The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-07
POL YcAMY IN UTAH
MONS LIVE IN VIOLATION
OF LAW
WORKED BY REVELATIONS
Faithful Believers Who Want More
Wives Receive Convenient Reye-
IatioMs and Bishops Generally
Obligingly Follow Suit.

"Polygamy is believed in and practiced
in Utah today, just as much as it was
at any time in the history OF the land,
said DIR. N. e. Clemenson, OF Logan
Utah, in an address at the House OF
Hope church last evening. DR.. Clemen.
son is travelling and lecturing in behal,
of the INSTRUMENTATION Council for
Christian and Patriotic Service, and
spoke strongly against poiygamy.
He said that when Utah applied for adj
mission to the Union the people of the
territory made certain promises and
secure the boon desired. The pledge they
made was that they would not teach or
practice peiygamy. This pledge, DR..
C1emenson says. has been entirely disre-
garded. They did not intend to keep
their pledges, but made them in order
that they might gain statehood.
Dr. ciemenson said that they had fou,
reasons for making the pledges which
were necessary in order to secure their
admission to the Union Their members
were in prison because of a violation OF
the anti-polygamy law; they had no fran
chise; thousands of dollars worth OF
church property had been confiscated,
and they desired to get it back again
and by securing admission to the Union
they could invalidate the EdmondS-
Tucker law. which forbade polygamy.
These considerations were sufficient to
influence them to make pledges they new
er intended to fulfill.
DIR. Clemenson said that the Mormons
deny that they practice polygamy and
their missionaries were earnest in de-
nouncing the practice, calling it relic
of barbarism They do not call II
poIygamy, but designate it as celestial
marriages.
Accomplished by Revelations.
In explanation of how it is carried on,
he said that not everyone was allowed to
indulge in plural marriage. Only those
who had been chosen were allowed the
privilege. There are two ways In which
a person might be chosen. The first way
is for the man to receive a revelation
from God, telling him that he should en-
ter into the celestial estate. He then
goes to the bishop and tells him of his
revelation. Ii the bishop receives a like
revelation the matter is laid before the
president of the church, who is the final
Judge of the matter. If the president
receives a revelation that agrees with
that of the petitioner and the bishop.
permission to marry as many wives as
he is able to support is granted. If the
president does not receive the revelation,
he sends the man home to live as he has
before.
The second way in which man may he
chosen is for the president to receive a
revelation that certain brother should
marry such certain sister. He then or
ders the ceremony to be celebrated and
sr,to In rn1n toll <sc~taf To,
This was done In 1880, when President
Taylor ordered scores of the members
to get married in the face of the anti
polygamy law.
Dr. Clemenson undertook to explain
why they persisted In carrying on the
practice He said that the book of Nor
mon teaches that the man who refuses
to listen to the revelations of God was
received that certain man should In,
dulge in plural marriage, and he does
not obey he is lost.
DR.. Clemenson said that there is no
remedy in the state of Utah to prevent
these practices. large majority of the
people are Mormens, and they Venerate
the polygamistS, whom they look upon as
beings with whom God is SO well pleased
as to show them especial fayors The
old antiipoiy gamy law of congress is NO
longer is in effect in the state. The only
remedy lies in the federal government
and that Is helpless without an amend
ment or the constitution allowing con-
gress to regulate affairs of a certain ma
ture that exist ia a state. This is what
the council is working for. He. urged
those present to take UP the matter and
try to get their representatives ia con-
gress to favor this amendment.