[President Wilford Woodruff Journal] 8 We Met with the stock Holders of Z.C.M.I. to increase the Stock of the Institution but done Nothing. 6 M.
Met with John W Young & wife on Divorce. We held an interview with J R McNeal & furnished him with $6,400 to save the Town of Ramah in New Mexico. Had an interview with Isaac Trombow about Meeting with the Assessors & County Cort. 6 m. (1)
-- Apr 9, 1890
[President Wilford Woodruff Journal] 9th The Twelve Met at the Historians Office. We also Met with the Stock Holders of Z.C.MI. I signed 3 Recommends. I Received 9 Letters. Met J W Taylor. Met with ZCMI with Trombo & Zion Savings Bank. 6 Mils. (1)
-- Wednesday, Apr 9, 1890
[Apostle Abraham H. Cannon Journal] Very nice day. From 7 a.m. till 10 o'clock I was busy at the office looking over the mail and attending to other matters of business. At the latter time I went to the Historian's office where all the brethren met who were present last evening. After the singing of two hymns and prayer Pres. Snow arose and expressed his pleasure at our fasting (which we all did this morning) and our meeting. He said: Everyone of us who has not already had the experience must yet meet it of being tested in every place where we are weak, and even our lives must be laid on the altar. Brigham Young was once tried to the very utmost by the Prophet, and for a moment his standing in the Church seemed to tremble in the balance. Wm. Smith, one of the first quorum of apostles in this age had been guilty of adultery and many other sins. The Prophet Joseph instructed Brigham (then the Pres. Of the Twelve) to prefer a charge against the sinner, which was done. Before the
time set for the trial, however, Emma Smith talked to Joseph and said the charge preferred against William was with a view to injuring the Smith family. After the trial had begun, Joseph entered the room and was given a seat. The testimony of witnesses concerning the culprit's sins was then continued. After a short time Joseph arose filled with wrath and said, "Bro. Brigham, I will not listen to this abuse of my family a minute longer. I will wade in blood up to my knees before I will do it." This was a supreme moment. A rupture between the two greatest men on earth seemed imminent. But Brigham Young was equal to the danger, and he instantly said, "Bro. Joseph, I withdraw the charge." Thus the angry passions were instantly stilled. John Taylor also was similarly tested by the then Pres. B. Young at the time the St. George temple was dedicated. The United Order was then a favorite theme of Pres. Young, but in his views John Taylor did not fully coincide. Because of this the
latter was most terribly scourged by the tongue of Pres. Young in the temple before all the people. Bro. Taylor was then President of the Twelve. It looked for a time as though these two great men would separate in anger, for Pres. Y. had forbidden John to travel through Kanab and Panguitch Stakes and organize them with Bro. L. Snow, as had been intended, and said he had better return home and make wagons until he knew what was right. Bro. Snow saw the danger and knew the disposition of the two men. He therefore visited Pres. Taylor and after considerable argument induced him to go and visit Pres. Young. They were coolly received at the latter's house, but as soon as Pres. Taylor said, "Bro. Brigham, if I have done or said anything wrong I desire to make it right," every feeling of anger vanished and these two men were reconciled. Thus the Lord will try us wherever we seem to be strong and those who today seem to be very prosperous financially may meet constant reverses unti
l they will be forced to acknowledge that in and of themselves they are nothing. Thus it becomes us to be humble in every particular. Apostle F. D. Richards spoke next. He said: When some of the brethren in Nauvoo were sent out to collect funds for the building of the temple part of their collections stuck to their fingers. Because of this Bro. Joseph said he thought it best to put the brethren under bonds to make correct returns and this plan would be commenced with the apostles. Bro. Brigham arose and said he did not propose to be thus treated. If the brethren could not trust him he would not go out to collect. Nothing further was said in this forenoon meeting concerning the subject, but in the afternoon when the assembly again met Bro. Brigham took a seat in the congregation. Bro. Joseph after going on the stand looked about and not seeing Bro. Y. in his accustomed places inquired for him. On being told that he was seated below, the Prophet called out, "Oh, Brother Brigh
am, come up here; we want you." Improper feelings were soon allayed, and the brethren were sent out under bonds, Bro. Brigham among the rest. Bro. Richards reported his feelings and condition. He had been married to 10 wives, one of whom has left him. He is not wealthy but in comfortable circumstances. His love for the brethren is very great. Apostle Moses Thatcher felt well in the work and desired to be pardoned for any offense he had ever given to the brethren. He feels that the great danger to this people lies in the accumulation of wealth in their disunited condition. To the people it looks as though the authorities were divided in business matters, for they stand at the head of rival businesses. For his part, he would be glad to be relieved of all business responsibility and lay his property at the feet of the apostles. Bro. F. M. Lyman was the next speaker; he felt that he had failed in many particulars to do as he ought, but he desired to improve. He had felt very a
