Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-02-11

! fefelatlony
Senator Smoot-Yes; II God had given
! II 10 me Himself, then | would, because
| | would feel then that ] was under d.
| rect obligation 70 my Maker 20 carry
| out what He revealed directly 10 me
! and IL could not do Il IN this country
| would 90 TO some other country whore
1 could,
Nh Tayler-so that you would OF
| course, obey the revelation coming from
Godf
Senator Smooth I knew that God
had spoken TO me I would obey It.
Mr. Tayler Suppose the revelation
commanded OF God was that you should
do % certain thing and also stay IN the
country
Senator smoot-well, I do not think
the God / worship is such a God.
Mr. Tayler--That is your answer TO
the question:
Senator Foraker--You think that Is
hardly fair supposltlons case2
Senator Smoot-I do not think It Is
probable or possible.
Senator Overman--lf you have a right
10 digobey the law OF God given TO the
Church, why would you not have a
right as o free agent 10 disohey n reye-
latlon given to YOU as an lndivldual2
senator Smoot-l would have that,
Senator God could not take 1t away
from me-
Senator Overman-rhen you would
not have to leave the country? You
could dlsobey It?
Senator Smoot-I would not obey II.
! say II is not necessary for me 10 obey
1t, even though God spoke to me,
Senator Oyerman--You would not BE-
condemned by God, then, II you dis
obcyed ~
Senator Smoot--Certainly would.
Senator Overman-Then. n you dis
obeyed revelation given to the Church
and accepted by the Church, you
would also be subject to be condemned
by God?
Senator smoot-w Whatever wrong
there may be in II, | would have TO
answer for that wrong
Mr.. Tayler-You say that the law OF
the land would prevail, because that is
a fundamental doctrine Of the Church?
Senator SmOot--I say so.
Mr. Tayler-That Is the reason?
Senator Smoot-I say that that
Mr. Taylcr-ls that the reason2
Senator Smoot-I think you could in
fer that,
Mr. Tayler-Was the law command
ing pol"gamy a revelation from God?
Senator Smoot--I understand 50.
Mr. ''ayler-lt was just as much a
revelation
Senator smoot-wait. Excuse me.
do not think there Is any revelation
commanding polyRamy
MIR. Tayler-f mean the plural mar
rial revelation
Senator SMOOTH you viii say the
celestial marriage, or the revelation in
Guiding plural ty OF wives
Mr. Tayer-No / quote from the
Doctrine and Covenants which de-
scrlbes, MS Doctor TalmaRe persisted In
my remembering revelation on the
eternity Of the marriage covenants. In
Guiding plurality Of wives.
Senator Emoot-That Is right--in-
Guiding plurality OF wives. / want TO
get It right that Is all.
Mr. Tayer-That came directly from
God2
Senator Smoot-T understand So
MT Tayler-When God commands as
you interpret Il, It Is equally COM
mand whether 1t Is to do one thing or
another Is Il?
Senator Smoot--I think so; but lie
did not command a man TO go into
polygamy or to practise II.
Mr. Tayer-l understand.
Senator SMOOTH was permlssve and
not mandatory
The Chairman--It Is command only
on the man who receives the revela-
ton?
Senator Smoot-I think IL He COM
manded me, Mr.. Chairman, TO 20 into
II, then II would be a command to me,
and ] would have TO obey It, but ather-
wise ! would not.
Senator Foraker--But you do not un-
deratand that He ever did make any
such command?
Senator Smoot-Not on the Church.
l. gaf .lsa.I
stand from the revelation that ne did
make command on Joseph smith and
he is the only one.
Mr.. Tayler-The section to which you
refer as to rulers, states and govern
ments, was not a revelation?
Senator Smoot-T think there Is a rev.
elation II you will hand that book to
me | viii try to ind It. There Is a rev
elation there.
Mr.. Tayler-There Is a revelation
which requires that you shall keep all
constitutional laws2
Senator Smoot--There Is another one
there Mr. Tayler. That is a revela-
ton, ana It Is mandatory.
Mr., Tayler-And that is mandatory?
Senator Smoot-That II mandatory.
Mr.. Tayler-That came from God. Do
you not think God could revoke that
revelation
Senator Smoot-Well, rather think
God could
Mr.. Tayler--You rather think He
could?
Senator smoot-Yes but do not
think He would.
Senator Foraker--You think God is
omnipotent2
Senator Smoot-T do
The Chalrman-Then why do you say
you rather think lie could? Have you
not any positive opinion on that sub
ject?
Senator Smoot--He could, Mr.. Chair.
man, but | said that / do not think he
would
Mr. Tayler-Your people. or many NJ
them, persisted In the violation OF the
law against polygamy up to 1890 on
the claim mat there was no law against
~
Senator Smo1t--On the claim that
they thought 1t was interfering with
religious liberty.
Mr. rayler-l am not going to touch
THIS particular subject any more, and
If amy senator has any particular dues-
ton 10 ask about H. this would be nm
opportune time.
To what order Of the Priesthood do
you belong, senator
Senator Smoot-To the Melchisedcc
Priesthood
Mr Tayler-That is the highest or
der?
senator Smoot-Thcre are two orders,
the Adronic and the Melchlsedec.
Mr. Toyler-lhat is the higher order?
senator Smoot-The higher order
Mr. Tayler-The Malchselec is the
higher?
Senator Smoot-I hold the same
Priesthood that an Elder holds. or that
q Seventy holds, or that a High Priest
holds
Mr. Tayler-As high as anybody
holds?
senator Suoot-As high as anybody
holds
senator Oyeman-Does your church
believe In apostolic succession?
Senator Smoot--l would have 10 ask
you 10 make that more specific.