[Parley P.
Pratt] San Francisco, July
13,
1852.
[Broadside]
"Mormonism!" "Plurality of Wives!"
An Especial Chapter, for the
Especial Edification
of certain inquisitive News Editors, Etc.
__________
A certain Editor in this town,
(San Francisco,) in reviewing our late Spanish and English Proclamation,
complains sorely of our neglect of our own countrymen, the Americans, in our
religious instructions. He also enquires, with all the seeming anxiety of a
penitent man at the anxious seat, as to his excellency Gov. Young's family
matters, and whether "Mormonism" allows a man more wives than one!!!
We inform him, that "Mormonism" is not in a corner, nor its light under a
bushel, in the United States. Its books and ministry have long been within the
reach of every reader in the English language. If the Americans wish information
let them read the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and our other works, and seek the
truth at the hand of God, and at the hand of our Apostles and Elders. And let
them repent of their priestcraft, errors and folly, and humble themselves as in
the dust, and learn to speak and publish the truth.
In regard to Gov. Young's family matters, we never had the curiosity to inform
ourselves, although we have been a near neighbor of his for many years. This
much we do know, -- that his morality is above all suspicion in the circles
where he is known, and we presume the number of his family does not exceed the
late estimates, which have been the rounds of the American Press. At any rate
his family are respectable and virtuous; and as patterns of faith and piety, and
good works, they are honored in every department of society. Marriage, in nearly
all countries is regulated by civil legislation, and is therefore beyond the
jurisdiction of our Apostleship, or ministry. Some governments allow to each man
one wife, some two, some four, and others as many as they can
obtain and support.
Every person who reads the Bible must know that the commission is to preach the
Gospel to every creature in all the world, and to baptize all who believe, and
repent. The Lord, in giving this commission, made no exceptions to the exclusion
of any particular family organization growing out of the varied civil
institutions.
It is also known, or ought to be, that this commission, without variation has
been renewed to the Latter Day Saints, and that every baptized penitent, is a
member of the church in good standing, while he observes the laws of God and his
country Whether these laws legalize to him one wife or "sixteen."
Our instructions to all nations are that they believe in Jesus Christ, and
repent and be baptised. And then serve God and obey the laws and civil
institutions under which they live, or a country whose institutions are more
congenial to their faith.
But, in all cases to be sure and love, sustain, honor, and cherish every soul of
the family which the laws of God or man has given them, and to abstain forever
from all unlawful intercourse between the sexes. For all unlawful intercourse of
this kind is adultery, or fornication, and by the law of God is punishable with
death.
Is it possible there is still in "Christendom," (after so many years of
Mormon progress,) a man, or even an EDITOR so
ignorant as to suppose that the eternal principles of the Priesthood, Ordinances
and Kingdom of God, sent forth as a Standard of Universal Restoration for
the Tribes of Israel, and for all nations, would narrow itself
down to the petty prejudic
es, local superstitions, and narrow views of that small minority of mankind
known as "Christendom!"
And thus exclude Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the kings, patriarchs, and
prophets of old from the kingdom of God, and three quarters of the present
generation of mankind from all participation in the Gospel ordinances, merely
because their family is so large!!!
Nay, more! The narrow, ignorant legislation of some Churches and States, would
imprison, for years the Patriarch Jacob, turn his four wives, twelve sons and a
daughter into the street, without father or husband, dishonored and rendered
illegitimate; and then, if possible, demolish the very gates of New Jerusalem;
because the names of the sons of Jacob, by Rachel, Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah were
found engraven on the gates.
This done and the family of Israel broken up, all the good citizens, law makers,
judges, and lawyers who had thus shown their indignation against "vice" and
their zeal for "virtue" might by the laws of the same State, seduce and ruin as
many females as they pleased, by merely paying a fine, and a certain amount of
damages!
Or, in other words: so much disease, shame, dishonor, ruin, death and damnation,
of our fair daughters for so much money. So much gold for so much blood! --
murder! No -- Editors! -- this is not "Mormonism!"
Should the United States, or any other nation ever rise from the degradation
into which a false "Christianity" has plunged them: should they ever
ascend to the level of the heathen nations of ancient Egypt or Babylon, and like
a Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzer, or a Cyrus, engage a Prophet or an Apostle to teach
them; a Joseph or a Daniel to give them wisdom and revelation in the knowledge
of God, and in the science of government, -- then "Mormonism" will teach
their Senators wisdom and their Judges justice; and the latter day Apostles and
Prophets restore to them the laws of God. As it is written by Isaiah, Chap 2d,
verses 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th.
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's
house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted
above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it.
And many people shall say, come ye, and let us go unto the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will
walk in his paths, for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the
Lord from Jerusalem.
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people, and they
shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any
more.
O house of Jacob, come, and let us walk in the light of the Lord."
The law of God, from Zion, in the top of the mountains, when taught to the
nations, will provide the means for every female to answer the end of their
creation; to be protected in honor and virtue; and to become a happy wife and
mother, so far as they are capacitated and inclined. While every man who stoops
from his Godlike majesty to a level with the brute creation so far as to trifle
with the fountain of life, (female virtue) will atone for the same with his
blood.
And thus adultery, and fornication, with all their attendant train of disease,
despair, shame, sorrow and death will cease from our planet, and joy, love,
confidence, and all the pure kindred affections, and family endearments be
cherished in every bosom of man.
Note 1: The above broadside was issued by Parley P. Pratt, in slightly different
format than is represented above, on July 13, 1852, in anticipation of the
official LDS announcement of polygamy, as a sanctioned doctrine, on
Sept.14, 1852. Apostle Pratt published the broadside with a time-table in
mind. For the following four weeks he could stir up publicity and offer
something like an answer to regional newspapers, like the San Francisco Alta
California, which had been criticizing the Mormons' barely secret "spiritual
wifery." About the same time that the copies of responses in the California
papers reached the East, the copies of the official polygamy announcement in the
Deseret News would only be a week or two behind in the mails. Thus,
editors at a distance could begin to discuss the topic, based upon reprints and
reports of Pratt's July 13, 1852 broadside, and just as that discussion
commenced in the eastern papers, the Church's official announcement would
arrive, to reveal and explain the entire matter.
Note 2: Editors in cites like Philadelphia took "the bait" and published Pratt's
letter, creating responses like Elder Isaac Sheen's rebuttal in the
Oct. 9, 1852 issue of the Saturday Evening Post.