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Does the Bible Sanction Polygamy?

Prof. Orson Pratt and Rev. Dr. J.P. Newman (Discussion), President George A. Smith, Elder Orsn Pratt, and Elder George Q. Cannon (Sermons), Salt Lake City, Utah: The Deseret News Publishing Company, 1892. Reprint by Archive Publishers, Grantsville, Utah, 5.25x8" softbound, 183 pages.

This is a discussion between Professor Orson Pratt, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Rev. Doctor J. P. Newman, Chaplain of the United States Senate on August 12-14 1870 in the New Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah.

This is, perhaps, the most comprehensive treatment of the doctrine of plural marriage; and was published by the LDS Church to outline the "pros and cons" of polygamy for members of the Church during the bitter persecution of the 1880s and 1890s. President Brigham Young assigned Elder Orson Pratt of the Quorum of the Twelve to defend the Church's position against one of the most prominent Protestant ministers of the time. Throughout the historic debate, name-calling, Victorian courtesy, and some far-fetched examples are mingled with profound doctrine.
At the time of this debate, the Saints were entering an era of federal anti-polygamy legislation (the Cullom Bill was under discussion and the Poland Bill had already received Congressional approval) and the previous presidential campaign had highlighted the "twin relics of barbarism" -one being the Mormon doctrine of plural marriage.

As so many debates, both sides felt that they had won decided victories. Elder Pratt came ready to debate and gave several examples of biblical sanction of plural marriage on the first day. Dr. Newman countered by avoiding the issue and rambling. The second day saw Elder Pratt frustrated and Rev. Newman dancing around the issue again. On the final day, Elder Pratt became a little philosophical and tended to lose his listeners, while (finally - but with no more time for rebuttal) Rev. Newman have his interpretations about biblical polygamy. Voicing his frustration during his address of the second day, Orson Pratt said:

I waited in vain yesterday afternoon for any rebutting evidence and testimony against this divine sanction. I was ready with my pencil and paper to record anything like such evidence, any passage from the Bible to prove that it was not sanctioned. I heard a remarkable sermon, a wonderful flourish of oratory. It certainly was pleasing to my ears. It fell upon me like the dews of heaven, as it were, so far as oratorical power was concerned. But where was the rebutting testimony? What was the evidence brought forth? Forty-nine minutes of the time were occupied before it was even referred to: forty-nine minutes passed away in a flourish of oratory, without having the proofs in rebuttal and the evidence examined which I had adduced. Then eleven minutes were left. I did expect to hear something in those eleven minutes that would in some small degree rebut the numerous evidences brought forth to establish the sanction of polygamy. But I waited in vain.

Following the debate, three addresses by apostles are included. These are three of the best sermons to understand the commandment to live the principle of plural marriage and the actual practice of it among the Utah Saints. These addresses were all delivered at the October, 1869, General Conference in the New Tabernacle. Elders Pratt and Smith centered their talks around scriptures from the Bible and showed the predominance of the practice among the house of Israel. Elder Cannon took a practical approach and discussed the blessings associated with the principle as well as its rationale. Elder cannon said:

A lady visitor remarked to me not long ago, in speaking upon this subject: "Were I a man, I should feel
differently probably to what I do; to your sex the institution cannon be objectionable." This may be the case to some extent, but the practice of this principle is by no means without its trials for the males. The difficulties and perplexities connected with the care of a numerous family, to a man who has any ambition, are so great that nothing short of the revelations of God or the command of Jesus Christ, would tempt men to enter this order; the mere increase of facilities to gratify the lower passions of our natures would be no inducement to assume such an increase of grave responsibilities.
. . . When the principle of plurality of wives was revealed, I was but a boy. When recollecting on the subject of the sealing power which was then being taught, the case of Jacob, who had four wives, occurred to me, and I immediately concluded that the time would come when light connected with this practice would be revealed to us as a people. I was therefore prepared for the principle when it was revealed, and I know it is true on the principle that I know that baptism, the laying on of hands, the gathering, and everything connected with the gospel is true.

The three October 1869 General Conferences addresses and the Pratt/Newman Debate make this book an excellent primer on the subject of polygamy.