The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-04-18
The Collapse of rIormonism.
SECOND INSTALLMENT.

Joseph F. Smith included plural marriage in the
teachings which Twill in a very short time be
resumed" AS shown by the very substantial ev-
dence that four of the so-called Apostles (Abram
H. Cannon, according to his admission, George
Teasdale according to evdence-see speech of Hon
Charles B. Lands, of Indiana-brought to light in
the contest of B. H. Roberts for seat in Congress
and John w. Taylor and Matthias F. Cow1ey who
deposed from the office of Mormon apostle, be-
cause of such illegal marriages. when the Smoot
investigation at Washington, D. c., had reached a
very critical stage) contracted plural marriages after
the 1890 manifesto; hence the practice has never
really been abandoned in good faith Certainly
apostles" should be considered as fairly represent
ing the Mormon church in such actions and this per-
fdy is emphasized by the strong indications that
Joseph F. Smith himself performed one of the mar
rage ceremonies.
Opposite" John Henry Smith gave the behind the
curtain explanation of the manifesto when he asked
Walter M. Wolfe professor of Mormon Theology
in the Brigham Young College, Logan, Utah. until
he renowned Mormonsm), Brother Wolfe, don't
you know that the manifesto is only trick to beat
the devil at his own gamer" (See the testimony of
Professor Walter NJ Wolfe in the official report
of the Reed Smoot investigaton)
But, in this case the promise is opposed to the
practice and Joseph F. Smith is likely to hesitate
about entirely ignoring the promises of the Mormon
church to Congress and the world According to
the teaching of Christ John 8:44), "the devils own
game" is lying and there will be some natural re-
uctance to make it appear to the world that John
Henry Smith correct in his statement regarding
Mormon ambitions of that kind in regard to the
manifesto promises Thus the Everlasting Gospel
of Mormonism has difficulties
Ninth The Supernatural Translation of the Book
III o1o
made for many years. that the Lord gave this trans
lation to Joseph Smith part by part-each part re-
mang in view until it was correctly copied-yet,
owing to the corrections of later Mormons
than two thousand differences are said to exist be-
tween the first and the late editions of this book.
In the Deseret Semi-Weekly News, B. H. Roberts
admits the imperfections of this so-called trans
laton" by attempting to account for them He there
says M account for the mperfection of the language
of the Book of Mormon on the ground that while
the translator obtained his ideas from the Nephlte
record, he was left to express that thought IN such
language as he master of, and as he was I'M
educated that language was here and there faulty.
AS Mormons themselves admit this is different
renort from the way the Book of Mormon
said bv earlier Mormon teachers to have been given.
AS the earlier explanation probably came from the
Mormon prophet" himself the question now IS
whether B. H. Roberts knows more than Joseph
Smith as to how the latter did this work. But
Joseph F. Smith is evidently in the dilemma OF hav-
ing approved the account of the work, which was
made by B. H. Roberts, therefore he is likely to
have serious difficulty when he undertakes to re-
sumo" the older, and naturally the authoritative
teaching the subject.
AS it is reasonable to suppose that the worst mis-
takes would be first corrected, can perhaps get
faint idea of their gravity by the fact that the follow
ING still remains to be corrected: "And when Nor
-: IL o:d 4ha.a ,,ordc he went forth among