The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-10-29
POLYGAMY.
The Original Bible Said to Dis
cOuntenance More than
One Marriage.

Mr.. David Whitmer, of Rich
mond, Mo-, the only living witness
to 'sthe Divine authenticity of the
Book of Mormon" who is now nearly
elahty-two years of age, has i'll the
Philadelphia Press all Interesting
interview upon the origin of the
Mormon Church, and upon the reve-
lations which were gwen to its foun-
der. The most striking feature of
this interview is the statement that
the original Book of Mormon not
only did not authorize but con-
demned polygamy. This condem
nation was found in the Second
Book Of Jacob, sixth chapter, in
the following language:
81 must speak unto you concern
ing a grosser crime. My heart
would rejoice exceedingly because
of you, but the word of God bur
dens me because of your grosser
crimes, for behold thus saith the
Lord This people beginneth to wax
10 equity; they understand not the
scriptures, for they seek to excuse
themselves in committing who're
dOms, because of the things which
are written concerning David ami
Solomon his son. Behold, David
and Solomon truly had many wives
aud coucubines, which thing was
abominable before me, saith the
Lord; wherefore thus saith the
Lord: l have led this people forth
out of the land of Jerusalem, by
the power of niue arm, that | might
raise unto me righteous branch
from the fruit of the lolns of Joseph,
wherefore l, the Lord God, will not
suffer that his people shall do like
unto these of old wherefore, my
brethren, hear me aud hearken to
the word of the Lord for there
shall not any man among you have
save one wife, aud cOneubineS Ee
shall have none, for | the Lord God,
delighteth i'll the chastity OF
women
This passage has disappeared
from the present Mormon Bible,
which pretends to be an Inspired
revelation, and Mr.. Whitmer states
that within a few years the present.
leaders OF the Mormon church have
endeavored to obtain possession of
this early document. This is shown
in the following passage in the H.
terview: In 1879 two of the Nor.
mon apostles Orson Pratt aud
Joseph +. Smith, son of Hiram
Smith, who was killed with the
prophet, visited Richmond for tue
express purpose of obtaining these
time.worn sheets, and they came
admirably prepared to pay for
them. Mr.. Whitmer received them
courteously, aud Apostle Pratt
said:
eFather Whitmer, we desire to
purchase the manuscript, and We
are authorized to say that you may
name your price, and with IL pa
trOnizing air) be sure you put the
price high enough, for the church
has plenty of money in the treasury,
you know.
III WAS u Allilldub w NCAlAANf bNb
it tailed. Old Mr.. WhItmer replied,
with quiet emphasis "Elder Pratt,
there isn't gold enough iu the world
to buy it." The apostles went home
empty handed, although OrsOn
Pratt would have willingly paid
800, 900 for the manuscript. Much
speculation has been INDUCED in
regarding the particular reason for
this anxiety OH the part of the
church to possess the relic, some
going so far as to assert that 1t Is
traceable TO an important difference
which is said to exist 10 the text
touching on polygamy, as between
the original manuscript aud tho
present reading of the Book of
Mormon. In glanclng through this
original manuscript, the notable
text which so completely annihil-
ates the morality which the Nor
mons claim for polygamy, was DIS
covered"