The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-19
INCREASE OF POLYGAMY
MoRMONs RETURNING TO oLD-TIME
HOLINESS IN UTAH.
Rev. DIR. 6. II. wIshard Describes the
Manner of Receiving Revelations
The Fight on Roberts.

the guest of his brother, DR.. w. H. Wish
ard. in this city. DIR. Wishard has spent
many years among the Mormons as a Pres
byterian missionary and is thoroughly
familiar with the situation. This morning at
~ o'clock he will address all the ministers
OF the city at the Meridian-street NJ z.
Church on Mormonism in general and in
particular in regard to the case Of Repre-
sentative-elect Roberts, who is polygam-
Gus Mormon and an officer of the church,
and who will try to take his seat in the
House Of Representatives on March next.
President Reynolds, of the Methodist Min
isters' Association, cordially invites all min
listers OF the city, no matter of what de-
nomination, to attend and hear the address.
Dr. Wishard has with him maps showing
the growth of Mormonism and other data
on the subject. Speaking of the present
condition Of affairs in Utah, DR.. Wishard
said:
1.-The Book Of Mormon, which claims to be
revelation, forbids polygamy in the third
chapter, fifth verse of the Book of Jacob,
condemns polygamy and makes 1t a sin in
the fifteenth verse of the first chapter of
the same book and denounces it as abomi-
nable in the second chapter and twenty
fourth verse OF the same book. Yet poyg-
amy was later accepted as a part of the
religion and is still so regarded. 1t came
about when Joseph Smith became entangled
with women and found it necessary to get
revelation to save his character and JUS
tify him in his unlawful living. Up to that
time it had not been believed in by the
mass of Mornons and was only practiced
by the leaders of the church. The revela-
lions which Smith received to help him out
or ~, !, GTN~.
which was printed in Salt Lake City in
1880 and which purported to be revelations
received by Smith July u, 1913. In this book.
in Section 132, Verse 4, is found the first
revelation he had to help him out of his
trouble and which says, Behold reveal to
you a new and everlasting covenant and if
We abide not by it, then are We damned;
for no one can reject this covenant and be
permitted to enter into my glory Josepb
then received his revelation establishing
polygamy. He then openly established the
relations with women which had been
secret. His wife, Mrs. Emma Smith, natur-
ally rebelled at this and Joe found it neces-
sdfy 10 Drlng her Z submission. She became
derce against the new practices, so Joe had
d new revelation, which is found in Verse 81
OF the same section and which saws. Verify
say unto you, commandment l give unto
my handmade, Emma Smith, whom 1 have
g. 49, 1870 SONp thcII she stay nerSelL.
HIS WIFE REBELLED.
She had evidently made Joseph uncom-
portable while around the house, to compel
him to receive this. Still, Mrs. Smith was
not satisfied, and was unwilling to have
Joe's polygamous wives recognized but
Joe was equal to the emergency. and TO
straighten matters out he received another
revelation, which is found in Verse 50 of
the same section, and which says: Let my
handmade Emma receive all those that
have been given unto Joseph At this point
Emma proposed to move her board, as she
was sun IN rebellion, but Joe fastened her
FOWL o,Vnd " Win "a another revelation, which is
Iound IN Verse "a of the same section and
MhlcA says: L command my handmade
Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto nv
servant Joseph, and to no one else Joseph
was not satlsned with retaining her and
was resolved to have her accept the prin-
clple OF polygamy as righteous. To accom-
round in Verse 62 of the same section and
WHlch says, III he (Joseph) have ten Vir-
gins given unto him by this law (of plural
!nafrlages) he cannot commit adultery, for
they belong to him, and are given to him
therefore, he is justified. In spite of ali
these revelations Emma was fierce against
poiygamy, and was evidently about to sit
DOWN on Joseph, whereupon Joseph fore
stalled her by getting the revelation found
IN verse 90 winch says: Let no one set on
my servant oseph, for will justify him.
rms was the origin of polygamy. 1t was
merely Scheme to cover crime, and it was
accepted by the Mormons and is yet be-
heved to be the word of God Joseph had
other revelation which were for his benefit
one Of them was commanding some of the
Mormons TO give certain sums towards the
building of hotel for Smith, and the reye-
iatlon speclhed who should subscribe and
the amount each should give 1t was
obeyed, and Joseph owned the hotel when
1t was completed. 1t was as if the Lord
had organized joint stock company for
Joseph personal benefit. The books of doc
trines were certified to by three witnesses,
every one of whom has since left the
Xenlently worked in more recent times,
When the Edmunds-Tucker law was put
INTO erect polygamous Mormons were ar
States marshals and were fined and COM
m1tted to the penitentiaries. The Mormons
at first did not believe that the government
intended TO follow it up, and vowed that
they would remain in prison during their
lifetime rather than give up the principle
of their religion. When they saw that the
Woodruff, the head OF the church at that
time, had revelation which he describes
scented to the President of the United
States. In that he says: We formerly
taught to our people that polygamy, or
celestial marriage as commanded by God
through Joseph Smith, was right; that it
was necessity to mans highest eXaltation
in the life to come. According to our creed
to time revelations for the religious guild
ance of his people. In September 1890, the
present 1ledu OIL lQe cnufcH, III anguish ana
prayer, cried to God for help for his flock,
and received permission to advise the mem
berS of the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat
ter-day Saints that the law commanding
polygamy was henceforth suspended.
ROBERTS'S PLEDGE.
Woodruff was in the penitentiary for
polygamy when he had this revelation, and
so was Roberts, who was elected to Con-
gress and whom we are trying to keep out
The petition begged complete amnesty and
Acknowledgement, and contains the words
We pledge our faith and honor for their
future referring to obeying United States
laws. On Oct. 10 and 20 1891, under oath
and in court, President Woodruff, the pres
ent president, Snow, Apostle Lund and
President Joseph +. Smith stated that this
revelation of Woodruff'S was an order not
only TO cease polygamy in the future, but
that it should at once be abandoned A
manifesto was issued by President Wood
run proclaiming the purposes of the church
TO no longer sanction the practice of pOlyg-
aInous marriages and calling upon all MEM
bers to obey the laws of the United States
in reference to bigamy, polygamy and I'M
Oct. b, 1880. President Harrison, on Jan. f.
1893, granted full amnesty and pardon, after
reciting the facts regarding the petition and
pledges to all persons who, since Nov. /,
1880, have abStained from such unlawful
cohabltation, but upon the express condi-
ton that they shall in the future faithfully
obey the laws of the United States herein
before named, and not otherwise. Those
who fail to avail themselves of the Glenn
ency offered VIII be vigorously prosecuted
on Sept. 25 1894, President Cleveland is
sued a proclamation enfranchising them, in