The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-10

lirious duty. and the church exerts an influence
to have its members enter into the relation
$50 it does, and the facts l have mentioned
are good reasons for it to this extent, that Gods
nature which He has created. In some things
the agreement cannot be made apparent to the
carnal man, for the reason that it is spiritually
dscerned That is the gift of God But in the
great majority of cases He has been pleased to
make the agreement apparent to all. 1t is by
that class of cases that appeal must be made to
mans reason, to induce him to ask for faith to
understand the rest. OF course, the order of
plurality was not revived for those reasons,
but account of revelation. 1t would not have
been practised by our people except for reveia-
ton, for there was no other way ia which 1t
could become known to us that God had per-
mitted polygamy to be abandoned by his church,
and yet desired that it should continue The re-
ligious motive for which you ask is found la the
revelations and commands of God, given to his
prophets Joseph ana Brigham, and delivered Dy
them to the people"
Il understand that; but invested in a pam
phlet, over at the News office. giving the revea-
ton to Joseph Smith, and there is no command
about it. 1t merely makes polygamy permits
sibier
THAT is the first revelations; there are others
that came afterward. But they do not teach
that polygamy is duty, in the sense that it is
essential to salvation 1t is duty, in that 1t is
a good work, which will meet with reward of ex-
altation. A man may be saved though he be not
married at all, but he cannot be exalted There
are degrees os honor and eXatatiOn in the heav-
ems, as it is written. There is one glory Of the
sun, and another glory of the moon, and another
glory OF the stars; for one star differeth from
another star in glory There is one difference,
however, from other good works; in other things
there may be progress in heaven, but the rela-
tions of marriage must remain as they are made
on earth, for in heaven there is neither marry
ing nor giving in marriage"
Now we are coming to the point Iwant to
know in what respect Doygamy is a good work,
that it should be rewarded
because by it souls are given the opportu-
nifty to obtain exaltation. There are in exist
ence millions of bodiless spirits who cannot be
partakers in the resurrection because it is res
direction of the body. Matter is eternal, and
the material body is resurrected 1t is retained
by the soul that inhabits it on earth. The only
difference is that there is no blood in the body,
for flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
of God; it is sown in corruption and raised In
interruption But spirits that have never been
born into the world have no bodies. They
not be lifted above their present condition unless
they are born into the world, but must
remain minister;ng spirits forever-servants of
the faithful, who have obtained exaltation and
are kings and queens forever. You see, then,
how important it IS that many souls posi-
bic should be born into the world, and how
wicked is the infantcide that is practiced in all
civilized countries"
Il believe grasp the idea Is it essential
that these children should be born Of Mormon
parents2'
mot at all. There is, of course, more prob
ability that the child of Christian father will
be brought up in the faith and attain to saliva
ton. But if a man repents and is baptized, he
will be saved, no matter how his spirit obtained
his body. Adams spirit was placed in its body
by the hand of God"
II thought God 'breathed into his nostrs the
breath of lfe and he became living SOUL"
mo, that is not all that occurred. The state
ment given in the book of Abraham, as trans
lated from Abraham's papyrus manuscript by
Joseph Smith, is in these words: And the gods
formed man from the dust of the ground, and
took his spirit THAT is, the mans spirt,) and put
it into him, and breathed into his nostrs the
breath of life, and man became living SOUL"
Where did Joseph get hold OF Abraham's
manuscriptsw
They were obtained from the catacombs of
Egypt"
the church, didn't itY 1t appears to have been
made public long time after it was given too !"
at was not made public until after the
Prophet Josephs death, when our people had
come to Deseret. 1t was kept secret because of
the prosecutions of the world and because the
fullness of time had not yet come. 1t did cause
many to fall from grace, and was esteemed at
first a false doctrine by many who accepted it
when they understood it. l was very bitterly
opposed to it when it was first published. for
knew nothing of it before. I told my sister
that if she went into polygamy would never
it. l found that the revelation had indeed been
given 1 searched the Scriptures, and found
that it was consistent with their teachings
prayed to God for light, and He who giveth
literally and upbraideth not, gave me light
just He will give it to You. or to any one
who asks in faith believing. When l began to
think about getting married myself. consid-
cred the matter. The Lord had blessed me in
business, and had comfortable home, with
something more I-you are not here for the
purpose of getting me to commit myself he
said abruptly, looking keenly in my face.
l did not catch the meaning of this sudden
turn for moment, and then it occurred to me
that he suspected was an emissary to trap
him into confession which could be used in
trying him for polygamy smiled my sweetest
smile and said: ~ don't know an officer in the
place. and | haven't the slightest objection to
your living in polygamy as long as you like.
am here on my own responsibility, and you may
rest assured that nothing you say shall be used
to injure YOU"
an trust YOU AS was saying, thought the
matter over. and asked myself whether 1 ought
tosgive all this property to one woman-whetheri it
was anything but Selfishness in me that made
me naturally prefer to marry but one woman. 1
prayed to know the will of God, and He heard
me. When was married, married two wives
in the same day, one within half an hour after
the other"
| wanted to ask some more questions, but con-
cluded had about reached the limit 1 took
up another subject. ''Can anyone be saved out
side of your church,
mo, not unless some Latter Day Saint is
baptized for them after DEATH
Il suppose that is the cause of your extensive
mission work."
sThe fields are indeed white to the harvest.
the laborers are few, and the night cometh
quickly
lis it true that your missionaries are not sup
ported by the church. and that they rely on
Providence for their care when travelingsr
s.Yes, sir; except that of late years it has been
customary to provide money for railroad and
steamship fare, in order that the workman may
be brought more quickly into his field"
''Its rather light kind of board, isn't itY
IF you would prove the Lord, you must trust
Him. he said, very solemnly 81 trusted Him
Tor four years as a missionary, and never suf
fered for food. have trusted Him in all nv
relations in life, and he has never forsaken me.