The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-09
IT'S ouTGIv1NGs UNTRUsTED.


to the conclusion that from that his
tory may be gathered "proofs' in sup
port of two opposing sides of almost
any important proposition that may be
brought forward; and that these con
hirting "proofs" arc apparently en-
titled 10 equal weight
Taking one subject, and one that
is of vital Importance to tho church,
namely, polyGamy, and going back from
today TO the inception Of the practice,
this condition appears IN most intense
form. II is well known TO mon and
been the most emphatic denials of new
polygamy. and that also there have been
official confessions Of its existence. And
these opposing presentations have come
from the highest Mormon authority,
Trace the history of the practice all
the way back to the beginning and a
like condition will be found TO char
atcerize hierarchical treatment Of the
subject There have been the most
earnest avoUals OF the divinity Of po-
lyGamy, and at the same time there
have been the most strenuous denials
that the prctcndedly divine principle has
bccn in practice. Evasions and trick
cry, deceit and dishonesty, religious be-
lief and vicious falsehood-al these
have been utilized as covers and shields
for this class Of persistent lawbreaking.
1t was so AT Nauroo, when the prac,
ticc of polygamy is said To have become
general among tho chief officials Of the
church. Repeatedly there were official
denrals of the doctrine and practice
printed in the Nauvoo Times and Sea
sons over the signatures of Joseph and
Hyrum Smith. These dcuials "prove y
one side of tho controversy rs TO the
inception of the practice Then there
are the following affidavits, which 90
TO "proye" with equal weight the op.
posite side:
hereby certify that Hyrum Smith did,
lln BIS offce) read to me certain writ
ten document, which ho said was a reyc-
iatlon from God: he said that he was
with Joseph when IT was received lie
read and took il 10 my house and read
II, and showed II to my wife and re-
turned II the next day. Tho revelation
$50 called) authorized certain men to
have more wives than one at a time in
this world and In the world 10 come. II
said this was the law. and commanded
Joseph TO enter into the law And also
that he should administer to others, Sew
eral other Items were In the revela ton.
supporting the above doctrines.
WM. LAW.
state of Illinois. Hancock county /.
Robert ID. Foster. certify that the above
certificate was sworn to before me. as
true In substance, this fourth day Of
ROBERT d. FOSTER, ]. P.
certify that read the revelation
referred 10 In the above affidavit of my
husband. IL sustained in strong terms the
doctrine of more wives than one at a
time. in this world. and In the next IL
authorized some 10 have TO the number OF
ten. and set forth that those women who
would not allow their husbands to have
more wives than ono should be under
condemnation before God.
Sworn and subscribed before me this
fourth day Of May. A. -, lSii.
ROBERT d FOSTER. j. 2.
To all whom 1t may concern: Foras-
much as the public mind has been much
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints by number of persons declaring
against certain. doctrines and practices
therein (amone whom / am one) It is
but meet chat / should give my reasons.
al least in part, as cause That hath
led ne TO declare myself. In the latter
part lof the sumner ISi3 S & the patriarch; h;
which I was member Introduce what
lie said was a revelation given through
the prophet; that the said Hyrum Smith
did essay TO read the said revelation in
the said council; that according 20 his
reading there was contained the follow
ing doctrines: ist. the sealing up of per-
sons 10 eternal life. against ALL sin. save
that OF shedding nnoccnt blood or of con-
senting thereto. 2nd, the doctrine of n
plurality OF wives. or marrying OF virgins
yet in this they slnned not save In the
matter of Uriah. This revelation with
other evidence, that the aforesaid heresics
were taught and practiced I'm the church
counselor to the president OF the church
at Nauvoo inasmuch ms | dared not
teach or administer such laws. And FUR
''''' ''''''e'' AUSTIN cowLEs.
State OF Illinois. Hancock county. To all
whom Il may concern. | hereby certify
that the above certificate was sworn
and subscribed before me, this fourth
day Of MAY. 1Stf
William Law was first counselor to
Joseph Smith. Jane Law was his wife.
Austin Cowles was counselor to William
Marks, president Of the Nauvoo stake
Robert D. Foster was also a prominent
member of thc Mormon church, and was
of sufficient high reputc as citizen
TO secure an appointment as justice of
the peace.
Bishop Dcnison l.. Harris tells Of the
secret meetings held at the house of
Mr.. Law, at which the chief complaint
against Joseph and Hyrum Smith was
on account of their moral profllgacy
and the indecent proposals that had
been made by these men TO the wives
Of some Of their brethren, Indeed. the
wife Of one of the prominent men in
the church had informed her husband Of
one such inquitous advance made by
Joseph toward her, and the "prophct
| is said TO have become so afraid for his
/ life that he actually offered TO sacri-
fec the honor Of one of his own wives
| in M npunnsemnnf of thc wrath that IN