The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-30
ROBERTS VS.. RIGDoN.

In his recent sermon, delivered IN the
tabernacle. Mr.. Brigham II. Roberts
made reference TO Sidney Rigdon. his
remarks concerning Mr.. Rigdon were
intended 10 refute the idea that he had
ANYTHING to do with the authorship OF
the Book of Mormon Mr. Roberts
says;
When he came he was appointed the
scribe 10 the prophet and forever after
ward he held that subordinate posi-
ton to Joseph the prophet. he was s.,e
man 81 years OF age IT the oIr pronn1ge sn1e Nor 9
mon friends how IT came u sidney nise hrS
don was the master spirit in nrinsing
forth the Book Of Mormon and INC tno
church, the real MepnishsoPne'ees Enacted
how comes il that after playing TINS
mart for a number OF years. when ne ne
comes out into the public WORK WIZ "; "a,
his advantage of education and er6 enper,,
ence ho now consents to take SECOND
place in the great drama; not even 'eo5 Secs
ond place for that had been conterreo
Sained as second elder, and Sidney h'g
don becomes the prophets scrloe
tbere any consistency in claims oil tha'
sort7
II is somewhat difficult to sec why
Mr. Roberts should have SAID that, pro
vided he were earnestly engaged IN an
effort 70 publicly defend Joseph, the
Book of Mormon and the Mormon
church. He plainly suggests that there
was a Mephistopheles, but denies tnae
Sidney Rigdon enacted that role lie
calls the whole thing drama and tnns
nlays directly into the hands of those
hot tbo ctnyV fold by
Joseph was a farce. And, again ne
is moi accurate; for while he declares
that Sidney Rigdon never rose higher
in such honor as may be considered 10
attach to the activities of Joseph and
his friends than to be merely scribe
to the alleged prophet, history shows
that Sidney was counselor to Joseph
as president of the church in the days
of Nauyoo. Indeed. Sidney Rigdon
claimed the right to succeed to the
presidency at the death of Joseph
Smith, and this claim on his part
precipitated an intense struggle be
tween himself and Brigham Young for
the supremacy.
AS to the matter of man of his abll
itv and experience and education re-
manning in the background while Joseph
Smith was always to the forefront
there is not anything in it that should
be in the least surprising. simllal
condition has existed in many instances
before and since, and exists today, anc
will likely be repeated in the future
It may be q tribute to Rigdon's wis
dom that be did consent to thus re
main behind the scenes, so to speak
and he may even have gone so fai
as TO urge upon Joseph the advantage
of that very thing II is not the frs
time in the world that man of su
perior brain has set one of inferio
attainment TO the forefront while h
remained in the rear and did all tn,
planning,
AS to whether or not Sidney Rigdol
was the author of the Book Of Mormon
, makes little difference TO the absurt
claim that is made authoritatlvely con
cerniug its origin. The physical i'm
{ possibilities attaching TO that claim ar
g what are most considered by investiga
= IOTS. anu LncTe Ib OHC cNlueHCS INA
i. casts discredit upon the story of th
golden plates, the angel Moronl an
the supposed method of translation
' The first edition of the book containe
r the name of Joseph Smith as author.
Y In view of the story told concernin
8 its origin it was soon decided that til
0 naming of Joseph Smith as its autho
was absurd, because it was claimed i
the book and the story concerning
:. that the authors were ancient inhab
J. tants Of this continent. So that wa
b changed to fit the yarn, and in sui
II sequent editions Of the book Josep
l. Smith was simply called its "transli
tor," Translated by Joseph Smitl
Jun.," is the way the inscription no
n reads.
s. If all that is claimed for Josep