Stake Conference in Brigham City.--President B. Young
expected.--Preparations made.--Flags hoisted.--Conference in
Bowery.--Box Elder Stake re-organized.--Lorenzo calls the officers of
the United Order together.--Nominate officers.--All are accepted.--O.
G. Snow to preside.--President Young's fatherly counsel and blessing.
As has been narrated in preceding pages, President Brigham Young was
in the habit of visiting the various Stakes of Zion as frequently as
was consistent with other duties. On the 18th or 19th of August, 1877,
he went to Brigham City to attend Stake Conference, which proved to be
his last earthly visit beyond the limits of Salt Lake City; his death
occurring on the 29th of the same month.
As usual, on the event of a visit from President Young and party,
preparations, such as were not in order on ordinary occasions, preceded
his coming--so fully had he won the respect and the affections of his
people, the Latter-day Saints, that on such occasions no labor and no
expense was spared for his comfort and to do him honor.
The President and party came; he was in excellent spirits at Brother
Snow's table, where he was always entertained on his visits to Brigham
City, he leaned back in his chair, and sang in a clear voice, one of
his favorite hymns, much to the gratification of all present.
At that time, Brigham City could boast of no house sufficiently large
to accommodate the immense gathering of the people, and the conference
was held in a bowery, with a commodious stand, which was neatly and
tastefully fitted up, and with special regard to the comfort and
convenience of the Priesthood, who occupied it. Before the close of
conference, President Young re-organized the Box Elder Stake of Zion.
Previous to the conference, Lorenzo called together the principal
officers of the council of the United Order of Brigham City, and
in connection with them, selected the various officers for the
re-organization of the Stake, with the exception of the presiding
board; and all met the President's approval. After sanctioning those
nominations, he asked Lorenzo to name the one he wished to fill the
position of President of the Stake, as Lorenzo's successor, to which
Brother Snow replied, that he had no suggestion to make--"we have left
that entirely to you."
After corresponding remarks by brethren present, President Young
proposed Lorenzo's eldest son, Oliver G., and Lorenzo nominated Elijah
Box as his first, and Isaac Smith as his second, counselor, which was
satisfactory. In placing Oliver before the people, President Young
said, "Brother Lorenzo Snow has been, for many years, building up and
sustaining a system to unite the people in their financial affairs,
which I approve, and in order that he may not be embarrassed, or in any
way interrupted in that direction, we propose his son Oliver to occupy
this position--he will take his father's counsel and be one with him."
The conference was in session two days, and after the close it was
an almost universal remark, that never before had the people heard
President Young speak as on that occasion--he seemed so very kind and
fatherly, and particularly was his last speech referred to as being
impressively soothing; it seemed, as was frequently remarked, as a
father giving his last instructions to his children. How little did the
Saints who listened to him, as they did, with rapt attention, think he
was pronouncing his parting words and blessing.
By a decision of the First Presidency, all of the Twelve Apostles who
had been thus officiating were released from presiding in the Stake
organizations. This explains the necessity for the re-organization as
above described.