| 734 For some time after the death of Joseph the leading men of the church occupied the same attitude towards polygamy. In the Times and Seasons for November, 1844, a communication signed "An old man of Israel," condemns the doctrine in unqualified terms. 5
This, perhaps, could not be considered official if it stood alone, but as it received editorial indorsement [endorsement] in the same issue of the paper when John Taylor, one of the Twelve apostles, was editor and proprietor, it must be considered authoritative. 6
This same Apostle Taylor resented the accusation of polygamy made against the church, in a discussion held by himself at Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, in July, 1850, and read from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants to disprove the allegation. 7
to build upon. I feel to invite all my brethren to become identified with us, for the Lord is truly in our midst.
WILLIAM MARKS.
SHABBONA, DeKalb County, Illinois, Oct. 23, 1859.
-Saints' Herald, vol. 1, pp. 22, 23.
5 The saints of the last days have witnessed the outgoings and the incomings of so many apostates that nothing but truth has any effect upon them. In the present instance, after the sham quotations of Sidney and his clique, from the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants, to skulk off, under the "dreadful splendor" of "spiritual wifery," which is brought into the account as graciously as if the law of the land allowed a man a plurality of wives, is fiendish, and like the rest of Sidney's revelation, just because he wanted "to go to Pittsburg and live." Woe to the man or men who will thus willfully lie to injure an innocent people! The law of the land and the rules of the church do not allow one man to have more than one wife alive at once, but if any man's wife die he has a right to marry another, and to be sealed to both for eternity; to the living and the dead! there is no law of God or man against it! This is all the spiritual wife system that ever was tolerated in the church, and they know it.-Times and Seasons, vol. 5, p. 715.
6 + For the communication of an "old man of Israel," and the letter of Elder Addison Pratt from the islands of the Pacific Ocean, we bespeak a hearty welcome. They are genuine.-Times and Seasons, vol. 5, p. 711.
7 We are accused here of polygamy, and actions the most indelicate obscene, and disgusting, such that none but a corrupt and depraved heart could have contrived. These things are too outrageous to admit of belief; therefore leaving the sisters of the "White Veil," the "Black Veil," and all the other veils, with those gentlemen to dispose of together with their authors, as they think best, I shall content myself by reading our views of chastity and marriage, from a work published by us containing some of the articles of our faith.-"Doctrine and Covenants" page 330. [Liverpool edition.] [He here read article on marriage
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