He was still uneasy, hesitating, fearful; but he saw interest here and there in the faces before him.  Even Brigham, though unseen by the speaker, was looking mildly curious.

“You remember the revelation that came to Joseph in an early day when there was trouble in raising money to print the Book of Mormon,—­’Some revelations are from God, some from man, and some from the Devil.’  Recalling the many chastenings God has put upon us, may we not have failed to test all our other revelations by this one?”

Deep within he was angry at himself, for he was not speaking with words of fire as he had meant to; he was feeling a shameful cowardice in the presence of the Prophet.  He had seen himself once more the Lute of the Holy Ghost, strong and moving; but now he was a poor, low-spoken, hesitating rambler.  Nervously he went on, skirting about the edge of his truth as long as he dared, but feeling at last that he must plunge into its icy depths.

“In short, brethren, the Book of Mormon denounces and forbids our plural marriages.”

Even this astounding declaration he made without warmth, in tones so low that many did not hear him.  Those on the platform heard, however, and now began to view his obvious physical weakness in a new light.  Yet he continued, gaining a little in force.

“The declarations on the subject in the Book of Mormon are so worded that we cannot fail to read them as denouncing and forbidding the practise of the Old Testament patriarchs in this matter of the family life.”

In rapid succession he cited the passages to which he referred, those concerning David and Solomon and Noah and Ripkalish, who “did not do that which was right in the sight of the Lord, for he did have many wives.”

There were murmurings and rustlings among the people now, and on his right he heard Brigham stirring ominously in his chair; but he nerved himself to keep on his feet, feeling he had that to say which should make them hail him as a new prophet when they understood.

“But besides these warnings against the sin there are many early revelations to Joseph himself condemning it.”

He cited several of these, feeling the amazement and the alarm grow about him.

“And now against these plain words, given at many times in many places, written on the golden plates in letters that cannot lie, or brought to Joseph by the angel of the Lord, we have only the one revelation on celestial marriage.  Read it now in the light of these other revelations and see if it does not too plainly convict itself of having been counterfeited to Joseph by an evil spirit.  Such, brethren, has been the revelation that the Lord has given to me again and again until it burns within me, and I must cry it out to you.  Try to receive it from me.”

There was commotion among the people in front, chairs were moved at his side, and a low voice called to him to sit down.  He heard this voice through the ringing that had been in his ears for many days, like the beating of a sea against him, and he felt the strength go suddenly from his knees.