Report on the Utah Stake

I am pleased to make a few remarks, and they must be very few, as a good many others have to speak. ¶

I am pleased to say that the Church in the Utah Stake of Zion is in a healthy, thriving condition. Of course, our stake is one of the oldest, being organized soon after the settlement of the people in that county. They divided our stake about 27 months ago, organizing two other stakes — Alpine and Nebo — leaving us between nine and ten thousand souls. Previous to the division we had between twenty-four and twenty-five thousand souls in the stake. We are trying our best to keep up with the times. The people are paying their tithing. Some 2,500 Saints in our stake are paying a full tithing. There are others who pay only a partial tithing, 480 who should be tithe-payers pay no tithing at all. This is quite a drawback to them, and it is also a drawback to the Church. We are laboring with these people and are trying to get them to assist the kingdom. We want to labor with all of them; for we do not want to be rash in handling them for their fellowship. It is far better to labor with them, to seek to enlighten them, and to draw them to us, and to get the Spirit of God in their hearts. ¶

I labored a long time in the Utah stake with the late President A. O. Smoot. I was with him over 18 years, assisting in the presidency of the stake. Then I assisted President Partridge five and a half years. Since the death of Brother Partridge I have had charge of the stake, in connection with my counselors. We labor in harmony and with love for one another. Our High Council and our quorums are in good working condition. Our Bishops and their counselors are men of God, alive to their callings. Our home missionaries and all our organizations are doing excellent work. We have been striving, of late, to infuse new life into the quorums of the Deacons, Teachers and Priests. We feel that we have neglected these quorums more than we should in our stake. We want to bring the boys to the front, those who belong to the quorums of the Lesser Priesthood, and have them do the work pertaining to their callings. In doing this, they will grow and develop and become members of the Church in very deed. ¶

I have a testimony of Jesus Christ in my heart, and light from heaven to comfort my heart and to cheer me in my labors. To me serving God is a pleasure. I have endeavored to do this all my life, and to devote my life and all that I have to God's service. I pray God to bless us all and to enable us to obey the Priesthood, to pay our tithes and offerings and attend to our duties, and to build an altar of prayer in our own homes. May God enable us to do this, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus. Amen. ¶