"SEC. 121. Bigamy consists in the having of two wives or two husbands at one and the same time, knowing that the former husband or wife is still alive. If any person or persons within this State, being married, or who shall hereafter marry, do at any time marry any person or persons, the former husband or wife being alive, the person so offending shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprisonment in the penitentiary not exceeding two years." [The remainder of this section relates to evidence, and prescribes certain exemptions.] "SEC. 122. If any man or woman, being unmarried, shall knowingly marry the husband or wife of another, such man or woman shall, on conviction, be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned not more than one year."[232:A] In the face of this law, which was then in full force, the revelation to Smith declares: "If any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent; and if he espouse the second and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified."[232:B] Thus justifying the violation of both sections of the law. People may well hesitate, before believing in the authenticity of such a revelation. Here, again, God is made to contradict himself; for not only in the Christian but in the Mormon Bible, He is represented as enjoining upon His disciples to obey the laws and civil authorities. The Book of Mormon abounds in such teachings. The Book of Doctrine and Covenants is to the same effect:-- "We believe that every man should be honored in his station; rulers and magistrates as such being placed for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty; and that to the laws all men owe respect and deference, as without them peace and harmony would be supplanted by anarchy and terror."[232:C] Here, again, I may quote from Mr. Orson Pratt, whose writings have been freely used, as of high authority in "the church." "Would it be right for the Latter Day Saints to marry a plurality of wives in any of the States or Territories, or nations, where such practices are prohibited by the laws of man? We answer, No; it would not be right; for we are commanded to be subject to the powers that be."[233:A] Since, then, it was not right to violate the laws of the land, then in force in Illinois on this subject, how came God to give a revelation sanctioning such a violation of the State law? And that too, without making, in the revelation, the least allusion to the law which was to be so grossly violated? Again: Who was authorized to keep this revelation secret, no secrecy being enjoined in the revelation itself?