Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-08-20
First Of Three Days Debate Be-
tween H. S. Tanner and ].
F. Curtis.
RE0RGANITE CLAIMS FALACY.
How Young Joseph Claims lie Got
The Priesthood According TO
Their Own History.
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
Provo, Aug. 2O.-There was large
congregation, probably 1000 people in
the tabernacle last evening TO listen
10 the debate between Elder II. 5.
Tanner Of SAT- Lake Of the Church OF
Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints and
Elder J F. Curtis Of Colorado Springs
Of the Reorganized Church OF Jesus
Christ Of Latter-day Saints
on the stand were seated the speak
ers, Elder Joseph f. Smith, Jr., Elder
J. y. Vanderwood Of the Reorganized
Church, Judge A. A. Noon, who had
been selected as mod orator. Elder J. r.
Hickman and Presidents John and
Keller, OF the Utah stake presidency.
Vocal selections were rendered by the
tabernacle choir
Judg Noon read the agreement OF
the discussion, which set forth that
the discussion was 10 be on the ques-
ton ~ Who Was the Legal Successor
OF the Martyred Prophet. Joseph
Smith. His Son Joseph or Brigham
Young and that Mr.. Curtis would
speak one hour and be followed by
Mr.. Tanner for one hour. Mr.. Tanner
10 speak for one hour Tuesday evening
10 be followed by Mr.. curtis for an
hour Mr.. Curtis speaking for an hour
Wednesday evening to be followed by
Mr.. Tanner, and 10 minutes 10 be CIV
"a % Mr.. Curtis 90 close.
Prayer was offered by Elder Nam
CDWoOd.
Mr.. Curtis restated the proportions TO
be discussed. and said he assumed that
both his-opponent and himself believed
In the revelations Of the Church given
from 1880 to 1874, and read from section
~ and l0i pertaining to the priesthood.
and from the Book OF Mormon. the
prophecy promising a seer to be raised
up IN the last days to the remnant Of
the house % Joseph He read further
from he Doctrine and Covenants pas
sages In support OF the claim that the
priesthood should descend from father.
10 son. References were also made TO
blessings conferred upon Joseph the
Prophet. by his father. MIR. curtis
laid considerable stress on passages OF
revelation which speak Of the APP
pontment Of another. not twelve 9TH
ers. I'm his tJoseph's) stead. and read
extensively from revelations In regard
10 the office and duties Of the president
Of the Church aud the manner Of ap-
p0intment. which appointment Of 4
successor ives TO be by the Prophet
Joseph
Mr.. curtis read from the testimony ~
Young Joseph in the temple suit case.
IN which he testified that his father
had blessed him and set him apart as
his dhe Prophcts) successor, and also
read testimony OF others that the
Prophet had publicly stated that young
Joseph was 10 be his successor. In 1874.
the speaker claimed. the Church had
been rejected on account Of trans
erosion. and that tho Saints who cana
10 the mountains had advocated doc
frlues not taught by the Prophet.
while IL was a requisite that the sue
cessor Bon the presidency should teach
the doctrines Of the Prophet
Elder Tanner referred 10 misquots-
lions. which had been given by Elder
Curtis. and dehed any person 10 find
a line IN the Bible. Book Of Mormon or
Doctrine and Covenants which stated
that the presidency 81 the Molchisedec
priesthood descended from father 10
son. Elder Tanner read from the rev.
Citations. giving the powers and duties
Of the priesthood, and from the sayings
Of Joseph Smith. the prophet. that the
Meichisedec priesthood does not de-
scend from father 10 son. Elder Tanner
held that the blessings which had been
promised 90 the descendants 81 Joseph.
depended upon the observance by them
of the laws and ordinances Of the gospel
and the commandments ~ the Lord.
and that failure 10 do this had caused
them 10 lose the blessing which had
been promised them. And In reference
10 the claim which had been made by
Elder Curtis that IN 1874. when the
prophet was mariyred, the Church had
been rejected II this we're so. then the
family Of Joseph was rejected and there
was no authority Of God upon the earth.
and that was the condition that con-
Ironted the Recognized church He
read from the Doctrine and Covenants
the commandment 10 build temple in
jackson county, Mo.
In this revelation the proyiso had
been made that II the people were dill
gent IN doing any work commanded
and they were prevented by their ene-
mics from completing the work. the
Lord would not require It's completion
at their hands II had been claimed by
Elder Curtis that the saints had been
rejected because they had not COM
pleted the temple In NauvOo. but El-
der Tanner held that the proviso Of the
revelation applied 10 the building 81
the Nauvoo temple. and read from
the testimony 81 the Pr0pret Joseph.
thar the people had been earnest and
dilgent IN the work on the Nauvoo
temple. The speaker read from the
revelations that the church should not
be moved out 81 It's place. although
the children we're to be scattered.
Elder Tanner read from the history
of the reorganlzed church ~ lie organ
ization. and quoted the testimony Of |
Young Joseph IN the temple suit case
that he mad been ordained - the
priesthood by VIM. Marks. Zenos n.
Guriey and W w. Blair WIN. Marks
who pronounced The ordination. had !
been accommodated from the church |
and an had been members Of some ~ |
the factions which sprang up after the |
death ~ the prophet. and did not hold |
the priesthood and therefore could not |
confer Il.
Benedic,ion was offered ~ Elder Jo- |
seph y. Keller