| 214 to explain myself in reference to said reasons, I respectfully submit the following:
"'In reference to reason first I have questioned, and do now disbelieve in the preëxistence of man as defined in Messenger, volume 1, number 12, but have not denied that of Christ, and I refer you to the answer to Bro. Z. H. Gurley's letter, published in the Herald on that point, as my views.
"'Reason second is groundless in its statement that I have denied the Spirit's utterance, etc., but in respect to the prophecy against Tyre (Ezekiel 26), it is an open question among historians and theologians whether it was fulfilled; according to the record of the prophecy it is a fit subject for examination. The design, however, of alluding to it, in connection with the alleged prophecy of Mother Shipton, which has received so exact a fulfillment, was to show the wide channel of inspiration.
"'Reason third is erroneous throughout, and misrepresents me altogether.
"'Reason fourth, on the gathering, my views are expressed in the several articles on that subject in The Messenger, which is, in short, that the only place of gathering pointed out for a local Zion, is not now a place of gathering, the church being exonerated from that work. "It behooveth me to require that work no more at the hands of the sons of men"-the church. "The Zion of God on this continent" I have not denied, but hold that it is "the pure in heart," or the church, as understood in the first years of the work.
"'Reason fifth. This misrepresents me throughout. The expressed design of the articles on inspiration referred to was to discriminate between the Spirit's utterances, God's Spirit, and the utterances of persons or other spirits-to prove all things and to hold fast that which (proves to be) good. J. W. BRIGGS"'
Here follows Exhibit (B). See page 196.
The following was moved:
Resolved, That the report of the committee, with the papers connected therewith, be referred to the members of the Quorum of the Twelve who are now present, as a committee, and that they report to the semiannual conference their findings thereon.
Those present of the quorum were as follows: A. H. Smith, Z. H. Gurley, W. H. Kelley, J. H. Lake, J. R Lambert, T. W. Smith, and James Caffall.
Bro. J. S. Patterson asked the chair if the committee was only one of inquiry, and the answer was, Yes.
Bro. W. H. Kelley said that he was not opposed to the case being referred to the Quorum of the Twelve, but he was opposed to its going there with the understanding that the quorum shall express an opinion as to what the faith of the church is on the mooted questions.
The chair stated that his understanding was that the committee are only to judge of the correctness of the conclusions of the former committee, not to sit in judgment on the person. . . .
(page 214) |
