| 561 this imposing view we returned to the jail, and Bro. P. C. Warnky, having enlisted the services of the resident photographer, took views of the jail and the lot in which it is located, we five brethren making the animated part of the picture. Having secured these negatives, we returned to the city whence we started well pleased with the day's venture.-The Saints' Herald, vol. 34, p. 209.
Some time in the month of March Elder E. L. Kelley met some representatives of the Utah church in Kirtland, Ohio, and discussed the question, "Does the Bible teach or maintain the doctrine of polygamy?" He challenged them also to discuss the question of Joseph Smith's connection with polygamy: this they agreed to do, but afterwards they declined.
The annual General Conference for the year 1887 convened at Kirtland, Ohio, April 6; Joseph Smith and W. W. Blair, of the First Presidency, presided; James A. McIntosh acted as secretary, and F. M. Sheehy and A. B. Kirkendall as assistants. The First Presidency presented the following communication:
To the brethren in conference assembled, the First Presidency, in greeting, present:
We feel justified in congratulating you that there has been a decided gain and advancement in church work during the conference year just past.
The net gain in membership, as the Secretary's report will show is 1,306.
The total of the Bishop's receipts shows an increase of property to the value of $7,542.89.
The cash receipts during the year are about $30,000 in round numbers. There has been a marked increase in the receipts of the Herald Office of nearly 29 per cent over last year, cash receipts; showing a healthy increase in the subscription lists, and an encouraging growth in the business of the office. The gain in bills receivable is something over 5 per cent.
These but show the increase of temporalities; but the increase on the spiritual side of the work has not been less marked than on the temporal side.
At the close of the last session there existed cause to fear a considerable loss in membership by defection following in the lead of those brethren who withdrew from us during the session. The loss from this cause has been but slight; though we regret that there has been any, the persons who were affected and withdrew being of good intention and good report so far as known to us. The brothers Z. H. and E. H. Gurley have
(page 561) |
