-- Oct 4, 1900
At 11 o'clock the Presidency and Apostles met in the Temple in council meeting. There were present Lorenzo Snow of the Presidency; Brigham Young [Jr.], Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor, M[arriner]. W[ood]. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund, Matthias F. Cowley, Rudger Clawson, Reed Smoot and also Abraham O[wen]. Woodruff. Presidents [George Q.] Cannon and [Joseph F.] Smith were at the court house where they had been subpoenaed as witnesses in a case in which John Beck is a principal. ... Elder Rudger Clawson presented a report showing the amounts and kinds of Church property seized by the Government, the disbursements in the shape of expenses, and losses in handling properties, also amounts returned to the Church. These figures were compiled by Brother Clawson from the accounts of the Trustee-in-Trust and president Cannon who had just arrived suggested that they be filed away in the President's office as they were of great importance. The motion carried and the report is on file as indicated. The sacrament was now partaken of, all of the brethren were present excepting President Smith. While at the table President Snow made brief remarks. He spoke of the union of the brethren and said that they witnessed today that which had seldom been seen in the world, namely, the perfect union of 15 men--the First Presidency and the Apostles. It was true that the Lord was pleased with our union and in this union the brethren were in advance of the Twelve with the Savior at the supper. There were heartburnings and divisions among them. President Snow stated that from what he knew the brethren were men he could stand by and support, and if this condition of unity continue, what can we not do? he asked. And what could they not ask the Lord to do for them in righteousness. He did not know what was coming in the near future but that God had revealed certain things which had not yet been fulfilled, and he felt, in fact knew that the Lord would not allow us to remain idle after accomplishing the union which now existed, but what would be required he was not prepared to say. It might be some thing involving great sacrifices or great exertion, resolution and effort. Something had to be accomplished before the Lord will come to see us. The speaker referred to the late visit to this city of the Hedrickite brethren and the way they had been influence to come here and this spirit was operating upon some brethren at home. One, in fact, had told him he had a thousand dollars for the purpose of purchasing land in Jackson county, M[iss]o[uri]. He believed the Lord would open the way in a most miraculous manner so that we shall be able to operate in that land. It was revealed to Joseph that the generation then living should not all pass away before the Temple should be built there. There is an immense work to be done, and many of you brethren will have a hand in it, but for myself, I don't know about it. Inasmuch as we are untied, we can say to the Lord, What do you want us to do? No matter what it might coast us or what sacrifice might be, what ever was required of us we could do. "I say again," said he, "We are not going to be idle; the Lord has conferred upon us the highest Priesthood upon the earth and will not let us stand idle. We will have something to do requiring great faith and the manifestation of the power of God to accomplish it. I am sure of this. Amen." President Snow asked President Cannon to address the brethren as he might be led. President Cannon said that we had great cause for gratitude to the Lord of the union which existed among us, and he had listened with much interest to the remarks made by President Snow. There was one thing near his heart which had occupied his mind a great deal of late and that was the opening of the foreign missions. When he thought of the lands unvisited and the great work yet to be done by way of preaching the Gospel before the coming of the Lord, it opened up to his view a mighty field which meant work and perhaps much sacrifice; but he felt that every one present should be able to feel that he had done his full duty by way of preaching the Gospel to peoples who had been praying for the Gospel, and he believed there were many peoples in the same condition and that it was the duty of the twelve to see to it that the Gospel of the Kingdom is preached to all nations, and if he were a member of that quorum he would not rest without breaking through the routine labor now being done and penetrate new lands. When it was remembered that there were millions of people who without a knowledge of the Gospel the responsibility resting upon us became all the more marked. The speaker related his experience in the Sandwich Islands. The missionaries first sent there were sent to preach to the white people of those islands, but it was discovered that there were but few of them, and he felt impressed to preach to the native people and did so. President Cannon said he felt that the Apostles who were connected with the M.I.A. (and other auxiliary) organizations should break away and broaden their field of labor. The oriental nations were in ignorance concerning the gospel also in eastern Europe. Although his physical condition was not as good as it had been and therefore he felt embarrassed somewhat in speaking in this way, however if called he would willingly go forth to open up some of these fields. These feelings had been strongly working in him for a long time, and he hoped that no exceptions would be taken to what he had said. President Snow endorsed every word of what had been said. Elder John Henry Smith suggested that some of our young men be set to work studying the languages of the countries which it might be determined to send the Gospel to. Brother John W. Taylor remarked that he was on hand to go anywhere or do anything he might be called upon to do. President Snow stated it would be proper to set, say, Brother Taylor and perhaps two or three other brethren to studying the languages of the country to which we might send them. ... Brother Grant moved that Elder John W. Taylor be released as president of the Colorado Mission as soon as a suitable man could be selected to succeed him; and that the State of Nebraska be added to and included in the Colorado Mission. Brother Taylor not having been in Colorado for some time some of the brethren in talking it over had thought it wise to place some one in charge who could be on the ground as the Elders laboring there were now handicapped in having to communicate with Brother Taylor on questions requiring immediate attention. It was thought best for the present to make no change but the latter part of the motion was carried. President Smith who had been a witness at the court house now came in too late to partake of the sacrament. Elder Brigham Young made brief remarks. He said it was very evident to him that there was something before us of an unlooked for character, and when President Snow mentioned this, the spirit in him bore witness of it. The feeling of his fellow Apostles was that they hold themselves in readiness to go or come at the bidding of the Presidency. Every member of that quorum had stated while they had been together in their own meeting that they were in perfect harmony with the First Presidency, and if the Presidency say, "Go abroad to the Nations of the earth,["] there was not a man of the quorum but what was ready to go at an hour's notice. The speaker testified that he never witnessed a better or more united feeling with the Presidency and each of the Apostle than he witnessed now, and he repeated that the Apostles stood ready to go anywhere, but they could not go without receiving the word from the Presidency. Elder Woodruff stated that he as one of the younger members of the quorum was doing work which certainly might be done by others, and if the Presidency felt like changing his labors, he would like them to know that he was at their command. ... The subject of round-dancing was discussed and it was decided not to put it down when young people wanted it. The desire is to furnish amusements to the
young and not force them to go elsewhere to find them. I found a sister awaiting me, who enquired if she could be sealed to a man she loved, who had a wife. I informed her she could not. I further said:--if you desire to be the man's wife eternally, give him a writing, that he may have you and your 4 childrn sealed under the Everlasting Covenant at your death or at his death. I warned her not to permit him to be too familiar with her least she be condemned of God. (1)
-- Oct 5, 1900 (Friday)
The seventy-first annual conference of the Church opened in the Salt Lake City Tabernacle, Pres. Lorenzo Snow presiding. It was continued until the 7th. (2)
Endnotes:
1 - Journal History; Abraham Owen Woodruff, Diary; Angus M. Cannon, Diary
2 - Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology
LDS History Chronology: Lorenzo Snow
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Lorenzo Snow
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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