Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-11-23
Mormon NIatrinony.

the Mormons, at w Washtngton, sixteen rules for
Celestial Marriages. The preamble states, that
inasmuch as the saints in Utah consider il moral,
viruous, and scriptual, to practice the plurality,
system, they should seek by every means to eradi-
cate, not only from their own minds, but from the
minds of their children, every erroneous improper
prejudice which they have formerly imbibed, by
their associations with the nations of modern
christendom.
Parents who have daughters should seek to In
still into their minds, that it is just as honorable
for them to be united in marriage to good man
who is already husband, to one that islsin-1
gle. They should be taught to reject the society
of all wicked men, whether single or not. a,
father should be impartial to all his children, and
cultivate the same love for them ALL while eachq
wife should nstil into the inds of her own chill
dren the necessity of each of the others broth-
ers and sisters. Each wife should not only care
for the welfare of her husband and children. but
should seek the happiness of each Of his other
wives and children. And likewise, the children
of each wife should not only respect, honor, and
love their own mother, but also the mothers of
all their brothers and sisters. BY observing
these precepts, peace and tranquility will follow
the observers of these rules, ~ '-'.lS1 l'Io. "
come husband, seek first the Kingdom of God
and its righteousness, and learn to govern himself
according to the law of God; for he that cannot
govern himself cannot govern others; let him
dedicate his property, his talents, his time, and
even his life, to the service of God, holding alb
things at His disposal, to do with the same ae-
cording as He shall direct through the counsel
that he has ordained .,-: ~, I'd r.,t..-..,-- -F
| Rule 3d. Let him seek for wisdom to direct
him in the choice of his wives. Let him seek for
those whose qualifications will render hfm and
themselves happy. Let him look not wholly at
the beauty of the countenance, or the spendor of
the apparel, the great fortune or the artful
smiles or the affected modesty of females; for all
these, without the genuine virtues, are like the
dew-drops which glitter for moment in the sun, ,-
| and dazzle the eye, but soon vanish away. But =
let him look for kind and amiable dispositions, for
unaffected modesty, for Industrious habits, for
sterling virtue, for honesty, integrity and truthful
ness; for cleanliness in person and apparel, in 4
cooking, and for every kind of domestic labor fog
cheerfulness, patience, and stability of character,
and above all, genuine religion, to control and
govern their every thought and Decd When he
has found those possessing these qualifications let
him seek to obtain them lawfully through the
counsel of him, who holds the keys Of the ever !,
lasting priesthood, that they may be married TO
him by the authority of Heaven, and thus be se- ID
cured to him for time and for ull eternity 5' so7
| Orson does not believe in the modern doctrine
of Woman's Rights. Read his ~. sgi.g.,g- i,
Rule 18th, Let no women unite herselfin mar
riage with any man, unless she has fully resolved
to submit herself wholly to his COUNSEL and to let
him govern as the head. 1t is far better for
her not to be united with him in the sacred bonds
of eternal union, than to rebel against the divine
order of family government, instituted for high
er salvation, for if she altogether turn therefro
she will receive greater condemnation.
i Rule 18th, Never seek to prejudice the mind
of your husband against any of his other wives,
for the purpose of exaltng yourself in his estima-
ton, lest the evil which you unjusty try to bring
upon them, fall with double weight upon your
own head, ---'-'' as3,F
Orson provides for family government. His
Rule 18th is emphatic. i'"" Z.
Let each mother correct her own children and
see that they do not dispute and quarrel with each
other, nor with any others; let her not correct
the children of the others without liberty to do,
lest it give offence. The husband should see
that each mother maintains wise and proper dsci-
pline over her children, especially in their young
er years; and it is his duty to that all of his
children are obedient to himself and to their re-,
spectve mothers, And it is also his. duty to see
that the children of one wife are not allowed to
quarrel and abuse those of the others, neither to
be dsrespectful or impudent to any branch of his
: family. ... . .