nxious to do something for his father who had died out of the Church. He had labored very hard and for years before he succeeded in releasing his own mother from the errors into which she had fallen by the teaching of his father in regard to Spiritualism. Now, however, he had succeeded in winning nearly all the family back to the Church. He wept in talking of his father. At this juncture Pres. Snow arose and said he had been thinking last night before retiring as to the condition of Amasa Lyman, and he felt convinced in his own mind that he would be permitted to associate with the Prophet Joseph to whom he was a true and devoted friend during his life. Of course, he would be required to pay the penalty for his sins, but this being done he would be rewarded for his good deeds. When Bro. Lyman completed his remarks it was 2:15 p.m. Bros. Thatcher and Grant were now excused to attend a Z.C.M.I. directors meeting, which occupied 1 1/4 hours. The remainder of us stopped in the ro
om. When these brethren returned we clothed in our robes and F. D. Richards prayed as we knelt and Pres. Snow at the altar. We then dressed in our usual clothing and prepared to eat the Lord's Supper in the same manner in which the Prophet Joseph said it was eaten by the Savior and His disciples at Jerusalem, and as Joseph and the brethren did occasionally at Nauvoo; we had several loaves of bread and bottles of wine. The former was broken and we ate and drank till we were fully satisfied. I took a very small quantity of wine. About 5 p.m. our speaking was resumed. Bro. John Henry Smith and Heber J. Grant each spoke concerning their financial and family affairs and expressed their love for the members of the quorum. It now being 7 p.m., an hour's intermission was taken for exercise. When we again convened Bro. Merrill spoke second. He related how wonderfully God had preserved and guided him in youth and watched over his advancing years, so that he was able to remain as the o
nly representative of his stock in the Church. John W. Taylor spoke first; he related how he received a testimony of the divinity of the work while engaged at his father's saw mill some years since in Summit County. In a vision he saw the place where he had been at work cutting logs gradually lit up by a brilliant light which seemed to emanate from the east. This light continued to increase in intensity and with the increase he seemed to be pushed further away from its source. Finally he clasped his arms around the stump of a tree for the purpose of keeping himself in position. He saw the Son of God appear in the brilliancy of the light and then his hold upon the stump began to slip and he knew that should he release his grasp he would be thrust back with such violence that he would be dashed to pieces. As he was holding with grim desperation, he awoke. His father told him that the interpretation of the dream was that the bright light was the truth which would banish all tru
th haters from before it, and the tree stump to which he was holding was a similar representation to that of the rod of iron in the Book of Mormon. Bros Taylor related several other manifestations of God's goodness to him in answer to his prayers. Bro. Anton H. Lund told how he
joined the Church when a mere child and was sent out to preach and distribute tracts when 13 years of age. He labored thus as a missionary for 5 years before emigrating. One day when the Elders were being sent out to sell tracts none wanted to go with "the boy," but the results of the day's labor proved that the child had been most successful. The Lord blessed him abundantly in his labors. I spoke about 20 min. and told the brethren I felt unworthy of my high calling, but hoped the Lord would assist me to magnify it. I hoped to overcome my disposition to speculate, and place myself in a free position as far as finances are concerned. I envied the patience of Pres. Snow; the ability to say only good things of every person as Bro. Richards; the financial talents of Moses Thatcher and H. J. Grant; the winning manners of F. M. Lyman and J. H. Smith; the inspiration of John W. Taylor; the humbleness of M. W. Merrill and A. H. Lund; the suavity of John W. Young and the goodness of
all. I asked for the patience of the brethren in my behalf. Bro. John W. Young spoke of his family affairs which had not been and were not now agreeable. In fact, his family troubles (doubtless the suing for a divorce of his favorite wife Luella) during the last three months had done more to humble him than anything else in his whole life. He believed that good would come of his seeming misfortunes. We adjourned at 11:30 till May 29th to convene in this same room. After tying up my horse's bridle which she had broken while standing by the office, I drove to the farm and got to bed about 1 a.m. very tired but pleased with the labors of the day. (2)
Footnotes:
1 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993
2 - Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts
LDS History Chronology: Z.C.M.I
Mormon Timeline: Z.C.M.I
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
