The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-30

Some of the sayings on this subject I shall
sake of brevity, / shall contract somewhat
but always be careful to render his exact
meaning: Now IL came to pass that the
people of Nephi, under the reign of the Sec
ond king, began TO grow hard In their
hearts and indulge themselves somewhat
In wicked practices. such as ike unto David
of old, desiring many wives and concubines,
and also. Solomon. his son..
MANY WIVES AN ACCUMULATION.
HE charges them with pride, with wear
ing stiff necks and high heads, because of
the costliness of their apparel and of per-
scouting and despising their brethren be-
cause Of their poverty. Afterwards he says:
And now make an end of speaking TO you
concerning this pride. And were it not that
I must speak unto you concerning a grosser
crime my heart would rejoice exceedingly
because of you. But the word of God bur-
thens me because of your grosser crimes.
For behold, thus saith the Lord: This peo-
pie begin to wax in iniquity; they under
stand not the Scriptures, for they seek TO
excuse themselves in committing whoredoms
because OF the things which were written
concerning David and Solomon, his son. Be-
hold, David and Solomon truly had many
wives and concubines, which thing was
abominable before me, saith the Lord,
wherefore, thus saith the LORD, / have led
this people forth out of the land of Jerusa-
lem, by the power Of mine arm, that might
raise up unto me a righteous branch from
the fruit of the loins of Joseph. Wherefore,
/, the Lord God, will not suffer that this
people shall do like unto them of old. Where
fore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to
man among you have save it be one wife.
and concubines he shall have none; for /,
the Lord God. delighteth in the chastity of
women. Thus saith the Lord of
Hosts. Wherefore, this people shall keep
my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts,
or cursed shall be the land for their sakes
| / n raise
up seed unto me, / will command my peo-
pie; otherwise, they shall hearken unto
these things
"He then speaks somewhat further con-
corning the bad results of polygamy in Pal
estine, and declares that destruction shall
overtake the people of this land If they per-
sist in the same line of conduct. Jacob
further states: And now, behold, my breth-
rem, We know that these commandments
were given to our father. Lehi; wherefore
We have known them before; and we have
come unto great condemnation; for We have
have done. Behold, We have done greater
iniquities than the Lamanites, our breth-
rem. Ye have broken the hearts Of your
| tender wives, and lost the confidence of your
| children, because of your bad example be-
| fore them; and the sobbngs of their hearts
ascend up to God against you. And because
| OF the StrictneSs of the word of God, which
| cometh down against you, many hearts
| died, pierced with deep wounds.
will any man say anything against such
! doctrines as this? Is it not pure and holy
| as heaven? Did it originate in any other
| than pure and holy source? 1t certainly
! did not; any sensible and righteous-mi
person would be afraid to entertain for a
| moment the idea that such grand and pure
| principles and holy teachings emanated
| from Solomon Spaldings tavern. / glorify
| God that ever He has admitted me into the
! grand secret of this divine revelation from
| God; also, that have many brethren and
| sisters who are also fully assured of it's
| divinity, and who also endeavor earnestly
| TO conduct themselves Tin this PARTICULAR
in accordance with it's teachings, and in
4 q aiSa
| Lord because We possess a knowledge of
| this principle of divine revelation.
| Jacob further addresses the Nephites by
way Of contrasting their conduct Tin this
much to the advantage of the latter: Be
| hold the Lamanites, your brethren, whom
We hate because of their fllthiness and the
cursings which hath come upon their skins.
| are more righteous than you; for they have
| not forgotten the commandment of the Lord,
which was given to our fathers that they
| should have save 1t where one wife, and
concubines they should have none.
: And now this commandment they observe
| TO keep; wherefore, because of this observ-
| ance in keeping this commandment, the Lord
| God will not destroy them. but will be mer-
| come a blessed people. Behold. their hus-
bands love their wives, and their wives love
| their husbands, and their husbands and
their wives love their children; and their
unbelief and their hatred toward you is be-
cause of the iniquity, of their fathers:
| they, in the sight of your great Creator?'
| Il do not cease producing evidence from
| the Book of Mormon against polygamy, be-
| cause the source is exhausted; not in the
| least degree. but because I consider that
| sufficient has been presented to convince any
| sensible person that the Book of Mormon
| does not teach or tolerate polygamy.
| hereby authorize any person that hears any
| preacher, publicly or privately. setting forth
| the contrary to inform Them in my name,
| that L am at their call to prove them fall
| sifiers or fools, or both, as the case may be.
1t is unlawful TO disturb a public meeting,
| but at the close of the minister's discours
| you would be safe in expressing yourself,
IL you first politely and orderly requested
and obtained the privilege of doing so.'