| 194 Ralph Jenkins, assigned to Texas under direction of Elder Bays.
Magnus Fyrando, appointed to Utah.
John Landers, to labor where the Spirit may direct,
The question of authority, referred to the chair, was answered by President Joseph Smith, as follows:
"The question which was referred to the presiding officer, respecting the paramount authority in case of conflict between a member of the Quorum of Twelve and local presiding officers, in those districts where the Twelve may be traveling, is answered as follows:
"In cases where the question upon which difference arises is of a general nature, affecting the church only in a general way, or in general assemblies of the church, the highest authority should be accorded the right of decision. In cases where the matter is of local, district, or branch character, local authority must be respected. We believe that no right of interference in local organized branches, or districts, accrues to any general officer of the church by virtue of his calling; and that all matters affecting those organizations deemed to be wrong, must be righted by traveling authority through proper church councils, conferences, or united quorum action. Traveling officers, discovering wrongs in organized districts, should set these in order by calling the councils provided for in the law.
James Caffall was assigned to Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri.
Z. S. Martin and G. E. Deuel, to labor under direction of J. Caffall.
J. J. Cornish, to travel in Canada, subject to local authorities, when in their fields of jurisdiction. . . .
C. H. Derry and Eli Dobson, to labor under the direction of Joseph R. Lambert.-The Saints' Herald, vol. 24, pp. 311, 312.
There were also some peculiar developments in connection with the sustaining of officers resulting in a failure to sustain the President of the Twelve. The action was as follows, as found on pages 312, 313, Herald, volume 24:
Joseph Smith and his counselors were sustained.
On motion the Twelve were put separately.
Jason W. Briggs, as president of the Twelve, was declared not sustained. Division called. Rising vote showed twenty-eight to sustain, twenty-nine to not sustain. Josiah Ells, J. Caffall, J. H. Lake, E. C. Briggs, A. H. Smith, Z. H. Gurley, W. H. Kelley, and J. R. Lambert, were sustained by unanimous vote; T. W. Smith, by all but one negative vote.
The High Priests' Quorum, with Charles Derry, president; William Redfield and D. M. Gamet, counselors; and M. H. Forscutt, secretary.
The Seventy's Quorum, with C. G. Lanphear, president; and F. Reynolds, secretary.
(page 194) |
