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POLYGAMY.
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"We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God." -- Joseph Smith.
Such was the declaration of Joseph Smith, the prophet, seer and revelator of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who claimed to be a "chosen instrument in the hands of God to bring about some of his purposes in this dispensation." He announced the above as one of the cardinal points of belief of the church which he pretended to be called of God to establish, and that principle has been embraced in what the Reorganized church has called its "Epitome of Faith." This Reorganized church has permitted its self-styled "leaders" to assert that "Primitive Mormonism" is only confined to the three books -- the Book of Mormon, Book of Covenants and the Bible. These "authorities," or "leaders," of the Reorganized -- forgetting the admonition of Joseph Smith, that: "the only way to obtain truth and wisdom, is not to ask it from the books, but to go to God in prayer and obtain divine teaching -- have endeavored to force the argument upon the world that nothing is "Primitive Mormonism" except that printed in the three books prior to the death of Joseph Smith. Here the line of demarcation is drawn by them and all that may be good in Mormonism is twined into a crown of glory and with paeans of praise laid upon the otherwise neglected grave of Joseph Smith; while that which is deemed foul and filthy, and perhaps unpopular, is warped and woven into the prophetic mantle that fell upon the shoulders of Brigham Young.
Under the tenet of faith enunciated by Joseph Smith, that he and Mormondom believed "all that God does now reveal, and all that He will yet reveal," there could be no such thing as "Primitive Mormonism." This plank of the Mormon faith was progressive, and looked forward to "great and important things yet to be revealed pertaining" to the Mormon faith, or "kingdom of God."
Admitting the Book of Mormon to be a revelation from God, and that Joseph Smith was the inspired translator of that revelation, we find that it had been revealed to the Mormon church that they should
"Hearken to the word of the Lord: for there shall not be any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none: for I, the Lord God, delighteth in the chastity of women and _____doms are an abomination before me: thus saith the Lord of hosts. Wherefore this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes."
So reads the Nauvoo edition of the Book of Mormon. (See Book of Jacob, chapter 2. par. 5. page 126.)
From this quotation we learn that God had revealed it to the believers in the B. of M. that it was forbidden to have "save it be one wife." But this revelation through the B. of M. does not end with the quotation given; for if we quote the next two lines we read:
"For if I will, saith the Lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken to these things."
Joseph Smith tells us that "we believe all that God has revealed," and we have found that it had been forbidden to have "save it be one wife;" and by the same revelation we have also found that it was possible that God might give further revelation upon the subject: -- "For if I will, saith the Lord of hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people."
So stood the polygamy question in 1830 when the Book of Mormon was published, and "Primitive Mormonism" (if you will) says through Joseph Smith, as late as March, 1842, "We believe that He (God) will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God." Was Mormonism disappointed in this belief? Is there within the three books a revelation given after March, 1842? The last revelation printed in the 1864 edition of the Book of Covenants bears date January 1841. Had God ceased then in March, 1842, to "reveal many great things pertaining to the kingdom of God." We shall see.
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== FOOTPRINTS. ==
Notwithstanding the B. of M. spoke in so emphatic words against polygamy, and left a proviso...
(under constrution)
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the authorities of the church, and has resides three years in this state...
(under constrution)
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there is not one printed line, to my knowledge, above the signature...
(under constrution)
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also the admission that there were mysteries...
(under constrution)
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Church of Jesus Christ [of] Latter-day Saints," and further says: ...
(under constrution)
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Joseph, the younger, would have us believe...
(under constrution)
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Smith arose and said there were many things...
(under constrution)
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On) page 6....
(under constrution)
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and to all places where this doctrine is taught...
(under constrution)
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jere and in his Message to the Illinois Legislature, if so, read it...
(under constrution)
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but being so mildly drawn served to deceive the public...
(under constrution)
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"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you...
(under constrution)
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of the polygamy doctrine...
(under constrution)
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then in Illinois...
(under constrution)
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As I am informed...
(under constrution)
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in heaven...
(under constrution)
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This to was the key to solve the mystery...
(under constrution)
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all will be well...
(under constrution)
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shall leave the impartial reader to judge for himself...
(under constrution)
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Jacob IN THE BOOK OF MORMON ...
(under constrution)
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by Elders Wm. and D. C. Smith...
(under constrution)
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