Year: 1860


Co., His. on the 6lh for the purpose OF re-
,rgani1ing the Church of the Latter Day Saints
The object of the conference seems TO have been
10 install young 10. Smith (son OF old Jo.)
President and Prophet of the Clutch Before
his installation, however, he was requested to
address the conference, which he did us follows,
amid the most impressive silence:


will say to you, dear brethren, as hope you
are now, and will continue to be, in the Lord,
that God tries his people with sore niillcuon
He has tried usbut the day ot our deIiverance is |
at hand.


came to YOU not Of myself, but at the bid.
ding ol greater and mghtier than l-evcn
the Holy Spirit. For SOME time past | have
been receiving manifestations through the Holy
Spirit OF the will of God, and nothing but tins
has moved me now to come up here to take up.
on myself the position that feel that am
about to assume. shall assume that position
only at the bidding of the Lord God, for | do
not propose to bc dictated to by anything save
only that which comes OF power not OF me or
of myself but only by that power which is above
ull-the power which has brought mt here.
God works in way aud by means best known
10 himself and toI Us it is not TO discern his
ways except by the revelation which he gives
thereof.


For two or three years past the conduct ol
the Church OF Christ has been exciting God TO
wrath its ways have been the ways Ol evil and
in the paths oi righteousness; and now he has
proceeded to It's reorganization, that his people
may be redeemed from error und blessed with
great blessing.


In assuming the position am now about to
olfnr W yoof ior. "ui we'll aware that all sorts
OF improper and unworthy motives will be a'-
crlbed to me. 1t will be asserted that it is the
work OF selishness, .he desire OF name, honor or
fortune but do not propose TO accept this
| Office as u means OF wealth do not accept the
position for name. | assume it only as 'eel
that am called upon by God to take it. Meth
Cr do | take the position without having con
sidtred the unworthy motives that the world
will ascrbe to me. All Of these things have
considered, and the power within me was so
great thO. not even tor the space of moment


could hesitate as TO my duty and my course


There is no selfish reason for my assuming the
position in which my father stood.


Neither would come TO you without some
guarantee that | should be received; that the


power within me would promote you to receive


me, else hereafter should be accused of motive.
of evil.


Neither would come to YOU advancing doc


trnes that to it would seem would ant
should be held in abhorrence, nor with doe


trnes which the Lord God must abhor. Nj,


desire is TO come TO you teaching such doctrines


rs all must feel to be and accept as true doc


trines-lhe doctrines OF religion and morality y


To this end | have through lite * pit my


self unbiased by all offers OF gain which haN,
been made to Inc to induce me to take steI


like this. Never did converse with J. J. Strun,
for was boy in his day, even as | am but


boy now. In his day had not acquired a suf


fcient knowledge OF him to be Influenced by hi


opinions so much depored now


/ hold in entire abhorrance many of the doc


trines prea Ched and promulgated by Brigham


Young have been told that my father pro
mulgatcd these same doCerines--the doctrine


of Young. This never did believe, and ncve
can believe it, for the doctrines were not pro
muIgated by Divine authority; and believ


that my father was n good man, aud no GOO
man could have promug gated such odious doc


trnes


| believe in the unity of the church, and il
! truth and honesty, and all these ! find in tn
, Bible, and in = the Book of Mormon" aud i
4" the Book of Doctrine and Covenants" whic


latter books are but auxilaries TO the first.
Now have my own peculiar notion in re
, gard to reyelation and am happy to say in th
ftce of this ne9ting that the voice of those wit
whom have conversed among this people,
that they concur with me.


cannot find such doctrines as are promul
gated in Utah in the books wherein | believe
aud so oaious are those doctrines to me, that til


time was when had IN view the idea of be
7 coming the head Of the church in utter abhor
renee. SO much was that $3.50 repusive wa
! the very idea hat it did not seem TO me tina
| could take the position which my father he'll
upon myself The idea that was to assume til
5 headship of the church, however, came sow
upon me- received many works upon tha


t.., al. l..


avoided the rec ding of, for fear that they shout,


Influence me o sons wrong action, or that


should be biased in my Judgment in relation B.
5 the truth of the revelation Of God, or the trut
in the Church. The course | determined Il
! pursue Was to do right.


+ | come then t1 yon free from any tant o
sectariunsm | am unbiased and have no sci
fish end 10 serve, although have come IN con
= tact with men that have ad Used NE TO take thi
: course as one which would build up for me
great name. 1t has been said to me that
Mormo" elder, though but a s'ripliEg POSSESSED


grea er power than any man. and It was toll
me that this power arose from the depth OF feel
: ing in the breast Of the s1nt but with 50 81
cred a sentiment did not wish 10 trih4. | ha
; no idea OF being made use of by some TALENTED


but Inscriptions man do not propose tho
any such man shall take me as leader. know
that If | allowed myself TO take upon myself thi
Office, being urge by any considerations un
worthy OF it,, such as will be asCrbed to me.


should not have the power of God But lhi
step has not been of my own dictation. rh
Spirit has moved me to it, and all ask is tha
my shortcomins be dealt with in mercy.
! ] believe that a man owes duties to the coun
, try in which he .ves--tha lie is amcEabe to h
laws of his land and that he is liable TO hav


that duty enforced upon him by hose lawsj an,


! say that Mornons can so act that they shdl
have as many friends as the people Of any sect
= have always resided among the peop e Of Hau
cock county, who are strong anti-Momons, an,


have never known that had an enemy.
have been engaged with anti-MOrmons, | hav


mingled with them,and never have made an enc
my, although have often found it necesssr


not only not to give o(Iense by remarks of m
owns but also TO smother my own feelings wheI


! have heard the remarks which Others made.


hold no feelings a. enmity toward any man liy