far as possible, and thus become patterns for those who might
believe on their words.
_Mr. W_. Very likely.
_Elder B_. When the Book of Mormon was published, some who read it
became convinced of its truth, and were baptized. On the 6th of April,
1830, a Church, consisting of six members, was organized at Fayette,
Seneca county, New York. That Church was the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. The youth who was the instrument in bringing forth
the book, and in organizing the Church, was Joseph Smith. The Church
increased rapidly in numbers, and in the gifts of {59} the Spirit.
In the fall of the year, several Elders went to the state of Ohio,
preaching, and baptized hundreds, and also introduced the Gospel into
all the states west of New York. In 1831, a settlement was formed in
Lake county, Ohio, and another in Jackson county, Missouri. The Saints
in Ohio built a Temple to the Lord, at Kirtland, at the completion
of which, in 1836, the power and glory of God were manifested in a
remarkable degree. In consequence of continued persecution the Ohio
settlement was abandoned in the year 1838. The Saints in Missouri laid
the foundation stone for a Temple, at Independence, Jackson county,
on the 3rd of August, 1831. This Temple is not yet built. The Saints
were driven by mob violence from Jackson county to Clay county, in
1833. Soon after, they were driven from Clay county to Caldwell and
other counties. In the winter of 1838-9, the Saints were expelled,
at the bayonet's point, from the state of Missouri. In these awful
persecutions and drivings, neither age, sex, nor condition was spared
from the most revolting brutality, such was the relentless cruelty of
the enemies of the Saints. In 1839, they began to gather on the east
bank of the Mississippi, in the state of Illinois, and commenced to
build up the city of Nauvoo, and soon afterwards a noble Temple. The
Temple was finished and dedicated in 1846. In 1837, Elders were sent on
a mission to Britain, where they succeeded in baptizing multitudes. In
1843, Elders were sent to the Society Isles, where numerous converts
were made. On the 27th of June, 1844, the Prophet Joseph Smith, and his
brother Hyrum, the Patriarch, were cruelly murdered by a mob, armed and
disguised, in Carthage jail, twelve miles from Nauvoo, where these two
men of God were thrown, for pretended crimes, and held for trial under
the government pledge of personal safety. During his lifetime, Joseph
Smith was embroiled in nearly fifty law-suits, yet was never legally
convicted of any offence to the law of the land. In 1846, the Saints,
again assailed by persecution, were compelled to quit Nauvoo. Fifteen
thousand to twenty thousand people were obliged to vacate their dearly
bought homes, travel across the vast prairies, and seek a home among
the wild fastnesses of the Rocky Mountains. While in this condition,
the government of the United States required the Saints to furnish a
battalion of able-bodied men to aid in the Mexican war. This unjust
requisition was complied with, and five hundred men were immediately
enrolled, and sent to California, leaving their wives and families
destitute in an Indian country. In July, 1847, a pioneer company of the
Saints entered the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. Setting {60} aside
the incidental privations of a new settlement, especially under these
circumstances, that and the surrounding valleys have ever since been
the peaceable and prosperous home of the Saints. They are now organized
as a territory of the United States. Cities have been built, lands
improved, and a Temple two hundred feet long is in progress. During
the last four years, flourishing missions have been established in
France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Italy, Switzerland,
Malta, Gibraltar, Hindostan, Australia, and the Sandwich Isles; and
Elders have recently been sent to Siam, Ceylon, China, the West Indies,
British Guiana, and Chili. The Latter-day Saints in Britain now number
about thirty thousand. About twenty thousand have left these shores to
go to the head quarters of the Church. Between two thousand and three
thousand leave Britain annually, for the same destination. The Book of
Mormon is published in English, Welsh, French, German, Italian, Danish,
and Polynesian. The Doctrine and covenants of the Church is published
in English, Welsh, and Danish. The following papers and periodicals
are now in circulation--The "Deseret News," published semi-monthly,
at Great Salt Lake City; the "Seer," monthly, at Washington, United
States; the "Millennial Star," weekly, at Liverpool; the "Udgorn
Seion," in Welsh, weekly, at Merthyr Tydfil; the "Skandinaviens
Stierne," in Danish, semi-monthly, at Copenhagen; and "Le Reflecteur,"
in French, monthly, at Lausanne.
_Mr. W_. The Latter-day Saints have certainly made a most extraordinary
and rapid progress, notwithstanding their persecutions. How many kinds
of ministers are there in your Church?
_Elder B_. In the Church of Christ there are two Priesthoods--the
Melchisedec, and the Levitical or Aaronic. The Melchisedec Priesthood
is the higher Priesthood, and, as I said before, holds the power to
administer in spiritual things. Apostles, Patriarchs or Evangelists,
Seventies, High Priests, and Elders, are of this Priesthood. The
Levitical Priesthood is the lesser Priesthood, and holds authority to
administer in temporal things and outward ordinances. Bishops, Priests,
Teachers, and Deacons are of this Priesthood. The Apostleship is the
highest office in the Church, and can officiate in all ordinances and
blessings, spiritual or temporal, and build up the kingdom of God.
