The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-01

church. the az
mentions Of mothers, all tend 10 develop
the true biblical idea of the marriage
state. The true Mormon woman consid
ers herself an integral part of the commu-
nity. and is inspired with al earnest pur-
pose 10 fulfill her destiny in this life, and
is sustained and cheered by the unwaver-
Ing belief that in the life 10 come her re-
ward will correspond To the part she has
sustained in the preparatory state OF ex-
istence
The condition Of Mormon women,
continued Mr. Game. has been systemat-
ically misrcprcseuted. From the founding
of the Mormon church the spirituality of
women. which is so largely developed,
has contributed IN marked degree to the
growth and spread of the gospel as re-
vealed TO the Latter Day Saints. The
constancy. the hcr0ism, the self sacri-
iicing, self abnegating characteristics OF
the GOOD and noble woman have, III no
age and among no people, been more con
spicuously displayed Regard for mo
meut what they have had To endure. 1t
has not been mere priVations incident TO
exclusions from one settlement 70
another. eliminating in the unparalleled
pilgrimage from the banks OF the Allssls.
sipui To Salt Lake valley. and the dread
full experiences of the first years in that
desert region. Above and beyond all
mere physical discomforts and suiferings
there rested the weight of the world re
proachcs, the sncerl. the contumeiy, the
pointing of the finger of scorn
And during all the years from the
4 Il 49,. Ia lonI
O., how many instances have there been
of women forsaking their church. dis
avowing their belief in the gospel revealed
to Joseph Smith, of complaining of their
lot, of seeking TO escape the slavery they
have been represented to be living in?'
But. said J. were they not and are not
the Mormon women of today less intel
ligent than the average American
women
Il think not" replied Mr.. Game Our
women, ever since the days WHOM Joseph
Smith began toprcaoh the new and wonder
full things which had been revealed Ia him,
have been oi the best stock of New ing
land, New York, Pennsylvania and the
Western Reserve OF Ohio. They were Just
as intelligent, just as refined, inst AS well
educated as the average wives mothers
and daughters of the farmers of western
New York eastern and western Pcansyl-
vania, of Vermont. Massachusetts. Con-
nccticut, New Hampshire and Of north
eastern OHIO.
1t is said that a majority Of the Nor
mons are foreigners
That is altogether false; there is
smaller percentage Of aliens among them
than is to be found in the population Of
many states and territories. We have as
good school system as any territory can
boast There are fewer Mormons who
cannot read and write than among the
people of many northern states. The per
centage of illiteracy in Utah is precisely
that OF the state OF Connecticut"
How about womans rights in Ctah?"
THE Mormons were among the first,
replied Mr. Game, ITO dignity womankind
with the right of suffrage. Under the
laws of the territory married women can
hold real Us well as personal property Ill
their own right, sell and convey the same,
and engage in any kind of business indie
pendent OF their husbands. There is not
Il settlement in Utah which has not a
young ladies mutual improvement so
ciety. Some of the ablest exp0nents of
the rights Of women are Mormon wives
and mothers The Womans Exponent.
edited and published by Mormon women,
is q bright and able woman's journal.
-,
How do the Mormon women regard
the anti -polygamy movement
The ma ority Of our women, like the
great majority of Mormon men, have never
been i'll polygamy. They believe, rs all
Mormons do, that the revelation to Joseph
Smith concerning celestial marriage came
direct from God, and that in certain cases,
and under certain circumstances, plurality
of wives was permissive. The nature of
woman is the same the world over Only
religious conviction Of an overwhelming
character can constrain any good woman
to have her husband 8 affections shared by
another. But that conviction of religious
duty and self sacrifice Will enable a woman
to curb her feelings and endure unself-
ishly, and even with cheerfulness, SO great
trial. there can be no doubt. Some of
the best, the purest, the noblest women
that ever lived have been Mormon plural
wives.
rs celestial marriage and plural mar
riage one and the same thing asked.
Certainly not. Celestial marriage is
simply our marriage ceremony, and those
who are married according to it are bound
to each other for all eternity, and not for
this life only. OF course, plural mar
riagesaare always celebrated according to
the celestial rite But celestial marriages
are not necessarily plural marriages.
There are marriages among Mormons, for
time and not for eternity, but all. good
Mormons should be married for eternity
as well IS for time"
what, Mr.. Game" said l. lis the gen
eral effect of the Mormon religion in max
ing good citzensY"
well You can look at the facts, was
. h. H.. l.,