The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-25

4 VIGOROUS protest against the
u election to the United States SEN
ate of Apostle Reed Smoot is
made in a resolution adopted by the
salt Lake Ministerial alliance at its
meeting yesterday. Copies of the res
olution will be sent to President ROose-
welt. members of both branches of
congress, to members of the Utah legis-
lature and to prominent churchmen
and religious bodies in the United
States.
Several grounds are cited for keep
ing Smoot out of the senate. 1t is
stated that he owes first allegiance to
the first presidency rather than to the
laws of the United States; that his
election will be due to the interference
of the church with the franchise of
citizens; that q majority of the
quorum of twelve apostles are living
in polygamy in violation of the laws,
and that it is the desire of the Nor
mon church officials to make political
Office an annex to the church. The
resolution is as follows:
Whereas, The election of Mr.. Smoot, an
apostle of the Mormon church, to the
office of United States senator from Utah
seems imminent; and
= Whereas. The Deseret News, the organ
OF the first presidency and twelve apos-
that Apostle Shoots fitness for such OF
flee is. II anything brought out brighter
and clearer by his having secured place
IN the Mormon apostolate; therefore, be It
Grounds For the Protest.
Resolved That while we as members
of the Salt Lake Ministerial association
and citizens OF Utah have no protest to
register against the election of members
and lesser officials of the Mormon
church to a fair share of the offices OF
trust and emoluments which are within
the gift of the citizens of this state, we
do protest against the election of Apostle
Reed SuOof TO represent this state in the
United States senate
We make this protest because Reed
Smoot IS one of the quorum of the
twelve apostles. VINO, with the quorum
OF the first presidency, are ultimate
sources of authority for the Mormon
church throughout the world. According
TO the approved teaching of the Nor
mon" church, 1.-THE president in his
quorum twelve with his two cOunselors)
prophet and lawgiver unto the church
the mouthpiece Of God unto it, The
twelve apostles are a travelling presiding
high council and nave the power to OF
ficfate in the name OF the Lord under
the direction of the first presidency OF
the church. to build W the -cnirch duu
regulate al affairs of the same in all
nations. These twelve apostles form the
second general presiding quorum IN the
church and are equal in power and au-
dencv.'' (See Outlines by B. II. Rob-
erts D. 1851 We protest. therefore
against the election of a man as our rep
resentative who belongs to the quorum
of twelve Mormon high priests whose
unanimous vote must be accepted bJ
A--their co-religionists as the voice of God
Power of Apostles.
We protest against the election of I
member of the quorum Of twelve Nor
mon" apostles to the United states sen
ate because. by virtue of their ecclesiaS
teal office such apostles may be, and II
connection with the first presidency are
ultimate sources OF authority in the gov
erument of the Mormon church. II
their hands is the power to set up o.
mill down whom they will. A few year,
. ago they unfrocked one of their owl
quorum for asserting his political lnde
pendence and today Reed Smoot Woul
not dare to announce himself as a can
didate for election to the high ottice n
seeks. without the permission of the pres
ident of the church and his IeHoN
apostles.
We protest against this endeavor L
elect APOSTLE SmoOt to the United state
senate as an endeaVOr to force upon IN
citizens of Utah a union of the churc
and the state. The election of a man Wn
holds the highest office save one In IN
Gift of the Mormon church to IN
highest office save one in the gift of tn
would be q menace TO our civil and re
1igious liberties No other church ma
dared to attempt such an ecciesiastics
inva sion of congress. AS a matter
fact other religious bodies do not CIV
their church officers such absolute at
fhOritv. The authority which MOI
mon" apostle claims and which is ACCORD