322 Resolved, That if there are any elders laboring in distant fields who are not members of the above quorums, they shall receive, if necessary, aid to return home.
First Quorum of Elders reported that they had dropped Joseph A. Crawford from the quorum.
The Third Quorum of Elders reported that they had received into the quorum Josiah Curtis, J. C. McIntyre, and John Chapman, Sr.
The following memorial was presented by Elder J. W. Briggs:
Memorial to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in General Conference Assembled; Brethren: At the last annual Conference your memorialist submitted a summary of the case prosecuted against him for the last three years, alleging therein that all the issues in the case were, by the report of the Quorum of the Twelve, and the adoption of the same by the conference of September, 1879, disposed of, save one, to wit, that of the gathering, and this allegation was not denied nor controverted by my accusers, but acquiesced in by the action therein being confined to the said remaining question; and upon this question your memorialist did in said summary distinctly accept the finding of the Quorum of the Twelve thereon; as his belief and position on that question, and alleging that this is the position of the church, as shown by our acts in three General Conferences, to wit, that of 1852, 1863, and 1876, and this allegation was not denied by my accusers in their answer, and therefore must be deemed admitted. And further, your memorialist asked relief from the hasty and unjust act of the preceding semiannual conference. Upon which the late annual conference passed the following preamble and resolution-and proviso attached:
"Whereas, In his letter to this conference-appealing from the decision of last semiannual conference, a decision based upon the findings of the Quorum of the Twelve in his case, Bro. Jason W. Briggs concedes the position assumed by the Reorganized Church on the subject of the gathering, and Whereas, In so doing he virtually recedes from the position charged against him on this question, be it hereby
"Resolved, That he be exonerated from the disability attaching to him now, as far as such disability results from the finding of the Quorum of the Twelve in his case and the action of the semiannual conference thereon, in which he was declared guilty of teaching contrary to the revelations of God and the faith of the church on the subject of the gathering. Provided that he shall in express terms recede from the position the Quorum of the Twelve found him guilty of occupying, in antagonism to the church."
Now I object to the statement in this preamble, that in conceding the position of the church I virtually "recede from the position charged" as
(page 322) |