The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-04
SMITH REVEALS
MORMON CREED ! ]
Continued from First Page.

and when Senator Foraker rose to an
swer, he, too. stood UP. The two SEN
ators faced each other in what threat
'ened to be a serious clash. sgz.
Senator Foraker said the senator
from Massachusetts could say what
he pleased, Of course, but have not
said he asked fifty questions.
Senators in Clash.
II accept the disclaimer from the
ator Hoar, but the aggressive manner
In which it was said failed to relieve
the situation. After more heated
words Senator Beveridge, who occu-
pied, position directly between the
two, requested permission to ask a
question.
r He said he wanted to address "Mr.e
Smoot' and Immediately substituted
the name Mr. Smith" In the laugh
that was provoked both senators sat
down and the hearing continued.
= Senator Beveridge desired to know
whether the church considered that
the laws were being obeyed when
polygamous cohabitation, had contin-
ued since the manifesto of 1890 and
Chairman Burrows made the question
more personal. He said
You have said to-day that you were
obeying the laws in not teaching
polygamy since the manifesto. Do you
think you were obeying the law in
having eleven children from different
mothers since that time?"
L obey the law so far as teaching
is concerned. 1 have not said that /
have obeyed the law in my practice.
AS have said before, preferred to
take my chances with the law rather
than: to abandon my plural family.
The church has obeyed the laws even
If | have not" said Mr.. Smith.
Senator Foraker said that altho the
ground may have been covered before,
he would like to have it go on record
an answer to this question: 81: +
I When, where and. how was the
| injunction in favor of polygamy re-
ceived by the church, What want
to know Is whether the practice is ar
| bluary or merely permissive.'
Revelation to Smith. "
Mr.. Smith explained that the revela-
ton was made to Joseph Smith, Jr.,
at Nauvoo, In 1843, but was not pub
/ l1cly proclaimed on account of the dis
l. turbance against Smith who had been
made a martyr.
4 The doctrine he said, had been
taught by Joseph Smith to Brigham
I Young and his associates and pre-
| served by Young. twas taken to the
Salt Lake valley in 1S47 and in 1852
was proclaimed by Young and &C.
| cepted as a revelation.
| '""Does that answer your question 81
asked Mr.. Smith.
p. 1t answers as to when and where,
but not how, said Senator Foraker.
| what L want to know is whether
the members oflthe church were COM
PEELED to practice the polygamous
marriages, and if that is true, why it
Is that only three or four per cent of
/ the Mormons have practiced what has
been declared to be divine COM
I-mand." ....
Mr.. Smith called for a copy, of the
book of doctrine and covenants and
read a part of the revelation.
! 3, It was set forth that if one wanted
SO by obtaining the consent of the
y hrst,$ but that if the consent of the first
was withheld he was at liberty to pro-
i coed without. 1t is set forth also
!, that where the first refuses consent to
share, her husband with another
} woman she would be destroyed"
Senator Pettus asked the meaning
of the word destroyed" in that sense
..,.. Destroyed by the Lord.
Mr.. Smith answered that she would
be destroyed by the Lord, but that he
, was not informed Just how the Lore
would go about it,
husband could destroy herr" Senator
Pettus asked. 49,:
mo, never
II take it. then that the question O.
getting wtfe's consent to MARI.
: again might just as we'll be eliminated
2 entirely" said Senator Beveridge. -
= = 'Just as WE'LL answered the
Senator Overman asked Mr.. Smith
II he knew whether any one
of the six polygamist' apostles hat
disobeyed the law in regard t
' manifesto Of 1890.
II do not know said Mr.. Smith
IT only know that they were il
the same status Of polygamy at tn
: time of the manifesto as I was myself
: LIDO not pry into their family affairs
I am happy to say that 1 am not );
! 'spotter' nor an 'informer.'2 am no
a paid spy"
!. Neither am I a paid spotter or in
!. former" returned Senator. OVermar
: ~ ct FI1'know that lin my town peopl
! have children. l. think you nigh
s answer that question without :usin
;. the words 'spotter' or informer,' i
I that lnanllen.'ts Il
II beg the senator's pardon, tn
witness responded. 81
Senator Dubois asked several ques
tions directed to determine the cor
rectnesS OF the statements that nc
8 more than 3 Or 4 per cent of the Nor
mons were polygamists, and said II
believed he could show that,a create
per cent than that had been convicte
l. Of the charge. ~
h He asked Mr.. Smith how, MANY
If his predecessors had been monogs
= nists, and Mr.. Smith said: he believe
l. that all of them had had plural wive
e "And, I believe that you said yor
lie successor to the throne had more tina
j. one Wife?" said Senator Dubois.
II wish to correct the senator" RI
,e sponded Mr.. Smith. There is no SUI,
n. cessor to the throne" i IN !.
MI Senator Dubois. said he merely wan
t. ed to ascertain that the successor HI;
II been determined upon and that he
now a polygaraist. The witness az
I limited that was the. case. 1:
Quotes New Testament.
II In quoting from the New, Test
Ement, Senator Hoar said it is stat
that there is a command that a IBIS
op shall be sober and have one wife
"a Eat least one wife," Mr.. Smith i
~ terrupted.
TT well, we don't construe it that w
ne in our church." said Senator Ho
LII amid Laughter. What, 1 wanted