| 359 Independence, Missouri, is not open to so many and so serious objections as Nauvoo. It is inland, away from the river, but is bountifully watered. It lies amid the everlasting hills, and is also "beautiful for location." There is more room there for incomers; but for every home bought and made the settler would need to pay all it was worth to get it. The country is not so thickly settled as in Hancock County, Illinois, though the city itself lies but twelve miles from Kansas City, a town of fifty-five thousand inhabitants. The old town is dilapidated and worn, going to decay. The prestige of the place is about like that of Nauvoo, advantage, if for either, being with Independence. A direct command in regard to either place would at once remove all question and relieve all anxiety. In the absence of this, human wisdom must decide.
In the exercise of human wisdom men differ, some are wise, some wiser, some unwise. In this one question all are anxious, and but few decided. Those to whom the decision is left have agreed and chosen neither of the places named, but have selected Lamoni, Decatur County, Iowa, as the place for the new location. The building in Plano has been sold, and active operations are begun to build suitable offices to receive the presses and fixtures of the publishing department; and a vigorous effort will be made to infuse new life and energy into all the affairs of that branch of the work. The employees of the office will remove with it and make homes among the Saints already assembled there. Efforts are already making for schools, and other public institutions. Let Zion flourish and spread abroad, shall be our motto in the new homes.
About this time Elder J. O. Stewart organized a branch at Silver Hill, Arkansas. June 7, 1881, the Arlington Branch, Ontario, was organized by Elder James A. McIntosh, with eleven members; Priest William Fields presiding.
On June 15 Elder J. W. Gillen wrote from Sydney, Australia. He gave some account of limited success in his past labors, and regarding his release said:
I see by the conference minutes that I am at liberty to return, and this seems to be upon the grounds that the church failed (for some cause) to fulfill a promise made to me at the time of my appointment to this mission. Now I do not feel that this lessens my responsibility to remain. I could not accept of a release upon any such conditions. When I am released I shall expect an honorable one, and that upon the grounds of having fulfilled the mission assigned me; and not because of the nonfulfillment of a promise made to me; neither do I consider my release a sufficient offset, in fact it is making matters worse, for instead of sending more laborers as promised, it is virtually saying to the one that is there, You can come home whenever you please, and leave the mission to take care of itself.
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