| Show AN EPISTLE 0 to the members of the church of I 1 jesus christ of latter day saints introductory tear bear brethren and sisters it appears pro this fifty eight semiannual semi annual conference of thi the church of jesus christ of latter day saints that an epistle should be addressed to the members of the church in conformity with the custom which has been observed at the past five general conferences DEATH OF PRESIDENT TAYLOR As some of the apostles are prevented by circumstances well known to the saints from appearing in public the church will naturally look tor for some expression from them concerning their feelings and hopes respecting the work olour of our god especially at the present time lime Is deep interest felt in the utterances of tile the apostles Apo atles oties because of the loss which the nas sustained in the death of PRESIDENT JOHN TAYLOR twice before has the charob mourned tile the death of its president and each time tile the event has produced a profound impression upon its mem bers in this instance this sad bad event is invested with more significance than it would have been had bad it occurred in the ordinary way prisident taylor died in exile for about two years and a half lie he had been compelled to live in seclusion and to refrain in from all public association with the people whom ue loved more than he did life through his decease atie church is 18 I 1 called the third time to mourn the departure of the man who has stood as its president and as the prophet seer and revelator to this generation the experience which the have gained gained in passi passing ug through these trials has as been of exceeding value to them they have learned that god can take care ot of his own work and that they need not worry nor yield to anxiety or doubt concerning its management manage meat after the martyrdom of th twi prophet joseph there were pretenders who as seated that they had the right to take his place at the bead of the church some were deceived oy by their pretensions not being familiar v with ith the order ot of the priesthood THE responsibility of THE HE APOSTLES for some time before his death the prophet joseph was inspired of the lord ord to anticipate his own departure from earthly scenes this was w as shown in various ways but especially in the great r eat anxiety which he displayed dispi ayed to bestow f stow upon the twelve apostles all the th ekens keys and authority of of the holy pr priesthood iest hood which he had received lie he declared in private and in public that they were equipped and fully qualified and that he had bad rolled the kingdom of 01 god onto on ta the shoulders of the twelve apostles PRESIDENT WOODRUFFS PERSONAL TESTIMONY I 1 wilford woodruff being the last man living in the flesh who was present upon that occasion feel it a duty I 1 owe to the baurch of jesus christ of latter day saints to the house of israel irrol and to the whole world to bear this my apy last all nations that in the winter ot of 1843 A 4 joseph smith toe tho prophet of god called the twelve apostles together in ia the city of nauvoo and spent many days with us in giving us our endowments and teaching us those glorious principles which god had revealed to him and upon one occasion he stood upon hiis tiis hi feet in our midst for nearly three hours declaring unto us the great and last dispensation which god had set his hand to perform upon the earth in these last days the room was filled as if with consuming fire the prophet was clothed upon with much of the power of god and his face shone and was transparently clear arld and lie he closed that speech never to be forgotten in time or in eternity with tile the following language brethren I 1 have had great sorrow of heart for fear that I 1 might be taken from the earth with the keys of the kingdom of god upon me without sealing them upon the heads of other men god has sealed upon my bead all the keys of the kingdom of god necessary for organizing and building up of the churek zion and kingdom af god upon the earth and to prepare the saints tor lor the coming of the son of man now brethren I 1 thank god I 1 have lived to see the day that I 1 have been enabled to give you your endowments and I 1 have now sealed upon your heads all tile the powers of the and priest hoods and apostleship Apostle snip with all the keys and powers thereof which god has las sealed upon me and I 1 now roll off all the labor burden and care of this church aud and kingdom of god upon your shoulders and I 1 now command you cou in the name of the lord jesus christ to round up your shoulder sand sear bear off this church and kingdom of god before heaven and earth and before god angels and men and if you don dont t do it you yo u will be dam damned ned I 1 1 and the same spirit that filled the room at that time burns in my bosom while I 1 record this testimony and the prophet of gud god appointed no one else but the twelve apostles to stand at the head of the church and direct its affairs THE presidency IN TITZ APOSTLES when the prophet joseph had passed away by foul assassination those who possessed the spirit of god and were living in close communion with it knew the voice of the true shepherd and were not deceived by the claims of men who pretended to have bave authority the body of f the