The Cairo bulletin., 1904-03-05
Plural Marriages Originated in
Divine Revelation.
SMITH ON THE STAND
SHEDS MUCH LIGHT ON INNER
WORKINGS or CHURCH
WOMEN CANNOT Be
COME PRIESTS.

Washington March president
Joseph F. Smith OF the Mormon
church was called to the stand BIZ
Senator Hoar at the opening Of To-
days proceedings before the Senate
committee on privileges and elec.
tions in the investigation Of protests
against Senator Reed Smoot OF Etah
This is the third day the heaS OF
the Mormon faith has taken the leaS,
ing role in this remarkable investisa.
ton, which is rending the veil of Sc
crecy in regard 10 polygamous prac
tices.
When President Smith took the wit
uess chair Senator lloar desired lnfor-
nation ON the subject of the rights
IT women in the church and whether
they hold any priestly authority
Mr. Smith said The women are re.
gardei as the equal of The men III AL
matters OF voting. but that in hold
ing 'priestly authority" women are
not regarded on The same plane. He
explained that the women have a
charitable association known az the
Women's Relief society. in which they
have authority to perform certain
prescribed duties, This authority N
confined to the relieving of Distress.
but women are not ordained high
priests apostles or elders
Mr. Taylor asked about NJ r. Cow.
lev one ol the apostles and the Cow.
Icy talks on doctrine. and in answer 10
questions by Senator Dubois Mr..
Smith said Mr cowiey was elected
as an apostle in 1897
Reading from the Deserot News of
June 2S, 1908, regarding speech by
Mr.. Smith at the Weber state reun.
ion, Mr. Taylor askel Mr., Smith H
ne was correctly relaiJad ia sAYlng
| that the doctrine of plural marriage
was a revelation BY God 10 Joseph "
Smith. tr. and TO reject that would
be equivalent 10 a rejection Of God
himself
Mr. Smith said he believed he was
correctly reported and when list Of
names of those present including
Senator Smoot was read. Mr. Smith
said the list was correct He declar.
ed that he would not have had the ar
ticle published il he had been consult
ell. Pressed for a reason, he said
that he was under Injunction not to
teach the righteousness OF polygamy
and that he had refrained from 50
doing in public
Senator Beyeridge desired to know
whether the church considered the
laws were being obeycd when poly
gamous cohabitatiOn had continued
since the manifesto OF 1890, and chair.
man Burrows made the question more
personal he said "You have sail
today thar You we're obeying the Lays
in not teaching polygamy since the
manifesto DO You think Won were
obeying the law In having + children
from different mothers since that
time?7
Il obey the law 50 far as teaching
Is concerned have not said that
have obeyed the law ia my practice.
AS have said before. preferred to
iake my chances with The law rather
than 90 abandon my plural family
Polygamy has not been taught IN The
church By any OF the officials. The
church has obeyed the laws. even Il
have not said Mr.. Smith,
Intense feeling was exhibited hy
President Smith, In speaking OF indi
yduals. who he said had spied on the
domestic and martial relations Of high
officials and for this reason he had
favored the passage OF the Evans bill
to prevent prosecutions Tor polyga
mist Capitalization. unless complaints
were entered by the husband or wife
against the other This bill was pass
"a. hut vetoed By the governor Of
Utah
Il was brought out that all 81
Smiths predecessors. as presidents ~
the Mormon church have been polyga
mists. and that the man chosen to
succeed him bad more than one vile.
Smith was asked which he would
obey. the Law Of the land or reveia
tions from God. IL the two were ~
conflict. tie said nc might obey rev.
elations. though e was not compHl-
sorry. He added Il should moi ike 70
be put IA a position where | wolld
have to desert my children ] could
not DO that