Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-10-17

wise man, TO 70 ana see nun Aih pitiu
with him to make things satisfactory.
But he failed. lie came and reported
to me that q spirit Of darkness seemed to
reign In Brother Thaiehef's heart, and
ne could not reach II. ! still thought,
however, that he would come and make
things tight before he returned TO his
HON. In Logan. and about the seeond
or third day alter this, ] was visited by
him In the Temple. never icit to fc'
oicc more In my heart than when saw
him enter my room. ] thought be mad
made up his mind to do that whiah we
requested him 10 do and TO place him
sell in perfect fellowship with the
brethren OF the quorum. / talked with
him. ! did most Of the talking myself.
! felt the spirit Of it,as always did when
! spoke TO him, because my heart was
warm towards him, and the Lord seem.
ed 10 help me so that felt perfectly At
home In telling him just wha, the Lord
dictated to me. On previous occasion
In the Temple, | laid my hands upon
his head, according to his request and
my own feelings, and blessed han. My
heart went out for him. But could not
fellowship Brother Thatcher, although |
loved him. Did love that man No
man, Il seems to ME, could love another
man more Than loved Brother Thatcher.
and iabored Tor him, toiled for him, aud
prayed for him, anu still shall do.
have not given up my hopes. and will
not give them up. My principle has
ever peen. when called upon TO admin
ister TO the sick, who were perhaps nj
the point OF death, without seemingly
any hope whatever, to not give them up
until saw they were actually dead. SO
! am with Brother Thatcher, whose voice
has been heard from this stand tine alter
time. and We have loved 10 listen to his
beautiful and inspiring words. But he
Is different man now altogether
different In spirit, and Of course, his
physical condition Is very bad. although,
| understand now, he Is improving very
rapidly. President Woodruff has ex-
planned 10 you the reason why We have
not had HIN before our quorum and the
matter Investigated. Hts low physical
condition Is the reason. But, as ] was
saying, though he had come 10 my
room with his mind made up to take a
course TO come into fellowship with his
quorum. was disappointed, however.
| felt like shedding tears when he LETT
the room. There was not that dis.
position existing In him that hoped
there would be when he came.
Now, there Is certain document that
you have heard talked about good
deal. Brother Young and myself took
that document TO Brother Thatcher.
Ills physical condition was not very
promising. and asked him II / should
read II To him. lie said he preferred 10
read Il himself, and he read thread It
very deliberately. lie said he did not
feel then 10 approve OF Il altogether; he
wished Il 10 remain for awhile. We &C
corded him his wish. As President
| Woodruff had said, not hall the Trouble
Is In relation TO that documcnt-not one.
hundredth part that Is talked about. OF
course. Il was rather singular There
were appended TO tina, document the
names OF the first Presidency. OF the
Apostles. with the exception OF Brother
Lund. who was then IN England) OF the
hrst seven Presidents OF the Seventies,
OF the Pairiarchs, aud OF the presiding
Bishopric-t~enty four names In al,
representing the authorities OF the
Church; but he did not feel inclined, he
said, to pu, his name to the document.
am reminded Of little anecdote
heard OF Brother Etastus Snow, which
illustrates a principle. Brother George
a. Smith was speaking to an 'ou,side"
audience one night and Brother Efastns
fell asleep. When he go, through preach.
ing he sat down and elbowed Brother
Erastus. and requested him TO bear his
testimony. II was thought that Brother
lsrastus had scarcely heard a word. but
he arose and said, "My fiiends, every
word that my brother here has said l.
Gods truth" Now, why did he say
sol There was a reason ior this. Why.
he knew Brother George a Smith; he
had heard him preach hundred times,
and he knew that he was man OF In
spifation, and that he would never say
anything but that was true. Well, I
think when man is so well acquainted
with the First Presidency. with the
Apostles, with the Patriarch, with the
Presidents OF Seventies, aud with the
presiding Bishops. he ought to have
some confidence In the position OF these
brethren; and II that brother is rather
low In his mind aud does not really feel
competent to Judge Of the matter, he
ought to have confidence in his brethren,
still, this matter does not amount To
very much anyway. II Is the general
tenor Of the course that Brother Thaich.
or has been pursuing since even before
the organization OF the Frs, Presidency
or before | was called " be the Pfesi.
dent OF the quorum. Many other things
might be said, but do not want 10
occupy the time.
Brethren and sisters. these are solemn
truths that have told you and what
President Woodruff has stated. want
you all to pray Tor Brother Thatcher.
As soon as his physical abilities will
allow Ne shall have him befnfe attr