church followed the leadership of those whom god had chosen and whom his servant joseph had bad been instructed to prepare for fer this great responsibility the twelve apostles with president brigham young as their head became he ac presiding council of the church the lessons which the chareth then learned in III regard to te the priesthood nd ind the rights of the priesthood have never been forgotten when P president young was taken from us there vas no jar nor aar division of sentiment among ane apostles and among the people there was ss scarcely arcely a question as to where the right of presidency lest ed president deat john taylor took the position which belonged to him and tile the work ot god goa moved forward without interruption and with a union and harmony on the part of all connected with it most delightful to wit ness he has stood at our head for fer nearly ten years and during that thai period he be has possessed the gilts gifts and qualifications which belonged to bis bib ili nigh I office and calling his entire e career is one that can be contemplated with the utmost satisfaction batisa action and pleasure by all who love the trupti and admire inte integrity erity in those who are called to be servants of god from the time that he be was baptized a member of the church until his spirit took its flig flight h t from earth he never wavered in his bis advocacy and defense of the principles of righteousness under alp alt the varied circumstances through which he and the people of god were called to pass in the midst of the deepest trials and afflictions his voice was always raised in tones ol 01 of encouragement and hope arid and when the storms were the fiercest he be rose to the occasion abid always displayed undaunted coura courage e and unflinching devotion to ane zion of god in tile providence of god it fell to his lot to be with the prophet josephi and patriarch hyrum when they were martyred marty red for the truth and he mingled his own blood with theirs though severely wounded on that occasion he miraculously escaped death he was a man whom the lord loved the evidence of this Is to be found in toe the fact that he a ose nose him to preside over ever his church at the departure of his servant brigham we feel thankful to god our eternal father that we have been permitted to live with and enjoy the society of president john taylor and be Ms his fell fellow 0 w laborers our association with him and the presidents and apostles who have gone before him into the spirit world we esteem as a great honor we take delight in anticipating the rejoicing that we shall have when we shall be permitted to mingle in their society once more the responsibility of presiding over the church has fallen upon the me council of toe the twelve apostles the counselors of president taylor brothers Brot ners george Q cannon aad joseph F smith being members of the council of the twelve apostles atthe aar the time they were chosen to be members of the first presidency have since his death taken their places again as members of that council fifty seven years aud and a half have elapsed since the church was organized in looking around among those with whom we associate today to day how lew kw there are left of those who under the LQ lord helped to lay the foundation of this wok and were the companions of the prophet in the e early rv labors connected therewith T today to a day there Is but one apostle left of those who belonged to the council of the apostles during the lifetime of the prophet joseph or indeed at the time these valleys were first settled the other faithful apostles who were ordained under the direction of the prophet joseph have all passed behind tie vail since the death of president young four have joined him in the other world and in the same period six have been ordained as members of the council of the twelve apostles this gives some idea of the changes which which are occurring and how rapidly a new generation is taking an active part in the building up of zion THE LABORS OF THE APOSTLES those of us who have been at liberty to travel have devoted our time to visiting the various stakes and in meeting with them at their theft quarterly conferences some of us have been laboring in mexico others in arizona besides visiting the stakes in idaho and in utah these quarterly conferences feren ces are attended with excellent results the people come together and receive instructions and counsel upon leading topics topic and much good is derived ther efrom though it involves considerable labor for the apostles to visit them yet we are encouraged in in doing so dy the advantages which ak aich those visits bring to the p people eople in keeping them the m informed concerning general movements and cuti counsel usel in these labors we have had bad much joy and satisfaction especially in witnessing the increase of faithfulness on vie the part of the saints sainta THE PA OF OB THE 1113 SAINTS though many of the leadin leading men have been compelled to be absent sent some of them baling been incarcerated in prison the people have nevertheless th eless beebi bi CB steadfast and have sought with increased diligence to perform their duties the persecution to they have been subjected has bus led the p people eople to think aud act tor for themselves and