Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-03-14
A Mormon Woman ON Polvpamv.

lFrom Mrs. stenhouse's Lecture on Life in Utah.
She was proud to say that the
Mormon women did not willingly
accept polygamy. They were be-
trayed into obeying revelation
which was said to come from God,
which made it necessary to their
salvation and exaltation in heaven
that they should give to their hus.
bands other wives even though that
act Of obedience should cruelty
themselves; and they were betrayed
by that abncgation which women
have always shown in a religious
cause. The more alluring doctrine
of a kinship of spirit, the assertion
that all women must have husbands
in order to be saved, and that true
marriage was not for time only, but
for all eternity was taught.
The first symptom of coming po-
lygamy that is perceivable by the
first wife is generally little quiet
signing on the par; of the husband.
He becomes very serious. His mind
Is evidently occupied. He exhibits
a more than usual zeal for the faith.
He goes regularly to church. He
becomes concerned about his future
kingdom. "Coming events cast
their shadows before" If in good
circumstances, he is certain to bring
home some present, and he tells his
"sweet little wife" how much he
loves her, that "she fills his heart"
and that he "is SO happy in her
affection" When a wife in Utah
hears this kind Of language she may
be certain that there is another rev.
elation awaiting her. The affec-
tionate husband becomes very re-
Elective and observing. His brother
Jones has three wives, Brother
Smith two, and Brother Robinson,
who has not been half so many years
in the church as he has, has even
four wives, while he, poor man, has
only one. He then begins very
gently with, "This will never do,
my dear, we are not living our
religion. | am sometimes afraid
that the anger of the Lord will be
kindIed against u.s." He makes his
wife feel it is as much her duty as
his. He asks his wife which of all
the young girls of her acquaintance
would make a good wife-a pleasant
companion for her-one who would
respect her. He mentions half
dozen, one of whom he has deter
mined upon, and that one is selec-
ted. The wife, Of course IS not de-
ceived; she feels that opposition is
useless. Soon the husband has
meetings to attend, business en-
gagements after business hours
He is seen walking or riding with a
young girl, and the wife finds that
it is nothing new, and then she feels
that she has been deceived, and her
idol is broken. If Il man has TWEEN
ty wives he makes the last one be-
iieve that she is his first and only
true love.
There is class of women in
Utah professedly devoted to polyga-
my, as they are to faith in Christ,
who act as drill-sergeants to the
other women. These lead Mormon
polygamic society and get up me-
MORALS to Congress, etc. They
form what is called the female relief
society, and to women who object
to marriage they say, "Would it not
be better for you to be one of the
officers of a fine ship of war than to
be the captain of a small fishing
smack?" meaning it is better to be
one of the wives of great man
than the only wife of an obscure
man.
A broken-haarted wife went to
Miss Eliza II. Snow-one of the
wives Of Brigham Young-and told
her the misery of her life. 81 can
not endure it," exclaimed the un-
happy woman. "But you must en-
dure it," replied her comforter. "It
will kill me, l know it Willis she
uttered in despair. "Then you will
wear a martyrs crown, sister," re-
Piled the soulless woman.
In Utah it is 10 uncommon thing
to find a wite's own sister or sisters
brought home as wives, and some
mothers have been obliged to give
their own daughters to be wives to
their husbands. Brigham Young
once admitted to Hepworth Dixon
that he saw no objection to brothers
and sisters marrying.
Mrs. Stenhousc told the funny
story of Sister Picknel's funeral.
The following was Bishop Hardy's
sermon:
"Wal, bruthrun and sisters, you
are all here, 'spose, and SO Wen
begin. Wal, our sister is dead; let
her rest. Our sister has suffered
and made others suffer, but now
she's dead we'll let her rest. She
opened the door to the devils and
let them in five years ago when her
husband took his young wife. l
told her then they would kill her if
she didn't take care, and now they
We done it.. She was torment to
her husband, and | guess if he'd a
known that she'd a bin such a tor
ment he'd never married her.
Amt that so, Brother Picknel?"
"That's SO, bishop" Wal, Brother
Picknel, have you got anything to
say?" "Not as l know'd on, but /
do. shall be sure to offend some Of
the sisters, SO 'spose we'd better
close the meetin'." Thus ended the
funeral service.
Dom Piatt, though cordially op
posing Messrs. Wilson, Coltax and