The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-20
AN EVIL CASE IN POINT.

Admitting that "a few over Jealous
individuals - within the Mormon church
have refused to abide by the anti
polygamy laws, and the rule Of the
church which forbids the practice. the
prophet. seer, and revelator of that or
ganization still leaves an open tempta-
tion to similar wrong doing by other
reckless fanatics. He still continues to
publish the alleged revelation command
ing plural marriage under penalty of
eternal damnation; and he obstinately
omits from the book of commandments
the subsequent inhibitory document, al
though he made solemn promise to
cause its prcmulgation within the COW
ers Of the authoritative doctrinal law
book of the church.
Some sinister results have accrued
under these evasive tactics; and a re-
cltal Of one case may serve to demon
strate the utter perversity which some
times follows this persistent promulga-
tion. A considerable length of time
after the inhibitive manifesto was is
sued, an old member of the church took
1t into his head to marry Scandinavian
girl Of his acquaintance, and whom he
had been gradually converting to the
idea of plural marriage sanctity. The
girl had received no other training in
this country except that which came TO
her through such channels as were sat
urated with the polygamy idea. and
she was therefore not equipped TO de-
termine that the proposal made to her
by the old man was an immoral one.
At length she was persuaded to consent
to the arrangement, and the old man
set to work to carry out his plan. At
this particular time there was consid.
erable activity In watchfulness against
new polygamous marriages. as the loyal
people of the State were looking closely
to a fulfllment Of the terms of the
manifesto; so the aged lover was put
10 1T to secure the proper consent TO his
plural union. At length he produced a
letter which he said that he had re-
ceived from bishop of the church ia
Arizona, authorizing HIM to go to that
Territory and have the celestial mar
rage ceremony performed there. In
the exnberance of his JOY, the old man
showed the letter TO a friend of his and
disclosed TO this friend his intention to
hive his religion like a good Latter day
Saint, Now, this friend had also been
desirous of obeying the command con.
tanned in the Doctrine and Covenants.
but being of a sensible mind. he had
concluded that, under The circumstances.
there was no use in entertaining the
thought. He was aware of the mani
festo, and be was cognzant Of the fact
that there was an industrious effort on
the part Of lawabiding people and the
then presiding officers Of the church TO
secure observance of the inhibitive or.
der His suspic ions were aroused. and
he went TO the proper authorities to
learn why, il it were impossible for
him to add to his own family relations,
the old man in question should be per.
mltted to do SO, He was told that no
such permission had been granted TO
his brother in the gospel. Ho called al
tention to the letter of permission which
the old man had displayed. Foreseeine
/
for the offender and demanded to see
the letter. 1t was shown to them-and
by them declared to be a forgery.
But now comes the curse involved in
the incident; Having failed to get Of.
fetal consent. this particular Cover
Jealous individual took the Doctrine
and Covenants to the gIrl and read
from 1t the revelation commanding
plural marriage, which rewards obedi-
ent ones with the highest glory to he
obtained IN the hereafter. and Furnishes
by eternal damnation those who failed
TO givo heed to its injunctions. The
/ young woman was converted 10 the old
man 9 teaching. and upon his presenta-
tions to her that he was authorized TO
. himself perform the ceremony, she be.