-- Apr 2, 1896; Thursday
...The First Presidency and Apostles met in the Temple at 11 A.M. There were present: Presidents [Wilford] Woodruff, [George Q.] Cannon, and [Joseph F.] Smith, and all the Apostles except Moses Thatcher, who was sick, and Elder Anthon H. Lund who was absent presiding over the European Mission. The Apostles, through President Lorenzo Snow, informed the First Presidency that each one of them was ready and willing to go on missions wherever it might be thought proper to send them, whether to Turkey, Russia, China, Japan, South America, or any where else. For some years past the labors of the Twelve had been chiefly among the various Stakes of Zion at home, attending to various Quarterly Conferences, etc., but they had agreed among themselves that perhaps they ought to be more in touch personally with the Foreign
Missions, and that the First Council of Seventies should be used as aids to the Apostles in opening up new fields of labor abroad. President Woodruff expressed his approval of these sentiments, but postponed further immediate consideration of this matter, in view of other business to be brought before the Council.
....President Lorenzo Snow said, he had failed to find anything in the Doctrine and Covenants touching on the question of salaries. He had traveled and labored upwards of 40 years without receiving a single cent from the Church, and had supported his family without taking advantage of any individual. He did not know for some time after Pres[iden]t. Taylor had made an allowance to the Apostles, that there was a sum credited to him. Latterly it had been necessary for him to draw on that credit for the support of his family. He would prefer to be entirely independent of the Church in that respect, and felt sorry to say that he was not. He believed however, that all the brethren would see the propriety and advantage of carrying out the suggestions that salaries should not be established. As to the other question, it was the right and duty of the First Presidency to have the control of everything pertaining to the Church, whether spiritual or temporal. As to the present system, he thought the Presidency had only to express their wishes in order to have them carried out. If that was so new, and the system worked satisfactorily to them, it would give them more time to attend to spiritual affairs. ... (1)
-- Apr 5, 1896
[Marriner Wood Merrill] The First Presidency and Apostles met, as per adjournment, at the President's Office. Af... The other brethren having withdrawn, the Presidency and Apostles consulted in reference to Elder Moses Thatcher. It was resolved that Presidents L[orenzo]. Snow and Elder B[righam]. Young [Jr.] be appointed to wait on brother Moses Thatcher, who was too sick to attend Conference, at his residence to present to him the address for his signature. Those brethren went to the residence of brother Thatcher, while the others went to the Tabernacle to attend the Conference. ...
At 1 o'clock P.M., Elders L[orenzo]. Snow and B[righam]. Young [Jr.] met the First Presidency at the President's Office and reported that after a pleasant conversation with Elder Moses Thatcher, they presented to him the address, offering to read it to him, but he preferred to read it himself. After doing so, he said there were some grave points embodied in it, and he would like time for further reflection before deciding whether he would sign it or not. They therefore left the document with him on his promise to send it to the President's Office by a safe messenger by half past one o'clock. The brethren expressed their opinion that, much to their regret, Elder Thatcher would return the document unsigned.
At 1:40 P.M., the following communication was received from brother Thatcher:
April 6, 1896. President Lorenzo Snow and Apostle Brigham Young. Dear Brethren:–
Having carefully read the document left with me for consideration, I herewith return it to you per promise.
There is much of its contents that I could conscientiously endorse by signing it, but there are other particulars which I cannot endorse without stultification.
If I was well I might view this most serious matter in a different light; or I might do so had I more time to consider it; but as it is, it seems that I must determine now, though I fully realize how sadly long illness has weakened me in every way. In the future the Lord may enable me to define my views and acts as running along those of honor, integrity and truth.
Now I can only humbly ask that you act according to the Holy Spirit's dictation as prompted by justice and brotherly love towards your fellow laborer in the cause of our Savior.
(Signed) Moses Thatcher.
The Presidency and Brothers Snow and Young went to the Tabernacle, and called together the Apostles to consider what should be done in reference to presenting the name of Moses Thatcher to the conference with the rest of the Twelve. It was decided not to present his name to be sustained as one of the Twelve Apostles.
