-- Jun 26, 1901; Wednesday
Four p.m. reception for Apostle Heber J. Grant and fellow missionaries to Japan given by the General Board of the Y.M.M.I.A. in the spacious parlors of the Bee Hive house. President [Lorenzo] Snow, the General Superintendent presiding. ...
At this point Pres[iden]t. Lorenzo Snow arose and made brief remarks and said in substance:
When the Lord first sent forth his Elders in this generation very little was known as to what their labors would be and what they could accomplish. They failed in some respects but they did not fail in one thing; they did their duty. Apostle Orson Pratt and others were sent to Austria to open a mission there, but by reason of the rejection of their testimony, they did not succeed. Nevertheless, they did their duty and were blessed. Noah preached 120 years, he was a grand man, he did his duty but failed and this because the people rejected him. However, by doing his duty he secured to himself exaltation and glory. ...
As to these brethren who will shortly leave for Japan the Lord has not revealed to me that they will succeed, but he has shown me that it is their duty to go. They need not worry concerning the results, only be careful to search the Spirit of the Lord to see what it indicates to them. Do not be governed by your own wisdom, but rather by the wisdom of God. When you return we will come together, perhaps as we are together today and will rejoice in your faithfulness. ...
Remarks by Apostle Brigham Young [Jr.]:
Apostle Brigham Young said that the Spirit had born witness to him that these brethren had been called of the Lord to take this mission to Japan, and predicted that the Angel of the Lord would go before them and that they should be blessed in their labors. ...
Apostle Grant said in part that he very much appreciated the honor conferred upon himself and companion missionaries by this reception of the General Board of the Y.M.M.I.A.
Felt humble and desirous of doing his duty. Some years ago at a time when he was brought low, "near unto death", upon a bed of sickness, he promised the Lord he said, that in the event of his recovery and restoration to health, that he might have an opportunity to pay off his personal debts, which at that time were
very great, he would be willing to journey to the ends of the earth and preach the Gospel. The Lord had now brought them to the test.
When Pres[iden]t. Snow announced that he had been called to take a mission to Japan, it came of course as a great surprise, and he felt that had he made a statement of his financial condition the brethren of the First Presidency would have released him. He did not feel to do this he said, but responded without hesitation or reservation and accepted the call, feeling that the Lord was abundantly able to relieve him of every embarrassment. He had now to relate that God in a marvelous way, had blessed and prospered him to that degree that within the past few months he had been enabled to cancel $100,000 of his indebtedness and was at this moment practically free from financial embarrassment and distress. Rejoiced in this manifestation of God's over-ruling providence, and now desired to go forth and do his duty. He knew that his companions were selected by the Lord and was glad to be confirmed in this feeling by the remarks of the President of the Twelve Apostles.
As to whether many of the Japanese would be converted to the truth through the labors of himself and companions or whether the Japanese Nation would open their doors to the Gospel, he could not say, but he felt to give assurance that he and his associates would do their duty. (1)
-- Thursday, Jun 27, 1901
[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary] Salt Lake City. Clear and cool. 11 a.m. Meeting at the temple. Present: Pres. Lorenzo Snow and Apostles B. Young, J. H. Smith, Geo. Teasdale, H. J. Grant, A. H. Lund, A. O. Woodruff, R. Clawson, Reed Smoot, and G. F. Gibbs, clk. Song, "Glory to God on High." Apostle B. Young was mouth in prayer, and J. H. Smith in the circle. Pres. L. Snow remarked that 57 years ago today Joseph Smith, the prophet, was martyred for the truth and suggested that "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" be sung, which was done.
The clerk read a letter from Elder Jno. G. McQuarrie, president of the Eastern States Mission, in which he recommended Jno. E. Baird for his 1st counselor, and Fred L. Cruikshank for his 2nd counselor, and also that Martha E. Cruikshank, wife of his counselor, be called to labor as a missionary in the Eastern States Mission. Recommendations approved.
