The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-05-04
NEW PHASE OF SMOOT CASE.
Apostles Not Called by Revelation to
Temporal HonoTs.
tState J0urnaLl

The statement made by the Salt Lake
Herald that Mormon missionaries in
Great Britain have been of late meeting
with serious and determined opposition.
and iu some cases vigorous persecution
ana mObDings. nave been experienced,
and that THE movement against their
propaganda is q direct result of the
SmOot for the seuatOrshlp it is probab bly,
home to q majority Of the people of Titan
another phase of this celebrated case.
Setting aside the mere political 0ppO-
sition to the candidacy of Apostle Reed
Smeet for the senatorship. II Is probably
quite within the facts that-as an orig
iUal UropOsitiou-a majority OF his fell
loW-Dellevers oeplored his ambition. Sucn
% him. but because Of their exalted re-
gard for his sacred office and their al-
lection for him as man and am eccie-
siastical leader. and their fear OF injury
10 the cause abroad. Among his closest
associates were many who foresaW dlf-
uCulty Tor the entire people lt ne should
successfully insist upon and pursue mis-
candidacy. These men had been obserF-
ers of recent events. They well knew
that the political aspiration of every nigh
eccIesiast since statehood had come TO
was regarded ass one of the most brilliant
apostles that the chUFCh Hau ever pro-
duced. iU seeking the pace now held by
Senator Sm0ot lost both apostlesatp and
senatorshiD. and. as he pireously said
TO the committee I'm ~ dshlnetOu, ne ls
probably the only man in the Mormon
hood brigham I'LL. Roberts, the strong
est controNersialist Of his generation in
the church, was defeated for congress
while IN opposition % MS leaders was
compelled 30 recaut his sVowed doctrine
of personal political Independence was
subsequently, elected to congress-, but
notwithstanding the sDlcuQur of his
speech in his own defense before the
house, WAS not even permitted 10 take
The cath OF office 81 mere magnetic
Moses Thatcher had come 10 wreck,
wharc brave Brigham III. Roberts had ut-
tcrIv failed, small wonder that thought
ful men among his associates should
have viewed with doubt and fear the
candidacy of Reed Smoot. Il Is true mat
am of the cases contain marked dlsSiml-
larities from each other qua there iS
enough of mutual resemblance tan0 this
doubt and fear. Furthermore. and be-
NOud the effect within the cnuiGn tL
home it has been observed that I'D the
Roberts case notably am external storm
had been aroused which spread as Iar
as the Mormon missions reached Mis-
.ionarfes were mObbed ana insultcd. i'm
MANY instances doors and hearts We're
closed TO their message which otherwise
might have been opened. and now tnere
1 is Witnessed a repetition OF these tninss
as result of senator omOol s case.
/ III may bc answered chat muDocracy ana
louptssittou cannot destroy the truth. Ihat
f rs fact But ii Is also TACT mat the
Brigham Ut. Roberts and Reed smoot
/ ucre not necessary 20 demonstration OK
/ truth nor ans aid 90 it's pronunciation.
I No one of them was named by revelation
/ 90 run for political office, ln ancient
/ times men were called from worldly Qc-
} cuDafiou 90 be CDusccrated 10 the apostle
/ ship. There has been no authoritative ut
/ terance 90 indicate that Heaven desires
1 Iatter-ddy apostles TO call themselves
/ from che divine work to fight FOR worldly
{ honOTs.
Thl net result of an these ambitions OF
I high ecelesiazts for political office seems
/ 90 nave been trouble al home and trouol'
I abroad; ana surely "Ctan mas haa 'fou'
+ bile enough.
( There IS no disrespcct 90 the dignity auo
rights of the cCcieslastical leaders OF q
I r,,e icY-ft,- af Ttah's people in -he fore
( going recital ON the contrary many oi
their most devoted follo@ers coincide
with these statements. and more earnestly
because Of their tender respect entertain
ing. as they do. the faith thai their ieader'
are chosen from an the world for religious
labor. and knowing as they do. that tho5'
apostles are best loved and most inIluen
6 ffaI DO their miuistratioue r2a are neither
candidates fOr office nor ardent p4ru
Sans Of any political organization.