Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-09-17
\ CowNDLY ATTACH.

ne raIN Lake IlINONN. NolOIlNhH l"I
its lihclous verbal assaults upon both
living and dead. presents its readers. as
suitable Sunday reading matter. cow
ardly editorial the purpose OF which
Is 10 besmirch the characters of the
Prophet Joseph and HE brother Hyrum.
To the hyena that has It's lair amid the
unsavory surroundings Of Commercial
street. not even the dead are sacred.
The burden OF the article referred
20 is that the Prophet Joseph was o.
pronlRate who invented the revelation
commanding the practice Of polygamy."
TO cover mp his wrong -doings and that
the Patriarch was weakling who
stutined himself for the sake of his
brother. There is. by the way, no reye-
lation commanding thepractice or polyg-
amy There Re o. revelation on "the
eternity Of the marriage covenant. I'M
Guiding plurality Of wives il was given
in answer 10 % prayer by the Prophet for
divine enlightenment on the principles
upon which the Lord justified some OF
the ancient men OF God In their family
relations. Some people have been con-
tent with ascribing those relations 20
the errors OF the age in which they
lived. or 10 their own weaknesses. but
the Prophet Joseph saw further than
that and sought wisdom from the
Source whence he so often had drawn
II. The revelation. however, has not
generally been understood as com
mandlng the practice or polyg-
amy" but as permitting # un-
der certain conditions. But a lit
tie thing like that u.s. Of course.
OF no consequence 20 a sheet that de-
ponds on Misrepresentation and the
ignorance OF its supporters. for sue
cess.
The entire story told by the Tribune
r. based upon the sickly fancy OF the
author OF A. He does not produce any
historic evidence for the assertions he
makes. He cannot refer to a single
authentic document to prove that the
two men tho sheet go viciously maligns,
were guilty of any indiscretions OF the
kind. The Prophet Joseph, when he
went 70 his death. said 70 his friends;
81 am going like lamb to the slaugh-
ter; but I am calm as a summers
morning: have a conscience void OF
offense toward God and towards an
men. shall die innocent. and IL shah
vet be said OF mo-he was murdered in
cold blood" Those are not the senti-
ments OF an impOstor. In the face OF
death, most men speak the truth. Be-
sides, the Prophet was repeatedly ac-
cused by apostates and other enemies,
OF immoral conduct, but he was always
acquitted when accorded an impartial
hearing Historical facts count against
the false statements Of persons who ig-
more the testimony OF history. II his
tory is 10 be disregarded, Il IS as easy
to fasten the charge OF immortality
upon Martin Luther as upon Joseph
Smith, FOR Luther was unconventional
enough In his relations TO the nun he
made his wife. And what about Au-
pustine? And others2
Since the history OF the revelation on
the eternity and plurality OF marriage
covenants rs deemed important enough.
so long after the issuance OF the Mani
festo OF President Woodruff. TO be made
the subject OF malicious pcrversion, Il
certainly As important enough t0 he set
forth I'm accordance with the facts. The
late President George @. Cannon ia au-
thority on questions pertaining 90 the
Chuivh--lts history and doctrines. In
his Life OF Joseph the Prophet be
SAYS that "tho decree Of the Lord maxi
Ing known TO the Prophet the eternity
and plurality Of marriage, was "a part
Of this sublime plan'-thc social rec
demption and publication OF the
world. "It came TO him little by little.
as he was enabled 90 bear the dazzling
light OF celestial glory
President Cannon goes on TO say that
"even after that portion of the reve.a-
ton now recorded I'm the Doctrine and
Covenants was made known to him.
Joseph did not write 80 for a. Time"
"rhe revelation therefore remained the
unwritten law of God. established Boo tho
hearts and ohcycd iu the lives of some
of Ills faithful servants. until tho
18th day OF July lSi3. when o. was
recorded. that @ might remain COM
fort and guide 20 the people after Jo-
seph and Hyrum should pass away a"
"Somo Of the Prophets brethren caused
him great sorrow by teaching mpuuty
Of life under the guiso OF thls hoiy prin-
ciple. but thcir wiCkcduess was uu-
covered and tho Church was purgcd of
their presence. Tho teaching of the
revelation" President cannon Says.
"has been test of personal holiness.
Tho men who have seen u this COM
mandmort "a hobs aud exalted duty and
Who obcyod Boz meeSuess and purity
have lived Dog thpIr faith ana have come
of triumphant. while those who have
sought 90 minister 90 avIi passions hayo
sunk ana been cast oul There is NOT
one word in the revelation. nor WIS
there ogc word IN the Prophets teaDh-
ing other than purity ana self slcd-
flee"
NJ is NOT t0 be eNuo.tcd ihat those
who see everything from camal point
0f view can understand the assertions
here quoted. but they arc. nevertheless
true. AND the history of tho revelation
ls given iu accordance with the facts
and Che authentic records If that his
tory is worth while giving at all DO ls
worth while giving CORRECTLY ana not
distorted.