Mormon History
John Taylor the Liar - 1885
The Salt Lake Daily Tribune
February 15, 1885
SAINTLY FALSITY.
________
On Questions Affecting Their Fanatical Tenets and Practices...
Eds. Tribune: It is a sad and [in---] charge to make against any persons, or body of persons, who claim to be religious, that to shield their doctrines, members and name from fair and honest trial before the world, they will, in open court, under the most solemn oaths, swear falsely, prevaricate, and not only keep back the truth of the facts, but swear absolutely the opposite to them. We charge the Mormon Church, the Mormon priesthood, and faithful believers of the Mormon [creed], generally, with false swearing...
The
revelation on polygamy was said to be given by Joseph, [John] Taylor himself had
at that time other women than one wife. The honest spoken elder, Hiram Brown,
was "cut off" and used as a scape goat to save the Church and deceive the world.
The fact of truth was of no consequence or weight to the Church -- the truth was
opprobrious and damaging to the Church, and the latter must be saved by
publishing lies and denials in the most solemn manner.
In 1850, "apostle" John Taylor lied emphatically in France, while in discussion
with truthful, conscientious gentlemen. When polygamy was charged upon the
Church, he prevaricated, and read his "refutation," that polygamy was not taught
and practiced by the Mormons, and used the same manner of denial that was
employed by Joseph Smith, and others against Bennett's exposure. If Taylor
triumphed over his opponents at all, it was the triumph of falsehood and deceit,
so that his word and oath cannot be received in a court when doctrines and
practices of Mormonism are under investigation. It is not now denied by the
Church that
But to
make the abomination of lies more abominable, at the very time that Taylor
denied the facts in France by reading from the Doctrine and Covenants, he had
ten women as wives -- he took the tenth woman in 1847 or 8...
Every man, not only the polygamist, but every man who believes in Mormonism, is
not only a polygamist in embryo and must obey it sometime, but must swear
falsely and prevaricate and deceive if the interests of the Church and its
practices are called in question. See to it, loyal citizens and friends of
humanity, that all such politicians and religionists receive their proper
disfranchisement, limitations and punishment as traitors to our country and
dangerous enemies to the institutions of our Government.
One of the Priesthood.
Salt Lake, Feb. 12, 1885.