Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-05-16
THE NOR mons.


Mrs Helen jackson III H.. write, in the
May tNtry of The Women OF the Bee
Hive, and says in part "Ihe doctrine, to
be completely studied. must be considered
both from the mans point OF view and the
womans the two being, for many reasons,
not identical. But it is the womans view
OF it, her belief aud position in reRald TO it,
which are most msrepresented and misun-
derstood by the world If the truth were
known, there would be few persons in whose
minds would be any sentiment except pro-
found pity for the Mormon woman-pity,
moreover intensified 10y admiration. There
has never been IL class or sect OF women since
the world began who have endured for re-
iginu'S sake tithe OF what has BEEN and is
and forever must be, endured by the won Ii
of the Mormon Church. 1t has become Gus
tomary to hold them Ms disreputasls women,
light and loose, uuft to associate with the
virtuous. uh eservlng of any esteem. Never
was Al greater injustice committed.
"lhls has been partly due, however, to u
mistake many enthusiastic Mormon women
have Themselves committed, in trying to NJ
hold the pluRl marriage sy-tenl-pcrhaps
even to iortliy their own powers OF tndui-
ance of it--by declaring that they were happy
III 1t by not admitting that it eutaled sui
feiing II pHtnetlc aud bontess deceit . The
most ms lligrnt among them now make no
such pretense.
"Sui one of them to me 1 implored my
own daughters, aud do the sam" t. all
young women over whom | have iufueucr,
"Do not marrS into polygmy, never think
for one moment of marrying INTO po'ygamy,
unless You are sure that religion is more TO
you than all else in this World Nothi"g else
can euab Il woman to endure the torture OF
1t. or to 1--we up to the rrecepts OF the
chu,ch "
" One of my daughters, especially l wept
and prayed over. to keep her ont OF It, |
feared that it was beyond the powar of grace
to so modi, her natural temperament ns to
make the life enducable to her.
OfcourSe, 1t is nothing but s-lfshne's IN
US which makes thi, torture. Aud five were
wholly Christians aud good Normpn-, We
should rise above that seltiehurss, and uCyet
have any jealousy or pam but 1t is born III
all OF us, and there is no getting tree from
it.
" We know that We are committing sin
every tim. We have an uukiud feeling toward
nuyho iy.--how much more toward our nus
bands other WIS, who ought to be lust Ike
sisters to Us We are no coed MormOnB i
We do not live on lind and III ndly terms
with them but any body that says it isn't {
terrible suffering doesn't know Mormon
women nor human nature either shonlc
think; Ther' are very few who are fit to live
in polygamy
The two doctrines which most help tn,
Mormon woman to endure the suffering o
living in plural marriage are the doctrine
of pre- Xstcnce and of the eternal Conjiuu
ance of the parriarchal order. The mer
revelation fr0m JosepA Smith to the tifec
that polygamy was to be permitted and wa
prhieewurthy ami desirable would never
alon", have brought the Mormon women +
hearty acceptance of the institution
They are taught, aud most unqnestionine
ly believe, that the universe IL full of spirit
waiting, and waiting impatiently, to be hor
on this earth. These spirits have alread
: pe,et d through one stage of discipline an
probation and are to enter upon IA eecon
one here. The Rev, Edward Beecher ono
published II book setting forth similar do,
| trinr. The Mormon doctrine goes furtht
tGau DIR. Berchere nasmuch as it teacht
hat these spirits may select of their own IRE
will where and how they will be born iut
their earthly probation and that they ar,
one and all. anxious to be born in the Mo
mon Church, Il. the one true Zion, wh-l
alone are to be found safety aud sulvatAi
Tuey also believe that the time is imite
e during which these spirits can avail then
j selves OF this privilege of being born int
! Z'on. Th"g look for the return OF Jes,
e Christ to the earth before lorg, and for the {
tabliShmeut then Of the miilenuinl di,pens
= tNon after which no more of the spirits eau
:, reborn and reclaimed Hence the Ohliga.iC
- resting upon every faithful Mormon womt
=. to briug into the world, IN the course OF h
= lltv, as many chii lren Ms possible. Not on
Il docs she thus contribute to the building
aud str-ng hening OF the true church, but 81
t reacues soulSalrea1y eIisting and i'll dang
: OF eternal death. 1t is easy to sueer at IL
t. doctrine as lucOnccIvable rubbish ; and,
k truth, it must be admitted that it is hard
II conceive of an educated mind receiving i
: but it is no morc obSurd or unproyAble th
e hundreds OF kindred spcculationS and MOTTO
q which have been devised preached, and pi
~ sionately believed in times past Meth
, has the ab,urdity o- nou-obsnrdity, falsty
!. iudEucnt Of its believers"