In the same speech, Hatch also told the Senate that same-sex couples should be able to live together like married people, should have insurance and estate benefits like married people, and should be able to visit and care for each other in hospitals like married people. But he said he drew the line at actually declaring them married.

Hatch gave up more ground than many conservative groups would like as they oppose even civil unions short of marriage for same-sex couples. Meanwhile, Hatch and Romney helped strengthen the legal wall against polygamy.

It made me think, in contrast, back to how Utah's longtime territorial Rep. John Bernhisel once defended polygamy in the U.S. House. His speeches were powerful enough that many members asked Senate Chaplain John Newman to counter them at his church — and he did with President Ulysses Grant and others in attendance.

The old Salt Lake Telegram newspaper suggested Newman should go to Utah to debate Brigham Young. Newman took up the suggestion — but instead debated apostle Orson Pratt instead for three days on whether the Bible sanctions plural marriage. Most newspapers then actually said Pratt won that battle. But Utahns lost the war, with polygamy soon outlawed — and many leaders imprisoned or sent into hiding.

Comments by Hatch and Romney show America still sees plural marriage as an ancient, now distasteful and now less-than-moral practice (despite Moses, Abraham and Jacob). But the Senate would not allow a vote on banning same-sex marriage, which had not been legal until recently in Earth's 5,000 years of recorded history.

Times change. But as debate on same-sex marriage continues, expect polygamy to be brought up again — even though Hatch, Romney and likely most Utahns do not want that because of the misunderstanding and ridicule that historically have followed.

---

Deseret Morning News Washington correspondent Lee Davidson can be reached by e-mail at lee@desnews.com