At 8-30 in council with Presidency & Twelve & 7 Presidents of 70s at which we all signed the "To the Saints" and Pres[iden]t. L[orenzo]. Snow with B[righam]. Young [Jr.] were deputed to obtain the signature of Bro[ther]. Moses Thatcher. They spent the morning in their duty with Br[other]. M[oses]. T[hatcher]. Others at meeting.
Br[other]. Thatcher declined to sign the paper & in the afternoon it was read & accepted by vote of the vast audience.
On presentation of the authorities brother Moses Thatchers name was omitted.
President [George Q.] Cannon delivered two addresses in one was very vehement in his remarks as I had never before heard him.
At 10 a.m. Con[ference]. Assembled. I was there tho[ugh]' feeling poorly. Presidency & Twelve have produced a declaration of rights and wrongs excellent document which we all approved, on church discipline. This princip[le] has been in my mind for many weeks ur[g]ently so. I was spoken to privately by Pres[iden]t. [Wilford] Woodruff that he wanted me to carry it to M[oses]. Thathcer if he chooses to sign it. All seemed anxious that I should have a partner. I wanted Pres[iden]t. L[orenzo]. Snow. he was proposed & we proceed to M[oses]. T[hatcher]. he was not up and soon met us and we presented the document about 11.30 a.m. He kept it by permission until 1.30 when he sent it to the office where we were with the Presidency, without his signature. He could not coincide with the whole doctrine but hoped when he got better in health he might see it. He has had the principles of it before him for years; beside it was signed by Pres[idency]. & 12 & 7 pres of 70 & pre[siding]. B[isho]ps. I was full of sorrow so were all the Brethren.
2 p.m. Document of declaration of Church discipline was read and accepted by the conference. unanimously Authorities presented all without Moses T[hatcher's] name being mentioned. Priesthood meeting in evening. I spoke yesterday in overflow & today in Tab[ernacle]. for a few minutes. Bro[ther] Moses is in a dangerous condition in health and spiritually poor man. God help him.
I attended Meeting in the Presidents Office at 8.30 AM to fa[r]ther discuss the address to the conferen[ce] and to be Publis[h]ed to the world and sighn the same, the first Presidency and 10 Ten of the Apostles with the first seven Presidents of Seventies the Patriarch and Bishop [William B.] Preston and councillors. all sighened the address &c Conference conveened at 10 AM (Pres[iden]t [Lorenzo] Snow and Apostle B[righam] Young [Jr.] were appointed to see Apostle [Moses] Thatcher on sighing the address. they were appointed at the Morning Meeting in the President Office). ... afternoon the authorities of the Church were presented and unaniously sustained all but apostle Thatcher who on the report of Pres[iden]t Snow and B[righam] Young refused to sighn the address above refered to and His Name was Not presented to the Conference.
[T]he Presidency Twelve Apostles, Council of Seventies, and Presiding Bishopric met at the Pres[ident's]. Office at 9 AM and after having a Manifesto, or declaration read, stating the duties of the leading Authorities to ask council of the Presidency before entering into any calling that would take them from their ecclesiastical labors either in Political or other callings. Also that there never has, or was not a disposition of the Church to dominate over the state. said Manifesto had been signed by the President [Wilford] Woodruff & Councelors Geo[rge] Q. Cannon and Jose[ph] F. Smith, also the Twelve Apostles, excepting Moses W. Thatcher, and Apostle [Anthon H.] Lund who is absent in charge of the European Mission. [April 7, 1896; Journal History; Minutes; Franklin D. Richards, Diary; Brigham Young Jr., Diary; J. Golden Kimball, Diary; Anthony W. Ivins, Diary]
A meeting of the First Presidency, Apostles, First Council of Seventies, Presiding Bishopric, Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, High Counselors, and Bishops and Counselors, was held in the Assembly Hall at 10 A.M. ....
President Lorenzo Snow gave some instruction in regard to Temple work, and requested the brethren present to keep the subject of the work in behalf of the dead prominently before the Latter Day Saints.
...Pres[iden]t. L[orenzo]. Snow–Spoke of the importance of the people coming to labor in the Temple & beneficial effects thereof to them their neighbors here as well as to those for whom the work is performed. (2)
Endnotes:
1 - First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes
2 - Marriner Wood Merrill, Diary
LDS History Chronology: Lorenzo Snow
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Lorenzo Snow
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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