-- May 31, 1899; Wednesday
Presidents [Lorenzo] Snow and [Joseph F.] Smith were at the Office; President [George Q.] Cannon still in the East.
Sister Margaret Caine was blessed to-day by President Snow, prior to her departure for England to attend the International Council of Women. She will represent the Utah Silk industry and speak upon that subject at the Council.
An order was issued for $450, divided into sums of $300 and $150, the former in favor of Elder Lewis W. Shurtliff and the latter in favor of Elder Charles F. Middleton of the Weber [Utah] Stake Presidency. (1)
-- Jun 2, 1899; Friday
Presidents [Lorenzo] Snow and [Joseph F.] Smith at the office. President Snow as trustee-in-trust subscribed ten thousand dollars towards securing the old city hall corner and presenting it to the government, free, as a site for the proposed Federal building, in lieu of the site recently decided upon by the officials at Washington [D.C.]. This amount was the proportion of the expenses assessed against President Snow in the endeavor to locate the building.
President Smith received President Snow's consent to accept
from Kaelohanui Niau $400 worth of stock in the Josepa Colony [Utah], giving in payment for the same a credit of $150 as a Temple donation, and $250 worth of lumber.
President Snow granted a request from Elder Seymour B. Young of the First Council of Seventy to increase his monthly compensation for services from $100 to $150; the appropriation made for this purpose to cover the rest of the current year. ... (1)
-- Jun 8, 1899; Thursday
Presidents [Lorenzo] Snow and [Joseph F.] Smith at the Office. President Smith offered prayer this morning at the commencement exercises of the State University, held in the Salt Lake Theatre.
A letter was received from Mr. David Evans, Jun[ior]., of Berlin, Wisconsin, a gentleman who has subscribed quite liberally to the Church bond issue, enclosing a clipping from a Wisconsin paper, containing a map of the United States, showing an octopus, with its tentacles reaching out from Utah to the States of Wisconsin and Illinois. The tentacles were also upon the States and Territories surrounding Utah. The part of the paper in which this map appears is called plate matter, prepared by certain organizations and published in papers circulating in Wisconsin and Illinois, for the purpose of creating prejudice against our Elders preaching in those States as well as against the Mormon people generally. Mr. Evans suggested that articles be written by us and published as plate matter in the same papers.
Salt Lake Temple, 11 A.M. Present: Presidents Lorenzo Snow, Joseph F. Smith and Franklin D. Richards; Apostles Brigham Young [Jr.], George Teasdale, Anthon H. Lund, Matthias F. Cowley and Rudger Clawson. Also, Apostles J[ohn]. H[enry]. Smith and A[braham]. O[wen]. Woodruff.
The following letter was read from Elder Orson Smith, President of Cache [Utah] Stake, dated May 8th, 1899, and mailed at Seattle, State of Washington:
President Lorenzo Snow:
Dear Brother: --
During the past two years I have been engaged in buying and selling grain and other produce. The past year has been disastrous to me, and I have become greatly involved. I have some small interests in Alaska, where I am now going, to see what I can do with them, in the hope I may meet my obligations by a disposition of them. I did not know when I reached San Francisco but that I should return within ten days, otherwise I should have written you sooner. I do not know how long I shall be gone, and knowing the importance of the work of the Cache Stake, my position as President of the Stake is in your hands to do as you may think best.
With kindest regards, I remain,
Your brother,
Orson Smith
No action was taken.
A letter from C. W. Wilson, an attorney of Los Angeles, California, was read. It also bore the date of May 8th (ultimo) and was written at that place. The writer, after describing the pitiful situation of the Yuma Indians, in consequence of the dealings of the Roman Catholic Church with them, suggests that if the Mormon Church were to take hold of them they could be settled upon government land, to be taken up by the Indians themselves. Mr. Wilson offered to do the legal work, attend to the land interests, etc., without pay, out of pure sympathy for the Yuma people. The letter was addressed to President Franklin D. Richards, whom the writer met last winter at Los Angeles.
In the discussion that followed, Brother John Henry Smith expressed his appreciation of the spirit in which the letter was written. He thought it a question meriting careful consideration, as it was one reaching down to the Yaqui Indians, and took in the Papagos, some fifteen hundred of whom were already members of the Church.
