The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-11-17
The DIRE DISCORD.
The Uses to Which the District
Court is Being Put.
THE BASKIN-DICKSON CASE ENDS
And That of the Church Defenders Begins
Apostle John Henry Smith and a Num-
Der of Others on the Stand.

There was another motley crew present
in the court room yesterday morning when
the examination opened. Mr. Dickson
started the ball by announcing that he had
found the prayer that he had referred tc,
and offered it in evidence.
LeGrand Young objected to it as it was
not doctrine. 1t was not assumed to be
revelation, and it had never been put be-
fore the people and accepted as doctrine,
The declarations of any individual were not
binding on the members of the church.
CourU-Let it be admitted in evidence.
Mr.. Dickson then read from the prayer
by MILFORD Woodruff, in which there is a
REQUEST for the nation which makes war
against the saints, unless it repents, to be
swept from the earth as with bosom OF
destruction.
Mr. Basin offered the writings Of Orson
Pratt on the government of the church.
LeGrand Young objected on the ground
that the parts proposed to be brought in
were openly declared by the president of
the church not to be doctrine.
The court admitted the statements OBJ
jected to.
The extracts read were from Orson
Pratts pamphlet on The Kingdom of
God"
Dickson offered discourse by George Q.
CannOn, delivered December B, 1888, in
Salt Lake city, in which the people are ad-
vised to be united ana keep the command
ments of God. The discourse also deals
IVs8h the doctrine that revelation from God
comes only through the one whom God
called to preside over His church; refers to
the Acknowledgement of the leading Nor
mons BIZ the Edmunds law, and to the divine
authority of those called by the Almighty
TO act in His name and by the power of His
priesthood.
Raskin then offered in evidence the Doc
triue and Covenants. He then announced
that his case was closed.
LIE Grand Young stated that, at the
first, the court had said the inquiry would
he confined to certain scope; but this had
been departed from, and an effort was made
to prove that the church. and the members
thereof, were enemies of the government
The enemies Of the people had been called
30 explain their views and doctrines. This
was am unjust procedure. 1t may be that
the witnesses we put on will not disclose
the endowment ceremonies. But we will
prove that the allegation that there is an
oath against the government is false
allegation. The expressions by President
Geo Q. Cannon, that only one man could
receive doctrine for the church, and that
by revelation from God, is statement of
our position, and no member of the church
IS bOsud by the ideas or opinions of an
other.
APOSTLE JOHN HENRY SMITH.
lam fOrty-One years of age. am Nor
mon, and so We're my parents and grand
parents. My father was au apostle, and l
am recognized as one. There are the first
presidency of three members, the twelve
apostles and the quorum of seventies. These
three quOrums possess equal authority in
their capacity as quorums. belong to the
second quorum in the church, the apostles.
The first presidency, when organized, is
the authoritative quorum. l have had my
endowments Have oficiated in the en-
dOWment house, now torn down. In those
ceremonies there is no oath or covenant to
avenge the blood Of the prophets on this
nation or people nor is there any oath
against the government. Nothing of the
kind was ever presented TO memo such
oath, bond or covenant of that kind nor
anything that would be so construed. Had
any man presented such thing to me
would have repudiated it. l never hear
such an oath administered to me. Implicit
obedience is not taught Intelligent Obedi
ence to that which we understand is right
is taught in our church. ! am as free as
any man on earth from my file leader. The
basis of our religion is that every man
must act on his own free agency. That
cannot be infrlnged upon. No bond is
asked recurring implicit obedience to the
church, to be united, as is set forth in
President George q. Cannon's discourse,
which has been read here. 1t has been our
union that has enabled US to make this
country habitable. There were hostile
Indians here, and there were grea5 diff
culties, which we Overcane by our union.
1t is a doctrine of our church that men
should live in union, and protect each
others rights and interests. In the endow
inents there is nothing requiring the
aYenging of the blood of the prophets on
This nation. The only thing that can be in
any shape so construed IS in passages Of
scripture which are read. They are found
III the 9th chapter of Revelations, 9th and
10th verses. / have been astOnished at the
testimony here. The verses refer TO are
as follows:
And when he had opened the fifth seal 1 saw
under the altar the souls Of them that was slain
for the word Of God, and for the testimony which
they held:
And they cried with loud voice, saying, How
long, 0 Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge
and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the
earth!
This is given in the course of a lecture
that is, it is read when no obligations are
imposed, and the people are advised to pray
that the Lord will avenge the blood Of all
the prophets, OF any age, precisely as 1t is
set forth in the verses | have read. The
names Of Joseph and HyTum Smith were
not mentioned to me in this connection.
The prayer is taught in the church, to all
members, that Justice might be done by the
Lord. If the MOrmonS are unjust, they
are responsible under this, as well as are
others. There is smoothing authorizing or
approving the shedding Of blood. The
man who breaks the law of the Land is, by
command of God, to be turned over to the
law of the land for punishm snt That is
the condition, belief and practice of the
Mormon people. In the endowment cere-
monies there Is no covenant, VOW, oath or
agreement by which a mans arm is to be
made strong to avenge the blood of Joseph
or Hyrum Smith on this nation or any
other. The Mormons believe III anointin g
with oil for sickness ,..aud it is habit with
them. In all anOintings we pray TO God to
bless the person anointed.
Baskin-That is balderdash.
COurt-What is your objection!
Baskin-It shas nothing to do with this
case.
Court-It is impossible, sometimes, for a
witness to cOnfine an answer so that it is
RESPONSIVE to the question. But he Will dc
so as much as possible.
MIR. Smith, contiuuing-A person is not
required ir tie endowment ceremonies TO
take an ath to o into polygamy.
70 AIr. I>lcksOu-I ain reasonably famil-
lar with the endowment ceremonies. !
have a deep affection for my Countrywide
United States | would repudiate any
oath, covenant or condition opposed 80 my
country | am a pONgamist, and entered
that relatiOnin 1s77 before the anti-polyg-
amy law was declared constitutional.
Dickson-Did you live in violation OF the
Edmunds law.
Mr. Smith, decline to answer.
Mr.. Dickson-If You did, do you say you
had an affection for your country!
Mr. Smith. cOQtlQuing-YeS. sir. | con