The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-04-11
Teachers of Polygamy.

comes information that band of PROSECUTING Nor
mon elders continually assuring their intended
victims that none of the Mormons believe in or
practice po1ygamy That is the story that is usual
" retaied far away from the center of domestic
vice.
Were the teachers to admit that polygamy was
believed in and practiced in the Businesses of Nor
mondom converts would be few and missionaries
might be subjected to violent expulsion. So they
scatter anew the untruh that has existed since the
DAYS of Joseph the first, slain for the mmora1ities
he expounded as the doctrine of his cult.
In the printed account of the testimony in the
Smoot senatorial investigation, President Smith, of
the Mormon church, is on record as having offered
some evidence, while on the witness stand in rela
ton to the missionary work of his elders His tes
timony as follows:
Mr. Tayer-Mr. Smith, just before the recess of
the committee you were asked question by Senator
Hoar, as to whether your missionaries and those
who were sent out by you to preach your doctrines,
inculcated or declared the doctrine of polygamy.
Mr.. SMITH did answer that they did not and |
further said that they were invariably instructed be-
fore they left their homes, not to teach that doc
trine and not to engage, if they could avoid it. IN
discussions of that doctrine and would add that
they do not enter into any discussion OF that doc
trine, except where they are compelled to defend
their belief
Mr. Tayler-The belief of your missionaries is
that po1ygamy is divinely ordained relation?
Mr. Smith, cannot say what the belief of Our
elders is on that subject they have their own in
dividual beliefs.
The instructions of the church to its missionaries
are, according to the president of the church, to
avoid the subject of poygamy, excepting to deny
its existence and they are permitted to defend the
doctrine when it is assailed.
If there is no poygan1y the young elders engaged
in missionary service ought not to consider it
NT,,o1, chn11l6
feel called upon to defend belief in something that
does not exist According to Mr.. Smith, 1t was
deemed necessary to instruct them not to teach the
doctrine.
The testimony proceeded:
Mr. Tay1er-Are you familiar with a little e., book
published by the Deseret News, entitled Keady
References; Compilation of Scripture lextS' ETC.!
Mr. Smith-Yes, sir.
Mr. Tayler-"Designed especially for the use O.
missionaries and Scripture students!
Mr. Smith, acquainted with IT,
Mr. Tayler-That is book that is used by your
missionaries? :,
Mr. SMITH suppose it is used more or less by
them. -, e.
Mr.. Tay1er-Wel, it is correctly described on Its
title page as designed for their use, is it not?
Mr.. Smith-Yes
Mr.. Tayler-Is there chapter III that OH tlle oOO
ject of polygamy?
Mr. Smith-Yes, sir.
Mr.. Tay1er-An argument in favor of poygam|
and its propr1ety!
Mr.. Tavler-Is there any qualification within the
covers of that book of the doctrine and belief IN
plural marriage? ~ ~
Mr. Smith-Not that I know of. That BOOK may
saw has been in existence great many years. Il
do not know anything about recent editions OF IT,
whether that has been continued in it or not -
Mr. Tay1er-I notice this in the preface OF tile
third edition. . H. 49,
"Some Improvement has been made in the az
rangement of the references and few passages nave
been added Otherwise, this edition IS slIn aa -
the former. Salt Lake City, October IL, II, lyoS;