aad not to depend so much upon apen others for guidance this can not fail to be attended with good results it is necessary that all the members of the church should exercise their powers ot reason and abd reflection and thoroughly understand why aney take the course which god points out Intelli intelligent gerit obedience on the part of his is 18 desired by our father in heaven I ile he le has given us our agency to think and a at act t for ourselves on our own volition to obtain a testimony for ourselves from him concerning the truth of the principles which lie teaches and then be fir firm m and unshaken in ane performance of all which is necessary for foi salvation we have felt great satisfaction in witnessing the dignity and courage which the saints have exhibited the trials of the past three years their conduct has baa been admirable they have displayed great qualities the forbearance patience and fortitude which they have exhibited are proofs that god has been with them outrages which would have goaded any othey other people into acts of violence have been of frequent jc G corrence in other communities men aud and women would be desperate under such treatment lt but the lord has given his people power to control and peace has been maintained riots and bloodshed have been avoided and even under strong provocation anen blood was sh edthe community itself prejudice may prevent our nation and us its huleis from acknowledging at the present how noble the demeanor of the people has I 1 been under these trying circumstances and with the strong provo canous which they have had to indulge in outbreaks yet the time will come when all this will receive its proper recognition cognition le and due credit will bp be accorded the latter day saints tor for their magnanimity and self control throughout this entire pe persecution se cution PRIMARY associations ETC in the organizations which have been established among our people diw all our settlements in these mountains the advancement and training and benefit of all classes are amply provided lor for among no people le of 01 whom we know anything have such provisions been made for the che salvation and care of the members of society of all ages as among the latter day saints if we and our children do not progress in intelligence and in the knowledge of all principles pert pertaining I 1 ailing i to life here and lite life hereafter it is because we do nt n t avail ourselves of those facilities which are placed within our reach NV we e have the primary associations provided for the benefit of the young children of our church and their instruction in those simple principles which they can understand we also have sunday schools for the training and education of those of larger growth in them they can learn the doctrines of salvation and the history of the work of god and be prepared for greater progress then we have the young mens and young ladies mutual improvement asso have been organized as their names imply for the development of the young people of both sexes and their advancement in every thing that will quality qualify them for lives of usefulness and honor eat but besides these organizations we have the various coun ails of the priesthood to some office in which every young man who is worthy can be ordained the young women as they increase in years can also find a sphere of usefulness in the relief belief societies which have been organized for the purpose of assisting asistin the bishops and counselors ann and teachers of the wards in ia caring tor for the poor and relieving the wants of the suffering and distressed so se that oy means of these organizations which are of vast interest to us as a people every one from early childhood to maturity can be led forward step by step from one degree of knowledge to another until fully qualified to discharge all the duties of perfected and honorable manhood and womanhood so far as we know the sisters who have charge of the primary assoria eions are doing a most commendable work woi k in arousing interest in the little ones and in teaching them in simple style those loose lessons which are adapted to their understandings we hope that chat in all our settlements these associations ons will receive c e ive the constant care a and a attention of our wise and judicious sisters the seed sown in the hearts of the children by the instructions imparted there will produce in years to come an aa abundant harvest that will gladden the hearts of the saints who witness it OUR SUNDAY SCHOOLS ETC the progress pro eress of the sunday school cause IB zion continues satisfactory though undoubtedly somewhat re rea 1 carded by the enforced absence from its labors and associations of so eo many brethren and sisters who have in former years taken an active interest in its welfare we notice with pleasure the constantly increasing number of schools tea teachers cheris and scholars reported by the officers of the union and the evident care fatten oy by the presiding preside g local authorities in our settlements t to 0 have a sunday school as one oie of the first institution established we are also gratified to learn that in most of the foreign missions of the church sunday schools and improvement associations are being organized wherever practicable in great britain in |
