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Show in my father's house/ 8 5 decision in Reynolds vs. the United States --a pioneer polygamy case which upheld Utah's Enabling Act prohibiting polygamy forever: "In our opinion, the statute...is...constitutional and valid...the only question which remains is whether those who make polygamy a part of their religion are excepted from the statute....This would be introducing a new element into criminal law. Laws are made for the government of actions and while they cannot interfere with mere religious belief...they may with practices. Suppose one believed that human sacrifices were a necessary part of religious worship, would it be seriously contended that the civil government under which he lived could not interfere to prevent a sacrifice?" And so my father faced up to five years in prison. In the days between the trial and sentencing, Brother Musser promised my father that if he would "complete his quorum" of wives, he would receive a special blessing. The special blessing was directly connected to Aunt Elsa. Aunt Elsa -- before she was "Aunt" to my father's children -- had been the mothers' preferred babysitter. With her porcelain skin and thick, dark ringlets, she was also sought after by the young men of the group from the time she showed signs of child-bearing ability. Under considerable pressure to choose from among her many suitors while only fourteen years old, she confided to her father that Dr. Allred was the man of her destiny. Her father, ("Uncle" Levi we called him) as one of my father's staunchest supporters, delighted in the prospective match -- but at some distant time with Rulon's wives prepared |