The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-01-04
Rise and Progress of Polygamy.


into such condition of political strength that it il
able to successfully cope with that moral sense O.
the Nation which long ago rose in protest agans
its violation of nflexble code erected by society
for the perpetuation of the purity of the marriage
relation.
Taking advantage of the mistaken lenency of the
past clothed itself with power to create and exc
cute It's own governing laws, through the autonomy
OF the States in which it exists, and finally it has
secured place under the protecting wing of the
Nation at large and the voice of the hierarchy is
heard and respected in the highest councils of this
Christian republic
A member of the governing body of fifteen of the
Mormon church has had confirmed his right to par
tlcpate in the proceedings of the supreme legislative
body of the country although more than half of the
governing body of the church are the husbands of
plural wives, in violation of the law of God, the
law OF man, the command of society and the promise
OF the church government
This is a far greater gain in temporal power than
the founder of the church aspired to- Brigham
Young his successor expected to achieve it through
violence and deception
Having gained foothold as a component part of
the government at Washington, the hierarchy of to-
day has its ambition fixed upon an extension of
power that will some time enable it to confer upon
the saints the privilege of the open and undenied
enjoyment of polygamous practices
After tracing the rise and progress of Mormon
Ism down to the present day, can only marvel
that the exgencies of party politics have fixed upon
the doctrine it conveys the same badge of respecti-
blllty that is by the representatives of virtue
and the purity of the home.
From the first revelation of Joseph Smith in On
tario County, New York. on the 21st of September.
1929 to the last revelation of Joseph Smith, at Maui
voo illinois, in the month of July, 1S43 the history
OF the Mormon establishment, after it had secured
enough converts to render it aggressive force
was one of crimes of blood of theft or arson, of
defiance of the laws of civil government
The first revelation told of certain buried plates
and clothed Joseph Smith with power to discover
them and translate the inscriptions thereon and pro-
claim gospel. Such is the account of the
transactions upon which the cult of Joseph Smith
based its existence
The last revelation developed the scheme of the
promoters of the organization 1t pretended to con-
vey from the Lord command to the men of the
church to take, each to himself, from among the
women OF the church, as many wives as he cared
to introduce into his home and to maintain Thus
was infamous doctrine promulgated in the midst
If the civilization of Christian land Joseph Smith
came to violent end during the succeeding year
md his followers fled to the Wilderness carving
heir propaganda of immortality along with them
Brigham Young succeeded to the leadership of the
church and under him the institution of po1ygamy
became the corner stone in the foundation of the
Mormon church
Driven by physical force from the State of Illinois,
S they had previously been driven from the State
f Missouri, the 5000 Mormons assembled under the
ommand of Mr. Young moved westward and in
he summer of 1847, located in the valley of Salt
AXE, then Mexican territory. The authority of the
United States was extended over the abiding place