The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-24
END OF SHOOTS TESTIMONY.
SiiS APOSTLES ARE NOT THE
MOTTHPIECES or THE LORD.

The First Presidency supreme In Everything
Relating 10 the Church lie Declines
to Give Details Of Endowment Core
mOnS-IIe WIN Remain an Apostle.
MAsHGNGroS Jan % Senator Reed
Smoot finished his testimony to-day before
the Senat q Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tons. and the end Of the Investigation II
In sight Senator ELECT George Sutherland
Of Utah and Postmaster A. l.. Thomas are
among the witnesses yet to be examined.
Senator Smoot was questioned to-day
regarding many matters, and on the whole
went through the examination with credit.
He declined to enter into details IA 10 the
endowment secrets declaring that he
had an obligation with his Maker TO keep
them inviolate In reply 70 Senator Bur
rows. Mr. Snoot admitted that he intended
to remain an Apostle and did not intend
to protest against the poygamous practices
of President Smith He did not ask for
leave of absence Of the Church to come TO
Washington to assume his duties AZ
Senator.
Q. Arc the apostles the mouthpiece OF
the Lord; do not understand II So
unless the Lord commands them to speak.
y Is The First Presidency supreme III every
thing relating TO the Church; 1t Is Mhen
a revelation is received DN the pItSlutnA
OF the Church it must be accepted by the
people In that sense he liz not supreme
y Are the apostles prophetsI A When
they are sustained as such But no man
is prophet who has not the spirit Of prophecy
. Does God speak direct through the
twelve apostles A. Az or no. pras,da @ey apS
In charge OF missionary work. Ihey also
organize stakes when SO directed. But an
SSo,e has no more n GTh obGy IN 1he
y. IL II forbidden In the Churoh 70 cru,
else or complain OF the priesthood A..
understand that IL is the rule that you should
go to the person you criticise aud tell them
your grievances.
The words OF Brigham Young were quoted
TO the effect that no man noed Judge him,
that it was mono Of the peoples Business
whether he were called or not; that II was
their duty simply to obey. Senator Smoot
smiled and replied
That would not go to-day. ] do not
think Brigham Young was inspired when he
said that. Men say many things IN sermons
which they would not say in calmer mo-
ments.
Q What are the living oracles7 They
are the men who preach. under the nSpira-
tIon Of the spirit Their counsel, under the
counsel OF tho men OF old
Q Did you never go through the endow
ment ceremony but once. a but once ono
q You have no recollection OF the cere-
mony In detail1 A.. No.
There was nGSn ne S 81 all " thu me oIons
cts and martyrs2 A. ! do not recall II, and
| do not believe there is
o Well. Is there anything In the cerc-
mony about avenging the prophets. or the
blood OF the prophets. upon, this nation. or
upon this generotlon, A There Is not -,
ceremony A could not do IT, prefer not
o Why not, Al have conscientious
reasons made vow; not an cath oatn' , SSse
endowment ceremonies secret. and have
Kept them all my life. II were 70 leave we
Church | should not fosl myself az Liberty
9 was there any P s5,;n4, attached dra for
Q Do YOU know why secrecy was i'm
posed II Is purely religious cere-
mons and refers eHSnsvey to Ins h w,h hs
God, and suppose 1t is rule OF the Church
thar II is nor TO be revealed
Are there any signs grips or pass no,
q (By Mr Burrows Have YOU any way
Of deposlng the president OF tho church,
. o You heard President ,sa, Smith M r. ,testify
thSs he was lying = 6 ys9ls'0n Of the Ia" OF
Q Have you In any. way made any effort
to bring him TO trial for his offences. or TO
o DO You intend to- A / do not
but voted TO sustain him, A did
% You intend 70 remain an apostle and
to vote TO sustain smith IN his crime A
DO not sustain any man In his crimes
voted to sustain him as president OF the
Church. ! do not regard I my dlty as
cit Zen OF Provo 10 act as an o1lcTr OF the law
y You do not regard It your duty as an
apostle to protest against President SMITH
A ] have acted lust AZ the rest OF ne people
married before the manlfesto should be let
alone
A / never have IN a public gathering
q Why? A | don't know why ! should
II Is not now tenet OF the faith. and don't
know why | should take II up.
O YOU have not publicly reprobsted the
practice Of polygamous cohnbitalon;
d by Mr. Taylerl You gave an oblisa-
gafion 70 God2 A ! understood no
q lon don't understand that God re-
veded himself to YOU ! made an obi
4 Revelation 70 whom The endow-
ment ceremonies were revealed TO Joseph
o why did YOU understand that God wished
YOU to keep these things secret =. II *
matter deniing entirely with spiritual AFFAIRS
. . is Is It through fear q perseeu,i lon that
vol Keep il secre'7 \ oh, net a, all
G Eaying gwen this pledge 20 God moi I o
indure Won 10 reyeal them A ! should
prefer no, to reveal them.
Mr. Tayler ended tho cross-examination
al this point
O by Mr. Burrows Ia there any law IN
Utah prohibiting polygamous cohnbrrtion'
A There Ia
So the President OF the Church is VIC
lating the law 4 He stated so.
This concluded the examination Of Seua
tor Smoot.
Oieen NJ. stowen of Brigham City,
Mormon and councillor to the president OF
the Box Elder Stake told how the high
an ecclesiastical body, had met
the City Council Of Brigham City and the
water company to settle a dispute over
the wAterworks This had been denounced
n State affairs.
AIMED AT SECRETARY MORTON.
Resolution Asking the President 10 Prose-