---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Matthias F. Cowley
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 5
number: 2
published: 1901-12
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Matthias F. Cowley, "On Marriage," *Improvement Era* 5, no. 2 (December 1901): 107.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0502unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera0502unse
start_page: 107
end_page: 107
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1901-12)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0502unse
  publication_year: 1901
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1901, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# On Marriage

<!-- page:107 -->

——

CHOICE SELECTIONS. 107

the pure in heart see God, who is infinite purity; and at last your
soul shall be satisfied. Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis.

On MafMag:e.
Do not risk your company where there is a danger that your
affections shall be attached to an object that is not a Saint of God.
Taking the opposite course has never resulted in good. Evil has
always come about, and if it was my right, I would say to the
Methodist, marry within your church. If it was .my right I would
say to the Baptist, marry within your own church; and I would say
to the Catholic, the Methodist and the Presbyterian, "Don't marry
a Latter-day Saint girl. I would not have a 'Mormon' girl because
she will make you trouble." I want to protect the Baptist, the
Catholic and the Methodist churches against you 'Mormon' girls.
I have enough love for them to protect them, and I want to pro-
tect the Catholic, Methodist and Baptist girls against you 'Mor-
mon' boys. I want to say to the girls that are not of your faith,
"Don't marry a 'Mormon' boy." He will make you trouble just as
sure as you live, unless they repent, and they are not very apt to
do that. Don't marry a man to save him; and it is better not to
marry a woman to save her. If you cannot convert them before
marriage, you will have a sorry job afterward. Do your convert-
ing and laboring all before, and if you cannot make a convert, then
I say let them alone. Apostle Matthias F. Cowley, in a sermon at
the October conference.