Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1853-02-03
Mormon Marriage.

wv "h@A odIhU ooPouseS ouppie-
mentarywives, after he alreado has one
of those companions:
In this Church Of Latter Day Saints
every man is strictly limited to one wife,
unless the Lord, through the President
and Prophet of the Church, gives reve-
lation permitting him to take more
Without such a revelation it would be
sinful, according to the Book of Mermon,
which this Church are reqired to obey
Hence the Boob of Mermon is somewhat
more strict than the Bible; for there is
nothing in the Bible that limits man kind
to one wife, but the Book of Mormon
does absolutely forbid a man to have
more than one wife, unless God shall
commend otherwise.
No man in Utah, who already has a
wife, and who may desire to obtain an
other, has any right to make any propo-
sitions of marriage to lady until he has
consulted the President over the whole
Church, and through him obtains reve-
lation from God, as to whether it would
be pleasing in His sight. If he is forbid
den by revelation, that the ends the mat
ter; if, by revelation, the privilege is gran
ted, he still has no right to consult the
feelings of the young lady until he has OBJ
tanned the appreciation of her parents,
provided they are living in Utah; if their
consent cannot be obtained, this also ends
the matter. But if the parents or guar
dians freely give their consent then he
may make propositions of marriage to
the young lady; if she refuse these prop
ositions, this also ends the matter; but il
she accept, day is generally set apart
by the parties for the marriage ceremony
to be celebrated. 1t is necessary to state
that, before any man takes the least step
toward getting another wife, it is his duty
to consult the feelings of the wife which
he already has, and obtain her consent
as recorded in the twenty-fourth para.
graph of the revelation, published in the
first No. of The Seer.
When the day set apart for the solemn,
ization of the marriage ceremony has ar
rived, the bridegroom and his wife, and
also the bride, together with their rela-
tives, and such other guests as may be
invited, assembly at the place which they
have appointed. The Scribe then pro
ceeds to take the names, ages, native town:
Counties, States and countries of the par.
ties to be married, which he carefully en-
ters on record. The President, who is
the Prophet, Seer and Revelator over the
whole Church throughout the world, and
who alone holds the keys of authority il
this solemn ordinance, (as recorded in the
second and fifth paragraphs of the Reve
lation on Marrige,) } calls upon the bride
groom and his wife, and the bride, to a
rise, which they do, fronting the President
The wife stands on the left hand of hel
husband, while the bride stands on he
left. The President, then, puts th'
question to the wife: care you vii
ling to give this woman to your husband
to be his lawful and welded wife for time
and for all eternity! Ifyou are, you vii
manifest it by placing her right hant
within the right hand your husband."-
The right hands of the bridegroom anC
bnd bride, being thus joined, the wife
takes her husband by the left arm, as
in tho attitude of walking. The Presi
dent then proceeds to ask the followin!
question of the man: ado you, brother
! (cal2img him by aaanc,) take sister (cal2in!
the bride By her m0nc) by the right hand
to receive her unto yourself, to be you
lawful and welded wife, and you to b.
her lawful and welded husband, for time
and for all eternity, with covenant ant
promise, on your part, that you will full
fill all the laws, rites and ordinances per
tanning to this holy matrimony, in th'
new and everlasting covenant, doing thi
in the presence of God, angels, and these
witnesses, ofyour own free will and choice!'
The bridegroom answers, yes. The Pres
ident then puts the question to the bride
"Do you, sister, calling her By name,
take brother (call5ng hlm By ''an'e,) BY
the right hand, and give yourself to him
to be his lawful and welded wife for time
and for all eternity, with a covenant anc
promise, on your part, that you will fulfil
all the laws, rites and ordinances pertain
ing to this holy matrimony, in the new
and everlasting covenant, doing this in the
presence of God, angels and these wit
nesses, of your own free will and choiee!'
The bride answers, yes. The President
then says, "In the name of the Lord Je
sus Christ, and by the authority of the
Holy Priesthood, | pronounce you legal