The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1907-02-21
"A TALE OF TIE OLD WEST
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to press upon him as the elimination
of all the days of his distress. He
could e now that he had felt it years
before, when he first met the wife of
Elder Tench, the gaunt, gray wom-
an, toiling along the dusty road; and
again when he had found the imbecile
boy turning upon his tormentors. A
hundred times it had %quickened with
in him. And it had gained in force
steadily, until today, when it was
overwhelming him. Now 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 it fatty contra
dict earlier revelations, but the very
Book of Mormon itself declared again
and again that polygamy a wicked
ness. Joseph had been duped by the
powers of darkness, and all Israel had
sinned in consequence. Upon the
golden plates delivered to him, con-
corning the divine source Of which
there could be no doubt, this order of
marriage had been repeatedly con-
demned and forbidden. But as to
the revelation which sanctioned it
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.
1t came to him with the effect Of a
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
child afar off, the lowing of cattle,
the rhythmic whctting of a scythe-
blade, the echoing stroke Of an ax,
the mellow fluting of a robin-all
coming to him a little muted, as if
he were 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 a 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 it's divine source. 1t
would be a momentous thing to. the
people and to the priesthood. 1t was
conceivable, indeed, that members Of
the latter might dispute it inc argue
with him, or even denounce him for
a 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 Office in
the sight of Heaven.
When Prudence came softly in to
him, like a cool breath Of fragrance
from the canyon, he smiled up to her
with a fullness Of delight she had
never seen in his face before.
There was a new light in her own
eyes, new decisions %presaged, a new
desire i%mperfectly suppressed. He
stroked her hand as she sat beside
him on the bed, wondering If she
had at last learned her own secret.
But she became grave and vas d.
verified from her own affairs when she
observed him more closely.
"Why, you're sick-you're burning
up with fever! You must be covered
up at once and have sage tea"
He laughed at her, a 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 fire of
health. I have.a work given to me
God has not wholly put me aside"
"But I believe you are sick. Your
hands are so hot, and your eyes look
SO unnatural. You must let me"
Nov, $now-haven't l learned to
tell sickness from the glow of a holy
purpose?"
you're sure you are well?"
Better than for Is years."
She let herself be convinced for the
moment.
Then please tell me something.
Must a man who comes into our faith,
if he is baptized rightly, also marry
more than one wife if he is to be
saved? Can't he be sure of his glory
with one if he loves her-oh, very,
very much?"
He was moved at first to answer
her out of the fullness of his heart,
telling her of the wonderful new
revelation. But there came the i'm
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