The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-02
POLYGAMY IS WRONG
Question Discussed at the Conven-
ton of Ministers.
DOCTRINE OF MARRIAGE
PAPER READ BY DR.. WIsHARD
OF OGDEN.
Combated the Mormon Doctrine of
Plural Marriage and Contended
That the Practice Was Condemned
By the Bible-Cases of Abraham,
David and Solomon.

by the 6lDle-CdS6S OF ApIdudlu
David and Solomon.
The question of polygamy from a
Biblical point of view was discussed at
length by Rev. s. L. Wishard, d. D., of
the Ogden Presbyterian church at the
closing session of the Christian conven-
ton last evening. The title of DR.. Wis
hard's paper was. The Bible Doctrine
of Marriage" which he claimed was
one wife tor one husband. Scriptural
references from Genesis down to the
New Testament were cited to prove
that polygamy was wrong.
Beginning with Adam and Eve, DR..
Wishard said that they were created as
a model for the family. When the
Lord caused Adam to sleep and then ex-
tracted a rib from his side and made a
woman of that rib, it is a significant
fact that only one rib was taken, and
only one woman was made TO be help
meet to Adam. God not only consti
tuted the law, one wife for one lhus-
band" said Dr.. Wishard, but he
blessed them in the observance of this
divine enactment. So deeply has God
wrought this law into our nature, that
every woman who has not been de-
based by barbariSm, or perverted by
religious fanaticism, revolts against en-
tering polygamy. Murder and polyg-
amy darkened the history of the race
until God saw that the wickedness of
man was great on the earth, and he
determined to destroy the sinners.
Again, he established the divine law
of monogany by choosing Noah and his
three sons. all monogamists, to propa-
gate the race. Polygamy could not fur
nish a single man whom God could use
in repeopling the earth now purged of
sin.
Case of Abraham.
'In the case of Abraham and Sarah,
God emphasized again the divine law
of one wife for one husband. Our polyg-
amist friends were for the third time
passed by. put in disgrace and dishonor
first, in the beginning of the race;
second. at the new race start after the
flood, and when God called out Abra-
ham to be the father of the faithful.
But did not Abraham become a polyg-
amist, when Sarah undertook TO make
Hagar his wife? l think Not. Abra-
ham and Sarah both attempted the
Business, but God was opposed to it.
The law of one wife for one husband
was again enacted on Sinai. Amid the
thunder that shook the mountain God
said, Thou shalt not commit adultery
The constitution of the family shall be
preserved inviolate, the law of marriage
shall be kept sacred. The Hebrew word
FOR adultery, naaph, in its primary and
legitimate import, denotes adultery in
the strict and exclusive sense of the |
ERIN, or that unlawful commerce of the |
sexes which takes place between par
les, one or both of whom are married. |
This crime is absolutely prohibited. |
Sod said concerning it, Thou shalt |
lot,'
Gods judgments against polygamy |
ire his divine interdict of the system. |
His law and providence are in har-
nony on this subject, and move to the |
'ame end-absolute prohibition of .1os |
oul crime. Jacobs history is full of /
and instruction,
The Mormon Argument.
1.-The Mormon argument is this: ia
,ob was a good man, he was a polyg |
mist, therefore polygamy is right. Pro-
eed with the argument-Jacob was a
GOOD man. He deceived his father,
saac; he cheated Esau. Therefore, de-
option and cheating are right. Such
ogic is too shallow to need reply. Ex-
mine the history OF Jacobs family
md you will discover the fruits of
'olygamy. The very names of his
hildren were perpetual memorials of
he turmoil ard strife in mis- home And
When Jacob came to the end of his life,
S by a sort of divine retributioI, he
vas impelled TO ask to be buried by his
awful wife, Leah. while poor Rachel.
he polygamous wife, was obliged to
leep alone.
.David's history is. if possible. more
ignificant-a good man, yet polyga-
mist. What family history he has
eft on record, Incest. murder. con-
piracy, treason, invoking the attempt
n David's life by his own unnatural
on, Absalom. God charged David
With the double crime of murder and
olygamy, crimes so often associated
D the Scriptures.
Sclomon's Example.
THE case OF Solomon is another IL
1stration of the ruin that came to a
oval sinner by his disregard of Gods
NV of marriage. The polygamist
oints 10 this illuStriouS man and con-
ludes that polygamy must be right be-
ause man so wise, so favored of God,
ntered the polygamous life. Here is
he faliacy of this vile system. 1t
ttempts TO interpret Gods holy law
V the behavior of a fallible man. The
istory Of Solomon shows us that polyg
my leads him into idolatry. We have
cen polygamy and murder going hand
I hand in the case of Lamech, and
and adultery marching to-
ether in the history of Solomon. Lo.
l Utah, polygamy and the worship OF
dam as God are the twin crimes that
arken our social horizon.
'-All the arguments for polygamy are /
violence against it, Our Mormon {
-iends in their book of instruction,
ave placed it under the caption, Laws
roviding for Plurality of Wives 1t I
as no more relation to plurality of 5
ives than It has TO the eternal pun ,
hment of the sinner. One of the ar
for polygany is that Christ
as born in the line of David and
Olomon. polygamists; therefore. polyg-
my is right. Proceed with this easy :
Ding Mormon logic. He was born in !
lie line of Rahab, the harlot; there
IRE, harlotry is right. He was born in :
lie line of Adam, who turned the world i
pside down. the first great sinner; :
,araf0ra all sin o Tharafara