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Show 105 was no ordinary meeting. At 10:15 Heber C. Kimball made a motion that the meeting be resolved into a "special conference" to transact business. The vote was unanimous, and Brigham Young rose to address the congregation. It was a remarkable speech, rich in insight into the mind of the prophet during this troubled period. Because of its importance to this study, large portions of the speech are quoted below. Young began by carefully preparing the Saints for the reversal in strategy:1^ I do not know but what I would correctly portray the minds and feelings of many of the people by saying that they do not take much thought in regard to the situation and circumstances we are under, nor of the propriety and policy of our movements. God has led this people; he has sent forth the new and everlasting covenant. He restored the priesthood to the children of men, and called upon Joseph Smith, jun., to be the first Elder in this church and upon Oliver Cowdery to be the second. From that time until now all persons that have the Spirit of this work have seen and can now see and understand that the hand of the Lord has been with this people and that he has led them all the time.... ... The people now and for some years past have acknowledged the First Presidency to be their leaders, and yet there is not a man or woman in this kingdom, who has the Spirit of it, but what fully understands that it is not man that leads them, but it is the Lord Almighty who directs their movements through his servants.... We.acknowledge that we are led by the hand of the Lord, and if he does not lead us we may expect to fall into the ditch. Now the question arises, what is the best policy for this people to adopt? We exclaim at once, it is policy to follow the Lord and his dictations. We acknowledge |