Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-10-17
REMARKS
Made at General Conference tho afternoon OF Mon
day, October g, 1885, In tho Taberna 10, Salt
Lake City.
,srroRrrp ny ARTHUR wiNrER ]

here, they know the authority Is here 10
seal blessings upon the heads Of the
children OF men. and TO preach the
Gospel TO the nations Of the earth, that
they may be prepared for the coming Of
the Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing this,
u they can get any power over you and
me they will exercise Il.
There has been some talk here about
myself, and my counselofs, and the
Twelve Apostles, and the position we
hold rs leaders OF the people. have
been IN the Apostleship Tor fifty seven
years. have been through all the
aposlasies In this Church, Il may be
allowed 10 use that expression, from the
day OF tile organization OF the Twelve
Apostles. On one occasion two Apps.
ties came to me while was In Kirkland,
aud told me that Joseph Smith was a
fallen prophet, and that they wanted to
put another man In his plaec-Oh
Cowdefy. They wanted 10 know what
! would do about II. Said I, every
man tina, lifts his hand against the Pro.
phet OF God will 20 to hell, unless he
fcpents OF his Sins.0 Well, about half
OF them did repent; the Others did not,
and they lost their crown aud glory, end
other men have taken their places.
My brethren and sisters, there Is some.
thing pressing upon my mind that ! want
10 say. We have arrived at point here
with regard TO circumstances that II Is
my duty TO take up as the President OF
the Church. The First Presidency and
the Twelve Apostles were never more
united as a body than they arc today.
Our spirits are united. We believe to-
gelhcf, we work together. We pray to-
gethef, and we believe In each other, be.
cause we arc all trying to do the will OF
God. This is the case with all OF Us,
with one exception. That exception Is
Brother Moses Thatcher a great many
people marvel and wonder why some
thing IS not done with him. Some have
said We were afraid Of Moses Thatcher.
! am not aiiaid Of Moses Thatcher, nor
OF any other man who bfeathes the
breath OF lie, when Il comes to a matter
Of duty. But | am afraid 10 disobey
God, or TO not perform my duty In any
position that am called to IN The Church.
There has been great deal said With
regard TO Brother Moses Thatcher. and
many have wondered why something
was not done about him. Well. will
say that this Is matter that belongs to
the Twelve Apostles. He Is a member
OF that quorum, and OF course II " their
DUTY u take hold OF that work and at.
tend TO II until II Is settled. But have
icit, as the President OF the Church, II Is
my duty to not let this conference pass
without saying something upon this sub.
jeei. Brother Moses Thatcher has been
very sick man. Preparations have
been made by the Twelve Apostles to
settle this difficulty with him IN council.
As.s ~ h. a. 4
Of. What Is the difficulty with Brother
Thatcher The difficulty Is. he has not
been with his quorum IN spirit ior years.
lie has not been united with them
hardly ! may say, since the death OF
President Taylor. Il Is not his declining
to sign this declaration Of principle that
was brought up at the last conference by
the leaders OF Israel. This is matter
Of comparatively small consequence. /
say hefe-and say the truih-Brother
Thatcher has not been In fellowship with
US Tor series OF years. lie has not
met with his quorum. lie has spent
days aud days In this city, when he was
perfectly able 10 go about and do bust.
ness. and has not met with them
neither at their sacrament meetings nor
other meetings. Now. this cannot re-
NtsAh ~ hAAF NNNs shh . NhAif NAANht
evil spirits Affect men. There Is spirit
affecting him. and not a good spirit
either. With regard to his standing with
his quorum, he should have met with
them aud talked these things over; but
he has not done IL. lie has met with
them comparatively lew times since
President Taylor's death.
Brethren and sisters, these are truths.
The Apostles know that he has neglect.
ed TO meet with them at times when he
could and should have done so. lie
has been at difference with them In many
things that have TRANSFERRED. He has
been by himself In his labor, and for
himself, and not for the Church. Nov 4
want to say that neither Moses Thatcher
nor any other man on the face OF the
earth can stand In the way Of this Church.
We have had almost whole quorums OF
Apostles that have been In the road, and
they have had TO be moved out oil II,
because the kingdom OF God cannot
stop Tor anybody-ior MILFORD Woodruff,
Tor Moses Thatcher, or for anybody else.
Unless we work with the Saints OF God,
with the Priesthood OF God aud with the
organization OF HIS Church, we cannot
have any power or influence. make
this testimony because II is my duty.
have thought great deal OF Moses
Thatcher. had a good deal to do with
his coming into the quorum OF the
Apostles. had great respect Tor his
family. have Tor any man that will
bear his testimony TO the Gospel and
kingdom OF God. But he has stopped
that. lie has taken different course
with regard TO this, and he occupies that
position today. name this because he
is not In condition to be tried. The
Lords kingdom Is going to roll oil. II
! took a stand against my counselors
and against the Twelve Apostles. aud
we were not united together could not
10 with them. but the Lord is with US,
and with Ills people. Whatever is Te.
uuired at our hands we want TO perform
Il. hope that the little time we spend
here In the flesh, before We 20 into the
valley OF the shadow OF death, We will
pursue course wherein we will be
satisfied when we come to meet the
Lord, and Joseph Smith, ana the patri.
archs and prophets. We will meet these
people IN the morning oi the first resuf.
rection. Many OF them have got their
resurreeted bodies, and those who have
not will have their bodies raised from
the grave In an immortal condition.
VINO can sacrifice eternal life. ana part
In the first resurrection, to stand With
their wives and children In celestial
glory, for the honor Of this lie or to
crafty ambilionf cannot Afford 10 do
Il, neither can you. We will hail Brother
Moses Thatcher with every sentiment
oi nur hearte yheu he will meet win MS