Source: R. G. McNiece, “The Christian Reconstruction of Utah,” in The Preacher and Homiletic Monthly, vol. 4, ed. I. K. Funk (New York: I. K. Funk & Co., 1880), 641-642. Google Books link.

BY REV. R. G. MCNIECE, IN THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, SALT LAKE CITY.

But it came to pass that, when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, etc.—Neh. iv: 1-3.

The proposed civil and religious reform of Utah may be best understood by considering three things which it involves:

I. The securing of individual liberty to all the people of the territory. As things now are, three-fourths of the people in Utah dare not think, speak and act for themselves, from fear of a priesthood as bigoted, despotic and cruel as that which once ground unfortunate Scotland beneath its oppressive heel. Here is a hierarchy, assuming to speak for God, in the heart of the republic, one of the first principles of whose moral government is the free agency of man. It has the audacity to tell the people that they must choose their associates from a particular sect; must contribute for ecclesiastical purposes a particular amount; trade at a particular store; send their children to a particular school; patronize a particular newspaper, or suffer the penalties of social, commercial, political and religious ostracism.

Priestly espionage prevents their attendance on the worship of God and at the place of religious instruction. We propose to break up this despotism by all moral and peaceable means, and give all American citizens the rights which belong to every resident.

II. It involves the reorganization of the homes of the Territory upon a Christian basis. We believe in Christian marriage; and, being citizens of the United States, jealous for the honor of our country, we do not intend to submit to what would disgrace a Hottentot. Some pretend that the Bible sanctions polygamy; but,

1. The Bible and the social nature of man have the same divine Author; so the former cannot contradict the inherent laws which regulate the latter. Now, in accordance with one of these laws, all the sacred instincts and characteristics of womanhood are most emphatically opposed to polygamy in all civilized countries. The custom is unnatural.
2. The original law of revelation, so far from contradicting the law of nature, confirms it, as if it were a voice of thunder from heaven, by causing the first and model marriage to be between one man and one woman only.
3. This was re-enacted by Moses in the wilderness, in Lev. xviii, 18, as follows, “Neither shalt thou take a wife to another to vex her.” This was also incorporated into the tenth commandment, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.”
4. This law is carried out in the world, by keeping the number of men and women almost equal—the men, in consequence of being exposed to more death-producing dangers, are outnumbered by the women in a ratio of about fourteen to thirteen.
5. The words of Christ in the tenth of Mark confirm the original law in Genesis, thereby settling the whole matter once and forever.

III. The Christian reconstruction of Utah means the establishment of a Christian commonwealth; and that involves the establishment of a well-ordered public-school system for the rich and the poor; a free ballot, and no privileged class; Christian churches, where the Gospel of Christ shall be preached; asylums for the orphan, the poor and unfortunate, and the establishment of the principles of truth, righteousness and peace, throughout the community.

The above was transcribed with the help of ChatGPT. These notes may represent one or two sermons preached in the Presbyterian Church, March 23 and 30, 1879. See also.