Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-04-20
Mormon Marriages,

The Mormon Paper, the Seer, gives the following
account of the fOrmaities observed when Saint es-
pouses supplementary wives, after he already has one
of those companions
In this Church Of Latter Day Saints every man is
strictly limited TO one wife, unless the Lord through
his President and Prophet of the Church. gives rev.
citation permitting him to take more. Without such
revelation it would be sinful, according to the Book
of Mormon, which this church is required to obey
Hence the Book of Mormon is somewhat more strict
than the Bible for there is nothing in the Bible that
limits mankind to one wife, but the Book of Mormon
does absolutely forbid man TO have than one
wife, unless God shall command otherwise.
No man in Utah, who already has wife, and who
may desire TO obtain another, has any right to make
any propositions of marriage to a lady until he has
consulted the President the whole Church. and
through him obtains a revelation from God, as to
whether it would be pleasing in His sight II he is
forbidden by revelation, that ends the matter; if by
revelation the privilege is extended him, he has still
no right to consult the feelings of the young lady I'M
til he has obtained the of her parents provided
they living in Utah ifheir consent cannot be OBJ
tanned, this also ends the matter But if the parents
guardians freely give their consent, then he may
make propositions of marriage to the young lady, if
she refuse these propositions, this also ends the mat
ter; but if she accept day set apart by the par
ties for the marriage ceremony to be celebrated. 1t
is necessary to state that, before any 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 recorded in the 24th
paragraph of the revelation, published in the first No
of the Seer.
When the day set apart for the solemnization ofthe
marriage ceremony has arrived, the bridegroom and
his wife, and also the BRIDE together with their rea
tyes, and such other invited guests may be invited
assemble at the place which they have appointed
The Scribe then proceeds TO take the names, ages,
native towns countless States and Countries of the par
ties to be married. which he carefully entes record
The President, who is the Prophet, Seer and Reyea-
tor the Whole Church throughout the world, and
who alone holds the keys of authority in this solemn
ordinance, las recorded in the second and fifth para
graphs of the Revelation Marriage call upon the
bridegroom and his wife, and bid them arise, which
they do fronting the President.
The wife stands the left hand of her husband,
while the bride stands on her left The President then
puts the question to the wife "Are you willing to
give this TO your husband to be his lawful and
welded wife for time and for all eternity If you are
you will manifest ii by placing her right hand within
the right hand of your husband" The right hands
of the bridegroom and bride, being thus joined, the
wife takes her husband by the left arm, if in the
attitude of walking The President then proceeds to
ask the following question fthe man "Do you, broth