Statement on Marriage, circa August 1835, as Published in Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate
Source Note
Statement on Marriage, [, Geauga Co., OH], ca. Aug. 1835. Version published in “General Assembly,” in Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1835, 1:162–163. The copy used for transcription is held at CHL.
before a person is into this , should be held sacred and fulfilled. Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife: and one woman, but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again. It is not right to persuade a woman to be baptised contrary to the will of her husband, neither is it lawful to influence her to leave her husband. All children are bound by law to obey their parents; and to influence them to embrace any religious faith, or be baptised, or leave their parents without their consent, is unlawful and unjust. We believe that husbands, parents and masters who exercise control over their wives, children and servants, and prevent them from embracing the truth, will have to answer for that sin. [p. 163]