I found this interesting article written by “Aunt Em” (Emmeline B. Wells) in the Women’s Exponent (Nov. 15, 1878).  A couple of things you need to know before you read on.  Emmeline was very vocal in her role as editor of this paper.  Her opinions were very strong, but more importantly, she was a spokesperson for many of the sisters of that time.  There were many sisters not crazy about polygamy, but the Relief Society leaders, (including Emmeline) were staunch supporters of this commandment.  Christian women in Utah, as well as the rest of the world, were persecuting the LDS women.  The polygamist women were radicals who wanted to keep their freedom of religious living and they wanted everyone else “to mind their own business”.  I have shortened the article and pulled out the poignant portions:

“What Christian is there of whatever creed, who has not admired the character of Ruth?  She is immortalized for her constancy to her mother, Naomi, and for her devotion to her husband’s people.  The Christian women all over the civilized world hold her up as a model.  Ruth is really one of the most striking illustrations to be characterized as a Christian woman.  But what if today any woman should enact the part of Ruth literally.  Why, the modern world would be horrified and would want special legislation brought to bear—because it would be ‘so degrading they could not possibly endure it any longer.’ Fortunately for Ruth, she died thousands of years ago; for if she had lived today she would have been cast out as evil; for in this, highly enlightened Nineteenth century let no woman dare be as brave and heroic, or as self-sacrificing and unselfish as Ruth, or they will be outcast and despised by these ‘lovers of purity’.

We are told by Christian teachers in the world to imitate the examples of the illustrious women of the scriptures; but let anyone do so in reality, the finger of scorn will be pointed at them.  What does it mean?  That these are women of a type and class only to be cherished as a thing of the past, but never re-produced?  Then why are they models, and how are we to be benefitted by their example, if we may not imitate it?  Who does not know that Ruth not only was anxious to become the wife of Boaz, but that she, instructed by Naomi, actually wooed him herself, and that in a way and manner which to modern fashionable women would be entirely unwomanly and lacking in modesty.  And yet all good Christians reverence the character of Ruth; they emblemize her.
I would advise all those ladies who feel so constrained to abolish “Plural Marriage” to re-read the history of Ruth, Sarah, Hannah, Rachel, Leah, and the holy women of old.

How very indiscreet was the widow Ruth, young and fair and full of grace, and abounding in affection as she was, to wash and anoint herself, and put on her raiment, and go and lie down at the feet of a man and actually propose to him that he take her to wife.  Would not modern society be shocked by the conduct of any young woman who did the works of Ruth?  And don’t you think that Ruth should have been compelled to go before the Grand Jury, or a Court of Justice, and tell them why she washed and anointed herself and what sort of raiment she put on when she went and laid down at Boaz’ feet?

However, the Lord blessed this peculiar marriage, and through this lineage came the Christ, the blessed Savior of the world.

Ruth understood the law of Celestial Marriage and was willing to be obedient thereunto and she even condescended to marry an old man.  But we must beware how we follow Ruth’s example, only we may talk of her integrity, her purity, her constancy, and down to the end of time we may quote her words so touching and beautiful, “Whither thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge, thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.”  Rest assured, my Christian friends, that Ruth knew Boaz to be a man of God, a man bound by the law of God in holy and solemn covenants to protect virtue and chastity to woman; and I think that all those who are so outraged by the practice of plural marriage among the Mormons, had better cease holding up as models the characters and works of holy women of old.

All honor and praise to Ruth for her integrity to the law of God; and honor and praise to the noble women of today who maintain their integrity to the law of God, though persecution wax strong against them and their names be cast out as evil.”      Aunt Em

Whether we are talking about polygamy, or not, this is the bold kind of woman we should emulate. And, I have more interesting stuff about polygamy and the Relief Society.  Stay tuned…