The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-25
a BLOW At PoLYGAMY.
The Original Norman Bible said to
Dtscountenance More Than
One Marriage.

Inc original Norman Bible said TO
Discountenance More Than
One Marriage.
Mr.. David Whitmer. of Richmond,
Mo-. the only living witness to 1.-The
divine authenticity of the Book of
Mormon who is now nearly 80 years
OF age, has in The Philadelphia Press
an interesting interview upon the
origin of the Mormon church, and upon
the revelations which were given to its
founder. The most striking feature of
this interview is the statement that the
original Book of Mormon not only did
not authorize, but condemned poly
gamy. This condemnation was found
in the second book of Jacob, sixth
chapter, in the following language.
Il must speak unto you concerning a
grosser crime. NY heart would rejoice
exceedingly because Of you but the
word of God burdens me because of
your grosser crimes, for behold thus
saith the Lord: This people beginneth
to wax in iniquity; they understand not
the scriptures, for they seek to excuse
themselves in committing whoredoms,
because of the things which are writ
ten concerning David and Solomon,
his son. Behold, David and Solomon
had truly many wives and concubines,
which thing was abomnible before me,
saith the Lord; wherefore thus saith
the Lord: l have lead this people forth
out of the land of Jerusalem, by the
power of mine arm, that l might raise
unto me righteous branch from the
loins of Joseph, wherefore I, the Lord
God, will not suffer that this people
shall do like unto these of old; where
fore, my brethren, hear me and harken
to the word of the Lord; for there
shall not any man among you have
save one wife, and concubines he shall
have none. for I, the Lord God, delight
eth in the chastity of women
This passage has disappeared from
the present Mormon bible, which pre-
tends to be an inspired revelation, and
Mr.. Whitmer states that within a few
years the present leaders of the Nor
mon church have endeavored to obtain
possession of this early document.
This is shown in the following passage
in the interview: ''In 1879 two of the
Mormon apostles, Orson Pratt and
Joseph F. Smith "a son of Hiram Smith,
who was killed with the prophet),
visited Richmond for the express pur-
pose of obtaining these time-worn
sheets, and they came admirably pre-
pared to pay for them. Mr.. Whitmer
received them courteously, and Apostle
Pratt said:
"'Father Whitner, we desire to pur-
chase the manuscript, and we are
authorized to say that you may name
your price, and with patronizing
air) be sure you put the price high
enough, for the church has plenty of
money in the treasury, you know
1T was brilliant overture, but it
failed. Old Mr.. Whitmer replied, with
quiet emphasis: Elder Pratt, there
isn't gold enough in the world to buy
it. >" The apostles went home empty
handed, although Orson Pratt would
have willingly paid 100000 for
the manuscript. Much speculation
has been INDUCED in regarding the par
ticular reason for this anxiety on the
part of the church to possess this relic
some going so far as to assert that it is
traceable to an important difference
which is said to exist in the text touch
ing on polgyamy, as between the
original manuscript and the present
reading of the Book of Mormon. In
glancing through this original manu-
script the notable text, which SO COM
pletely annihilates the morality which
the Mormons claim for polygamy, was
discovered.