The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22
SM00T RESPECTS
C0UNTRYS LAWS
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be compulsory upon me to obe.- it, But If
1t was contrary to the laws of lhe coun.
try lived in, would move to some other
country where L could obey the laws"
DO you believe the revelations were
given?"
We'll. have heard men tes. " SO.
but l could not say"
what is your beief?"
4 believe that God could do such things.
lie did it in former days and could do
it now"
Is Not Lived Up To.
Explaining further the extent to which
revelations were lived up to, Senator
Smoot said he remembered a revelation
being received for the establishment of
the United Order" and that Brigham
Young, following out the instructions of
tl-at revelation. went from one end of
the state to the other preaching the es-
tablishment of that order. And | know"
he concluded, that it was never at
tempted or lived up to by the people. and
today is virtually a dead letter.
Senator Dubois asked: do you mean
today that if a revelation was received
by the president of the church and sub
mitted to the church, that a member
could disregard that and maintain his fell
lowship and standing in the church,"
"oh, yes; I understand So"
Continuing Senator Smoot referred to
the law of tithing. He knew there were
many members of the church who disre-
garded 1t, although 1t was a law of the
church.
Senator Dubois followed up his question.
Then. as an apostle you could go out
among your people and take that position
and the people could refuse to obey also,
and still retain their standing?'
Il would not want to go as far as 1
infer your question leads l would not
want to say that a man could go from
one end of the church to the other and
make a special point of preaching against
certain doctrines of the church and be in
full fellowship l think that would be
not only non-beief. but open rebellion.
and through that he would be out of
harmony"
Did Not Preach PoIygamy.
Senator Smoo said he was sent on a
mission to England In 1890. He said he
did not preach polygamy there nor had
he ever done 81 in his life.
Chairman Burrows asked what he
would have done if poygamy had been
assaled.
The witness said 1t had not been assailed
by him, but If 1t had been he would have
| referred the people to the Bible and told
them if the Bible does not permit, then
/ IL SnOulu not DE practlceu.
Senator Dubois asked the witness If he
should refuse to obey a revelation of the
| church whether he would be able to hold
his apostleship. The witness thought he
| could retain the apostleship, but that he
might be regarded as derelict in his duty
| AS l understand by a former answer
| by you, 1t is fundamentally and primar-
| lily part of your religion Il such a rev.
| elation should come to the church that
commanded you to disobey the laws of
| the land, you would not have to obey it?'
| asked Senator Knox. The Senator re-
| sponded that he would be a free agent
to accept or reject it, but that If God
spoke to him personally he would leave
the country and go to some place where
| the law of God was not in conflict with
the law of the country.
| But If this revelation also commanded
| you to remain in this country?" asked
| Senator Overman.
Not Supposable Case.
~ do not think the God l worship is
such God. 1t is not supposable case.'
responded Senator Smoot
what priesthood do you hold?" asked
Mr.. Tayler.
1.-THE Melchizedech priest hood" said
Senator Smoot and. continuing, said
priesthood was the highest any person
could hold and that he understood that
are two priesthoods in the church, the
Melchizedech and the Aaronic.
Mr. Tayler brought from the witness
that in addition to the presidency of the
Prove Wooden mills he holds directorships
in a large number of important interests
at Salt Lake.
what kind of cases do the church
courts try?" asked MIR. Tayler.
"rhose involving infraction of moral
law as affecting the standing of members
of the church."
At this point Chairman Burrows said
that several members of the committee
desired to be absent during the afternoon.
He adjourned the hearing until Monday.