-- May 28, 1896; Thursday
...The Presidency and Apostles met at the temple at 11 A.M. There were present: Presidents Woodruff, [George Q.] Cannon, [Joseph F.] Smith and [Lorenzo] Snow; Elders F[ranklin]. D. Richards, B[righam]. Young [Jr.], F[rancis]. M. Lyman, J[ohn]. H[enry]. Smith, H[eber]. J. Grant, and A[braham]. H. Cannon. President Joseph F. Smith by request, reported some proceedings at the Stake Conference of the M.I.A. at Logan [Utah] on Saturday and Sunday, May 23, and 24th. He said the question arose in regard to presenting the name of brother Moses Thatcher as one of the
General Superintendency of the Y.M.[M.]I.A. Elder Orson Smith had decided that if none of the First Presidency or Apostles were present, he would take the responsibility of withholding Brother Thatcher's name in presenting the authorities to the Conference, and avoid unpleasantness by withholding the names of all the General Superintendency on that occasion. A meeting was called of the M.I.A. Officers of the Stake, at which the question was fully discussed. Some of the brethren felt they had not the right to omit brother Thatcher's name, but finally the brethren became united in the propriety of withholding the name.
President Woodruff endorsed that view of the case, and said it was his duty to urge the Twelve to take up brother Moses Thatcher's case, as soon as the state of his health permitted.
President Lorenzo Snow informed President Woodruff that he and his brethren of the Twelve would meet and take such a course as the spirit of the Lord would suggest and circumstances rendered possible. ... (1)
... Lorenzo Snow expressed himself as being in perfect accord with the sentiments uttered by Pres[iden]t. Woodruff. Felt that Bro[ther] Thatcher was not worthy to stand as an Apostle. Referred to the troubles in the days of Kirtland [Ohio], and of the quarrel in the Kirtland Temple, where a Brother Parrish rose up and cursed Bro[ther] [Joseph] Smith, the father of the Prophet. Referred to the fact that so many of the leading officials fell at this time that it seemed as though the Church of God would be destroyed, but the Lord had sustained the brethren in disfellowshipping those who were not faithful, and he testified that the Lord would sustain us at all times in doing our duty. In case we take action against Bro[ther] Moses a great howl will go up over the matter, and we will be bitterly accused for lack of charity, etc. But he felt that this should not deter us from doing our duty in the premises.
Wilford Woodruff stated that the time had come for us to take action.
Bro[ther]s Snow and Lyman felt that it would be wise for the First Presidency to meet with the quorum of the Apostles when we had Bro[ther] Thatcher before us. Pres[iden]t George Q. Cannon did not think that the First Presidency should not meet with the quorum of Apostles and Bro[ther] Thatcher. He thought that the differences between Bro[ther] Thatcher and the quorum and the position which he was in was a matter which should be considered by the Apostles. He said he would state some things which he had never before mentioned, and one was that for many years he had had no confidence whatever in Bro[ther] Thatcher, as he had been guilty of circulating falsehoods against him. He referred to the fact that while he was in the penitentiary that Bro[ther] Thatcher had accused him of having money belonging to Bro[ther] Thatcher, and stated that he was going to start suit for the recovery of
this money. After Pres[iden]t Cannon had been liberated from the penitentiary he proved in the presence of the Apostles that not only was he not in debt to Bro[ther] Moses Thatcher, but on the contrary, there was a small balance somewhere in the neighborhood of $100. due to him from Bro[ther] Thatcher, and that this amount was subsequently paid. Bro[ther] Moses, however, had never so much as apologized to him or to the quorum of Twelve Apostles for having made such an accusation and threatening to take one of his brethren before the courts of the land. Bro[ther] Cannon said he would be only too willing to forgive Bro[ther] Thatcher, provided he would pace himself in harmony with his quorum.
... It was finally decided that a meeting should be held with Bro[ther] Thatcher by the Apostles, and that the First Presidency should not attend said meeting. (2)
Endnotes:
1 - First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes
2 - Heber J. Grant, Diary
LDS History Chronology: Lorenzo Snow
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Lorenzo Snow
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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