Pluralism, then, which has thus far failed to gain the hearty support of the more intelligent Mormons, if we may accept Mr. Stenhouse's statement, and there seems to be no reason to gainsay that it has, reacted against the Church of the Latter-day Saints, not only socially, but also numerically ; for since the promulga- tion of this tenet many of its converts have quitted them, and their progress has been stayed in a great measure. Says Mr. Stenhouse : " On the 1 st of Janu- ary, 1S53, it was published in the Star. It fell like a thunder-bolt upon the Saints, and fearfully shattered the mission. The British elders, who in their ignorance had been denying polygamy, and stigmatizing tlieir op- ponents as calumniators, up to the very day of its pub- lication, were conftiunded and paralyzed, and //<)?« that time to the jinsciif ilii' nreimes of preaching have closed one after aiioiln ,-. uml ihr mission that was once the glory of the Morinnii Church has withered and shrivelled into comparative insignificance. The outside world misjudges the Mormon people when it imagines that polygamy was ever a favorite doctrine. Doubtless to some few it was a pleasant revelation ; but it was not so to the mass of the people, for they resisted it until they were com- pelled to yield their opposition, or else abandon the Church in' which they had faith. The statistical re- ports of the mission in the British Islands (June 30, 1853) show that the enormous number of 1776 persons
MORMOXS
C44
MORMOXS
were excommunicated there during the first six months of the preaching of polygamy. The entire Church then numbered, men, women, and children over eight years of age, 30,090. There were forty ' seventies' and eight ' high-priests' [see § Y, below, for explanation of these terms] from Utah in Britain at that time, carrying with them a powerful personal influence to help the Saints to tide over the introduction of this doctrine. These Utah missionaries were aided by a native priest- hood of 2578 elders, 185i priests, 1416 teachers, 834 dea- cons; and yet no less than 177G recusants were excom- municated. That tells its own tale. That all these persons withdrew from the fellowship of the Jlormon Church on account of polygamy would be an unfair in- ference. Still, doubtless polygamy was the great con- tributing cause of apostasy then, and more persons liave left the Mormon communion on account of polygamy and Brigliam's favorite deity, Adam (which he first preached in October of the same year), than all else put together. Few of the Mormon women have ever ac- cepted polygamy from the assent of their judgments. They have first been led by their teachers to consider the doctrine true, and afterwards have been afraid to question it. Their fears have counselled submission. . . . Brigham Young, with all the commanding influence of his position, could not silence the murmuring within his own domicile until he threatened to divorce all his wives, and told them that, if they despised the order of heaven, he would pray that the curse of the Almighty might be close to their heels, and follow them all the day long {Sermon, July 14, 185.5, in the Bowery, Provo), and even all that violent language has not attained the end; their hearts revolt as much to-day, though they have schooled themselves into submission and silence" (p. 201,202,588).
We ajipend the preparations and the wedding cere- mony for a marriage in " pluralism" as sketched by the apostle Pratt:
"When the day set apart for the solemnization of the mnrriajie ceremony has arrived, the bridegroom and his wife, and also the bride, together with their relatives and such other guests as may be invited, assemble at the place which they nave appointed. The scribe then proceeds to trtlie the naniei^, a^^es, native towni^, counties, states, and countries of the parties to be married, wliich he carelully enters on record. The president, who is the propliet, eeer, and revelator over the whole Church throu<_diout the world, and who alone holds the 'keys' of authority in this solemn ordinance (as recorded in the 2d and .5ih par- agraphs of the Revelation (m Marriage), calls upon the brideirrooni and his wife and the bride to arise, which they do, fronting llie president. Tlie wife stands on the left liaiul i)f lier luisl);uid, while tlie bride stands on Iter left. Tlie president tlien puts this question to the wife:
" 'Are you willing to give this woman to your husband to be his lawfid and wedded wife for time and for all eter- nity? If you are, you will manifest it by placing her right hand within the right hand of your husband.'
"The right hands of tlie biidc^ji-Doin and bride being thus joined, the wife takes lici- liu^l)aMd l>v the left arm, as if in the attitude of walkiip^; tlie president then pro- ceeds to ask the following questicni of the man :
" ' Do yon, brother' (calling him h;i name), ' take sister' (calling the bride hi) her name) ' by the right hand, to re- ceive her unto yourself, to he your lawful and wedded wife, and you to be her lawful and wedded husband, for time and tor all eternity, with a covenant and promise on your jiart that you will fiiltil all the laws, rites, and ordi- nances pertaining to this holy matriinonv in the new and everlasting covenant, doing this in the presence of God, nngels, aud these witnesses, of your own free-will and choice?'