The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-05-17

| - expose the course OF Smith. but
only one issue was published. the
printing Office being destroyed by the
Mormons.
! 1t was TO silence the loud protests
that were coming from some OF the
faithful. who had no idea when they
Joined Mormonism that the taking OF
plural wives was ever to be one OF its
tenets, that the doctrine of polygany
was given the faithful in Zion. but
was not made public generally. 1t
was a revelation that explained some
of the tendencies of the Prophet
Smith. Among the saints it was
received reluctantly and many OF
ttr saints openly rebelled But
! it was revelation from the
! Lord. and it commanded the attention
OF the fantics and later their ODE
dience Thus saith the Lord Wa,
the stamp Of approval that was not
to be disputed.
The career OF the Prophet Joseph
alter producing his celestial mar
riage" revelation was short. He was
sought by the authorities and in
duced to surrender. He was wanted
on various charges. 1t was feared by
his followers that an attempt would
be made to massacre him in prison,
but the governor OF the state seemed
to fear no such result and no extra
guards were provided. While in the
jail the prophet and his brother Hy-
rum were assassinated President
Smith. who is today at the head Of
the Mormon church. is the son OF
Hvrum. who met his death at Car
thage Jail.
The revelation on celestial mar
riage" was not publicly announced
until 1852. and then it was stated by
Brigham Young that Smith had first
produced it in IS43. 1t has been
claimed that there were hints at this
doctrine at much earlier date. The
nineteenth Mrs. Brigham Young
claimed that the first public announce
me,., made by Smith OF his belief III
plural wives was at Nauvoo. in IS4o
In a sermon one Sunday he declared
it was perfectly right in the sight OF
the Lord for man to have as many
wives as he pleased if he could evade
the laws OF the land. He argued
that polygamous nations would be
converted to the church and would
wish to gather in Zion.
What will they do with their
wives?" he asked. I'VE must have
polygamy among us as an established
institution, and then they can bring
all their wives with them"
This utterance caused such a COM
motion, especially among the women,
that the prophet announced that 1T
was too soon for the Lord to reveal
Himself upon this subject" This an
nouncement allayed the first serious
rebellion among the followers of the
prophet. The next Sunday he said
he wished to retract what ne had
said week previously as he had
merely tried the saints to see what
they could bear.
The prophets wife did not take
kindly to the doctrine, and she fought
it persistently during his lifetime.
Later. some of the Mormons attempt
ed to palm the doctrine off on
Brigham Young.
Smith taught that the marriages
approved only by the Gentiles were
not binding in spirit. The Lord had
not recognized these marriages.
So. it was stated. many of the
wives of his followers were secretly
sealed" to Smith, he having told
them that the spirit had revealed to
him that they belonged to him. They
were to have high position in the
celestial kingdom.
Among the first to adopt the doc
trine of the plural marriage was a
Mr.. Noble. One night on the banks
of the Mississippi river the prophet
"sealed" Noble to second wife, and