Pres. Wm. H. Lewis of Benson called attention by letter to the fact that Lewiston Ward is now without a bishop by reason of his appointment to the presidency of the stake. He recommended that a reorganization be effected with Wm. Waddoups as bishop and suggested further that the headquarters of the stake be definitely fixed at an early date. Recommendations approved and Apostles B. Young and R. Clawson delegated to attend to the matter. In answer to a letter from the president [Orrin P. Miller] of the Jordan Stake, Apostle Reed Smoot was authorized to install a bishop in the Bingham Ward, Elder [William E.] Harding being recommended for the place.
I reported my attendance at a recent conference of the Salt Lake Stake, at which as usual the Saturday meetings were very lightly attended, there being as it were only a handful of people present. In view of this I took the liberty to suggest to the presidency of the stake that hereafter the Saturday meetings be dispensed with, and that three meetings, constituting the conference, be held on the Sunday. Pres. A.M. Cannon and counselors heartily concurred with the proposition and said that, if the Presidency of the church offered no objection, they would adopt it.
No particular objection was offered, but Pres. Snow remarked that, while as suggested many people in Salt Lake were tied up in business and could not attend Saturday meetings, yet there must be something wrong somewhere in some way or the attendance would be better than it is. One of the brethren remarked that it has always been so from the beginning and felt that the trouble was with the stake presidency.
Apostle H. J. Grant (with R. Clawson associated), representing the committee appointed to investigate the propriety of dividing the Salt Lake Stake by Main Street, reported that a careful investigation of the recent division of said stake shows an improvement and decided advance in every direction--in tithe-paying, in renewed interest among all the local organizations of the wards, and in a greatly increased attendance at all meetings. The committee, therefore, strongly recommended that the stake be again divided. I also spoke to the report and said that it met with my hearty approval. Said that every argument heretofore used for the dividing of large stakes would apply in the present case. Had always taken the view that about 10,000 church population should be the limit of the larger stakes and that the Salt Lake [Stake] today has a membership of about 27,000.
Pres. Snow said that he did not know but that it would be a good idea to divide the stake, but, said he, "Have we suitable material for the new presidencies? Who would you suggest?" The brethren thought we would have no difficulty in finding strong men in the Salt Lake Stake for the presiding officers and mentioned a few names. Pres. Snow said that if the division were made it would be necessary--imperative--to exercise great care in the selection of presidents. The president of a stake is the responsible man, as in a ward the bishop is the responsible man. When we talk about the management of a ward, we speak of the bishop. When men who are not suitable are selected for presidents and bishops, a change may become necessary in the future and that brings humiliation. This should be avoided so far as possible.
I said that, if in order, I would move that the Salt Lake Stake be divided. Pres. Snow suggested that, in the absence of Pres. Jos. F. Smith, action be postponed for the present.
Apostle Reed Smoot reported the reorganization of the Upton Ward, Summit Stake, with Jno. Saxton as bishop and J. H. Judd and C. Stapley as counselors; and the organization of Grass Creek, a new ward, Summit Stake, with Jno. F. Salmon, bishop, and J. W. Wilde and Jno. Pendleton, counselors. It was decided to recall Hans O. Young, bishop of Parley's Park, who has been absent on a mission twenty months, that he might again take charge of his ward.
Apostle Reed Smoot also reported that Bishop [William D.] Robinson of American Fork, who had been asked to resign, declined to do so. He recommended that American Fork be divided into four wards. This he felt to be a necessary move, and it would also open the way for a reorganization of the bishopric. Recommendation [was] adopted and Apostle Smoot instructed to attend to the matter.
Hymn, "Give Me Back My Prophet Dear." Benediction by Apostle Reed Smoot. (2)
Endnotes:
1 - Heber J. Grant, Diary
2 - Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson
LDS History Chronology: Lorenzo Snow
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Lorenzo Snow
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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