The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-03-03
he twelve apostles are next in author

the twelve apostles are next in author
ity.
The presidents are elected by the
council and the apostles he said, but
he believed and it is taught that the
presidents are really chosen by divine
revelation and they are then endowed
with the authority of the holy priest
hood by authority direct from God.
He said the apostles might elect to
their number in the event of vacancy
but that they would not go contrary to
the wish of the first presidency.
Throughout the testimony Mr. Smith
used such expressions as II think" IT
suppose" and II believe"
The expression proved unsatisfac-
tory to members of the committee and
Senator Hoar said he wanted to under
stand whether Mr.. Smiths form of
speech implied doubt or whether 1t
was simply an unfortunate mode OF
speech.
Mr.. Smith said he used these ex-
preston which were not positive when
he referred to matters from memory,
but that In all matters of the church,
of revelations and the powers of the
church he was certain and did not
want to be misunderstood. In regard
to the revelations the witness said the
church holds that any elder may re-
ceive such a revelation for his own
guidance.
Then Mr.. Smoot may receive such
revelation direct from God?" asked
Mr.. Taylor.
For his own guidance, yes," was
the answer.
In response to direct questioning.
Mr.. Smith said only those revelations
to the president which had been pre-
sented to the church and accepted by
the members were binding upon them.
Mr.. Overman wanted to know what
happened to those who did not believe
In the inspired revelations.
Were they unchurched?" he ask
ed
They unchurched themselves" was
the response.
After more direct questioning con-
cerning the rights of the church MEM
bers to reject revelations Mr.. Tay-
lor put the situation in this form:
May the members of the church say
to you, We deny that God has told
you to tel us that and we will not
.eceive your revelation?" Could thai
occur in the church,"
1T could" was the reply.
Has this ever been done?" asked
Mr.. Hoar.
Not that / know or
Nov. that is Just what 1 have been
calling attention to-" said Mr. Hoar.
The witness says, Not that l know
off,"
Turning to Mr.. Smith he remarked
that the answer expressed doubt, and
more pointedly he asked the witness:
Has the church ever rejected any OF
your revelations? Have any of the
revelations to the presidents been re-
jeoted?"
May / say a word on that first?"
said Mr. Smith.
He stood up and was noticeably con-
cerned at the trend of the questioning.
In an extended explanation of the re-
lations the members of the church
bear to those in high authority among
other things he said:
1.-The members of the Mormon church
are among the freest, most indepen6-
ent people of all Christian denomina-
tons. They have freedom of speech,
freedom of thought. They are not all
united on every principle of the church.
They are not expected to be. They are
entitled to their own conception in
regard to the principles of their church.
their conception of what appears to
them to be the right or the wrong.
so long as one accepts God and his
opinion is not in conflict with the ac-
cepted standards of the church he en-
joys following in the church. He who
denies God, he who commits adultery
or steals or lies, or bears false Wit
ness against his neighbors In any way
or goes contrary to the cardinal prin-
ciples of our religion. is compelled to
withdraw.
But one who Is honest. virtuous, be-
lleves In God and has a little faith in
our religion is nurtured. though he
may not believe in the church in all
that 1t teaches.
"In that book-Mr. Smith pointed
To one of the volumes that had been
introduced earlier in the proceedings
lis a revelation on plural marriages.
Not three or four per cent of the en-
tire membership OF the church have
entered that state.
"All the rest have abstained from
Mural marriages and many thousands