The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-01-29
A MORMON'S DILEMMA


composed of men having colossal men
tai calibers"-45-S0. In sack-cloth and
ashes the remainder of those Demo-
Gratis with .22-Short mental caiibers
looked at the abbreviated brain boxes
Of their pin-headed Political brethren.
and remembered another witty, in
spired and apostolic declaration, made
by John Henry up in Cache county. TO
the same effect that Democrats can
take OF their shirts without unbut-
toning their collars"
As one of the perhaps Over-sensi-
tive Democratic .22-sforts. that former
~ beloved man and revered apostle who
had reflected" on Democratic mental
calibTesN ceased then and there 10 be
inF any sense prophet, seer and reve-
Ia tor, and from the hour that, I'm sor-
row. humiliation and resentment. I
read that unfortunate end weak state
nlent of Joseph F. Smiths. down to
the present time, I have not sustained
nor prayed for him as prophet. seer
and reveiator. AS an ordinary man l
respect him. and when i remember
those tragic deeds which swept his
father and uncle from life into the
graves of martyrs, and recoliect what
a profound influence those terrible in
cidents must have had on his young
and plastic mind. my heart goes out in
sympathy for the man, and charity foh
his radical blindness. But to me, and
NAACUsdti0c VI ItCtflONIdtA,r especially lHG
younger men. Joseph f. Smith ceased
to be prophet. And as 1 remem Der
the h.deous charge that the 'sskirts
OF the Democrats reek with the blood of
the prophets CJoseph and Hyrun)
made by John Henry in Cache valley
also remember something else. That,
down in Deseret John Henry said that
Democrats dashed the slaves of the
south" that Democrats traiIed the
starry flag in the mire of secession
ism" that not all Democrats are
horse thieves. but all horse thieves are
Democrats" Mr.. Smith, on that oc-
casion, sravely told his rapt and wildly
applauding audience that he had taken
off his apostolic mantle and had left it
al home There are thousands, like
myself, in Utah, who do not believe
that John Henry Smith has been able
since the day when he exchanged his
holy apostolic mantle for the putrid
garb of the mud-slinging politician, to
resume that mantle. Another thing
that l also remember is that. since that
memorable evening in Deseret, 1 have
offered no word of prayer for John
Henry Smith, the apostle
Mr.. Editor. this communication is ex-
tending TO unusual length. but l would
invoke your indulgence and the pa
thence Of your readers during few
more minutes. 1 will endeavor to be
brief.
do not believe that Apostle Reed
Srnoot is a prophet. L believe that d
prophet, seer and revelator would have
foreseen the gathering tempest: would
have sensed the Indebtedness and sor-
rOw-almost despair--that would come
to many of the people of Utah as the
inevitable results of his election TO the
United States senate. What are the
fruits of his election? The leader of the
Mormon church dragged before the ma
ton and compelled. in the presence of
many whose love of scandal is a pre-
dominating passion, of others whose
moribund and sensual natures are in
capable of sensing the tender and hu-
name motives that impeiled Joseph f.
Smith tOJclinS-to his wives in the face
of great national protest, and in de-
fiance OF the laws of God and man. To
compel this man who, by a large ma
jority of the people of Utah, is sus-
tanned and revered as a prophet. to
admit that he has not, so far as he
knows. ever received a revelation, that
il he did receive revelation it would
be just what any good Methodist
could do, etc. AS results of Mr..
Shoots election the stain of dishonor
has been laid on the grave of one apos-
tie whose silent lips can make no de-
pial or explanation. Two more of the
apostles have been driven, into exile
with the brand of adultery following
close upon them. while a brother
apostle down in Washington, in order
to retain a seat he never could have
won at that time except for the lofty
prestige of his apostleship. is compelled
TO openly. but professionally, denounce
them. and to implicitly denounce his
quorum's president. AS a further re-
cult we have Apostle Lyman denying
that he rever consented that Professor
Hickman of the b. Y. L. might take a
plural wife down in Mexico. And while
the 'lie is passing between them we
know the end is not yet.
Mr. Editor, would prophets. seers and
rev elators have brought all this hui
initiation on the Lords chosen people
Add to those results the previous con-
sequences of apostolic interference in
our politics. and the cup of bitterness,
held to some of our lips. is fun to over
flowing. Speaking personally, one of
my sons, an upright and in every way
moral man. has left the church because
he cannot harmopize religion and
Utah politics" Another son, not yet
tween the actions of men and the prin-
ciples of truth they claim to advoca te.
OF course it will be said their diSaffec-
ton was the result of their fathers
example. but I know that it is not.
They simply read.
DICSluell ana dIOSliSS nave no
idea of the widespread disaster TO the
faith OF the young men &C Utah that
has been caused by past and present
interference of prophets. in the political
affairs Of this people. We know by the
admissions of President Smith and
Apostle Smoot in Washington that
they were sincere in their erstwhiIe as
sertions that they were not i'm politics
and on the stump prophets. seerS and
reyelators. hut as citizens of the United
States. But the information comes toe
late to avert the spiritual wreck and
ruin strewn in the wake of their politi-
cal work. They should have proclaimed
their lack of revelations earlier in the
strife.
1t is a significant fact that only those
apostles who have beer active in poll
ties have been subjected to painful hui
initiation. And il they Will only feel
that that is a matter of divine retribu-
ton all viii be welI-after a while
In conclusion. just few words OF
apology to Apostle Reed Smoot Among
the bitter things ] have said of him is
that If / had a boot big enough and
"A leg long enough. that senatorial COM
nittee would be saved a lot of trouble "
That is now retracted- Senator Smoot
is not only, partially candid but he is
courageous. Had Apostle Moses
Thatcher been even one-half as Sc
we're i'm his criticisms of his brother
apostles as Apostle SmoOt has been his