Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-12-03
PRIEST. SMITH
INTERVIEWED.
Defines Position Of the Church on
Plural Marriages.
SUCH ARE NOT PERFORMED,
Says Poly gamous Families Are Fast
Being Reduced Apostle smoocs
Candidacy

Interviewed by the local representa-
tive of the Associated Press, President
Joseph f. Smith made the following
statement as TO the position of the
Church on the matters referred to-
Does the Mormon Church solemnize
or permit plural marriages." President
Smith was asked.
Certainly not" he replied. THE
Church does not perform or sanction, Oh
authorize marriage In any form that is
contrary to the laws on the land.
Why then Is ii asserted that promi-
nent Mormons practice polygamy?
That is done evidently to mis-
lead the public Polygamy under
the Law is the marrying Of a husband
or wife while the legal husband or wife
Is living and undiyorced,
There is no such offense committed
by sanction Of the Mormon Church.
But when the prohibition of polygamy
was proclaimed by the President Of the
Mormon Church there were many per-
sons who had contracted plural mar
riages, and that relation has been con-
tinued in many instances because the
men in that position determined not 10
abandon their families but TO care for
and provide for them and educate and
cherish their children This is enron.
eously construed as practicing polyga-
my, and creates the impression that
polygamous marriages are still per-
mitted in and by the Church.
To what extent are these relations OF
polygamous families sustained?
ut was ascertalned by a careful CEN
sus of 1890, when President Woodruff
issued his manifesto against further
polygamous marriages. there were 2,4Sl
such families belonging to the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints In
the United States. In May. 1902, com
plete and thorough inquiry showed
that the original number in 1890 had
been reduced SO per cent leaving Their
only S91, the great majority of whom
were of advanced age, and many of
them have since departed this life. 1t
Is evident that with no additions TO
this total, but rapid and continual
decrease, the number Of polygamous
families viii soon be reached to zero"
II Is widely asserted that Apostle
Reed Smoot ought not to be elected
senator, because he Is a high Church
dignitary, aud his Church position is
compared to that OF a cardinal or arch
bishop In other ecclesiastical bodies.
How do you regard this objection?
"The TWO positions are not parallel"
President Smith said. IAN Apostle, or
Seventy or Elder or Bishop in the
Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day
Saints Is usually engaged In some secu-
lar vocation, or laborlng IN some capa-
city for his daily bread. He is ordained
to the office he holds in the Priesthood
so that he may act In that calling when
required He gives his services gratuit-
ously TO the Church.
There are Instances, of course, when
q mans whole time Is taken up with
some Church duty, that he receives re-
Enumeration therefor, but as a rule men
holding these positions in the Priest
hood are engaged In secular callings
and are men of affairs.
Reed Smoot is a banker, the mana
ger Of the largest manufacturing in
stituton IN the state, is interested
greatly in mining operations and other
temporal pursuits. He is recognized
as a capable and enterprising citizen.
and his position In the Church need not
interfere In any way with his services
to the state. or to the nation In any
political office 10 which he may be
elected.
TT is not true that he has been put
forward by the Church as Il candidate
for public office, but he has the same
right that any other American citizen
enjoys to accept any Office to which
his fellow citizens may elect him TO &C.
cupy. Mormon Church officials have
n IA