History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

POLYGAMY AT FIRST SECRET. 163
the church might thereby be broken up. If it must
needs be, then let discretion be used. Let the mat-
ter be broken to the church as it is able to receive it;
let the system be introduced gradually, and practised
secretly; by the chief men at first, and later by all. 20
It was indeed a heavy load that the saints thus took
upon themselves, willingly or unwillingly, in the ser-
vice of God or in the service of Satan. Up to this
'-'°
It is denied by some that polygamy was practised by the Mormons at
this date. In the Deseret Newsoi Oct. 22, 1S79, are several statements under
oath to the effect that between 1840 and 1843 Joseph taught the doctrine of
celestial or plural marriage, that several women were sealed to him according
to this doctrine, and this with the consent of Joseph's wife, Emma Smith.
On the other hand, it is stated in the Scdt Lake City Tribune, Oct. 3, 1879,
that Emma denied that her husband was ever married to another, or that, so
far as she knew, he ever had improper relations with any woman. Elder Pratt
reported at Piano, 111., in the summer of 1878, several instances of Joseph's
having had wives sealed to him, oneat least as earlyas April 5, 1841. 'Smith
introduced (at Nauvoo) the system of spiritual wifeism, and had largely increased
his household by celestial ensealment. This was the preliminary step
of polygamy, or its practical adoption, though it had not yet been revealed
as a tenet in the Mormon creed.' Tucker's Mor monism, 170. The revelation
was written after he had taken other wives. Stenhouse's Exposd of Poli/gamy,
70. Jos. Smith adopts it and is sealed to Eliza Snow. Tullidge's Life of
Young, Suppl. 22. In a letter to the Deseret News, Oct. 22, 1879, Eliza It.
Snow signs her name as 'a wife of Joseph Smith the prophet.' 'Brigham
Young delivered over to Jo Smith all his wives except one, and soon "after
Smith had a revelation that Young should be his successor as head of the
church.' Slater's Mormonirm, 84. John D. Lee says: 'I understood that
Brig. Young's wife was sealed to Joseph. After his death Brig. Young told
me that Joseph's time on earth was short, and that the Lord allowed him
privileges that we could not have.' Mormonism, 147. Jos. Smith had taken
some more wives, but the revelation required that he should do it without
publicity (for fear of the mob). Richards' Reminiscences, MS., 18. 'Joseph
Smith lost his life entirely through attempting to persuade a Mis Dr Foster,
at Nauvoo, that it was the will of God she should become his spiritual wife;
not to the exclusion of her husband, Dr Foster, but only to become his in
time for eternity. This nefarious offer she confessed to her husband. Some
others of a siaiilar nature were discovered, and Dr Foster, William Law, and
others began to expose Smith. Their paper was burned, type and press demolished,
for which Smith was arrested, and afterward shot by Missourians,
at Carthage, 111.' Hyde's Mormonism, 85.
' Smith and Noble repaired by night to the banks of the Mississippi, where
Noble's sister was sealed to Smith by Noble, and the latter to another woman
by Smith. These were the first plural marriages, and a son born to Noble
the first child born in polygamy.' Young's Wife No. 19, 72-3. ' That polygamy
existed at Nauvoo, and is now a matter scarcely attempted to be concealed
among the Mormons, is certain.' Gunnison's Mormons, 120. On the
other side, in Times and Seasons, iv. 143 (March 15, 1843), we read, 'The
charge of advocating a plurality of wives is as false as the many other ridiculous
charges brought against us.' In Id., v. 474 (March 15, 1844), Hyrum
Smith declares that no such doctrine is taught or practised; and on p. 715 it
is declared that 'the law of the land and the rules of the church do not allow
one man to have more than one wife alive at once.' For additional denials
by Parley Pratt, John Taylor, and others, see S. L. Tribune, Nov. 11, 1879.