Brother Woodruff remarked that while in the South recently he accompanied Brother H. C. Rogers and the Indian interpreter Vanasula, and with them met with the Papagos and the Maricopas. He spoke of them as industrious, honest and willing to be led and counseled, and said also that the children of these Indians, who had been educated by the Government, remained true to the teachings of the Gospel. Brother [Ammon] Tenney, he added, was anxious to know if any move would be made in behalf of the Yaqui people.
Brother Young said that he felt obligated to go among the Yaquis, having promised them, while in their country, that he would return and bring the Book of Mormon and labor among them. This promise was made, he said, in keeping with an appointment given him by this council. During his last trip to the South an attempt was made to find a valley which Brother Tenney undertook to locate near Chuichupa, the object being to settle some of the Papago Indians in that region and have them write back to their tribe and induce them to follow and join with them in settling the valley. But the attempt failed, owing to the inability of Brother Tenney to locate the valley. Brother Young said that he felt that his duty called him to this work, and he would be ready to start out upon this mission in the near future.
President Richards spoke of the writer of the letter, Mr. Wilson, as a man who had impressed him very favorably.
On motion of Brother John Henry Smith the whole business was referred to Brother Brigham Young.
Brother John Henry Smith briefly reported the visit of Brother Cowley and himself to Tennessee. They found the Elders in that region industrious and feeling encouraged. The winter had been exceedingly severe for that part, and the spring season had opened very hot, resulting in the taking down of many of the Elders with malaria. In a fast meeting which they attended with
the Elders and Saints the gifts of the Spirit were exercised, such as speaking in tongues and prophesying. They held public meetings in Chattanooga, but they were poorly attended. Dr. Iliff of Salt Lake City had been there and advised that the Mormons be let severely alone, and it looked as if the people of that place had determined to follow his advice. The newspapers treated them very fairly. President Smart, of the Eastern States Mission, sent a young man named Burton to study the way in which the Southern States Mission was carried on. In some of the Eastern States there was a law forbidding any body to ask alms, and making it a misdemeanor, not only on the part of the person asking, but also on the part of the person asked, if he should fail to report the case. In the South, some of the Elders were found suffering, not only from malaria, but also yellow fever. Five hundred Elders were now laboring in that Mission, with room for more, at the rate of fifty a month. Brother Smith was of the opinion that five hundred Elders were enough to do the work of the Mission. Baptisms continue at about the same rate as when Brother Elias Kimball presided, averaging about three to each missionary. The speaker learned from some of the Elders that they might be able to endure the southern climate three winters and two summers, but to undertake to live out three summers was too much for them.
President Snow here interposed, saying that he was of the opinion that the work of the Southern States Mission would be cut short, and that whatever was going to be done should be done soon.
Brother Smith, continuing his report, said that a brother named Condie had proposed the location and had offered to assist in locating some of our Southern States people on lands where they could be together and work together; but he, the speaker, was of the opinion that if an attempt of that character were made, it would incite the spirit of mobocracy, and he therefore advised against it. He referred to the commissary department established by Brother Kimball while presiding there, and notwithstanding a prejudicial feeling against it, he felt that it was one of the wisest things that had been done in that mission. He mentioned it now for the purpose of correcting prejudice that might still exist, and with a view that the department might be approved by the Missionary Committee of the apostles. He also stated that the Josephites were selling the Book of Mormon in the Southern States at fifty cents a copy, and that our Elders could not compete with them, on account of having to pay higher prices to the publishers. He had advised Elder Ben E. Rich, now presiding in the South, to communicate with the Liverpool [England] office, and try to get the Book of Mormon cheaper than it could be got here. He mentioned the incident of a number of persons having been baptized into the Church who did not know that we believed in the divine calling of Joseph Smith; due no doubt to the fact that Brother Kimball had deemed it wise at one time for the Elders not to mention the name of the Prophet, but to preach the first principles of the Gospel as contained in the scriptures, and let that suffice for the time being. The result was, since the Elders had been reinstructed to bear testimony to his divine calling, that some of these new
members had left the Church. The speaker had heard, however, that a number of the backsliders had been rebaptized.
