Moses Thatcher, Jos. F. Smith,
John Hy. Smith each favored calling men, instead of allowing them to come or
go, when we desire to establish settlements.
Moses thought that fully one
million of dollars had been wasted by our people in wandering up and down the
country aimlessly.
If we feel that we should
establish settlements in Canada and Mexico, the brethren felt that our only way
to do so successfully will be to call men and not ask them to volunteer. Under
Brigham Young’s administration men were called and had no idea of leaving a
place unless they were released.
Franklin D. Richards, regretted
very much that he had not felt to endorse the policy of allowing men to go or
not when a call was made to help one of our settlement. He did not think the
gospel could ever be preached or the Church built up upon any such a principle
and in his inmost soul he had no faith that we could ever build up Zion on the
volunteer principle. When men are called on a mission or to locate in any place
they feel by the Spirit within them that they were working where the Lord
desired them to do so. He related the failure of attempts to get needed help in
Arizona and San Juan on account of the people feeling that they were at perfect
liberty to go or not. Brother Franklin’s remarks were very spirited indeed and
while he was talking I felt that his remarks were dictated by the good spirit.
Erastus Snow felt that the Twelve
should report names of men and that then we should send them with the backing
and support of the Priesthood. He felt that Bro. Franklin had struck a keynote
which most of the Twelve have experienced during the administration of Prest.
Taylor and that his policy of only using volunteers had discouraged the labors
of our quorum.
In the days of Brigham Young some
men had felt that they were sent on missions because of some private spite. The
feeling existed that brother Young had not counseled as much with the Council
of the Apostles as with those persons with whom he was surrounded.
Prest. Taylor desiring to correct
this evil had gone to an extreme on the other hand that had made the efforts of
the brethren in attempts to strengthen up our settlements, a failure.
A motion was carried that Pres
Card be informed to continue his labors in Canada, and that additional help
will be sent to him. ... (Heber J. Grant, Journal, September 8, 1887, in The
Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1845 Abridged, comp. D. Michael Quinn
[Digital Edition; Salt Lake City, 2015])