Manuscripts and Memories of Minneapolis

D. T. Jones to W. C. White, Mar. 18, 1890

From D. T. Jones
March 18th, 1890.
Eld. W.C. White,
Boulder, Col.
Dear Brother:—

Your favor of March 14th is at hand. Inclosed please find the statistics for which you ask. I do not know whether this will be altogether what you want or not, but have tried to make it as complete as I can. If there are other definite facts which you wish, if you will let me know what they are, I shall be glad to get them for you, if within my reach. MMM 158.1

Inclose also statement for 1888, so that you can compare the two years, 1886 and 1889. I am not so well posted in the foreign mission work as I should like to be; but from what I can see of it there is every reason to be encouraged. We hope the work will continue to prosper in all parts of the field. MMM 158.2

The Ministers’ school here is drawing to a close, and all will soon be seeking their fields of labor. The last two weeks have been the most valuable part of the school. No doubt you are aware of the meetings that have been held each morning, and of the part which your mother and Eld. Olsen have taken in them. A better feeling seems to be coming in each day, until at the present time there is quite a good feeling. Many have had a good experience. Glad to say that Elders Porter and Larson have both had a good experience, and now seem to be perfectly free in the truth. They express perfect faith in the Testimonies, and are willing to drop all the bickering about the points of doctrine which have stood in their way in the past, and which were manifest to a considerable extent here in the early part of the school. We had a small meeting: in the General Conference room one evening, to try to reach an understanding in reference to the position of all parties interested. At this meeting some explanations were made that three light on the situation. I am glad to say that some things were explained that relieved my mind considerably. I have tried to avoid any prejudice, or wrong spirit, or feeling since the Minneapolis meeting, in reference to Dr. Waggoner, Eld. Jones, yourself or any one else that was specially connected with pushing forward the law in Galatians, the covenant question, etc. Butler. carefully reviewing the situation, I find I have not succeeded in steering clear of all feeling, and have had erroneous ideas and evil surmisings in reference to some of my brethren and their work. I had made up my mind from the way things were working that you and Dr. Waggoner and Eld. Jones had formed a plan to push these new doctrines on our people; that you was using your mother to give influence and power to your work. I have always had a natural antipathy to such a way of working; and this feeling of antipathy and disgust was so strong in my mind that I could hardly keep it down, and do not know that I have always succeeded in keeping it down. I am quite certain that it has influenced me more or less in quite a number of matters in which we were associated. From the explanations that were wale at the meeting of which I speak, I see that my conclusions were all without foundation, and my sound sings only the surmisings of a carnal mind. Matters in reference to the Sabbath-school lessons that had been very dark and mysterious to me, were also cleared up to some extent, though it is not so clear yet as I should like to see it. I have laid more blame upon you, in my own mind, than upon all the others in reference to these matters of which I have spoken, as I thought you was the one that was responsible for it all. I am glad that my mind has been disabused on this matter, that I can see matters in a different light, even though it proves to me that I have been mistaken, that I have misjudged you and others, have made a fool of myself in a good many things. I ask your pardon for all that I have done, said or thought about you that was wrong. The position that I have taken was taken in full faith that it was right and just, and necessary to the interests for the cause of God When I see that I on wrong I want to make the matter all right and do right for the future. I know that nothing which I can do will in any way atone for the past. I am glad that these meetings have been held before the school closed, and that things have stood out in their true light as they have. My mind is relieved in reference to the interests of the cause and work of God. Before I thought it was in peril; now I see that the hand of God is directing in all these things for the advancement of his own work, and this work will be accomplished even though he has to raise up new men entirely and drop the old ones out of the work. I had supposed in the past that a few doctrinal points,—such as the law in Galatians, the theory of the covenants, etc.— were he questions at issue, and that the object of certain ones, which I have named, was to bring in those doctrines and stablish them as the belief of the denomination. I thought the doctrine of justification by faith, with which I hare agreed theoretically, and with which all our leading brethren have agreed, was only a rider, so to speak, to carry through these other thing that were more subject to criticism; and by connecting the two together,—one with which no one found objection,—that rather than reject those that were unobjectionable, our people would be led to accept that which they could not, fully endorse. Your mother and Dr. Waggoner both say that the points of doctrine are not the matters at issue at all, but it is the spirit shown by our people in opposition to these questions, which they object to. I am perfectly free to acknowledge that the spirit has not been the Spirit of Christ. It has not been so in my case, and I think I can discern enough to be safe in saying that it has not been so in the case of others. I have often thought over the matter and wondered why it was that such unimportant matters. practically, should cause such a disturbance, such a division, and such a state of feeling as has existed for the last year and a half. It seems now that my conception of this was wrong also; that the point in your mother’s mind and in the mind of Dr. Waggoner, was not to bring in these questions and force then upon all, but to bring in the doctrine of justification by faith and the spirit of Christ, and to get the people converted to God. This I most heartily endorse, and hope the experience will be of value to me, and may keep me from making other and more serious mistakes in the future. I have had several items of experiences since I embraced the truth that have boon of great value to me, each of which seemed difficult and trying at the tine I was passing through it. But I can look back upon them now and see that they were invaluable, that I could not have gone on safely without them. I trust that it may be so in this instance, and ask God that it may. It has been the most severe trial of my life, and I hope I may never pass through another like it. It went to that extent that I almost doubted the Testimonies, and gave but little weight to what your mother had to say. I do not blame anyone for this state of mind but myself. I think that no one is to blame in my case but myself. I have been worried over the matter for months. I could see clearly where it would lead to in my case, unless some change could be brought about in some way; yet I had not the power to reverse it, or, apparently, to change my course in any way. As this went on, it seemed to me every move that was made; was simply another move to carry out your plans. This caused mo to be suspicious of you, and to question every suggestion you made, and every plan you proposed for the advancement of the work. I did not feel that I could take hold of the work with you on that account; in fact, I felt that I could not; and I know that my actions plainly showed my feelings in these matters. I have a number of time treated your suggestions almost with disrespect. Now, as I said before, I am glad to know that in these things I was wrong; for it is easier far me to acknowledge that I was wrong, then to remain in the state of mind in which I have been for some time in the past. It is really a relief to me to know that I was wrong. I am going to do all I can to counter-act the influence that I have had in the past over others to put doubts in their minds, or to confirm them in the doubts which were already there. I shall talk to those who are here from time to time, and shall write to those who are away, and have written some a ready. You have shown me much kindness and respect in the past, of which I was unworthy, and which I did not appreciate. I again ask your pardon for all my failures and wrong-doings in connection with the work with which I have been connected here. MMM 158.3

Was sorry to hear that your wife is so poorly, and hope she may improve as spring opens, so that you can go on to California and do the work which you have to do there, and return here again. MMM 163.1

I supposed you was going to take a stenographer with you to Colorado, but 1 see you write with your pen; so I presume you have no stenographer. I do not see how you can carry on your correspondence in that my. The only suggestion I can make that would help you, that I know of, would be to get your stenographer there, have your mail forwarded, and do your correspondence from Colorado, just the same as you would do it from here; taking such books and papers from here as you will need in your work there. If it is at all probable that you will have to stay there a considerable portion of time this spring, it seems to me that would he the best course for you to take. MMM 163.2

Hoping to hear from you soon
I am your brother in the truth,
(Signed, Dan T. Jones)