Tooele Stake Report

I feel very pleased, my brethren and sisters, for the privilege of meeting with you in the general conference. To enjoy the society and fellowship of my brethren is inestimable. The association and fellowship of the Saints is all that I feel to live for; it is my joy, my happiness, my life. ¶

I represent what is known as the Tooele Stake of Zion, located between the county of Salt Lake and the Great American Desert. The population of the stake is something over 3,000; and to give you a brief idea of the condition of the people I will here state that it is 22 years this month since I was chosen to preside over the Tooele stake. At that time the population was about the same as it is now. In 20 years there has been an increase of 159 souls in that stake. The question might be asked, why is this? The answer is, our young people have gone away to different parts of the country. The Cassia stake has been settled principally by people from Tooele Stake. We have had no particular inducements to offer for people to settle with us, like some of our northern stakes have, our resources have been so limited. But there is one feature that I feel pleased to report, and that is, during all that time, although the increase of population has been so slight, the amount of tithing paid by the people has been doubled. I take this as an evidence of an increase of faith on the part of the people, and possibly an increase of wealth also. The Tooele valley is a very beautiful one, but our water supply is quite limited, and we are not able to increase on that account. The land, however, is capable of much cultivation. An experiment farm was commenced there last year, and although I have not been to see the state fair yet, I am informed that the display from the Tooele experiment station exceeds anything in that line in the fair. This is a very gratifying report, considering that the exhibit is the result of what we understand of dry farming. We are living in comparative peace. We have mining camps in our Stake, and they furnish a good market for the products of the farmer, and in this respect they are beneficial to the people. We have no factories or public works in our county; but I feel that the admonition given to us yesterday by President Lyman, in regard to the establishment of canneries and other industries, was very good advice to the people of Tooele county; for, as in other places, we have not been prepared to take care of the blessings which God has bestowed upon us as much as we ought to have been. ¶

I rejoice very much to be with you, and to make this report of the Tooele Stake. I pray that we may be enabled to live in the front ranks of the Stakes of Zion, enjoying the light of the Spirit of the Lord, and living in harmony with the authorities that God has placed upon the earth. "To be in harmony" should be the watchword of every Latter-day Saint. That God may enable us to do so, is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