One of the Apostles is chosen to be Prophet, Seer, and Revelator to
the Church, and he has authority to give revelations from God for the
guidance of the whole Church. Since the organization of the Church, in
1830, this Prophet, Seer, and Revelator has been also the President
{61} of the Church in all the world. The President is assisted by two
Counsellors holding the Apostleship. These three constitute what is
termed the First Presidency of the Church. The duty of a Patriarch is
to bless the Saints with Patriarchal blessings. Twelve of the Apostles
are organized as a Quorum, whose duty it is to travel in all the world,
and introduce the Gospel, and regulate the affairs of the Church
in their travels. These Twelve are of course subject to the First
Presidency. One of the Twelve is President of the Quorum. There are
about thirty-three Quorums of Seventies, seventy in each Quorum, as the
name implies. Each Quorum of the Seventies has seven Presidents. One
of these seven presides over his associates. The seven Presidents of
the first Quorum preside over all the Quorums of Seventies. The duty of
the Seventies is to travel in all the world, and introduce the Gospel,
under the direction of the Quorum of the Twelve. The High Priests
constitute a Quorum, which has a President with two Counsellors. The
duty of the High Priests is more particularly to preside. Twelve High
Priests are chosen as the High Council of the Church. The duty of the
High Council is to try the most serious offences against the laws of
the Church. The Elders constitute a Quorum, which has a President
with two Counsellors. An Elder has authority to preach the Gospel,
baptize, lay on hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and to administer
in spiritual blessings. All the officers above an Elder are also
called Elders. The duty of a Bishop is to administer in the temporal
affairs of the Church, and to sit as a judge upon transgressors. The
duty of a Priest is to preach the Gospel, and administer in outward
ordinances--such as baptism, and the Lord's supper, and to visit the
members of the Church, and exhort them to faithfulness. The duty of
a Teacher is to be as a father to the members, to watch over them
continually, and see that there is no lying, backbiting, evil speaking,
or iniquity of any kind, in the Church, and that all the members meet
together often, do their duty, and live in love and union. The duty
of the Deacon is to attend to the temporal well-being and comfort of
the Church, and to assist the Teacher in his duties when necessary.
The Priests, the Teachers, and the Deacons, each constitute a distinct
Quorum, having its respective President, with his two Counsellors.
The lesser offices of the Priesthood are all embodied in the higher,
consequently an officer can minister in the duties of any office
beneath him. Thus an Apostle can administer in the duties of High
Priest, Elder, or Deacon.
{62} _Mr. W_. You have a most wonderful and elaborate organization.
_Elder B_. No other organization in the world is so complete, or so
beautifully adapted "for the perfecting of the Saints, the work of
the ministry, or the edifying of the body of Christ," which St. Paul
declares to be the end of the Priesthood.
_Mr. W_. How was so minute a knowledge of the various offices and their
duties obtained? It is not given in the Bible.
_Elder B_. Neither the Bible nor the Book of Mormon so particularly
describe the offices of the Holy Priesthood, or so clearly define their
duties. By revelation from God, and by the inspiration of the Holy
Ghost, was this glorious knowledge given in these last days.
_Mr. W_. It's passing strange! And yet I feel glad--I cannot but admire
your system--But why do the Latter-day Saints leave their native land,
and go to America? as I understand they do.
_Elder B_. In a few words I can show you the propriety of that
principle. You know very well that righteousness has no fellowship
with unrighteousness. The righteous and the wicked can never live in
peace and harmony. The laws of God can never be fully obeyed while
the people of God are scattered among the wicked. The separation of
the people of God from the wicked has been a prominent feature in all
dispensations. Salvation can never be realized without this separation.
Abraham was commanded to go with his family to a land that he knew
not. The children of Israel were commanded to gather out of the land
of Egypt, to the land of Canaan, and be separate from their enemies.
The Israelites ever considered their dispersion among the nations as
a most signal sign of the displeasure of the Lord. Jesus wept over
Jerusalem, and said how often he would have gathered her children as
a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but the stubborn Jews
would not listen to him, consequently they were scattered among all
nations, the most fearful curse that ever befell that people. They
still look forward, with the strongest confidence, to their gathering
again to Jerusalem and to Palestine, and regard that gathering as ample
recompense for the long, dreary night of scattering which they are now
passing through. And the Lord has promised that the wonders of the last
gathering of His people shall totally eclipse, and banish from their
minds, the wonders of the gathering from Egypt.--Jer. xvi. xxxi. When
the Latter-day judgments are being sent among the wicked, does not St.
John {63} say that a voice is to be heard from heaven--"Come out of her
[Babylon-the wicked nations], my people, that ye be not partakers of
her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues?"--Rev. xviii. 4. And
Joel says, "In Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, shall be deliverance," in
the last days.--Joel ii. 32. We know where Jerusalem is, and God has
revealed that the Mount Zion of the last days is in America, and has
also commanded His people to gather there, and prepare themselves to
dwell in peace when Jesus Christ shall come. The Jews will return to
Jerusalem by and bye. At your leisure, read Isaiah ii. v. xi. xliii.
xlix. Zech. x. Ezek. xi. xx. xxxiii. Zeph. iii. Jer. xxxii. Many other
passages might be named, but these prove that a mighty gathering of the
people of God was to occur in the last days. It is now being fulfilled.
