The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-27
P lYGAMIC SECRETS. "


munication from Mr.. George A. Hicks
of Spanish Fork, in which he made and
proved the assertion that polygamy
was practiced by Joseph Smith at Maui
VOC. Illinois. There has been 30 much
doubt upon this question, and 30 much
quarreIing between the two branches Of
the Mormon church over it, that compe
tent testimony in the matter is at all
times desirable. Especially is this true
since both Joseph and Hyrum Smith
denied the doctrine and practice at
Nauvoo, printing their denials over
their personal signatures in the Nauvoo
Times and Seasons. the official church
paper at that place. Mr.. Hicks lived
at Nauvoo. and is therefore compe-
tent witness. And now we have the
testimony of another resident of Nau-
VOC upon the point, as that was print
eret News in its issue Of April 8. 1904,
as follows:
To the Editor saw in the News OF
March the 18th a statement by NJ t.
silcock regarding a meeting held In Nau,,
Joseph Smith delivered a discourse on
polygamy.
/ ] was present at that meeting and
well remember what o talk II created
That is was the versatlon OF the whole
neighborhood and IL was A question
whether the prophet had received reve-
laticn to that effect or not, was en-
gagged at the time building r. barn for
Hyrum Ssrith the prophets brother
| and this discourse was the subject OF our
talk, ! ate, dinner with Hyrum every
| ised my co-laborers that at the first
| opportunity | would ask Brother Hyrum
| II there WAS a revelation to that ef-
feet. 1t was not long until the oppor-
were aalonc at the dinner table. and
asked him il It was revelation. He
never hesitated one moment. but said
that il Was and that he had carried
| that revelation TO the high council for
| their consideration and that all of the
| high council accepted OF II except two
Brother Cole was ono Of the two. 1
don't remember the other ono.
] wanted 10 say. this much in addition
TO what Brother Silcock has said am
now IS years old Yours truly;
Lowell. March %. 1904
Mr.. Leithead. died at Lowell, wyo-
ming. in his ninety third year He was
reputed to be a staupch and truthful
man: and in this case there can be no
doubt that he told the, truth. But it is
somewhat astonishing that the News
would print such testimony as this, in
view of the fact that the supposed
prophet and his brother Hyrum had so
often publicly denied the revelation, y
the doctrine and the practice at the
very time Of which Mr.. Leithead
| sDpaka These co mo rnnp' had ,Iao ,>ro-
cured the signatures of score of
women of the Relief society at Nauvoo
to similar denial; and yet some Of
these same women afterwards rather
boastcd that they had at that very time
been the polygamous wives of Joseph
Smith.
1t seems that the process is and has
been the same throughout all the bis
tory of polygamy. 1t was we'll known
by its promoters and practicers TO he
wrong; and they were obliged to prac
ticc it in secret until they had dragged
a sufficient number Of men and women
into it to be assured of strong follow
ing in their propaganda. This was true
at Nauvoq. II was true Of Utah in later
. years. Between lS47 and 1852, there
was system privately employed which
had the effect of bringing hundreds ot
Mormon, elders. into the polyganou,
practice. After a sufficient number o.
8 these men had been bound up in tho
8 practice TO guarantee n strong follow
: ing of proponents. Brigham Young
l thought it to be safe TO make publ,
Q announcement of the doctrine as tcne
r OF the Mormon church. This was il
, August. 1852, little more than fv
C years after the first Mormon arriva
jim this valley, and eleven years aftc
( tho private introduction of the "revela
tion - at Nauvoo.
But il seems that Mt this late day
u Apostle Francis NJ. Lyman is desirpu
of affording more time and greater op
> portunity for a successful reerudescenc
: Of the polygamous practice. than wa
+ deemed necessary for it's primal secre