Blindly Follow the Bretheren at Your Peril

[Anonymous]

This is a Sunstone article. Very interesting example of what happens when the words of the Presidency are taken to extreme.

Gotta love the verse in the song about wifey needing to help her husband get up to a dozen.

JohnH

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:PHZBQK_mOvkJ:https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/119-20-29.pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESit1k0R8IBwAW3I1EqvxXI-3O2DD6muVWQVVB9antQ0n5PINUvbu_BEENPgoJ_VUexdwIIbccQQL48IpsXYXlt3nwf8D9ZmEGgje8OnRBWCbJvt56BT3hwi4QV9–Xe9zeHlvHH&sig=AHIEtbQcjfPbzKIql3h_1Q3S56MEFZMbhA

In Their Daily Lives . . .

“HELP HUSBAND GET A WIFE!”

DURING THE 1856-57 “REFORMATION MOVE-

ment,” Latter-day Saints were called upon to raise

their level of piety. The Reformation cannot fairly be

blamed on First Presidency Second Counselor Jedediah M.

Grant’s short temper, but the movement does seem to have be-

gan when he flamed up in frustration at a meeting of LDS bish-

ops in September 1856. Consider: when President Grant

asked his hearers to stand if they prayed alone and in-family

and washed themselves at least weekly, most stayed sitting.

And those were the bishops!

Fiery preaching and calls to repentance spread widely

through “Mormon Country,” prompting Saints to reform and

Gentiles to become wary. The sermons were supported by

songs such as the following:

THE REFORMATION

TUNE —‘ROSA MAY.’

The reformation has commenced,

All hail! the glorious day,

May God his Holy Spirit send

To guide us in his way:

Now, brethren, the time has come

For wickedness to cease;

So live like honest Saints of God,

And righteousness increase.

Chorus:

Then, O brethren, come,

And let us all agree,

And strive to gain the blessings

In store for you and me.

To gain these blessings we must try

And do what we are told;

I’ll tell you what we ought to do,

If you won’t think me bold:

We ought to put down wickedness,

We ought to watch and pray,

We ought to build the kingdom up—

Not loaf our time away.

Then, O, brethren, come, &c.

We ought to leave our houses neat,

Our Teachers to obey,

We ought to keep our bodies clean,

Our tithing always pay:

We ought our brother’s character

Keep sacred as our own,

Attend to business all we can,

Let other folks alone.

Then, O, brethren, come, &c.

We ought our Bishops to sustain,

Their counsels to abide,

And knock down every dwelling

Where wicked folks reside:

We ought our Teachers to respect,

Not give them looks nor snubs;

And keep our ditches free from pots,

Likewise from stinking tubs.

Then, O, brethren, come, &c.

Now, sisters, list to what I say,—

With trials this world is rife,

You can’t expect to miss them all,

Help husband get a wife!

Now, this advice I freely give,

If exalted you would be,

Remember that your husband must

Be blessed with more than thee.

Then, O, let us say,

God bless the wife that strives

And aids her husband all she can

T’ obtain a dozen wives.

Now, brethren, let us study

To do the will of God;

If it’s sowing, reaping, preaching,

We’ll get a just reward:

Keep sacred all your covenants,

And do the best you can;

I pray that God will bless you all,

Worlds without end. Amen.

Then, O, brethren, come, &c.

(Sung in the 17th Ward School House, by P. Margetts,

G.S.L. City, Oct. 15, 1856. From The Deseret News, Vol. VI,

No. 38, Wed., Nov. 26, 1856, p. 302.)

[Anonymous]

That’s genuinely hilarious!

As well as the polygamy section, I also loved:

We ought to keep our bodies clean,

And:

And knock down every dwelling

Where wicked folks reside:

[Anonymous]

No kidding right? Nothing like a little righteous indignation to get a good mob fired up! :crazy:

[Author]

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