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. Included are three addresses from the October, 1869 General Conference, which offer a clear understanding of the Church's teachings about polygamy (that were often muddled during the debate.) 183 pages
