EPISTLE OF THE FIRST COUNCIL TO THE WELSH SAINTS
DEAR SAINTS,--This is the first time for us to address you in this manner; but you have been hearing from us since the beginning of our stewardship in some way or another, either each month in the TRUMPET or in quarterly and annual meetings, or in our visits to you. We have spoken to you through the conference and branch presidents and through every officer in Wales. We pray constantly for all of you for our gracious Father to bless you with his Spirit that you may be wise to salvation; and we hope that you are praying constantly for us for God to fill us with wisdom to lead you along his paths. The jealousy of the devil is more against us than against anyone else in Wales, and there is need for all the Saints to pray earnestly on our behalf so that we may continue steadfast to the end.
We are confident that you are obedient to all the teachings which are given to you from time to time and that you are desirous for spiritual food continually, considering that the words of the servants of God are that food, and that there is no way to receive the words of eternal life except through the mouths of the leaders of the Church.
Your advantages now are increasing continually, as you now have districts in every part of the country where you and your shepherds may receive each time a replenishment of spiritual food. May all the leaders strive to be present in each one and also in each council so that they may have the opportunity to understand the laws of the kingdom of God and receive wisdom to serve him. Every branch president or his counselors should be present in every council, for there is where their whole strength is. They must receive their spiritual food continually through their leader if they are to increase in the image of God. There is too much neglect in some places in this regard; and we hope that it will be corrected speedily. We grant permission to the branch presidents who live great distances from the meetings to call their officers together every fortnight or more often to teach them to serve in their various callings and to ask questions about that which will keep contact with them as officers; but they are not at liberty to treat any matters which pertain to the district council. Anything which the presidents do not know about their duties they can learn in the district council.
We have observed what such meetings are doing around the districts. It is well known that they are numerous and happening frequently in the same place. That sometimes causes great poverty among the Saints who live in those places, since so many strangers eat with them. We know that this can cause many to become lax in the faith; and we would counsel the district presidents to teach the Saints to prepare for themselves and their shepherds in every such conference, so that they will not be in any way a burden on the poor Saints. It is just as easy for men to pay their own way in a conference as it is in a fair or a market. Not in a conference should the Saints use their hospitality, rather on other occaisions. A conference is too much all at once. The houses of the district presidents also are overflowing unreasonably on such occasioins to the point that their families are afraid to see another conference scheduled. The presidents should be left alone at such times by everyone except those who have special callings. We know things such as these by personal experience, and for that reason we teach others. We hope that such a suggestion will be sufficient to everyone.
We wish to call the attention of all the Saints and leaders to the explanation which was given in the last TRUMPET pertaining to the coming of the unlearned and the unbelievers to meetings held particularly for the Saints. Perhaps that explanation will cause many of the world to come to such meetings more than usual; but no one of the Saints needs to be concerned about their presence. Go along as usual with everything to build the kingdom; and let everyone strive for perfection in the various gifts--in tongues, interpretations, prophecies, singing and praying with the Spirit and with understanding, etc. Let no worry be given about the presence of the judges of this world; the Saints will not be judged by anyone except those who have received the spirit of prophecy and revelation. The world cannot receive that, and so they cannot judge anything concerning the Saints. The Saints are to be a light unto the world; and wherever they have gathered together there are many candles shining; and who knows but what their lights will enlighten the darkest of men. There is more of the Spirit of light in a social meeting of the Saints than in any other; in view of that, what danger is there for the world to attend them? Nothing in the world. Let them come; we know of many who have been converted by so doing. But yet, it is the task of the leaders of the Saints to watch out for deceitful and bad men lest they pretend to be Saints while being wolves. No
one should be received into your homes or meetings without a printed letter having been duly signed. It has been said before that the Saints are not to use any spiritual gifts or testimonies except in their own branches. There is order and wisdom in that, and this is to be taught in every branch; and the blessing of God will be the result.
We wish to point out to the leaders and the Saints who are in the North that inasmuch as Elder Abel Evans intends to emigrate to Zion that no one will take his place for the time being; nevertheless, they will be cared for by sending a missionary now and then to visit them and instruct them. Much confidence is placed in the leaders who are in the various districts there, and they will be amply effective on their own. Let the Saints and all the officers obey the district presidents as they did Elder A. Evans, and blessings will be upon them. May gracious God bless you all.
There is one other thing yet before closing which we wish to point out to you, presidents of every level and the Saints also. Inasmuch as the Latter-day Saints have more advantages than the early Saints, they should do more with those advantages. The press is a blessing which pertains to the latter days only, and there is no greater blessing. Who preaches to the gentlemen of our country, to their preachers and their priests? No one but books can come near them. Who convinces the hosts of honest men who are too high in their character to come down to a room of the Saints? What will reach the deacons and others who are greatly zealous in refraining from going anywhere but to the chapel? Are unlearned men and influence all that are necessary to convince them? No, no; but also the best men with the greatest influence and their character. Because of that, we exhort all the leaders and the Saints to obtain a good supply of the varoius little pamphlets which are printed here, and choose the most influential officers to take them from house to house and to exchange them every week. That will have more effect than anyone can imagine; for where can you get words of so much wisdom of God than those which are in the books which the first presidency of the nation publishes? If any district wishes to have unusual success and to get learned and influential men in their midst, let them distribute more books. They will bear fruit by the hundreds, and they
will raise up more thorough and influential Saints who will pay greater attention to that which is written from month to month than many do now. We are writing these things because we are the ones who have been set apart to teach you in all things; and we are bold enough to instruct you to contribute to books and to the support of the presidents of your districts, and we wish to teach you to pray for us. We are desirous that there be not one president or officer or any kind who is not encouraged to read the scriptures and all the books which are published by the Church in these days, so that they may create a desire in the Saints and the Saints in the world. The inclination of each president will be the inclination of all under his presidency; there will not be much of a reward for not going to the trouble of selling and distributing books more than just preaching; for a book is as much a preacher as an officer, if not more sometimes, when the officer is poorly dressed or if he wears a red jacket or handkerchief. Every officer who stands before the public should be dressed and be similar to a preacher in his dress, for who but others like him will listen to him?
Now we come to a close wishing for the Lord to bless all his Saints throughout Wales; and we ourselves leave our blessing and our peace on all of you, presidents, officers, and Saints, by saying that there will be more success following them from now on than ever before. That is our sincere prayer in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Your humble servants in Christ,
WILLIAM PHILLIPS,
ABEL EVANS,
JOHN DAVIS
