Leonard Soby Refuses to Deny Divine Authority of Celestial Marriage Revelation

“State of New Jersey, County of Burlington, SS. Be it remembered that on the fourteenth day of November 1883, personally appeared before me, J. W. Roberts, a Justice of the Peace county and state aforesaid—Leonard Soby, who was by me sworn in due form of law, and upon his oath saith, that on or about the 12th day of Aug 1843 in the city of Nauvoo in the State of Illinois, in the county of Hancock, before the High Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which body and council aforesaid he was a member, Hyrum Smith, brother of Joseph Smith the Prophet, came before said council and presented to said Council the Revelation on Polygamy, enjoining its observance and declaring it came from God. The said Hyrum Smith did then and there read said revelation to said council, and did bear testimony to the truth of the same, and that said revelation was presented to said council as before stated, as coming from Joseph Smith the prophet of the Lord, and was received by us as other revelations had been. The said Leonard Soby further saith that Elder Austin A. Cowles a member of the High Council aforesaid did subsequent to the 12th day of Aug 1843, openly declare against the said revelation on polygamy and the doctrines therein contained.”

— Leonard Soby, Affidavit, November 14, 1883