The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-13

Kansas City. April 12.-The Saints
in session at Independence are just
now in a peck of trouble. 1t appears
that lengthy revelation, purporting
to be from God. was received by Jo-
seph Smith q year ago. which made
some important disclosures, and that
| the twelve. in a body, have not yet
/ Endorsed the revelation. Some MEM
bers of the twelve claim to have re-
ceived testimony of God as TO the
truth of the revelation, but others
cannot see it that way.
The revelation in dispute says that
the supposed vacancy in the presi-
dency was not a vacancy in the eyes
of God. David H. Smith, who was
the third member Of that body, is not
dead. as has been supposed by many
of the council, but is insane, and now
confined in the Illinois asylum, and
has been so confined during the last
twenty years. David II. Smith is a
brother of the present president. and
large number of the church ministry
regard the revelation of last year as
an indication on the part OF Joseph
Smith that he did not intend to re-
ceive any revelations filling the va
cancy until his brother dies. The
revelation says:
My servant David II. Smith is in
my hand; and his bishopric shall be
continued for a season: if he fully
recover. he will enter again the work.
If take him to myself. another will
be appointed in his stead when the
quorum is filled"
Many Of the elders claim God, in his
infinite knowledge. would not use the
word ''if' in speaking OF the result
of the illness and recovery of his
apostle. The same revelation chides
the members of the church for not
placing full confidence in the presi-
dent and his revelations Of his divine
will.
The twelve. not having approved
this revelation as to God, is causing
much unrest. A number Of the ell
ders and ministry are discouraging
prophet worship and one of the
young elders boldly announced that hs,
was not a worshipper of the prophet.
but simply follower of Christ, and
proclaiming his gospel.
A resolution was discussed provid-
ing for the appointment of a board Of
directors for the Saints college. now
building at Lamont, Iowa. A number
of the delegates wanted the college to
be exclusively a Saints college, and
that no outsiders be allowed on the
board of directors. The committee de-
cided to open the college to all, and
place two outsiders on the board of
directors. The question of a meeting
for the conference in 1895 brought up
more opposition. The vote was close.
but Kirkland, Ohio. was chosen in
stead of Lamont, Iowa.
A Serious Split.
The evening session was protracted
and developed a serious split in the
conference.
At the general conference two years
ago there was resolution introduced
church that in the administration Of
the sacrament the teachers, deaconS
and laity were not empowered to as
sist even in the passage Of the plate or
cup. 1t was thought at that time that
1t was adopted, but the minutes failed
to show it that way and so today the
same resolution was again. brought for
ward by Apostle Lambert and taken
up for argument.
The venerable counsellor Of the
president, w. w. Blair, said the views
expressed in the resolution were not
in harmony with the rules of the
church and that he was bound 10 ac-
cept the utterances Of the president as
the best exposition of the rules of the
church. Where the laws of the church
needed an explanation or exposition
the chosen man of the church was the
one above all others best prepared to
make plain the meaning of the word.
This brought out the real issues be-
hind the matter Was President
Smith TO rule and interpret or was the
church?
Several of the delegates took sides
on the question, a debate lasting sew
eral hours, taking place. When the
vote was finally taken on the reso-
luton it was adopted by vote of
10 to 20. The president then read
the list of appointments made for the
coming year. 1t contained several
hundred names and included the fol-
lowing:
Iowa, East Nebraska. Minnesota,
North and South Dakota, North Ill
inois and Wisconsin,. H. Smith.
J. r. Lambert.
G. T. Griffith.
The Canadas-J. H. Lake.
Missouri and Kansas-Joseph Luff
Michigan and Northern Indiana
z. C. Briggs.
Rocky Mountain tMission-H. c.
Smith.
New England States-w. H. Kelley,
with Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,
Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania,
New York, New Jersey, Delaware.
Maryland and District of Columbia
added
Colorado, East wyoming, West
Nebraska and New Mexico-G. ".
Gillen.
COLoNIsTs FROM THE WEST.
Savannah. Ga. April III. v. Cur
ri,, oud W Randall reDreSeQtinS