Brother Cowley, upon the subject of the Book of Mormon, referred to the words of the Prophet Joseph [Smith] in regard to the reading of that book by a non-Mormon; that is, the good effect it would have on the minds of all honest people who read it. He alluded also to the words of the Angel Moroni to the Prophet, charging him against entertaining any mercenary feeling respecting the golden plates. The speaker felt that the spirit of this admonition should be strictly adhered to in the sale of the Book of Mormon. He said that a firm in Chicago [Illinois] had offered to publish it for twenty-seven cents a copy, and that another firm in Chattanooga had offered to publish it for twenty-seven and a half cents. Brother Cowley also reported a visit to the Pocatello [Idaho] Conference last Sunday, when he had a good time preaching on the law of tithing; in fact, he never had enjoyed the spirit of the Lord so much as when speaking on this occasion.
President Snow, upon the subject of printing the Book of Mormon and other Church works with a view to selling them as cheaply as possible, said that this was a thing which the Church ought to do; and his suggestion upon that point, on motion of President Franklin D. Richards, seconded by Apostle John Henry Smith, became the sense of the Council.
Speaking upon the same subject, President Smith said that while in Honolulu [Hawaii] he learned that the Josephites were circulating their literature quite extensively in that land; that the Book of Mormon and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants were published in the Kanaka language, as well as a great number of tracts, and a monthly paper. We publish nothing at all in that language. The speaker thought that this matter should also be considered, and he endorsed the remarks of Brother Cowley, to the effect that the work of publishing should all be done as cheaply as possible.
President Snow remarked that the Lord was anxious to come to the earth to see what we were doing, and it seemed to him that we should adopt every means possible to convert the people to the principles of the Gospel. For this purpose money was needed. He believed that if half the means used for business enterprises in which the Church was interested, had been used in circulating our printed word, a mighty work might have been accomplished. But we were in debt and without money. In reference to the law of tithing he felt that we should make it a requirement from this time forth that the members of the Church pay their tithing, or be forbidden entrance to the Temple. He believed that the Lord was displeased with us for borrowing or going into debt to the extent of nearly two millions of dollars for business enterprises.
Brother Cowley asked the question whether, if it should be found that the Book of Mormon could be published cheaper abroad than at home, the Presidents of Missions might be free to publish it at the reduced prices.
President Snow answered that he certainly would have it published as cheaply as possible; he felt it to be our duty to do
this.
The question of a committee to attend to the matter was then considered, resulting in the appointment of apostles John Henry Smith and Matthias F. Cowley.
Brother Woodruff now stated that the President of Woodruff [Wyoming/Utah] Stake had called his attention to the fact that a million and a half acres of land had been thrown open for entry, and large valleys were ready to be occupied. There were people in what is called Lucerne Valley who had been visited by an Apostle since the occupation of that place; and the people settled in the Big Horn Country were also eagerly looking forward to the visit of an Apostle. He thought these people should be visited and the country looked over.
President Snow thought Brother Woodruff had better arrange to visit those places and look over the land. ...
Before adjournment, President Snow inquired if the members of the Council would favor his inviting the First Seven Presidents of Seventies to meet and partake of the Sacrament with them next time; whereupon Brother John Henry Smith suggested that the Patriarch of the Church be added, which suggestion was adopted. It was understood that this was only to be for one occasion. The arrangement, on motion of Brother John Henry Smith, was acquiesced in by the Council, which then adjourned.
The sum of $1,000 was appropriated to be placed in the hands of Presiding Bishop [William B.] Preston, to pay the fares of people to Canada; the parties to whom this money is advanced to sign obligations for the same, with the understanding that it be refunded out of their wages for work done on the Alberta Canal.
It is learned that Brother Frank Armstrong, ex-Mayor of Salt Lake City, and at present one of the Commissioners of Salt Lake County, who has been ailing for some time past, is in a very low condition. Presidents Snow and Smith drove to his residence this afternoon to administer to him.
President William Budge of Bear Lake [Idaho/Utah] Stake, and his son Alfred called at the Office, the father having been sent for to come to the city again, in connection with the case between him and Brother Wilcox, whose complaint was heard about three weeks ago; he now claiming that Brother Budge had not complied with the decision of the committee who investigated the matter. At to-day's meeting that committee decided that the matter was now between Brother Wilcox and Brother Budge, and it was for them to adjust the difficult themselves. (1)
Endnotes:
1 - First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes
LDS History Chronology: Lorenzo Snow
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Lorenzo Snow
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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