| 13 April 23 Elder J. L. Bear wrote from Affoltern-a-A Ct Zürich, Switzerland, that he had been preaching in private houses, the only places open to him. He stated:
April 13 I baptized the first fruit of my labor-one of my brothers and my sister's son, aged sixteen years. I need greatly some German tracts;
These suggestions are made for use, if found useful, and to advance a step toward unity.
The Elders' Quorums are expected to furnish a large volunteer force in every campaign against the common enemy, error. Truth [is] the weapon with which we will fight out-and on this line-the great battle of Gog and Magog. To you, the priests, teachers, and deacons, as local ministers, is confided the preservation of order, peace, and the ties of brotherhood; to give words of counsel and comfort for every day's use.
We welcome the high priests into the field for counsel and example.
The proceedings of the general and district conferences show that some diversity of views and opinions exists upon various questions of doctrine, discipline, government, etc. This should disquiet no one. It would be exceedingly strange if it were otherwise. Gathered from every faction of the latter-day apostasy, and every sect of the former-day apostasy, immediate unanimity, would be the most stupendous miracle ever wrought; besides, this would conflict with every idea of growth, which implies time, labor, patience, charity, etc.
Many difficulties located in the future, over which many a fierce conflict is waged, and much ill-feeling generated, are greatly lessened, or entirely disappear as we approach them. Among these questions are lineage and suffrage; which perhaps in their general bearing may be considered more important, and the diversity the most marked.
In reference to the first of them, though the Reorganization owes its existence to the application of the principle involved, and forming the central idea in the system of truth contemplated in the "setting in order the house of God," we speak advisedly here, and all agree in this, it is not the principle itself that separates any, but the diversity arises upon a proposition to limit its operation. Upon this question of limitation we may say, as Paul the aged said, "if the root be holy so are the branches." If the principle be true, so are the logical deductions therefrom equally true; truth tends to expansion; error to contraction. One of the grounds of complaint against ancient Israel was, that they presumed to limit the Holy One of Israel. But the truth upon this point will develop itself and can afford to wait; for "the eternal Years of God are hers;" while with error, it is now or never.
In reference to the suffrage question, we look to the establishing of all the quorums, and their conditions to act severally and as a whole, for its solution.
Here also the diversity arises, not from affirming or denying the principle of suffrage, but its limitation. Now when every quorum performs within itself its own specific duties, from the deacons to the First Presidency, and what devolves upon them as a whole, standing in the relation of "servants," what remains or can remain for the congregation or church, but to pass upon these servants? With her consent they act, without her consent they can not act. Here are the reserved rights in the congregation, and there the delegated rights in the elders (or quorum), and no conflict between them. Truth can not conflict with itself.
The question of tithing, in its practical sense, may be considered settled, so far as applicable to the present condition. One impediment (perhaps the chief one), to the effectual execution of this law, is found in the want of that confidence that ought to exist among Saints. This is due to the fact that imposition has been, and still is practiced under the name and profession of Latter Day Saints; this being one of the iniquities comprised in the "flood" against which the Spirit of the Lord raised a standard in the reorganization of his people.
Will the Saints withhold the sustaining of this standard because of former misrule, against which this is a standing rebuke? If too confiding then, shall we go to the other
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