The clerk of every church should keep a record of all marriages solemnized in his branch. All legal contracts of marriage made before a person is baptized into this Church should be held sacred and fulfilled. Inasmuch as this Church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife, and one woman but one husband, except in the case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again.
History of the Church, vol. 2, pg. 247 (August 1835)

All legal contracts of marriage made before a person is baptized into this church should be held sacred and fulfilled. Inasmuch as this Church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife: one woman, but one husband, except in the case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again.
Messenger and Advocate pg. 163 (Aug 1835)

Inasmuch as this Church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we believe that one man, should have one wife, and one woman but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again.
History of the Church, vol. 5, pg. 30 (May 1836)

1st. That we will have no fellowship whatever with any Elder belonging to the quorums of the Seventies who is guilty of polygamy or any offense of the kind, and who does not in all things conform to the laws of the church contained in the Bible and in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants.
Messenger and Advocate editor Warren Cowdery, pg. 511 (May 1837)

Do the Mormons believe in having more wives than one? No, NOT AT THE SAME TIME. But they believe that if their companion dies, they have the right to marry again.
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith p. 119 (May 8, 1838) suom.

Dear Sir:---It becomes my duty to lay before you some facts relative to the conduct of our major-general, John C. Bennett....It is evident that his character is that of an adulterer of the worst kind....Some time ago it having been reported to me that some of the most aggravated cases of adultery had been committed upon some previously respectable females in our city.....More than twenty months ago Bennett went to a lady in the city and began to teach her that promiscuous intercourse between the sexes was lawful and no harm in it, and requested the privilege of gratifying his passions.....Finding this argument ineffectual, he told her that men in higher standing in the church than himself not only sanctioned, but practiced the same deeds; and...said that I both taught and acted in the same manner, but [that I] publicly proclaimed against it in consequence of the prejudice of the people, and for fear of trouble in my own house. By this means he accomplished his designs.
History of the Church, vol. 5, p. 42.

The church afterwards publicly withdrew their fellowship from him [John C. Bennett], and his character was published in the 17th number of this paper; since that time he [John C. Bennett] has published that the conduct of the Saints was bad that Joseph Smith and many others were adulterers, murderers, &c. -- that here was a secret band of men that would kill people, &c. called Danites --that he was in duress when he gave his affidavit, and testified that Joseph Smith was a virtuous man --that we believed and practiced polygamy -- that we believed in secret murders, and aimed to destroy the government &c.
Times and Seasons, vol. 4, pg. 869 (August 1, 1842)

Among the most conspicuous of these apostates, we would notice a young female who..conceived the plan of gaining friendship and extraordinary notoriety with the world...She accordingly selected president J. Smith and elder B. Young for her victims, and wrote to England that these men had been trying to seduce her, by making her believe that God had given a revelation that men might have two wives...But, for the information of those who might be assailed by those
foolish tales about two wives, we would say that no such principle ever existed among the Latter-Day Saints, and never will; this is well known to all who are acquainted with our books and actions.
Millennial Star, August 1, 1842

All legal contracts of marriage made before a preson is baptized into this church, should be held sacred and fulfilled. Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in the case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again. It is not right to persuade a woman to be baptized contrary to the will of her husband neither is it lawful to influence her to leave her husband.
Times and Seasons, vol. 4, pg. 909 (September 1, 1842)

All legal contracts of marriage made before a preson is baptized into this church, should be held sacred and fulfilled. Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in the case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again. It is not right to persuade a woman to be baptized contrary to the will of her husband neither is it lawful to influence her to leave her husband.
Times and Seasons, vol. 4, pg. 939 (October 1, 1842)

We know of NO OTHER RULE OR SYSTEM OF MARRIAGE OTHER THAN THE ONE PUBLISHED FROM THE BOOK OF DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS, and we give this certificate to show that Dr. J. C. Bennett's secret wife system is a creature of his own make as we know of NO SUCH SOCIETY in this place nor never did.
Times and Seasons, vol. III, (October 21, 1842.)