_Mr. W_. I will read the passages. But I have one thing more to name. I
am told that the Latter-day Saints believe in a man's having more wives
than one. This, if true, is opposed to my feelings, and to my ideas
of propriety and morality. Is this doctrine believed in and practised
by your people? If so, how can you reconcile it with Scripture and
morality?
_Elder B_. This doctrine is believed in by the Latter-day Saints.
It is practised by them in the Territory of Utah. There is no law
there to forbid polygamy. But they do not practise it in England, or
in any country where the law of the land forbids the practice. Your
feelings, and your ideas of propriety and morality, are induced by
your education. In this country, men and women are educated to believe
that polygamy is flagrantly immoral, and nothing more or less than
licentiousness. This is a most erroneous idea. There is an immense
difference between a man's holding illegal and promiscuous intercourse
with the other sex, for the pleasure of the moment only, regardless of
consequences, and his legally marrying several wives, and honourably
supporting them and their children. In the first case, there is a grave
abuse of the sexual powers, and a grievous violation of the highest and
holiest principles. In the second case, there is nothing of this kind,
but merely an extensive development of those powers and principles.
There is far less licentiousness in the East, where polygamy prevails,
than in the West, where it is illegal. As regards Scripture, there
is not a word in the Bible condemning polygamy, not a word. On the
contrary, the most righteous men known in sacred history, advocated
and practised this principle. Did God favour them the less on that
account? Not a jot. He was the author of the principle. In certain
instances, an Israelite could not obey the law of God, without {64}
taking more wives than one. For example--a childless widow had legal
claim on her deceased husband's brother, or nearest male relative, for
the fulfilment of marital duties. If the brother or relative refused to
fulfil these duties, he was publicly disgraced by the woman. Deut. xxv.
_Mr. W_. I acknowledge that there is an essential difference between
the two cases you mention. But as respects the law in Israel, I thought
that Jesus Christ did away with that.
_Elder B_. There is no record of his doing away with it. He
said--"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the Prophets; I
am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Matt. v. 17.
_Mr. W_. But would not polygamy make the women jealous of each other?
_Elder B_. There is no cause for it. We are all redeemed by one
Lord--should that make us jealous of each other? We are all the
children of one heavenly Father--should that make us jealous? You
have several children--should that make your first-born jealous
of the others? Just as little cause exists for the association of
jealousy with polygamy. Indeed it is calculated to dispel jealousy.
For instance--In this country, three young women all love the same
young man. Being rivals, it is quite natural to suppose that the young
women, through their jealousy, hate each other in exact proportion as
they love the young man, because they know that the law will not allow
him to be married to them all, and consequently when one has obtained
him the others have irrecoverably lost him. If polygamy were allowed,
this jealousy would not exist, because a woman would know she could be
married to any man she loved, if she could win his affection, which
part of the business might be safely entrusted to her.
_Mr. W_. But what advantages would accrue through a man's having more
wives than one.
_Elder B_. I have just told you one very great advantage--a woman
could, without fear of rivalry, become the wife of the man on whom she
had set the purest and warmest affections of her soul. She would not
be compelled, as many are now, to throw herself away on some brute in
human form, who would scarcely pass the honeymoon before he treated
her worse than his cattle. Such wretches do not deserve a wife at all.
But what are women to do? You can't unsex them. Women are women, after
all, and they know they have a right to husbands and protectors. If
they cannot get as good as they wish, they will get as good as they
can. Therefore leave their choice free as to whom they shall have. A
woman gives herself wholly and entirely, body and affections, to a man.
She {65} ought surely to be allowed to bestow such a gift on whom she
pleases. She ought certainly to choose whatever man she pleases to hold
unlimited and sole control over her person and property. If this were
more extensively the case, we should hear less of wife beating and wife
murdering, accounts of which figure so conspicuously in our newspapers.
Now polygamy would grant the advantage named, whereas monogamy is one
of the greatest bars to the happiness of the female sex.
_Mr. W_. But would you have all men marry several wives each?
_Elder B_. That would not necessarily follow. It would be more likely
that good men would each have several wives, and that bad men would
find it difficult to get any wife to ill-use and beat. This would bring
to men a reward and a punishment, in which the women would be proud to
administer, and which would do more for their protection than all the
legislative enactments in the world.
_Mr. W_. Well, I must think upon this subject. I certainly do not feel
to object so much to it as I did before I named it to you.
_Mary_. [_Mr. W.'s daughter_.] Dinner's ready, please, father.
_Mr. W_. Then I suppose we must retire. You shall stay and have dinner
with me, and then you shall be at liberty to attend to your business,
as I think I shall have detained you long enough to day. By the bye, I
have read the tract you lent me, I like it very well. I shall certainly
go to your meetings, and hear a little more, and I will not promise you
that I shall not be a Latter-day Saint yet, for I must say that your
religion is more consistent with the Bible than any other which I have
examined.
_Elder B_. You can't do better, sir, I assure you.