The National tribune., 1882-04-15
A MORMON WOMAN ON PoLYGAMY.

Copies of the following letter are beingwide
circulated in this country and Europe. Moth
ing could more forcibly illustrate the necessity
for the passage of the anti-polygamy bill than
the unblushing declarations contained therein :
SALT LAKE CITY, Dec Is, 1881.
DEAR FRIEND: Our friendship numbers
much over thirty years; in the first few
changed my religion, coming out of the HIGH
Church Of England into one despised and re-
jected by the world, and such a step was q
great sorrow to you, yet, with a tenacity that
Is remarkable in such case, you ever remained
true to our friendship, and you ever gave me
credit for my truthfulness and honesty. In
our long and unceasing correspondence nv re-
ligion has occasionally drifted into its pages
though you know l never forced it upon Won
but you have always entreated me never to
speak of plural marriage, but singular to say,
IN your last letter, you ask me to say whatever
my spirit dictates me on the subject; the reason
you give for this request is that my happiness
is paramount consideration with you, and.
therefore, you desire to ask if this tenet of our
religion has not been barrier to this desider-
atum? feel glad that you have at last opened
this "iron door," the lock of which [ should
never have attempted to "pick," considering
that it was q sacred tenet of our faith that
neither you nor the world you live in had
anything to do with, and, like the problems of
mathematics, it would be impossible for YOU TO
understand, or appreciate, until you had passed
through the rudimental elements; but. agree
ably to your request, l will now make q few
remarks and will make them as brief as possi
bic. You are aware that our Church. j. e.. the
Church of Jesus Christ, was founded by reve
lation given to a Prophet raised up and en-
dowed to open the last dispensation on earth
Joseph Smith being that Prophet. Among
many revelations was the ore especially given
on plural marriage; it was given as an imper
ative command from the Divine Founder: tbo
people of the earth had become corrupt with
but few exceptions; this you can see with vour
own eyes and understand with your own
heart; and now the Lord said: "I will raise IN
a righteous generation; gather out my peo-
pie from among the nations; and We Elders of
Israel, my servants, take unto yourselves 4
plurality of wives, women that are pure; Twill
give portions of the celestial law of marriage
for your guidance, whereby you shall under
stand how to govern yOurself-f0r prostitution
and adultery shall not be among nv people,n
This plural marriage is not to crafty an i'm |
pure appetite, but entirely the reverse; it il
the purest principle on earth; if rightly under.
stood and so carried out it will form chain that
will rogenerate and indissolubly bind together
the whole human family. You have alwavs |
spoken Of myself and family with the deenest |
admiration and respect, therefore have conf |
dence in presenting ourselves to you as recipi.
ents for this holy order. Ny daughters entered
into it in all their youth and beauty, and with
the full sanction of their parents, and have
been worthy members Of the same. Will net tba
few words have spoken be a guarantee to Won
hat the principle is pure and holy! At anv
ate let me entreat you to leave it where Won
ind it, and be happy about me and my family
That is all that need be said to one who never
intends to be Latterday Saint plural mar.
iage cannot be understood by the carnal mind
or such look at it with sectarian eyes and are
t once blinded. For myself, shall live and
lie in the Church of Jesus Christ, and as far as
can carry out its principles, God being nv
elper. HANNAH II. KING