He [Joseph Smith] spoke of the various publications of Bennett and others, and of the prejudices which they had necessarily excited--that the Mormons were charged with sanctioning a community of wives and of goods, with polygamy, and various other enormities, not one word of which is true.
Times and Seasons, vol. 4, pg. 28 (December 1, 1842)

As we have lately been credibly informed, that an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter day Saints, by the name of Hiram Brown, has been preaching Polygamy, and other false and corrupt doctrines, in the county of Lapeer, state of Michigan.
Times and Seasons, vol. 5, pg. 423 (February 1, 1844)

...brother Richard Hewitt... states to me that some of your elders say, that a man having a certain priesthood, may have as many wives as he pleases, and that doctrine is taught here: I say unto you that that man teaches FALSE DOCTRINES, FOR THERE IS NO SUCH DOCTRINE TAUGHT; neither is there ANY SUCH THING practised here. And any man that is found teaching privately or publicly any such doctrine, is culpable, and will stand a chance to be brought before the High Council, and lose his license and membership...
Times and Seasons (15th March 1844, vol. 5, p.474)

Saturday, 25 -- At home, keeping out of the way of expected writs from Carthage. Towards evening, Edward Hunter and William Marks, of the grand jury returned from Carthage; also Marshal John P. Greene and Almon W. Babbitt, who informed me there were two indictments found against me, one chargine me false swearing on the testimony of Joseph H. Jackson and Robert D. Foster, and one charging me of polygamy, or something else, on the testimony of William Law, that I told him so! The particulars of which I shall learn hearafter. There was much false swearing before the grand jury.
History of the Church, vol. 6, pg. 405 (May 25, 1844)

It is not right for a man to bare down his neck to the oppressor always. Be humble and patient in all circumstances of life; we shall then triumph more gloriously. What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when I can only find one.
History of the Church, vol. 6, pg. 411 (May 1844)

The law of the land and the rules of the church do not allow one man to have more than one wife alive at once.
Times and Seasons, vol. 5, p. 715, (November 15, 1844.)

Dear Sir: To condemn unheard, any man or set of men or their principles, on the strength of popular rumor, or the testimony of enemies, would be gross injustice. An impartial investigation should always precede condemnation. The Latter-day Saints are charged by their enemies, with th blackest crimes. Treason, murder, theft, polygamy, and adultery, are among the many crimes laid to their charge. --The press reiterates and gives publicity to these charges. Under these circumstances, it is but right, that they should be heard in their defence. I shall, therefore, in this communication, briefly examine and refute a few of the charges, for it would need a legion of writers to answer (all) the lies told about us.
Times and Seasons, vol. 6, pg. 893-894 (May 1, 1845)

Most of the stories against the Mormons have been propagated by apostates and traitors, (who have been generally cut off from the church for their crimes.) They publish their lies, and straightway they are believed, and hawked about as awful disclosures, and received by community with trembling and holy horror. Sidney Rigdon, I see by the papers, has made an exposition of Mormonism, charging Joseph Smith and the Mormons with polygamy, &c. it does not require a very sagacious mind to fathom Mr. Rigdon's motive for doing.
Times and Seasons, vol 6., pg. 894 (May 1, 1845)

As to the charge of polygamy, I will quote from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, which is the subscribed faith of the church and is strictly enforced. Article of Marriage, sec. 91, par. 4, says, "Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we believe that one man should have but one husband except in the casse of death when either is at liberty to marry again." Sec. 12, par. 7. "Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart and shall cleave unto her and NONE ELSE." In ancient till God cleanses the earth, and restores the government of his says, "know this that, in (the last days of perilous times shall come), for men shall be TRAITORS, FALSE ACCUSERS, INCONTINENT, fierce despiser of those that are good. No wonder then that apostates rage, or that the fulness of truth revealed again should bring a storm of persecution.
Times and Seasons, vol. 6, pg. 894 (May 1, 1845)

We are accused here of polygamy,... and actions the most indelicate, obscene, and disgusting, such that none but a corrupt and depraved heart could have contrived. These things are too outrageous to admit of belief;... I shall content myself by reading our views of chastity and marriage, from a work published by us containing some of the articles of our Faith. 'Doctrine and Covenants,' page 330... Inasmuch as this Church of Jesus Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife, and one woman but one husband, except in the case of death,... (tract published by John Taylor in England, in 1850, page 8; published in Orson Pratt's Works, 1851 edition). suom.