Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-02-12
ICoaMuSIcATKD.
THE MARRIAGE QUESTION.


are identified with and controlled By
its pervading spirit. No revelation
worthy OF Divinity could simply pro-
vide for the religious sentiment and ac-
ton and incontinently overlook. neg
lect or Ignore the varied attributes of
man, and the great essentials OF his
well being upon the tsrth.
II you grant that religious concep-
lions and religious truth constitute the
base OF the superstructure. the
different floors, stories or depart
ments of that building are equal
II important, as progress in duty
and responsibility increases; 1t
would be a libel on Divine wisdom to
assume or assert that revelation was in
dispensible in one section, ana valuelcas
IN the other; hence. after the
revealment Of the fret principles OF tho
Gospel by the Prophet Joseph Smith. 1t
would have been Incompatible with
his claims and pretenslons. with his
mission and destiny, had he failed in
cndeavoring to throw lisht upon those
human relationship. those customs,
ordinances and covenants upon which
society ultimatel depends and resist
Statesmen, philosophers, students in
social oconn,nics olI arrne that much
of ,rood or IN den.nds upon the IDEAS
entertained i'm regard to the marriage
covenant, its responsibility, its stability
nnd ia nernet,,itv. few indeed are they
who believe i'm promisclous intercourse.
In irregular passlonai gratification;
l.. Il
and regulate the association of the
sexes. and penalties are prescribed for
shirkers and violators Of legal regula-
ton.
The religionist, of course looks upon
the relation as of Divine origin. To
him marriage is ordained of God, dat
ing back even to the beginning of time:
seconded this idea for ages by working
together, ever asserting and maintain
ing the sacred character of so import
ant. so essential relation; one, which
once formed, was not to be easily set
aside by either church or state.
Modern infdelity and the modern
craze for liberty have made inroads
upon these conservative conclusions or
the past; its religious or divine charac-
ter has been disputed, the sanction of
priest or minister has been looked upon
as superiluous, ana entry upon That
relationship can be secured To-Day by
what Is styled "a ciVil contract, one
to be created or dissolved at pleasure
by the contractors, as caprice or the
"him OF the moment might determine.
The divorce courts of our nation TESTIFY
to the slight hold so serious compact
mas upon large section OF the popula-
ton; while not anew deem the demands
OF law an infringement on personal lib~
erty, and so private arrangement is
looked upon as the only prerequisite
FOR that convenience which accepts of
no responsibility and carries out its
program by avoiding increase, even at
the expense of health and life-of body
and SOUL
So anomalous condition could never
escape the eye of Deity; or be excluded
from any revelation which aimed at
the deliverance Of mankind from error,
Ignorance and death; consequently rea-
son and philosophy could do no less
than expect in so-called new dispen-
sation," that correction, instruction,
nay-commandment. should be among
the first communications on this subs
jeet, so fully divorced from the origina,
thought, intent and blessing of the
great Supreme.
The later revelation In regard to "the
eternity of marriage" was n gigantic
step in advance of religious thought as
found even In the "Aiother Church"
which pretends to apostolic succession.
and its silence on this forms a curInu.
upon the asserted aco1lng
or "bindlnr and Ioosinq" 81 Tic ,,,,os,
hood. when tho erroucous cn,f'ir.,ao
was drawn fran. tho n,,co,,,,,,o,,.,,.,..s
statement of .bc savior +bnt t., .ha1t,'
10 con,o "tbev ,ei,ho,. ,,,,,,.,. 49,, 49,.
oivor IL, ,,,arr,,,,,,,
/, vos oasii,, ,,a,,,-,
Nm, a, "so,. t., -, W ''i1 i.Op,'s'
r,ns, c,t,,,,. -, 49,, e.'''o"
ao,,,,.,.,,, a'U ''N"''
49,, - q" =" 'nI inner
o,.,,, ,,.,,,a,, - u d" t"f
''e o'l"Ptlff
,uiin'h"uhS
- l''e'' ''''ouS" u'Ao'ea'ehee if"'a
MI, e.
-ot'i"'''''e Vi tNc marriage ana