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Source: Church History Vol. 4 Chapter 29 Page: 523 (~1886)

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523 and E. L. Kelley were appointed a committee to draft and present reasons for not sustaining J. W. Briggs and Zenas H. Gurley at the last General Conference.

The committee subsequently reported as follows:

We, your committee, appointed to "show cause why the body refused to sustain" Jason W. Briggs, and Zenas H. Gurley, as "members of the Quorum of Twelve," beg leave to report that, owing to the reception of papers during this session of conference from these brethren, in which they withdraw from fellowship with the body, the following, in their judgment, are the only reasons now necessary to be given for the refusal complained of:

First, The report of the Quorum of the Twelve to the annual conference of 1885, as published on page 290, volume 32, Latter Day Saints' Herald. In that report, the Twelve censure J. W. Briggs; and Z. H. Gurley for "absenting themselves from conference" and quorum meetings; for failing to report; and for "virtually ignoring" the other members of the quorum, becoming thereby "a hindrance and detriment to the quorum, and to the general good of the church," and on these complaints they not only base a resolution in which they "deprecate such action, and require of them acknowledgment and confession for such treatment," but in that resolution these brethren of the Twelve themselves hold the members complained of "under censure until such acknowledgments are made;" and did "so report to the body."

Second, The body indorsed [endorsed] the action of the Twelve, and the vote given affirmed the decision of the members of the Twelve present, as against those absent; for the resolution of the Twelve was before the body when the question of sustaining the authorities came up for consideration, and the body by its vote affirmed its approval of the censure the Twelve presented by refusing to sustain the brethren censured.

Respectfully submitted,

MARK H. FORSCUTT.

J. W. CHATBURN.

J. C. CRABB.

E. C. BRAND.

E. L. KELLEY.

The conference failed to adopt this report, or to further define reasons for failing to sustain these officers, hence no reasons were ever given by the body for withdrawing support from Jason W. Briggs, and Zenas H. Gurley in 1885.

The committee on Sandhedens Banner reported as follows:

We, the undersigned, being appointed in connection with Bro. Peter Anderson a committee for Sandhedens Banner, and having as we think, served as far as practicable, and believing our continuance will be of no benefit to the paper, we therefore ask to be relieved, and suggest that the

(page 523)

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