The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-01
THE SORT OF A PROPHET

1t is the usual rule that religious or
ganizations have for their chief places,
ministers, pastors, priests, bishops, arch
bishops, presidents, or whatever name
they choose, men who are eminent for
/ blameless lives, conforming to the law
and of strict observance Of the DEGREES
Of God.
To suggest to the average religious
society, association, or church organiZa-
tion, that it should have for its head
a man who disobeys the laws of the
| land, would be to invite au instant veto
and unanimous opposition.
But, far worse than this. to suggest
for the leadership of any religious asso-
citation or church any person who claims
of God, would be to invoke shock of
horror that would put such q person en-
tirely out of the question.
And if on the top of both of these
one should propose for the headship Of
such religions association one who COM
bines both of the frst.named ineligibili-
ties. with the further shocking bias
pbemy that he obeys or disobeys God at
his pleasure, arroPating to himself
thereby tho blasphemous claim that he
is co.equal with God as law-giver and
director, then such religious body
would consider the one who made the
proposal TO be absolutely insane.
And yet all of these disabilities are
combined in the present leader of the
Mormon church. Here is tho proof of
the first point, with reference to dis
obedience of the law of the land:
The Chairman.-Do you obey the law
in having five wives at this time. and
having them bear 10 you eleven children
Joseph f. Smith.-Mr. Chairman, have
not claimed that In that case have
obeyed the. law Of the land,
Joseph F. SMITH do not claim so,
and l have said before that I prefer TO
stand my chances against the law.-Tes-
tmony in Smoot case volume l, page 1917,
As to his habitual disobedienco Of
the laws of God, here is the official rec
ord of his testimony. But it is not the
only record to the same purport, for he
says the same thing over and over
again. Yet it will do. as shown in the
following official record, viz:
Senator Overman.--Is there not rev.
clatlou that you shall abide by the laws
Of the State and of the land?
Joseph F. Smith.-Ies, sir.
Senator Overman.-If that is a revela-
ton. are you not violating the laws Of
God?
Joseph f. SMITH have admitted that.
Mr. Senator, great many times, here
Testimony In Smoot case, volume !,
pages 33i and S35.
AS to President Smith IS general atti.
tude towards obeying or disobeying the
commands of Almighty God at his own
pleasure, the following transcript of
his answers TO questions on that point
is conclusive:
You, at your pleasure. obey or dlsobey
the commands of Almighty God?
Joseph +. Smith.-Yes, sir.
Mr.. Tayler.-Communica TO your
Joseph F. Smith, obey or disobey
at my VIII.
Joseph r Smith.--Just as | please
Mr.. rayler-Apd that is the klnd OF a
God you believe in?
Joseph r. Smith.-That Is exactly the
kind OF God believe in.-Tes stimony in
Smoot case, volume |. page l6l
Really nothing much needs TO be
added to black record like that. And
III is Impossible 10 escape from tbat
record, because IL is the official stenog.
raphic report of Smith IS testimony in
the Smoot investigation before the Sen.
ate Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tons.
And this is the man who is uDdertak-
ing this yonr to drive the Democrats out
of their party and TO herd them into the
Republican party, so that his "inspired