| 487 We are of opinion that this is a step in the right direction, and one that ought to have been taken long ago. For our part we are very thankful to the "church" in America for the valuable help it has so long given to this mission, but think we ought to have taken steps before now to have helped ourselves more than we have. Be this as it may, we are glad that the move is being made.
Another item of business which was considered (at least by the majority of those present) as of some importance, was the taking of first steps to invite Bro. Joseph Smith, the President of the church, to pay a visit to this country.
Under date of June 4, Elder Jason W. Briggs published the following notice in the Saints' Herald, see volume 32, page 409.
That part of the "report" of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve present, to the late General Conference respecting Brn. Z. H. Gurley, E. C. Briggs, and myself, for non-attendance, requires a notice from us. For myself I do not understand, nor never did, that it is a necessary duty for members of this quorum to attend all conferences, nor has it ever been so regarded or been the practice. And in the absence of a call to convene, by their own act, or by other authorized methods of convening them, they are entitled to the same option as all, or any elder. Further than this, in February last I wrote to each member of the quorum, asking their views upon certain questions in controversy involving some of the quorum, looking to a convening of the quorum. To this replies were received from each, but no one of them advised the convening of the quorum, nor suggested a thought to guide us in the contemplated convening of the quorum, while some expressed the idea of its uselessness. Under these circumstances no call for the quorum to meet was made,-its members having the same right to attend conference or not, as other elders; consequently those who did attend, (or "eat flesh,") ought not to censure those who did not. The letters of those six brethren, to me, in answer to mine touching the necessity of the meeting of the quorum, certainly do not harmonize either in letter or spirit with the resolution adjudging penance for non-attendance. The foregoing is the only "apology" due-adding that penance can only lie against violators of specific law.
As ever in hope,
WHEELER, Iowa, June 4, 1885. J. W. BRIGGS.
The following extract from a letter from Elder A. H. Smith, published in the Expositor, volume 1, pages 54, 55, under date of Salt Lake City, June 23, reflects quite clearly the situation in Utah:
To say that a queer state of affairs exists in Utah does not fully express the fact. On our arrival here the church organ was very much exercised
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