The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-03

mon church, occupied seats in the rear
OF the large committee room.
Quite a number of ladies were in at
tendance and watched the proceedings
with interest. Chairman Burrows. after
asceTtaining by rOllcaIl that a quorum
Of the committee was present. directed
Mr.. TayleT TO proceed With the ease.
Mr. Toyler inquired the number Of wit
n.ssses present. and Mr.. Burrows read
the following list of those on whom
summons had been served: Mabel
I Parker Kennedy. Amos Charles Mat
thews ogden Hiles. Andrew Jensen.
John Henry Smith. Hyrum NJ. Smith.
Thomas Merrill. Charles +. Merrill. Al
ma Merrill. Lorin Harmon, Moses
Thatcher. NJ. w. Merrill Joseph F.
Smith and Francis NJ. Ryan.
President Smith Sworn.
Mr.. Tayler announced his readiness
to proceed and asked that President
Joseph +. Smith be sworn. After that
had been done. Franklin s. Richards. a
Salt Lake attorney. stated that he was
present as an adviser Of the witnesses
IN the event any improper questions
We're asked.
The first question asked brought out
that Mr.. Smith is president Of the Nor
NOR church. and was born in Missouri
in 1888 and went 10 Utah in lS4S. and
always has been i'm the church
Mr.. Tayler asked Mr.. Smith If he
was a prophet seer and revelator.
The witness said he was so sus-
tanned" Further questions along the
same line brought out the statement
that he received his powers by reaso
Of the position he held in the church
He said the apostles Of the church were
sustained in the same powers as
prophets, seers ard reveIStors. He was
asked TO name his predecessors as pres
ident Of the church. and gave them in
order back to the first president, Joseph
Business Interests.
Questions directed to ascertain the
business occupations OF Mr. Smith IN
addition TO the presidency of the church
brought out the following list of con-
Germs Of which he is president: Zion
Cooperative Mercantile Institution
with capital stock of more than ST.
100000: state Bank of Utah. lions saw
ngs bank. Utah Sugar company. Con-
sOlidated Wagon e Machine company.
Utah Light & Railway company. sal,
Lake & Los Angeles Railway company.
Saltair Beach company and salt Lake
Knitting company. He said he was
president OF a number Of other small
concerns. the names Of which he could
not recall, and that ne Is a director of
the Union Pacific Railway company.
editor of the Improvement Era and
Juvenile Instructor. and director or Of
fetal Of a number of mining companies.
\ list Of the firs5 presidency or twelve
apostles governing the church was read
by Mr.. Tayler and identified by lIr
smith This list included the name Of
Reed Smoot
Mr. Smith explained that the fi-st
presidency IS the president OF the
church and two high priests or coun-
s1lors. and that the twelve apostles
are next In authority The presidents
ere elected by the council and the
apostles. he said but he believed and
il is taught that the presidents are
really chosen by divine revelation and
they are then endowed with the au-
,hority % the holy priesthood by au-
thority direct from God He said thu
apostles might elect TO their humber IN
the event Of vacancy but. that they
would not 90 contrary 10 the wish OF
the first presidency.
Not Positive Enough.
Throughout the testimony AIR. Smith
used such expressions as Il think'' II
suppose" and II believe" These ex-
pressions proved unsatisfactory TO
members OF the committee. and Senator
Hosr said he wanted TO understand
whether Mr. Smiths form of speech
implied doubt OF whether Il was Sim
ply an unfortunate mode Of speech
Mr. Smith said he used these express
sious which we're not positive when be
referred 10 matters from memory. but
that IN ali masters OF the church. OF
revelations and the powers Of the
church he was certain and did not want
10 hs misunderstood.
In regard 10 revelations. the witness
said the church holds that any elder
may receive a revelation for his own
guidance
Then Mr.. Smoot may receive such
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