| 370 then added, 'I ask Bro. John Lewis, do you acknowledge the right of Brigham Young to lead the church as the successor of Joseph.' Lewis replied, 'Have you any charges preferred against me?' Bishop replied, 'No.' Lewis replied, 'Then I answer no questions.' Bishop then said, 'I ask Bro. John Green, do you believe that young Joseph Smith has the legal right to lead the church?' Green replied, 'If anyone on the earth has the authority I believe he has it.' After which the Bishop called on Bro. Thomas Dunn, a former Bishop of North Ogden, to make a statement, which he did as follows: 'I have been acquainted with Bro. Squires three or four years, at times have been a little suspicious of him because he entertained some of the Morrisites.' Here Bro. Squires stopped the speaker and said, 'I have never entertained or fed a Morrisite in my life, and there was never but one called on me, and he stopped only a short time, a half hour or such a matter; I do not want that brought in as an influence here.' Dunn then proceeded, 'The brethren and sisters would ask me if he was doing right when he would give aid and comfort to those who were our enemies; and I remember that once Bro. Squires showed me a passage in the Millennial Star, where it refers to a man who should be raised up mighty and strong, and now since the missionaries have arrived here from little Josephism, he entertains them, and he makes them a home there at his house; I went to see Bro. Squires to-day to talk with him for myself, I asked him if he believed the revelation on polygamy, and it's my firm conviction that he does not believe in polygamy, or that Abraham was a polygamist, and from what Bro. Lewis told me I believe he is of about the same opinion as Bro. Squires.' Then a Brother Goddard was called to bear his testimony', but he did not particularly touch the case under consideration, but said, 'I was present when Bro. Joseph the prophet blessed little Joseph, and the power of God was manifest so we could not keep still; and I was also present when he blessed David, and the power of God was manifested again so we could not keep still; and if little Joseph is the man to lead the church, let him come on.' Bro. Hammond West (brother of the
(page 370) |
