| 359 According to this the elders had not practiced polygamy as late as August 29,1852. This is evidently false, but it establishes the unreliability of the witness, and kills the effect of the statement that it was practiced in the days of Joseph Smith.
Elder Young in an interview with Senator Trumbull, as reported in the Alta Californian, stated that polygamy was introduced after they settled in Utah:-
"Senator Trumbull.-'You can depend upon a fair hearing in Congress.'
"Brigham Young.-"What! take our papers and throw them under the table. Send more-under the table they go.' [This was said with energetic gesticulation.] 'As to our institutions, we know we are right, and polygamy, which you object to, was not originally a part of our system, but was adopted by us as a necessity, after we came here.'"- True Latter Day Saints' Herald, vol. 16, p. 158.
Elder William W. Blair publishes the following interview with Elder William B. Smith, brother of the Prophet, and one of the Twelve at Joseph's death:-
"That Joseph the Seer was not the author of the endowment given either at Voree, Nauvoo, or in Utah, may be further seen by the following questions by the writer in July last, and their answers by W. B. Smith, the only surviving brother of the Seer, and one of the Quorum of the Twelve at his death.
"Question.-Did Joseph the Seer teach or give an endowment at Nauvoo, or elsewhere, the same or similar to that given by the Brighamites?
"Answer.-My answer is, he did not.
"Q.-Did Joseph the Seer teach or sanction, in church affairs, the giving of secret oaths, covenants, signs, grips, passwords, etc.?
"A.-My answer is, he did not.
"Q-Did Joseph the Seer teach that the Twelve, or any one of them, should lead the church after his death?
"A-My answer is, he did not.
"Q-Did Joseph the Seer teach that the priesthood was
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