Brethren and sisters, I have been highly edified this morning, as I
presume you all have, and I doubt not but the seed has fallen upon
good ground, and when we return to our homes we shall feel sensibly
that the seed sown has done good.
It has been in my mind to remark that the office of both President and
Bishop are in our President, and therefore he has the undoubted right
to place those two offices on one man, or to ordain two separate men
as he may see proper. There may possibly arise circumstances that may
appear to cause the authority of the two to conflict, and thus to be
incompatible one with the other, but this is only on account of the
ignorance of the people. We ought so to live as all to be capable of
being Presidents and Bishops, for there is certainly ample room for us
all to do all the good we can; but I have thought in the present state
of our limited knowledge it would be better to dispense with the
office of President in the country settlements. I am happy to inform
you that I have never heard of any feeling of difficulty between the
President and Bishop at Spanish Fork. Brother Young did not know of a
single exception to the rule, but I am informed by all parties that
these brethren have never conflicted. [President B. Young: I wish I
had never heard anything to the contrary.] My reason for desiring to
have this matter brought here was to have the duties of Bishops and
Presidents defined, thinking that probably the result of the
investigation would be the abolishing of the office of President for
the present in the country Branches, and I can truly say that I feel
thankful, brethren and sisters, for what I have heard, and I can say
with regard to the people in the region where I have labored there is
a good degree of union there among the people. In fact, I rejoice to
say that there is no schism in that region; we have no difficulty
there with our High Priests, none with our Seventies, only what we
have been enabled to arrange. A good feeling exists there, and I am glad and happy to know that there is an increase of good
feeling with the people of Sanpete. I feel thankful that when the
people from all quarters meet here the spirit and the atmosphere seem
to bear witness to what I have said.
Well, brethren and sisters, I have spoken before, and I do not wish to
occupy much time at the present, but the spirit that is here is good,
and all things that have been done feel like a balm to my soul.
God bless you all. Amen.