The Brigham Young Center

Salt Lake City, U. T.
June 8, 1871.

Madison M. Scott, Esqr
Scotsville, Floyd Co. Ind.

Dear Sir,

Yours to Prest. Brigham Young, without date, has been received, to which I have been instructed to reply.

With regard to the doctrine of "Celestial Marriage," or Plurality of Wives, it was taught and practised by the Prophet Joseph Smith, having been revealed to him at Nauvoo, July 12. 1843. The scribe who wrote it, Mr. William Clayton, is a resident of this city, and has testified to this in public, times almost without number. Some of the Prophet's wives are now living in this city. Some of our elders testified to Alexander and David Smith in the office of Prest. Brigham Young, in my hearing, that they had a plurality of wives given to them by the Prophet Joseph Smith, their father, in Nauvoo, Some of these now testify the same. This very day, a lady, a stranger here, not a member of our Church, told me in conversation," she knew the Mormons practised Polygamy in Nauvoo, for Emma Smith told her so." Yet this very Emma Smith, (the Prophet's first wife) has trained her children to believe that the doctrine was neither taught nor practised by their father; and they were too young at the time of his death to know for themselves. The fact is, she has fought the principle from the first, and because the authorities of the church would not succumb to her, she has hated the doctrine, and taught her children to hate it, and all who teach it; and she has spared no pains to bring them in antagonism with the authorities, whom she represents as the bitter enemies of the truth as taught by the prophet.

Hoping this will in some measure answer you interrogatory,
I am, very respectfully

D. McKenzie Sec.
Prest. B Young