The Mormon Prophet and His Harem: Or, An Authentic History of Brigham Young, His Numerous Wives and ChildrenWaite, C. V. (Catherine Van Valkenburg)
History
The Mormon Prophet and His Harem: Or, An Authentic History of Brigham Young, His Numerous Wives and Children
Waite, C. V. (Catherine Van Valkenburg)
Latter Day Saint churches; Young, Brigham, 1801-1877
A Mr. Cushion was engaged to be married to Miss Susan McBride, when he
was taken sick and died. He had been a great favorite of Heber C.
Kimball, Second President of the Church, who desired he should be saved
and glorified in another world. But to that end, he must have a family.
Accordingly Heber visited Miss McBride, and urged her to marry the man
whom she had loved, _by proxy_; explaining to her that it was a
religious duty which she owed to her affianced husband. The poor girl,
puzzled and troubled, and desirous of being in the society of the loved
one, and contributing to his happiness in the next world, consented.
Heber then applied to Robert T. Burton, and induced him to marry the
girl. Burton is the Sheriff of Salt Lake County, and Collector of
Internal Revenue for the United States Government! He is a fit
instrument to carry out any scheme of the heads of the church, and
required but little inducement to undertake this one. The poor girl was
thus disposed of, by being sealed to Cushion for eternity, and to
Burton, as his third wife, for time. She was taken home, and domiciled
with the other two.
These worthy matrons were not pleased with the appearance of a new wife,
and claiming their rights as the only real wives, who had been sealed to
their husband both for time and eternity, resolved at once to make it
exceedingly uncomfortable for the new-comer. This they did effectually,
and Susan's life was a very unhappy one. But time passed on, and she
became the mother of several children.
Susan was not allowed equal privileges with the other two. She had but
one small room, in which she cooked, ate, slept, and spun, while the
other two had splendid chambers and parlors,--for Burton is wealthy.
When she complained to Burton, he said,--"Susan, you know I have only
married you for time, and you must not expect the same privileges which
I grant to my other wives, who are married for eternity, and who will
exalt and glorify me in the celestial kingdom. You ought to be thankful
for what you do receive, and not fret about my other wives."
The first wife takes control of Susan's children, in contradiction to
the entire theory of this complex and unnatural relationship, and the
mother is frequently obliged to see them severely punished, and suffer
in silence. One day the first wife's boys and one of Susan's were in the
barn, doing some mischief. The first wife went out and commanded the
boys to come away. Her own boys ran past unharmed, but when Susan's boy,
the youngest of the three, came out, she caught him, beat him, threw him
on the ground, and kicked him.
This is but one of many instances, where women are living in this way,
being married to one man for time, and sealed to another for eternity.
This narrative was given me by one who had lived in the family for
several months, and saw and heard what is herein stated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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