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Women of Mormonism
Chapter 7 - A Victim of Pious Words
THE WOMEN OF MORMONISM:
or
THE STORY OF POLYGAMY
As Told by the Victims Themselves.
Edited By
JENNIE ANDERSON FROISETH
Editor of the Anti-Polygamy Standard, Salt Lake City,
PUBLISHED BY
C.G.G. PAINE, DETROIT, MICH.
1886
Copyright, 1881 and 1882
By Jennie Anderson Froiseth
Married to a
Missionary.-The Awakening.-Tempted to Murder Her Own Children.-Apostasy.-More Demon than
Woman.
[90] THE next narrative is one
of a second wife, and is designed to show the deception that is practiced upon innocent
and unsuspecting young girls in order to lure them into plural marriage. And we have no
hesitancy in saying that the same arts are employed at the present time for the same
purpose, with perhaps this exception, polygamy is not so strenuously denied by the
missionaries abroad as it was in former years. They will, however, represent themselves as
single men, and marry young girls under circumstances precisely similar, to those narrated
in the following case:-
"I have been requested by some of the ladies of the
Anti-Polygamy Society to tell how I became a polygamous wife, and why I continued living
in that unlawful relation, when I did not believe in the institution as a divine
ordinance, and hated the system with my whole soul. My story is not an uncommon one, and
can easily find many a parallel in the history of Mormonism.
[91] "I was born in England, and belonged to a respectable
family of the middle class. My father was a successful tradesman, and to me, an only
child, the best educational advantages were afforded. In fact, I received what is termed
in that country a finished education. When I was about sixteen years old, my parents
became converts to Mormonism. I had always been religiously inclined, and the Mormon
doctrines, as there preached, seemed to me so simple, beautiful, and good, that it was not
long before I became an enthusiastic votary of the new religion. I had heard that the
Saints in America practiced polygamy, but I did not trouble myself much about it, as I did
not anticipate leaving my own country. Besides, the missionaries always denied it, and
said the report was only a wicked invention of their enemies to injure the reputation of
the Saints in the outside world. Subsequently, when I was sought in marriage by a
missionary, my parents inquired into the matter very particularly, but were positively
assured by him that no such thing as polygamy existed. We were married, and lived happily
for two years, when he was recalled to Utah, and I, of course, accompanied him to the
promised land. I left my childhood's home, and bade farewell to my parents with many tears
and regrets, yet with many bright hopes and anticipations for a happy future in Zion. They
were on the declining side of life, and could not bear to sever themselves from all old
ties and associations, but they gave up me, their dearest treasure, and bade me 'God
speed' with their last blessing.
[92] "The ,shock I received may be imagined when upon arriving
in Salt Lake City, my husband brought me home to a house, where another woman was
installed as mistress, his first wife, who was the mother of several children. They told
me afterward that for several days I raved like a mad woman, then came a long period of
unconsciousness. When I recovered from the attack of brain fever, and realized how
shamefully I had been duped, I became a changed creature. Although my husband was always
kind and tender, and provided well for my temporal wants, and his first wife was not
especially disagreeable, I could not forget the miserable deception he had practiced upon
me, and the very name of religion became hateful and obnoxious.
“After my health became somewhat restored, I besought my husband
to permit me to return to England, where, in the love and sympathy of my parents, I might
find some consolation for the terrible sufferings I had endured in my brief absence from
them. For some time he objected, but at last he told me that I might go, since I was so
unhappy; but I must leave my babes with him, one scarcely sixteen months old, the other,
not nearly so many weeks. I pleaded, oh so earnestly, against this cruel stipulation, but
he was inexorable. I could not abandon my children, so for their sakes, I remained and
bore my sufferings with all the fortitude I could summon to my aid.
"Will any mother believe me, when I say that often I was tempted
to give the little innocents [93] something that would make them sleep their last long
slumber, thus purchasing freedom from a life at which my nature revolted, and which my
conscience told me was as sinful as it was degrading to my womanhood? But it is true and I
marvel now that I resisted the temptation as well as I did. Upon learning the true state
of affairs, my father made preparations to come to Utah after me, but he died suddenly;
before his intentions could be fulfilled, and my broken-hearted mother was not long in
following him to the grave. If I had only known how short a time they were to live, I
should have spared them the knowledge of the bitter truth.
"From that time until his death, my husband was kind and
affectionate to me, and considerate enough of my feelings never to mention the word
religion in private in connection with polygamy. In his public talks, for he was a member
of the priesthood, he used sometimes to exhort the people to live up to their religious
privileges We lived on quietly for years, no one suspecting or knowing of my disaffection,
but one trusted friend, who would not betray me for her own life. In those days, it was a
terrible crime for a woman to disbelieve any portion oŁ the Mormon creed, especially
plurality, and if known she was subjected to all manner of persecution. My husband loved
me well enough to shield me from the consequences which must inevitably ensue, should my
true feelings become known to those in authority. Though he deceived me so outrageously,
yet he would not betray me; and [94] I must do him the justice to say, that apart from his
delusion, he was one of the best and truest hearted men that ever lived.
"After he died I gradually withdrew myself and family from all
Mormon influences, devoting myself entirely to my children, whom I taught secretly to
abhor the very name of Mormonism. I was in very comfortable circumstances, because what my
dear parents left had come to me, consequently I did not need to labor for a support. But
I was obliged for years to use the utmost caution in teaching what was contrary to Mormon
doctrine, and I tremble now, when I look back and think of my temerity in doing as I did.
The same course has caused more than one woman, and her children also, to be blood-atoned.
But I succeeded in rearing my children as I desired in that particular. If I had not, I
would a thousand times rather have laid them in their graves.
"As for me, I am sometimes at a loss how to define myself. Often
I think I am more demon than human. I have two lovely and interesting daughters, both
honored wives and mothers, (the rest of my children, thank God, died in babyhood, and in
heaven, if there is one, there will be no slurs cast upon their birth), and, although I
was so heartlessly beguiled into the system, sometimes I can scarcely help regarding them
as children of shame. Before I came to Utah, I was a trustful, true-hearted girl, and in
religious fervor almost a devotee. Now, I am but a poor, miserable apology for a woman. I
[95] have no belief in anything; no confidence in humanity, no faith in religion, no hope
in! I am simply a wreck, like thousands of other women, whose lives have been blasted
under this cruel system.
"This, ladies, is my story. Take it, if you will and tell the
women of America what polygamy has done for ‘ONE WOMAN’.”
Next: CHAPTER VIII. A SLAVE TO THE FIRST
WIFE
Sorrows of Plural Wives.-An Elder's Importunities.-An Unwilling Consent.-Slavery.-A
Disappointed Lover.-Escape from Home.-Tracked.-Driven Back.-Shameful Neglect.-Leaving Home
a Second Time.-Lying Justified.-A Husband's Treachery.-Doubts and Apostasy.
Back: CHAPTER VI. A WIFE'S REVENGE
Both Fanatic and Fool.-A Husband's Promise - The Husband Ensnared.-Happiness of
Polygamous Families. - Sickness - The Vow.-English Mollie. - The Third Wife. - A Religious
Enthusiast.
Index: INTRODUCTION AND TABLE OF CONTENTS
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