Defense of the Faith and the Saints (Volume 2 of 2)Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Religion
Defense of the Faith and the Saints (Volume 2 of 2)
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saint churches
"We have no means of knowing to what extent the practice of plural
marriage has been discontinued in the 'Mormon' Church, since
no records of such marriages are kept by the Church that are
accessible to the public. That there have been instances of such
marriages ever since the agreement of the Church to discontinue
them, we know; that they cannot be celebrated without the sanction
of the Church accredited officials, is unquestioned; that, so far
as the public knowledge goes, no officials who may have celebrated
such marriages have been disciplined therefor is certain."
Throughout one cannot help believing that these gentlemen are not
quite candid with reference to this subject. I do not believe that
in the State of Utah there is any one, in the Church or out of it,
who does not believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints has stopped the practice of, or sanctioning and performing
plural marriages. I am of the opinion that everybody is settled in his
conviction in relation to that matter.
It requires time for the settlement of such questions as those involved
in the system of plural marriage, as once practiced in the Church.
No proclamation is at first understood. Differences of opinion and
variety of interpretation are bound to exist concerning matters of this
description. And when the announcement was made in President Woodruff's
manifesto of the discontinuance of plural marriage, and the advice was
given that our people should contract no marriages contrary to the
law, the question arose in the minds of some whether that prohibition
was not limited to marriages within the United States, and whether by
refraining from contracting such marriages within the United States
would not fulfill the covenant and agreement implied in the manifesto.
The matter was discussed pro and con. Ultimately, however, the
conclusion was inevitable that the manifesto forbade plural marriages
in all the world; because the Church is not a local Church: it is
not the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the United
States alone; but it is a world-wide Church; and when its general
conference speaks, it speaks for the entire Church in all the world.
Hence, I say, the conclusion was inevitable that plural marriages were
everywhere forbidden; and when some men held tenaciously to the view
that that was not the case, but that the Church fulfilled her agreement
to discontinue plural marriage by abstaining from performing plural
marriages within the United States--when that view was persisted in, I
say, there was but one thing left, and that was to conclude that such
persons were out of harmony with the Church. Two of the twelve apostles
held that view; they were declared by their associates to be out of
harmony with their brethren in these matters, they tendered their
resignations which were accepted; and since that time there has been
no question in the Church, or out of it, as to where the Church stands
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account