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Source: Church History Vol. 3 Chapter 18 Page: 361 (~1863-1864)

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361 "The remaining charge connects itself with that unmixed outrage, the spiritual wife story, which was fastened on the Mormons by a poor ribald scamp, whom, though the sole surviving brother and representative of their Jo. Smith, they were literally forced to excommunicate for his licentiousness, and who thereupon revenged himself by editing confessions and disclosures of savor to please the public that peruses works in yellow paper covers."-Millennial Star, vol. 13, p. 344.

Whether Colonel Kane knew it was unjust to fix the responsibility for the charge of this "unmixed outrage" on William Smith or not, we cannot say; but Franklin D. Richards did know it when, as editor, he permitted this statement to be published in the Millennial Star without correction, in November, 1851. If Colonel Kane was deceived, how chagrined he must have been when in about one year Brigham Young publicly proclaimed that the charge of "unmixed outrage" was true.

Elder Young on August 29, 1852, ventured this prediction: "And I tell you-for I know it-it will sail over, and ride triumphantly above all the prejudice and priestcraft of the day; it will be fostered and believed in by the more intelligent portions of the world, as one of the best doctrines ever proclaimed to any people."

How does this prediction stand in the light of subsequent events? In 1862 Congress legislated adversely to the practice of polygamy in the Territories by the passage of the Morrill bill, which was signed by President Lincoln July 8 of that year. The people of Utah ignored this under the plea that it was unconstitutional. This was followed some years after by the passage of the Poland bill, which was approved by President Grant July 23, 1874.

Under this bill a test case was arranged and George Reynolds was arraigned, in the Third District Court, in Salt Lake City, October 26, 1874, and bound over under a twenty five hundred dollar bond. The case was called in March, 1875, and on April 1 he was found guilty, and on the 10th he was sentenced to one year's

(page 361)

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