Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-20
aMoRMoSIsM" AND THE SEXES.

makes uti Nlt H'hs NHfHb
throughout eternity
That was one Of the evidences given
at the meeting OF the Utah Presbytery
and teachers last Saturday, OF the kind
and gentle spirit in which they intend
10. attack "Mormonism" and win Nor
mon" children to the Presbyterian fold.
II was spoken with yehemence and with
all the old-time bitterness which has
characterized the assaults Of sectarian
preachers, on doctrines they cannot
controvert and q people whom they can
neither convert nor destroy. There IL
no excuse for the statement made by
Rev. George Bailey which we have
quoted above. 1t is without any ele-
ment OF truth. 1t is as vicious In mat
ter as II was In manner OF delivery
We presume the speaker had refer
ence 10 the eternity OF the marriage
covenant as held by the Latter-day
Saints. As he knows nothing whatever
OF the relations that viii exist between
men and women In the world to come
but is in blank and dense ignorance
concerning that important matter, OF
course he can see no good In the doc
trine Of eternal marriage, As his creed
teaches him that we shall be spiritual
beings only in heaven. and that spirit
is lmmaterial, without form, extension
or dimensions, the Idea OF the eternal
association OF the sexes, entertained by
the Saints through the direct revela-
lions of Almighty God, appears to him
absurd. But that Is no reason why he
should malign the system or the people
who entertain IT,
"MormonIsm" does not make woman
the "plaything Of man." either now or
hereafter On the contrary, 1t teaches
that woman Is part OF the man. That
true marriage makes them one. That
'the man is not without the woman
nor the woman without the man In
the Lord" That when God created
man and woman In His own image and
likeness, he gave them dominion to-
gether over all the lower creations.
That woman is the companion, not the
slave, Of man. That she Is the queen
OF the household, the maternal as he
is the paternal head Of the family. The
twain are one in that capacity. Nor
monism" teaches the necessity OF that
union between the husband and the
wife which cannot be complete with
out genuine affection. Love Is the
essential bond Of which the ceremony
is the sign and the seal. There is moth
ing In the whole tenor or spirit Of
"Mormonism" that makes woman a
mere plaything to anybody. Her place
In time and eternity is side by side
with her husband. Her influence to
be Joined with his Their dominion
over their posterlty to be together as
a unit, and their love and their hap
piness and glory TO be interdependent
In the Mormon" economy the wife
Is not placed In subsection to the pas
sions OF the husband. They are 10 be
mutually kind aud conslderate, study
Ing each others wishes and desires, In
reason and as the children of God.
Self-restralnt Is made essential 10 the
welfare OF the man and the woman,
and the great purpose OF the Almighty
revealed In the creation concerning the
Increase and multiplication Of the race,
Is placed far above the qualification Of
human desire. II the teachings OF
'Mormonism" on this subject were car
ried into effect, lust and It's direful re-
suits would be reduced to the lowest
possible minimum.
We do not claim that the principles
OF "Mormonlsm," either In this or in
other respects, are perfectly carried out,
or that in some instances they are not
rudely violated. But in those instances
the fault is not In the system but in
the individual who fails to be governed
by IT, is there no gross and lewd con-
duct In Christendom? Are there no
Presbyterians who make woman the
plaything OF man, even among its cler-
gy? Are there not cases which shock
the moral sense Of the world9 We DO
not attribute them 10 the teachings OF
Presbyterianism. and II anything OF a
similar nature occurs among the Nor
mons" II ought not to be charged
against "Mormonlsm" which inculcates
the utmost purity, chastity and fidelity
10 the marriage covenant.
"Mormonism" has no awful hold"
on anybody except that Of truth upon
the conscience. Its votaries receive Il
as divine II claims their reverence
and obedience In that way. Il carries
with II spirit and influence which
envelop the soul with a conviction OF
its heavenly origin. II demands ODE
dience only 10 the commandments and
counsels Of the Almighty, There Is in
II no compulsion. II Is "all free grace
and all free win" 1t makes affection,
union. forbearance. Kindness and char
ity essential in the family relation TO
present Joy ana eternal happiness,
glory and dominion. The power Of It's
priesthood seals on earth that which
Is sealed In heaven. But It does not
profess to be able to Join together that
which Is essentially dlscordant and IN
compatible.
II the assailants OF "MormOniSm'
would inquire into rs real Teachings.
tendency and spirit instead Of huntins
for something which LOOKS to them like a