-- Jul 8, 1896; Wednesday
At 10 am attended a meeting of the Apostles in the Temple. Pres[iden]t Lorenzo Snow offered the opening prayer, and he very earnestly supplicated the Lord in behalf of Apostle Moses Thatcher. John Henry Smith said that he did not look on him the same as a man who had become addicted to the use of liquor to the extent that he was not responsible for his actions. Bro[ther] Moses had been addicted to the use of morphine. He related a dream he had which he had had in relation to Bro[ther] Thatcher, which had given him the impression that Bro[ther] Moses would not have any great influence in leading the Saints from the path of duty should he fail to harmonize with his brethren, and we be under the necessity of taking action against him. Expressed the very best of feelings and perfect fellowship for the Presidency and the members of the quorum of the Apostles. Felt the more active we were in mingling among the people the better it would be for us. ... (1)
-- Jul 9, 1896
[Apostle Marriner W. Merrill Diary] Thursday. Attended meeting again today at 11 a. m. The First Presidency met with us and partook of the sacrament. At the suggestion of President Snow we remained a few minutes and appointed a committee, F. D. Richards and B. Young, to visit Moses Thatcher and we then adjourned to 7 p. m. Met at 7 p. m. and deliberated some time and decided to adjourn to Wednesday, July 22nd, at 10 a. m. in the Annex of the Temple. A charge was preferred against Apostle Thatcher for apostasy, and he was required to meet his Quorum on this charge on the above date. (2)
-- Jul 9, 1896; Thursday
... At our meeting tonight, Bro[ther]s Richards and Young reported that they had visited Bro[ther] Moses, and found that there was no change whatever in his feelings, but on the contrary, he was more confirmed than ever in his position of opposition, to the address issued at the last conference.
Pres[iden]t Lorenzo Snow, after hearing the report of Bro[ther]s Richards and Young, said that he would like each of the brethren to express themselves regarding Bro[ther] Moses' case. Referred to the fact that Bro[ther] Moses Thatcher had been ordained to the Apostleship, and that this was the nearest place to God that man can reach in this life. And that men who receive this high office were under obligations to so live as to be entitled to the inspiration of the Good Spirit at all times. Bro[ther] Moses was not in perfect harmony with the Presidency of the Church, the Apostles, the first seven presidents of the seventies, and the presiding bishopric. He was satisfied that action in this case would be the best possible thing for Bro[ther] Moses himself. He asked Bro[ther] John W. Taylor to be the first speaker.
....Pres[iden]t Lorenzo Snow said that he and all the rest of the quorum regretted that we had to bring this case to a crisis, and we would all gladly vote for more time, did we not think that it would be injurious to the work of the Lord to do so.... .
Lorenzo Snow said he liked the suggestion of Bro[ther] Lyman with reference to making a formal charge of apostacy. He did not think that delay would do Bro[ther] Moses one particle of good at the same time he thought that it was the wisest thing to do so as not to affect those who were weak in the faith. Felt that Moses actions had been such that unless he repented that we should withdraw fellowship and take his Apostleship from him. He felt that Moses' actions had been such that a charge of apostacy could be sustained. President Woodruff is a very merciful man and under his administration, we might say that today is a day of mercy. In the days of the prophet Joseph Smith, Bro[ther] Moses would have been dealt with promptly, and unless he put himself in perfect harmony with his quorum his fellowship would have been taken from him. (1)
Endnotes:
1 - Heber J. Grant, Diary
2 - Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
LDS History Chronology: Lorenzo Snow
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Lorenzo Snow
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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