The daily Republican., 1902-12-02
S NTH TALKS
OF POLYCAMY,
Head of the Mormons Says
Church Does Not Sanction
Plural Marriages.
SU UCH UNIONS ARE FEW.

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 2.-In ar
Interview President Joseph Smith OF
the Mormon church defined the presen,
position of the church with respect tC
polygamy.
1T is evident" he said, "that, with
no additions to the total but a rapid
and continual decrease, the number of
polygamist families will soon be re.
duced to zero. -
THE church does not desire to enter
the controversy over this question"
said President Smith, but it Is anX-
ious that its own people as well as the
people Of the country should under
stand its position"
"Dses the Mormon church solpmnize
or permit plural marriages" President
Smith was asked.
'Certalnly not" he replied "The
church does not perform or sanction or
authorize marriage in any form that Is
contrary to the laws of the Land. The
practice polygamy is evidently made
to mislead the public. polygamy under
the law Is the marrying Of husband
or wife while the legal husband or
wife is living and undivorced. There is
no such ofense committed by sanction
of the Mormon church. But when the
prohibition Of polygamy was pro.
claimed by the president Of the Nor
mon church there We're many persons
who had contracted plural marriages,
and that relation has been continued |
in many Instances Eecause the men in |
that position determined not to aban-
don their families, but to care for and |
provide fer them and educate and cher
ish their children.
This is enormously constructed as
practicin2 polygamy and creates the
impression that polygamous marriages
are still permitted in and by the
church.
1T was ascertnined by a careful
census in 1890 when President Wood
ruff issued his manifesto against fur
thcr polygamous marriages, there We're
2.l1l such families belonging to the
Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints in the United States. In May,
1892, Il complete and thorough inquiry
showed that the original number in
lSon had been reduced 63 per cent,
leaving then only S97, the great major
ty of whom were of advanced age, and
many of them have since departed
from this life"
President Smith was asked to define
he position of Mr. Smoot in the church,
MS position as an apostle having been
compared to that Of cardinal or arch
bishop in other churches.
"rhc two positions are not parallel" {
President Smith said. AN apostle Of [
seventy or elder or bishop in the |
hurch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day t
saints is usually engaged in some secu- q
ar vocation or laboring in some ca.
,aciiy for his daily bread. He is Or |
lainCd to the office he holds in the |
priesthood so that he may act in that |
alling when required. He gives his +
crvices gratuitously to the church. q
mere uIt HlSlHntPS, Dl course, Wlltn . :
mans whole time is taken up with [
ono church duty that he receives re-
therefor. but as Il rule men Il
Oldng positions in the priesthood are
ngaged in secular callings and are
lcn Of affairs.
Reed SmUot is banker, the man L
ger Of the largest manufacturing insti.
ltOn in this state and is Interested
realty in mining operations and other n
amporHl pursuits. He IS recognized as "
capable and enterpriSing citizen, and II
is position in the church need not in p
'rfcrc in any way with his services to n
10 state or the nation in any political <.
flee to which he may be elected. 1t is \.
OF true that he has been put forward q,
Y the church as IA candidate for public n,
Nee, but he has the same right that w
ny other American citizen enjoys to n,
,ccpt any office TO which his fellow
tizrns may elect him to occupy. Nor r.
on church officials have served in con. 90
'esS for years and 10 objection has
zen offered on that account. Every w
OrmOn official has. been one holding n,
le priesthood. and that has never in.
rfcrcd with his otliral duties. The
JjectiCn in the present case is with
1t substantial reason Ol foundation"