The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-09

II fully intend, said Mr.. Lyman, ''to
be true TO the law of my country. to my
God and to my obligations and covenants
with my wives, and have never done
thing that my conscience did not ap
prove.
''My case is different from that of most
other men. l was born in 1910, and l can
hardly remember when my father was
not a polygamist. He was friend and
an adviser of Prophet Joseph Smith and
was taught by him the Importance and
the truth of the principle of polygamy.
He accepted the teachings and entered
the practice marrying six wives. So that
my earliest recollection embraces the life
of polygamy. l remember all my fathers
wives as l do my own mother, and l lived
in a family thus constituted until l grew
up and became the head of a family of
my own. Consequently l have known
nothing else. and 1 have felt that it was
correct. I have always felt in my soul
and heart that it was correct. l married
first in 1857, again in 1869 and once more
in 1884. The situation has been very
painful to me and I have been greatly
panied to find myself in opposition to the
laws Of the country and the church. But
II had made a covenant with my wives to
love and respect them, and l. could not
find it in my heart to separate from them
as long as they were true to me-"
Senator Hoar: so you, an officer in
your church, expecting to succeed Mr..
Smith in the presidency and in that ca
pacity to receive divine revelations your
self, confess that you are now living and
expect to continue to live in disobedience
to the law of the country, the law of
\, b. low & Nd
The witness replied with a simple
"yes."
In answer to a question by Senator
Overman, Mr. Lyman said that despite
the manifesto of 1890 the president of the
church could issue authority upon all elder
to perform plural marriages. The presi-
dent holds the keys" said Mr.. Lyman.
what do you mean?"
THAT he is the only one who has any
authority"
Mr.. Worthngton asked how it was that
the president could issue authority in
conflict with the manifesto, which is said
to be the law of God, and concluded his
question thus:
rs he above the Lord?"
ooh, no, he is not above the Lord"
Senator Pettus inquired concerning the
authority given to Mr.. Smoot to become
candidate for Senator and Mr. Lyman
said consent under a rule of the church,
must haveN been given by President
Smith.
Mr.. Lyman was asked what distinction
he made between the revelations he
lobeyed and those he did not obey.
II suppose you meant laws | have con
fessed that l have violated in cohabiting
with plural wives?" he asked.
When told that was what was meant
he said:
81 trust myself to the mercy of tne
tLCrd"
Have you ever repentod of that dis
obedience ," asked Mr. Hoar-
Not yet
did Senator Smoot know you were
living with plural wives?" was asked
Mr. Lyman answered that Senator
Smoot did not know as he had never met
any one of his wives. He said that the
people in general in Utah knew, but that
he did not think Mr.. Smoot had any
knowledge Of the fact.
Chairman Burrows insisted upon know
ing if the people of Utah knew i'll regard
to his life, why Senator Smoot could not
know Just as well. The WI ness insisted
several times that the people must have
known, but that Senator Smoot did not,
and Senator Hoar demanded TO know
what the witness meant by such answers.
The witness then said that Senator Smoot
probably knew just as much about the
question as the people in general.
do you take back what you said then
that the people knew and Senator Smoot
did not know?'' asked Senator Hoar.
81 take that back"
After much effort statement was OBJ
tanned from the witness that he thought
Senator Smoot was acquainted with the
general reputation and accepted the re-
port that Mr. Lyman was living in polyg
amous cohabitation with his plural wives.
''How, in regard to consent given Sen
ator Smoot to become candidate for
Sena tor-suppose President Smith had re-
fused to give this consent and Smoot had
insisted upon becoming candidate, what
would have happened to him?" asked
Senator Dubois.
Mi. Lyman said Senator Smoot would
have been considered 1nsubordinate and
probably would have been disciplined. He
was asked what would happen in the
event President Smith had given his con-
sent to another apostle to become can
dldate for the Senate.
Il don Z know. 1t would nave made
lots of confusion. We will scrap about
that question when it comes to U.s." j
Mr.. Worthington inquired of Mr.. Lyman
whether Senator Smoot could resign his
arostleship if he wanted to do anything
which the church forbids and still remain
a Mormon in good standing. The witness
answered affirmativoly
Mr.. Lyman told the story of an effort
on the part of Prophet Joseph Smith to
get rid of one of his counsellors who had
been chosen by revelation and the refusal
of the people to submit to the change.
This was for the purpose OF showing that
the will of the people is stronger than
the wish or command of the president OF
the church.
do you moan to say asked Senator
I1oar. chat revelation from the Lord
which has been rejected by the people
would count for nothing?'
1T would count for nothing for those
who rejected it..
Then" said Senator Hoar, the voice
of the people is of more authority than
the mandate Of the LoTd?"
~, ord il y-h tpVpr is