population of the globe to decide that polygamy, as it is called, is a good and not an evil practice ; custom causes the balance, or the remaining tifth, to decide in opposition to the great majoritj-.
"Those individuals who have strength of mind snflS- cieut to divest themselves entirely from the influence of custom, and examine the doctrine of a plurality of wives under the light of reason and revelation, will be forced to the conclusion that it is a doctrine of divine origin; that it was embraced and practiced under the divine sanction by the most righteous men who ever lived on the earth: holy jjrophets and patriarchs, who were inspired by the Holy Ghost — who were enwrapt in the visions of the Al- mighty— who conversed with holy angels — who saw God face to face, and talked with him "as a man talks with his friend — were ' polygainists,' that is, they had many wives, raised up many children by them, and were never re- proved by the H(dy Ghost, nor by angels, nor bv the Al- mighty, for believing in and practicing such a doctrine; on the contrary, each one of these ' polygamists' received by revelation promises and blessings for himself, for his wives, and for his numerous children born unto hini by his numerous wives. ^Moreover, the Lord himself gave revelation to different wives belonging to the same man, revealing to them the great blessings which shoidd rest upon their posterity; angels also were sent to comfort and bless them; and in no instance do we find them re- proved for having joined themselves in marriage to a ' polygamist.' Indeed, the Lord himself gave laws, not to prohil)it 'polygamy,' but showing his will in relation to the children raised up by the difl'erent wives of the same man ; and, furthermore, the Lord himself actually officiat- ed in giving David all the wives of Saul; this occurred, too, when David already had several wives which he had previously taken : therefore, as the Lord did actually give into David's own bosom all the wives of Saul, he must not only have sanctioned 'polygamy,' but established and instituted it upon a sure fouiidation by giving the wives himself, the same as he gave Eve to Adam. Therefore those who are comjjletely divested from the influence of national customs, and who judge concerning this matter by the Word of God, are compelled to believe that the jiiurality of wives was once sanctioned, for many ages, by the Ahnighty; and by a still further research of the di- vine oracles, they find no iutimations that this divine in- stitution was ever repealed. It was an institution not originated under the law of Moses, but it was of a far more ancient date; and, instead of being abolished by that law, it was sanctioned and perpetuated: and when Christ came to fulfil that law, and to do it away by the introduction of a better covenant, he did not abolish the plurality system: not being originated under that law, it was not made null and void when that law was done away. Indeed, there were many things in connection with the law that were not abolished when the law was i fuliilled; as, for instance, the Ten Commandments, which the people under the Gospel covenant were still obliged to ol)ey; and until we can liud some law of God abolish- ing and prohibiting a plurality of wives, we are compelled to believe it a divine institution; and we are, furihermoie, compelled to believe that if this institution be entered into now, under the same principles which governed the holy prophets and patriarchs, that God will approbate it now as much as he did then; and that the persons who do thus practice it conscientiously and sincerely are just as honorable in the siirht of Godas those who'have but one wife. And that which is honorable before God should be honorable before men : and no one should be desiiised when he acts in all good conscience upon any principle of doctrine; neither should there be laws in any of these states or territoiies to compel any indiviilual to act in violation to the dictates of his ownVonscience; but every one should be left in all matters of religion to his own choice, and thus become accountable to God, and not to his fellow-man.
"If the people of this country have generally formed difl'erent conclusions from us upon this subject, and if they have embraced religions which are more congenial to their minds than the religion of the Saints, we say to them that they are welcome to their own religious views; the laws should not interfere wiih the exercise of their religious ri^'hts. If we cannot convince you by reason nor by the Word of God that your religion is wrong, we will not persecute yon, but will sustain yon in the piivi- leges guaranteed in" the great charter of American liberty: we ask from yon the same generosity— protect us in the exercise of on'r reli'_'ious rights— convince us of our errors of doctrine, if we have any, by reason, by logical argu- ments, or by the Word of God. and we will be ever grate- ful for the information, and you will ever have the pleas- ing reflect ion that you have been the instruments in the hands of G >d of redeeming your fellow-beings from the darkness which you may see enveloping ilieir minds. Come, then, let n"s reason together, and try to discover the true light upon all subjects connected with our tem- poral or eternal happiness; and if we disagree in our iudgments, let us impute it to the weakness and imper- fections of our fdlen nainres, and let us pity each other, and endeavor with patience and meekness to reclaim from error, and save the immortal soul from an endless death."