The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-30
| MAGNIFICENT OPPORTUNITY

Let no man break the laws Of the land.
for he that lieepeth the laws of God hath
no need 10 break the laws of the land.
When the members Of the Mormon
church assemble in their regular semi
annual conference on Friday next.
they should remember that quotation
from their Doctrine and Covenants
They should also bear In mind the
fact that in last November, the man
who poses at the head of their organl-
zation as prophet, seer, and revelator
pleaded guilty in court in Salt
Lake City to an accusation of law
breaking, and that he was fined three
hundred dollars for his offence.
In the matter of reform, the Mormon
church, which processes TO be divinely
guided, ought not 10 be one whit behind
mere human civil bodies in the perfor~
nance of righteous duty. All over this
country, at the present time, there is
manifested a disposition 10 unearth all
wrong-doing and TO apply proper cor
receives. In order to place themselves
in a progressive attitude, the Mormon
people ought now to call their president
TO account for his offending, both
against the laws of the State and those
of their church. They can have no eX~
cuse TO make that there is no evidence
that Joseph f. Smith is law breaker
If they can believe his own words.
In an investigation of his case these
facts arc available TO them;
In March, 1904, Joseph f. Smith con.
fessed at Washington that ne was liv-
ing In defiance Of the laws of God and
man; that personally he had totally
disrcgarded the pledges which were
made In behalf of himself and his
people in order 10 secure the freedom of
Statehood for Utah; that IL was his
intention 10 continue in his unlawful
career; that governing the church was
a body of twenty-six men, constitut-
ing a hierarchy who exercised com.
pletc and unquestioncd domination over
the mass Of the people; that he wor.
shipped q God whom he would obey
or disobey at his own pleasure; that
he had interpreted the manifesto as in
hibitIng polygamous living as well as
new poIygamy, but that he had born
TO him eleven children in that relation
since the manifesto was issued. And
it should be recalled that in that same
month and year he told people in the
tabernacle that he had lied in Wash
ingtoD in order 10 escape traps which
had been set for him by his enemies
meaning Senators Of the United
States. And finally, they should be
aware of the fact that after he had ad-
mittcd his law breaking to the court.
and had paid his fine he went directly
10 his old haunts and continued in the
life which he had confessed was un
lawful.
Let the Saints put all Of these things
together, and then ask themselves if
the everyday life of their SELF STYLED
prophet is consistent with their religious
views, or even with decent citizenship
Let them ponder the question whether
as an offset for all these wrongs, the
alleged prophet $ pretension TO divine
inspiration is sufficient. And they could
also ask themselves. with all serious.
ness, il the acts of Joseph f. Smith
show any respect TO the sentiment here
first quoted
This is a day Of reform brothers, and
you can not afford TO disregard your
own belief that II is well TO prove all
things and hold fast to that which is
good. You could not, by any possible
means, begin at n better point than
right at the head of your church You
need have no fear that he will receive
any revelation declaring you to be
an spostate, for he has asserted that
he receives no revelation And. be-
sides, in order to show himself to
be worthy Of the honor with which
you, cover him, il IS doubtful if he