Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-30

interview consented to my doing
30"
A CHAT WITH A ''MoRMoN' WIFE.
The conversation from that point was
taken part In by Mrs. Smith as well as
her husband. She talked we'll using cx-
ccilent Language. though uttering senti-
ments which win seem strange to her
sex among my Gentle readers. Mrs.
smith u q woman OF about hfty years
OF age, though she does not look over
forty. She Is tall. straight and fine
looking. She hes rosy checks and her
face shows MS yet no signs OF being
wrinklcd with family troubles. !
asked her to tell me what she really
thought OF the custom OF plural mar
rinces. She replied:
II believe that the revelation con-
corning plural marriage was given TO
Joseph Smith by God. and that II II a
divine institution. I have seen much
Of the custom, and have had practical
expcrlenee with H. Mr.. smith and l
ty-thrcc years. and have had eleven
childen and uevcral grandchildren.
Some wears after we were married my
husband told me he believed II his
duty to take another wife N ] would
help him bear the load. consented.
because it was my duty We had no
words about II. lie married. and by
his second wife has now had eight
children"
What are the relations OF the two
familics7"
"'rhey are perfectly friendly. and
have always been 49, The children are
treated lust the same by their father.
and ] love those Of the other wife al.
most ns much rs my own. They call
me aunt or grandma. and respect me
MS much ms they do their mother"
The two families are, OF course. sop
aratc" said I.
Yes. we have separate establish
mcnts. but we often 10 about together.
we visit one another and frequently
go shopping together"
EVERY WOMAN HAS A CHANCE.
40 you believe the institution OF
| plural marriage IL for the best interests
OF society. Mrs. SMITH"
Yes. II enables every woman 70
have a husband and preserves tn puri-
" OF both sexes. think our Nor
mon mon are better by far In such
| things than those OF the Gentlles. II
my husband II not with me | know
what many GENTLE wives do not know.
WAS your father Mormon Mrs
Smith2"
Eyes. and he had Ave wives. I had In
the neighborhood OF thirty-cight broth.
crs and sisters. II was thlrty-elght oil
thirty-nlne. don't remember Just
which. The family all lived under ons
roof. although each wife ana her chill
drcn had n separate apartment"
How did you get along2 l should
| think such family would be In n stat,
| OF perpetual dlscord7" said I.
VERY well, indeed" was the reply
There were differences. OF course
sometimes. but not more than you VII
ind In n similar number OF familiei
living In the same ncichborhood."
How about your mother. did she ap
prove OF it7'
''Ycs. think she did She was tn
first wife. but she believed II her dut!
10 consent to and make sacrifice 10
what she thought right. and did ~
She taught her daughters that the.
should act similarly when they wer
married. I think you viii ind all OF tn
older women Of the Mormon" Churcl
hold TO this same belief They are tru
women and are willing to sacrifice thei
own inclinations for the sake OF thci
religion. BELIEVING that God VIII make
up to Thorn In the next world. We ex
pcct to have higher place In heave
In consequence"
what do your younger women thin
about IT,"
~ don't think they like II. a senti
ment antagonistic to plural marriag
has grown up among our young peopl
since II has been prohibited by Law
and this Is. I think, increasing"
BAPTIZING FOR THE DEAD.
Mrs. Smith spoke OF the baptizing "a
the dead which IL now going on almos
daily In the Temple at Salt Lake. Ac