| 373 The leaders here are cutting off from the church all who do not pay their tithings, and their greediness for gold seems to have no bounds. While many pay them conscientiously, others pay through policy, fearing the monopoly that exists in the hands of the few. It seems strange and is too bad, all of the elders in every land and every nation can obtain suitable rooms to hold meetings in, and I cannot procure one in all this Territory. . . .
"I rejoice in my lot, for all things shall work for good to them that love God and keep his commandments, and the Lord of the whole earth will do right.
"Yours in the Lord,
"E. C. BRIGGS
"GREAT SALT CITY, December 12, 1863."
-True latter Day Saints' Herald, vol. 5, pp. 45-48.
On December 28, 1863, Elder Briggs reported progress in Provo City, also in Weber County. He said eighteen or twenty had been expelled from the Brighamite Church; some for entertaining him, some for attending his meetings, and others for reading the Herald; but he adds: "Yet our glorious cause is onward with intense interest and rapidity, despite these oppositions and curses."
On January 26, 1864, a branch was organized in Salt Lake City, Utah, to be called the Great Salt Lake City branch, composed of thirty nine members; John Stiles president, R. H. Atwood clerk. Elders E. C. Briggs and Alexander McCord officiated at the organization.
The first conference of the church held in Utah convened April 6, 1864. Apostle E. C. Briggs presided, and R. H. Atwood was elected clerk. The first day was devoted to preliminaries and preaching. On the 7th Utah was divided into three districts, to be known as the Northern, Southern, and Central districts. Salt Lake City was to constitute the Central, that portion of the Territory north of the city the Northern, and that portion south the Southern district.
R. H. Atwood was ordained a seventy, Frederick Ursenbach, John Stiles, and Thomas Squires high priests, and Henry Ursenbach, David Pudney, A. Williams, William Chapman,
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