y had to prove themselves capable of maintaining more thanone family. The publicity given to this controversial practice is said to have been blown out of proportion."There were never at any time more than 3 percent of the families of the church who practicedpolygamy." (Howlles p. 140) In their practice of polygamy, the Mormons, at the time, were living according to the religiousliberties granted to all Americans by the Constitution of the United States. However, Congressenacted a law prohibiting polygamy, the Mormons accepted it, and (supposedly) since October 6,1890, have neither sanctioned nor practiced polygamy. Members of the Mormon Church are very respectable people. They take care of their homes, theirbodies, their families, and their government. They believe that the Constitution of the UnitedStates is an inspired document. They are committed to upholding the law of the country to whichthey live. When Congress passed the law abolishing polygamy, they complied with that lawbecause they were "released from their obligation" to comply with the commandment to practicepolygamy. Women also play a vital role in the Mormon religion. From the very beginning of the organizationof the Mormon Church, women have voted on church matters. In the first provisional government set up by the pioneers after their arrival in the Great Salt Lakevalley (1847-1850) women were also given the franchise to vote on political issues. "Thus theMormons as a group were among the very first in America to grant women the franchise to votein both religious and political affairs." (Howlles p.146) During my interview, I spoke with an "assistant" of the bishop of the local ward and he was tellingme things that really showed the differences between what I believe, and what the Mormonsprofess to believe. He (and the Mormons) do not believe in one heaven. They believe there aredifferent levels of the Celestial Kingdom and your behavior and works on earth determine what...
