"The bridegroom answers, 'Yes.' The president then pnts the question to the bride :
" 'Do yon, sister' {mtlitii her hn name), 'take brother' (calling hint, h>i nmnr) 'by tin; right hand, and nive yonr- eelf to him to \h- his lawliil and wedded wife for'tinie and for all eteriiitv, with a rovcnani and promise on your part that yon will fiillll all the laws, rites, and ordinan- ces pertaining to tliis holy niatriinonv in the new and eveilasting covenant, doing tliis in the presence ol' God, angels, aud these witnesses, of your own free-will and choice?'
" The bride answers, ' Yes.' The president then says :
"'In the name of the Lord .lesns Christ, aud by the authority of the holy priesthood, I pronounce you legally and lawfully husband and wile for time and for all "eter- nity ; and I seal upon you the blessings of the holy resur-
rection, with power to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection, clothed with glory, immortality, and eternal lives ; and I seal upon yon the blessings of thrones, and dominions, and principafities, and powers, and exal- tations, together with the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: and say unto you, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, that you may have joy and re- joicing in your posterity in the day of the Lord Jesus. All these blessings, together with all" other blessings per- tainiii<4 to the new and everlastintr covenant, I seal npon your heads, through your faithfulness unto the end, by the authority of the holy priesthood, in the name of the Father, ai:d of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.'
"The scribe then enters on the general record the date and place of the marriage, together with the names of two or three witnesses who were present" (The Seer, p. 32).
"The reader will observe that, in this ordinance of polygamic sealing, the husband and the young bride are each asked the question, are you 'doing this in the presence of God, angels, and these witnesses, <>/ your oiL-n free-icill and choice,' while the question put to the ici/e carefully avoids the issue that would instantly arise between her wounded, bleeding heart and the falsehood that would be forced from her trembling lips if she essayed to utter that it was of her 'own free-will and choice.' That poor 'victim' is but asked if she has been subdued and is ' willing to give this woman' to her husband" (Stenhouse, p. 587). It should be added that the Mormon president possesses the papal preroga- tive of annulling all marriages contracted under his sanction (Jlrs. Stenhouse, p. 554 sq.) ; a prerogative which cannot fail to prove a source of wealth anil pow- er. As to marriages celebrated without his authority, they are ipso facto void, in foro conscienlice. Conse- quently either man or woman is at liberty to desert an unbelieving spouse and take another. Marriage, it may be stated here also, is allowed within near degrees; a man may marry two sisters, a niece, aud mother and daughter, and even a half-sister.
3. Other Practices. — There appears to be no prescribed ritual for the burying of the dead, and there is but lit- tle of the true devotional element in any of the religious exercises of the Mormons. Their ordinary worship con- sists of prayers, with addresses, often of a very homely character, and hymns. The duties of private prayer, meditation, communion with God, self-examination, are seldom or never spoken of. "Every household," says Stenhouse, " is instructed to have morning and evening prayers. The father gathers his children around him, and all kneeling, he prays for revelation, the gifts of the Spirit for himself and family ; then in turn comes every order of priesthood. ' Bless Brigham Young, bless him ; may the heavens be opened unto him, angels visit and instruct him ; clothe him with power to defend thy peo- ple, and to overthrow all who rise up against him ; bless him in his basket and in his store, multiply and increase liim in wives, children, flocks and herds, houses and lands — make him very great,' etc. After Brigham has been properly remembered, then come his councillors, the apostles, the high-priests, the seventies, the elders, the priests, the teachers, the deacons, and the Church universal. Another divergence is made in remembrance of the president of the Conference, and the president of that particular ' branch' where the family resides, and every officer in it. All are prayed for — if the father docs his duty. The power and the greatness of the 'king- dom' that is to roll on till it fills the whole earth, and subjugates all earthly and corrupt man-made govern- ments, are specially urgent. All nations are to weaken and crinnble to ]iieces, and Zion is to go forth in her strength, coniiucriiig and to conquer, till the priesthood shall , . . 'reign and ride and trinmi)h, and (>od shall be our king'" (p. 557, 558). Yery gross irreverence is often shown during public worship. There is in their chief town, Salt Lake City, an immense tabernacle, where their religious services are held, and where one or more of their prophets preach to them every .Sabbath. "The gatherings and services," says Mr. Bowles, de- scribing a service wliich he attended ((?«?• Xew West, p. 243), " both in speaking and singing, reminded me of