The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-01-18
Old Mormon Polygamists.

Salt Lake Tribune When the pretended revela-
ton commanding polygamy first made public in
Utah. it was touted as the most sacred principle yet
revealed by the Almighty to man. that practice of
polygamy was the greatest demonstration of faith
by works that a Mormon could possibly show upon
this earth The principle, SO it was claimed by the
leaders, was to prove to be the eventual salvation
of the human family Prior to this public announce
ment of that particular tenet of the Mormon faith,
its heavenborn qualities were taught IN secret to
favortes of the chief prophet First exactng most
profound promise of close-mouthed protection Jo-
seph Smith conhded to his male and female adher-
ents of the inner circle that he had received from
the Lord a command to enter into what he called
the celestial order of marriage, and that as soon as
possible the practice to become general through
out the church But for the present great care must
be exercised that the outside world should not come
into possession of knowledge concerning these secret
doings as the doctrine too strong for minds
that were unprepared to receive it.
If one cares to take the trouble to examine the
Doctrine and Covenants he will find that the polyga
nous commandment is dated July IL, 1o43. Accord
ing to the testimony of Joseph F. Smith, his uncle
the original prophet purally married to several
women previous to this date William Clayton, who
was the confidential secretary of the founder OF the
Mormon church, published affidavit in the Deseret
News, in which he names as many as dozen women
whom Smith had taken in polygamy. In March,
1892 there was conducted in this city legal hear
ing into the merits of controversy over title to the
temple block at Independence Missouri. At this
hearing it was testified by women that they had
become the plural wives of Joseph Upon many
occasions, in meetings of the saints, women have
contributed testimony to the divinity OF the polyg-
amous doctrine by asserting that they had been mar
ried to Joseph Hyrum Smith-rany OF them
prior to the date on which the supposed revelation
was received.
1t was on account of this promiscuous immortality
on the part of these false prophets that trouble came
upon the Mormon people. 1t began to grow so
warm at one time that the final outcome was feared
previous to its actual arrival The community was
arousing itself against the prophetic lechery largely
on account of the fact that OF the overzealouS
brethren-steeped in fanatca JOY that their lust
to find appeasement- burted out the truth that the
doctrine of poygamy being taught in the church,
and that many of the high priests already prac
ticng it. Seeming the trouble from afar, the chief
instgators of it resorted to the towards only wea-
pon-the lie Here it is, we find it in the Times
and Seasons (the authoritative church organ OF
February 1, 1874:
"As we have lately been credibly informed that an
elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints by the name of Hyrum Brown, has been
preaching po1ygamy and other false and corrupt
doctrines in the county of Lapeer, State of Michigan
this is to notify him and the church generally that
he has been cut off from the church for his in
EQUITIES.
Joseph Smith,