The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-04-18
The Oath of Vengeance.

the Scimtar: | write YOU for information that will
be valuable myself and probably to others of your
readers refer to the ceremonies of the Nor
endowment house many years ago. l went
through the endowment house. In my innocence it
seemed duty incumbent upon me, that might gain
celestial glory and the favor of heaven The cere-
mony was a very impressive one and was in part
under the administration of Apostle (now presdent)
Joseph F. Smith
There were many covenants grips pass words
and oaths taught by him at different stages of the
ceremony, which took from Z o'clock in the morning
until o'clock in the afternoon. While passing
through the ceremony, I remember very distinctly
the oath took-the secret oath. 1t this:
Brethren and sisters, you each and all of you pray
God to avenge the blood of Joseph and Hyrum upon
this nation, whose blood has sealed their testimony.
You teach this to your children and children's
children, to the third and fourth generation,
You do this in the presence of Cod angels and
witnesses present.
While Senator Reed Smoot was being tried be-
fore the Senate committee privileges and cleo
TONS believe I read in the Salt Lake Tribune that
he had gone through his endowments when he was
eighteen years old and he had not taken any oath
in these ceremonies.
What I want to know is did Joseph F. Smith tes-
tifv, while under OATH in Washington before the
committee that the oath and ceremonies taught
in the temple now, as formerly in the endowment
house? John Bond
President Smiths testimony before the Smoot in
vestigatng committee touching upon the point in
CURED about by Mr.. Bond follows
Mr. Tay1er-I wish to ask two questions. Mr..
Smith. something has been said about an endowment
oath do want to go into that subject or enquire
of you what is, but whatever oath or obligation mas
been taken by those who have been admitted to the
church, at whatever stage it is taken, is the same
now that it has been for years?
Mr.. Smth-It is the same that it has always BEEN
Mr.. Tay1er-It is the same that it has always
been?
Mr. Smth-Yes; so far as I know.
Mr. Tayler-No other oath is taken now than here
tofore?
Mr. SMITH should like to say that there is no
oath taken; that we abure oaths. We do not take
oaths unless we are forced to take them.
Mr. Tayer-I understand. You understand what
[ mean-any obligation.
Mr.. Smitll-Covenant or agreement-We do that
Apostle Smoot while on the witness stand in his
own case, was questioned along the same line, the
dialogue running as follows:
Mr. Worthington-Did you take any oath or obi
CATION when you became apostle?
Mr.. Smoot-I did not.
Mr.. Worthngton-Do you recall the ceremony,
or parts of ceremony, through which you went when
YOU took your endoWmentS?
Mr.. Smoot-I could not remember 1t II wanted
Mr. Worthngton-Tell whether not, at
that time, anything of this kind took place-that
somebody said this which l about to read:
THAT you and each of you do promise and VOW
that YOU will never cease to importune high
heaven to avenge the blood of the prophets upon
this nation"
Mr. Smoot-I did not, nor there anything
said about avengng the blood of the prophets or
anything else this nation or on this govern
ment There was nothing said about avenglng the
blood of Joseph Smith, Jr., the prophet
Apostle Lyman, on the stand in the Smoot in