Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-10-28
JOSEPH SMITH AND poLYGAMY.

We publish today In another part ~
this paper. an article whichh appears
IN the Arena" for November, BY Presi-
dent Joseph +. Smith 1t Is on sub
Jet that would not have been pressed
10 the front, just now, but for a mis-
leading, unnecessary and incorrect
communication to the same magazine
n August last, from the President OF
The "Reorganized' or Josephlie'
church.
We can understand the objections
raised by that gentleman and others
Who reject the doctrine Of plurality
Of wives. They are in accord with the
great majority Of people IN Christen
dom. We are familiar with all the arr
g,iments and sentiments entertained
and presented against It. That II runs
counter to the prejudices Of centuries,
dfep-rooted and strongly grounded In
the hearts OF the multitude, we arc
fully aware. We also recognize the
force Of public opinion, materallzel
IN statutory enaotments and madt
binding upon citizens whether In the
majority or IN the minority But
we do not comprehend how persons
occupying the position held by the lead
err Of the "Reorganlzed" church can
maintain the notion that the doctrine
OF plural marriage was not intro
dueed by his honored father, now de-
ceased, whose blood was shed by
assassins and stains the earth with the
blood Of other martyrs for the truth,
The evidences that Joseph Smith. the
Prophet, both taught and practiced the
principle Of a plurality Of wives, as a
divine Institution revealed to him, are
given In part by President Joseph +.
Smith, whose article had necessarily TO
be brief so as not to extend over more
space than that 10 which he replies.
The proofs that have been and might
be impaired to establish these facts,
are sufficient to put the dispute beyond
all question In the minds Of fair and
unbiased ipduirers.
This may not appear to some people
OF any particular consequence, The
real question In most minds when the
subject "a presented Is the right or
wrong, the ACCESSIBILITY or individuality
OF the practice OF polygamy But II
should be understood that this is not
Just now up for discussion The highest
tribunal of the United states has
upheld the action of the Legislative
and executive departments OF the ma.
ton for the suppression of polygamy-
and that ends the contention as to its
practice, President Smith does not at
tempt TO revive IL, nor II there any
desire on our part to discuss It on It's
merits or dement's 1t is simple ques-
ton Of fact which ought not to be dis
torted, falslfed or avoided.
TO deny that Joseph Smith, the mar
tyr. presented the revelation on cees-
tlal marriage to the leaders Of the
Church during his littime, and showed
his faith In the doctrine by his works.
is to accuse his successors and their
immediate associates, and the good and
noble Women who have given their tes-
timony on this subject, Of deliberate
!alsehood and In many instances OF
direct perjury. because they have given
their evidence under oath. II was,
therefore. eminently proper for presi-
dent Joseph F. Smith, as the living
head of the Church of Jesus Christ Of
Lalter-day Saints, 90 make his state
ment on this subject over his own sig
nature, in the same widely read maga-
zine as that In which the misstate-
ments We're published to the world.
We commend the article TO the con.
sideration OF the Latter-day Saints
everywhere, although most Of them are
thoroughly satisfied as to the source Of
the revelation referred to, and have
not the slightest doubt that II came
through and was practically observed
by the great Prophet. who. under the
and commandment of Al.
mighty God and His Son Jesus Christ
ushered IN the last dlspensation. Ii Is
also good reading for everybody who
takes any interest in this branch Of an