| 933 such was its effect upon ourselves, and we also believe upon others, that we ceased to write, in order to give way to the effect produced upon our feelings.]
Elder William Henshaw stated that Merthyr Tydvill conference was in a prosperous condition. Two years ago he first went and met with much opposition; but some became obedient to the gospel, and the signs followed the believers; gifts, blessings, and visions were in their midst, and the saints were rejoicing in the fulness [fullness] of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Elder Wilford Woodruff then rose to represent his conference, to which he had pledged himself at an early part of the day. He said that he represented about twenty-eight states of the American Union, above one hundred thousand saints, a quorum of twelve apostles, the various quorums in the stakes of Zion, fifteen quorums of the seventies, a conference with two temples of the Lord, one long ago completed, and one fast hastening to its completion. After enumerating many other things, which, from the rapidity of his utterance, we failed to note, he remarked that the condition of the churches in America was more encouraging than at any former period in the history of the church. The saints were more universally of one heart and one mind, and the spirit of Elijah's God was in their midst. He then addressed himself to the elders and officers by whom he was surrounded, exhorting them in all cases to abide by the laws of the land, and, that no man, by keeping the laws of the kingdom of God, need violate the laws of the realm: that no one who infringed upon those laws in any manner would be sustained by the authorities of the church. We had nothing to do with the laws but to keep them. He further remarked that elders, generally, raised up churches like unto themselves, and therefore it behoved [behooved] them to be an example to their flocks in all things that were holy and righteous. The kingdom of God was a kingdom of order, and a spirit or order ought to characterise [characterize] every branch of the church. He rejoiced much in assembling with them that day, and in meeting such a vast concourse of brethren and sisters as greeted his eyes that day: he rejoiced also to find things throughout the land in so good a condition as they were. He further exhorted the saints not to be discouraged by their trials, but to contemplate the course of the Savior, from the manger to the cross; he sought not for peace and popularity, but for the salvation of men. It was no sign, because men were poor that they could not be useful and successful in propagating the principles of truth: let us but remember from whence our power comes, and forget not, what Elder Ward often endeavors to teach us, that union is strength, that the grand secret of our success lies in being of one heart and of one mind; but, that on the contrary, division stops all blessings, and closes the heavens against us. Yes, he would say, the heavens were full of blessing for the saints, but union and peace amongst us could alone call them down upon us. He would, therefore, call upon them, for God's sake, to be united in all things pertaining to the rolling onward of the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The meeting was then closed with singing and prayer, and adjourned until the next morning, to assemble in the large room in Bridge-street, at ten o'clock.
MONDAY MORNING.
The meeting being opened by singing and prayer, Elder Woodruff proceeded to speak on the great principles that should actuate the servants of the Lord, exhorting them to lay aside all principles of selfishness, and act according to counsel. To labor for the good of all, acting as one man before the Lord, in order to do the best for the welfare of the kingdom of God.
Elder Hedlock spoke on the condition of the church in Nauvoo, how they had suffered from time to time from unrighteous men getting into their society, who had lost sight of the great principles of the kingdom of God,-and who sought only to aggrandize themselves at the expense of the entire community. Individuals had been amongst them at an early period, who had made extensive purchases of land, which had been enhanced in value by the gathering of the saints, and thus they had taken an advantage of the people by disposing of their purchases at an exorbitant rate of profit. They had also had to suffer from various repeated law suits that had impoverished their resources, that otherwise might have been employed in providing labor for the poor. He had looked at their situation, and he felt anxious for the adoption of some plan that might mutually benefit all. He was desirous of preventing the spirit of monopoly from entering into their midst, and while he now contemplated as it were the energies of the people being thrown away amongst their enemies, he wished to adopt such means as should preserve amongst themselves the combined industry of the saints for the good of all. He then stated his views of the object to be accomplished, and the benefit arising from the proposed scheme of a joint stock company, that should unite the efforts of the saints on both sides of the water for the good of all. He stated that the shareholders
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