Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-06-10
ERRORS POINTED OUT.

In reply Elder Fades stated that Mr.
Curtis was In error wherein he had
stated that the previous night the
statement was made that Elder Gurley
had never held the priesthood The
statement was most emphaticaily made
that Elder Zenas ii. Gurley was the
senior president of the Twenty-first
quorum of seventy, a position and Of
fee that has been repudiated by the
leaders of the Reorganization them
selves. Mr.. Gurley and Mr. Briggs,
the founders OF the Reorganization, At
first they remained with the Church
and followed Brigham Young. then
they followed James j. Strang. William
Smith and finally organized a church
OF their own. william Marks did no
better. he first supported the claims of
Sidney Rigdon later acknowledged In
a public statement that the twelve
apostles were the proper authorities to
lead the Church When he apostatized
he Joined James J. Strang and In that
organization became bishop" then
member OF the high council and
finally counselor TO James j. Strang
In the presidency of his apostate or
ganization. And these were the men
who ordained Young Joseph" presi-
dent of the Reorganized church. After
passing through the organizations of
James j. Strang. William Smith, Sid
they were taken into the ''reorganiza-
tion" on their Original baptism" That
they held any priesthood after this
procedure is beyond all reason.
In correcting the statement of Elder
Curtis, he said that William Marks
was dlsfellowshiped at a conference in
Nauvoo by the saints with the excep-
ton OF two votes, unanimously. And
without the sanction OF the Church he
could not act in the priesthood In re-
gard to the testimonies of William
Marks, James Whitehead and John s.
Carter, they had forgotten all about
these Ordinations" and "appointings"
on the Sth day Of August when the
question of a successor was discussed.
James Whitehead stated that the Pro-
phet called his son and ordained him
In the presence of at least 5000 per-
sons, yet on that day not one remem-
bered the occurrence which IL was al
legged occurred just a short time be-
fore the martyrdom. The statements
of these men as to the ordination OF
appointing of Joseph Smith as his
fathers successor were after thoughts
on the part of these men.
HAD NEVER DESCENDED.
Elder Fades also quoted many pas
sages from the Doctrine and Covenants
providing that the office of president
of the high priesthood did not descend
from father to SON. that 1t never had
so descended. Moses who had sons.
chose Joshua the son of Nun and thus
II had always been. There are but two
offices in the Church that do descend
through lineage those of patriarch and
bishop. When Mr.. Curtis quoted from
section 107. he misconstrued the pas
sage which 1t is plain TO see refers
to the order of patriarchs and not the
Melchlsedek priesthood. That Hyrum
Smith received this office from his fath-
err by blessing and also by right, and II
was the birthrlght. not the office OF
president of the Church, Moreover, In
that revelation Hyrum Smith was re-
moved from the office OF counselor In
the first presidency and was called to
he a prophet, seer and president of the
Church conjointly with Joseph Smith
and that he received the keys of the
priesthood and blessings OF oliver Cow
derry by which the promise was made
that through his seed as we'll az
through the seed of Joseph Smith, all
nations, or generations, should DO
blessed. And the seed OF Hyrum Smith
We're not with the Reorganization. He
stated that the presidency OF the high
priesthood Is composed OF three nigh
priests who are chosen by the body
and If so chosen 1t cannot he by line
age. (See Doctrine and Covenants, sec
ton 1907: 22). James Whitehead was
most emphatic in his statement that the
prophet "or1ained" his son as his sue.
cessor. he goes into details and tells
us who were present. and that IL was
done before 5000 OF the saints. Joseph
Smith OF the Reorganization denies all
this, and IL is fruitless for Elder Curtis
10 apologize for Elder Whitehead, who
wilfully prevaricated under oath. He
of ali those present on that occasion
Is the only one who remembers the oc-
eurrence, although II was but shortly
before the martyrdom. II any such or
dination or calling had taken place It
would have been considered on the sth
day OF August when the question Of
succession was discussed But at that
time II was not once thought of by
Whitehead or any other one OF the 5000
who were present when Il was snnpose1