Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1907-05-23
CHAPTER xxxIII.
A Revelation Concerning the True Or
der Of MarrlAae.


While matters OF theology and con.
canyon. the little bent man down In
tho first house TO the left. In his strug.
gle to free himself. was Tightening the
moshes of his fate about him In his
harried mind he had formed one great
resolution. He believed that 4 reve-
lation had come to him. II seemed
TO press upon him as the elimination
OF all the days OF his distress. He
could see now that he had felt II years
before. when he first met the wife OF
Elder Tench. the gaunt, gray WON.
an. toiling along the dusty road: and
again when he had found the imbecile
boy turning upon his tormentors. A
hundred times II had quickened with
in him. And II had gained In force
steadily, until to-day. when 1t was
overwhelming him. Now that his
flesh was wasted, II seemed that his
spirit could see far.
His great discovery was that the
revelation upon celestial marriage
given Joseph Smith had been from
beneath"-a trick of Satan to corrupt
them. Not only did II fatty contra
dict earlier revelations, but the very
Book of Mormon itself declared again
and again that polygamy was wicked
ness. Joseph had been duped by the
powers OF darkness. and all Israel had
slnned in consequence. Upon the
golden plates delivered to him, con.
corning the divine source Of which
there could be no doubt. this order of
demned and forbidden. But as TO
the revelation which sanctioned II
there could rightly be doubt; for had
not Joseph himself once warned them
that "some revelations are from God,
some from men. and some from the
devil" Either the Book of Mormon
was not inspired, or the revelation
was not from God, since they were
fatally in opposition.
II came to him with the effect of
binding light. yet seemed to endow
him with a new vigor. so that he felt
strong and eager to be up, to spread
his truth abroad. Some remnant OF
that old fire OF inspiration famed up
within him as he lay on the hard bed
In his little room, with the summer
scents floating in and the out-of-doors
sounds-a woman's voice calling
child afar OF, the lowing of cattle.
the rhythmic whetting of a scythe-
blade. the echoing stroke OF an AK.
the mellow fiuting Of a robin-all
coming 70 him a little muted. as II
he we're no longer in the world.
He raised upon his elbow. glowing
with the flush OF old memories when
his heart had been perfect with the
lord; when he had wrought miracles
In the face OF the people; when he
had besought Heaven fearlessly for
signs OF It's favor; when he had
dreamed OF being pillar of fire to
his people In their march across the
desert, and another Lion Of the Lord
to fight their just battles. The little
bent man of sorrows had again be.
come the lutte OF the Holy Ghost.
He. remembered the day was Satur.
day, and he began at once to word
the phrases In which he would tell
his revelation on the morrow. He
knew that this must be done tact
fully, In spite of its divine source. 1t
would be a momentous thing to the
people and to the priesthood. It was
conceivable, indeed. that members Of
the latter might dispute It and argue
with him, or even denounce him for
q hereto. But only at first; the thing
was too simply true to be long ques.
toned. In any event, his duty was
plain: with righteousness as the CIR
die OF his loins he must go forth on
the morrow and magnify his ONCE in
the sight OF Heaven.
When Prudence came softly In 10
him. like a cool breath OF fragrance
from the canyon, he smiled up TO her
with q fullness OF delight she had
never seen in his face before.
There was a new light in her own
eyes. new decisions presaged. new
desire imperfectly suppressed. He
stroked her hand as she sat beside
him on the bed. wondering II she
had at last learned her own secret
But she became grave and was d.
verted from her own aflairs when she
observed him more closely.
why, you're slck--you're burning
up with feyerl You must be covered
up at once aud have sage tea"
lie laughed az her. free, full
laugh. such as she had never heard
from him in all the years.
TITS no fever. child. It's new life
come to me. I'm strong again. Ny
face burns. but It must be the Gre OF
health. ! have work given TO me-
God has aot wholly put me aside"
But I believe you are sick. Your
hands are 30 hot. aud your eyes look
so unnatural. You must let me-
Nov. now--haven't learned e
tell aickneaa from the glow OF holy
purposet"
'You'ro sure you are wellf'
Better than fOr rs yoarnH