The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-02-01

Utah. contributes to the January number of the
North American Review an article in which he en-
beavers to show that Mormon polygamy is passing
away Mr. Smoot in the course of his article saws
The Senate inquiry established clearly that poyga-
nous marriages in Utah became thing of the past
than sixteen years ago. and that no po1ygamous
relations assumed since 1890 have received the sane
ton of the church certain class of preachers and
politicians seem to regret the fact as it removes
notable excuse for assailing the Mormon church ;
but it is fact nevertheless, established beyond sue
cessful dispute"
1t is very natural that Mr. Smoot and other Nor
should claim that the vote of the Senate in his
indicated the Mormon church in its relation to
polygamy The investigation in the Smoot case did
such thing On the contrary, it convicted the
Mormon church of having broken the sacred pledge
given by it to the Nation A greater act of dis
honor was never proved against any church. Mr.
Smoot assumes that polygamy consists alone in the
ceremony by which the parties united in so-ca1led
marriage But the greater ofense both to society
and to the 1egtmate children born of such alliances
is in the po1ygamous practices
The investigation in Mr. Shoots case proved that
the church officials had wilfully deceived the Ameri
can people, when they declared that the manifesto
issued in 1890 meant that Mormons would abandon
their poygamous practices well polygamous
marriage.
The Smoot investigation proved that the Mormon
officials who gave their pledge to the Nation not only
perured themselves but that they had scarcely been
granted amnesty and the Mormon church restored
to its ecclesiastical life and property before they
sumed polygamous practices
The SmOOt investigation proved that majority
of the highest officials of the church, including the
president were living in polygamy, and that the HER
archy of the church had paid no more respect to
the pledge they had given the Nation than if it had
been soied rag, useful for its purpose, then to be
cast aside
The investigation proved that the president of the
Mormon church had not only broken his pledge and
continued his polygamous practices, admitting that
he had violated and continuing to violate both
the law of God and the law of the State, but that
he was confident of his power that he practically
dehed the Senate to punish him for his unlawful
practices This defiance has made good for there has
been born to him by one of his polygamous wives
child conceived since he gave his testimony before
the Senate committee
The Smoot investigation proved not only that the
Mormon church had broken the pledge to the Nation
made for it by its highest officials, but that it
still teaching polygamy. 1t was shown that the
manifesto of President Woodruff which the Nor
mons pretend in public revelation prohibiting
po1ygamy, but which at most merely suspended it, has
never found place in the Mormon Book of Doc
trine and Covenants" On the contrary the book,
which is the official statement of the teaching of the
church, contains to this day the following:
"And again, as pertaining to the law of my priest
hood: If any espouse virgin, and desire to
spouse another, and the first give her consent and
1t he eSpouse the second and they are virgins, ana
have vowed to other man, then is he justified; he
cannot commit adultery, for they given unto him;
for he commit adultery with that that belong
est unto him and to else
"And if he have ten virgins given unto him by
this law he cannot commit adultery, for they belong
to him. and they given unto him, therefore is he
justified. Book of Doctrine and Covenants, page
473.
Attention was called during the Smoot investiga-
ton to the fact that the Woodruff manifesto and
revelation had not been inserted in the Book of