| 304 vested in the heirs of said Joseph Smith, in trust for the legal successor of said original church, and that the plaintiffs are not in possession thereof.
Joseph Smith and Mark Forscutt, leading ministers of the church, were named as defendants, because some years before Mr. Russell Huntley, who had acquired some kind of title, had held possession for a time and made extensive repairs, deeded the property to them, and it was thought best to get judgment against every one having shadow of title. They of course made no attempt to defend their title.
This decision and the subsequent occupation and repairing of the Temple gave the church considerable prestige in that country and elsewhere.
March 1 to 3, 1880, there was a debate held in Clay County, Kansas, between Reverend Cyrus Johnson, Congregationalist, and Elder J. D. Bennett. The proposition was so peculiar that we record it as a polemic curiosity. It read as follows: "Resolved, That Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint sect, was not a true Prophet and Saint, but an imposter [impostor], polygamist, and thief, and that his immediate followers were no better than himself."
A three-day debate, commencing March 10, was held at Rock Creek, Illinois, between Professor F. Palmer, infidel, and Elder J. A. Crawford.
The Bishop's financial report for the three months ending March 31, 1880, showed receipts, including balance on hand at last report, $2,235.84; expenditures, $1,003.10; leaving balance due the church, $1,232.74.
The following statement regarding favorable changes in Utah was published in the Saints' Advocate for April:
A decided change for the better has taken place in Utah during the last ten years, and notably so under the administration of President J. Taylor, in respect to the moral and doctrinal tone and matter of the sermons preached by the ministry of the Utah Mormons, and still there is great room for improvement.
We also note with pleasure, a striking change for the better in all the social and business relations of the Utah Mormons towards others. Their actions seem to say they think "apostate" and Gentiles have some rights which they are bound to respect. Let this good work go on, and let every "root of bitterness be plucked up."
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