The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-22
SMOOT UNDER CROSS FIRE.
HE BELIEVES TIE CHURCH CAN
RECEII EYRRFBLATIONS.

n He Received Revelation From God
lie Would Consider IL More binding
Than the Law OF the Land-Declares
That lie Never Preached Polygamy.
WAsHISor n. Jan. Ex-senator Smoot
was ON lho,sfand again to-day IN his own
defence as to his right 70 a seat in the SEN
ate. he answered frankly many puzzling
questions put to him by Senators and op-
posing counsel md his eanswers unques-
tionably strengthened his case. He de-
clareddAat a flfdatnental doctfire OF the
Mormon Church was obedience to the laws
OF the land, and that II a revelation should
be pr mulgated by the President OF the
Church and sustained by tn reop at
tempting to violate the laws, he would obey
T. laws Of the nd.
Mr.. Smoot testified that the case Of
Leavitt vs. Birdsall tried in the Church
courts and resulting in a decree requiring
the defendant to deed a piece OF land to
the plaintiff on pain Of accommodation
was an exception to the rule OF the Church,
which was that land titles and similar
matters should not be considered by the
Church courts. He ADM tied that no had
voted 10 sustain President Smith last Octo-
Der notwithstanding Smiths testimony
before tho committee last spring, wherein
he confessed that he was living in violation
Of the laws Of God and man: Mr.. Smoot
explained that he had ACTED in accordance
with public sentiment in Utah, which was
opposed to the prosecution Of polygamists
who had married before the manifesto.
The examination OF Senator. Smoot was
not finished when the committee adjourned
until Monday morning 1t is expected
that the examination Of witnesses will be
concluded dyEtpg the.coming week.
Senator Smoot was asked by Mr.. Tayler
TO define the general authorities OF the
Church He said 1t consisted Of the First
Presidency, hfb- tpldfufnl OF apostles, the
first Of president Of seventies. the presid-
ing bishop, and the presiding patrachs.
They have charge OF all spiritual affairs
OF the Church. and OF all temporal affairs
inside the Church, such as control Of Church
property.
@ by Mr.. Tsyler) Is It not law OF tho
Church that apostles must all unite unanl-
mously In any action? A. No, an apostle
may vote as he pleases, but II majority
votes th9'9tl!sr ,say ne d not expected 10 OPP.
pose Their NM
the Mormon thufctl can and does receive
revelations from Code A. think it can.
II they s6tAa 80, W. fsveltttions III the early
days they can now.
Q DO yorr thhnk' the laws or God arc SUI
perior to the laws OF the land? A, / think
II a revelation from Cod comes to me. and
| know II Is tuch. should regard II "a pos
slbly snprei An ding Upon me than law OF
the land. III 1t oonhicted with the law l should
go TO some other land.
q | was speaking Of revelation TO the
President OF tbe Church. accepted by the
people in conference. Is that superior to
the law Of The land? A. I do not think so.
q. tBS Mr.. Ddbois) Did you ever preach
polySPmy e#ywhers. senator} A. L never
did In my life. '
q. (By Mr.. Beveridse) As between the
law OF the land and II revelation which are
binding upon the members OF your church,
A. The Law OF the land IN which we live. We
havo a revelation In the doctrine and ooyon-
ants commanding us to obey the laws OF the
land.
Q. SO a revelation commanding a violation
OF the law would be nudity, even II the
people believe 1t to come from God? A.
Every man Is free agent. Even God cannot
take away my free agency, Otherwise he
could not judse me before His bar.
q, tBy Mr. KnoSl 1t being Fundamentally
= law, Of the church that you must obey
n violation OF law would be IN confic; with
fundamental lax OF your ,ye!izion! A. Yes,
sir
Senator Smoet said Joseph NJ. Tanner
genera al superintendent OF Sunday schools,
was understood to be a poIygamist when
appointed to that position by President
Joseph F. Smith
1t was brought out that part OF the in
struction Of relgiups classes consisted
Of biographies OF the Church leaders, all
OF them except Senator Smoot being
polygamists,
The committee adjourned until Monday
morning.