of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph. Wherefore, I the Lord God, will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord; for there shall not any man among you have, save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none; for I, the Lord God, delighteth in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts."[163:A]
Here it is stated as coming from God himself, that the polygamy and concubinage of David and Solomon were abominable before the Lord. And yet we every day hear David and Solomon, as well as Abraham, Jacob, and others, cited by those practising polygamy, as their illustrious prototypes, whose example is worthy of all imitation.
Orson Pratt, the ablest writer on Mormon theology, is compelled to admit that the Book of Mormon is opposed to polygamy. He says:—
"Do you believe that the Book of Mormon is a divine revelation? We do. Does that book teach the doctrine of plurality of wives? It does not. Does the Lord in that book forbid the plurality doctrine? He forbid the ancient Nephites to have any more than one wife."[163:B]
Elder Pratt then endeavors to blunt the force of this testimony in the following manner:—
"Why were the ancient Nephites restricted to the one-wife system? Because, first, the number of males and females among them, at the time the command was given, was about equal. Secondly, there was no probability that judgments, wars, or any other calamities which were to befall their nation, would produce a disproportionate number of males and females. Thirdly, this small remnant of the tribe of Joseph, were, at that time, about equally righteous; and one was about as capable of raising up a family in
righteousness as another. And, lastly, the Lord himself informs them, in the same connection with the quotation which I have just made, that if He would have them practise differently from what He had previously taught them, it must be by His command."[164:A]
Thus, in the attempt to weaken the force of the evidence furnished by the Book of Mormon against polygamy, Pratt acknowledges, in the most explicit manner, the validity of the argument against it, founded upon the equality in the numbers of each sex. Two of the four reasons why the Nephites were to retain monogamy, relate to the equality in the numbers of the sexes. But there is a substantial equality in the numbers of the sexes, not only in the United States, but in Utah Territory. (See U. S. Census.)
Let us now turn to the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and see if we can find in that volume any authority for polygamy. The following passages will determine the question:—
"Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her, and none else; and he that looketh upon a woman to lust after her, shall deny the faith, and shall not have the spirit; and if he repents not he shall be cast out."[164:B]