The San Francisco call., 1904-03-09

swer you just took back and which
you said was a mistake?"
The witness hesitated and Senator
Hoar remarked:
We'll, if you can't answer that 1
don't blame you"
REORGANIZED CHURCH.
Chairman Burrows asked Lyman in
regard to the Reorganized Church of
Latter-Day Saints at Lamonia, Iowa,
of which a son of Joseph Smith, the
prophet, is the head. and Lyman gave
his ideas Of the differences between the
two organizations He was asked if
the reorganized church did not de-
nounce polygamy, and answered.:
They denounce it so hard that it al
most provokes us to defend it,
Senator Dubois asked if the reorgan-
lied church teaches absolute obedience
to its leaders, and was informed by
Lyman that he understood the church
was not very strenuous in that regard.
Now, in regard to consent given
Senator Smoot to become a candidate
for Senator-suppose President Smith
had refused to give this consent and
Smoot had insisted on becoming can
didate, what would have happened to
him? ?" asked Senator Dubois.
Lyman said Smoot would have been
disciplined, taken to task, reproved or
corrected.
Tayler here said it had been shown
one of the religions was composed of
peaceable, law-abiding citizens, while
the other is a menace to society and
good government and that ''in the lat
ter case Senator Smoot is so, woven
into the organization thatawe hold he
cannot be extricated without cutting
himself off entirely
Worthington inquired of Lyman
whether Senator Smoot could not re-
sign his apostleship if he wanted to do
anything which the church forbids and
still remain a Mormon in good stand
ing. The witness answered affirma-
lively.
REVELATION WORTHLESS. =
Lyman told the story of the effort
on the part of Prophet Joseph Smith
to get rid of one of the high council
ors who had been chosen by revela-
ton 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 mean to say" asked Sena-
tor Hoar. that a revelation from the
Lord which had been rejected by the
people would count for nothing?"
1T would count for nothing for
those who rejected it."
Would it be binding upon the in
strument of the Lord who received the
revelation? I mean if the revelation
should be received by you and the
people refused it, would it be binding
upon you to follow the revelation or
to follow the wish of the people ?"
I'VE should follow the wish of the
people,
We'll. how about you?"
Il should be bound by what the peo-
pie direct"
Then" said Senator Hoar, ''the voice
of the people is of more authority than
the mandate of the Lerd?"
''The law. of the Lord is whatever is
done by common consent"
Then the Lord submits to the people
whatever he desires to have DONE and
IL tile pcOOiC IKE II lHcy give their COn-
sent That is your belief, is it?"
THE people have their rights and they
must be respected" answered the wit
ness. THE Lord can't make the peo-
pie do right or accept his laws. Man
is left to follow his own agency in re-
gard to religion. business and politics.. y
Then" persisted Senator Hoar,
where the Lord has chosen certain
persons as apostles and the people do
not care. to accept the selection. what
happens?'
The man always steps aside when
the people reject"
They have sort of veto power over
the Lord then ?"
Both the prosecution and defense an
nounced they had concluded with Apos-
tie Lyman, and he was discharged. The
committee adjourned until tomorrow.