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Bishop Orson F. Whitney read in a
clear and distinct voice the following
EPISTLE.
To the Officers and Members of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints in General Conference
assembled.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:

At each of the past six General Con-
ferences of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints there has been an
Epistle from the Presidency of the
[C]hurch read to the assembled officers
and Saints and published for the beoe-
fit of those who were prevented from
being present at the Conference.
The reasons for this are well
known to the Church and the
world. A number of the Apostles have
been unable to personally attend these
Conferences or other open gatherings.
Their voices have not been heard in-
structing, encouraging, strengthening
and warning the Saints, or in the dis-
charge of the other public duties which
devolve upon them in connection with
their ministry. It was proper, there-
fore, that Epistles should be written to
the Church in which counsel could be
given and testimony be borne. While
this condition of affairs, so far as these
Apostles are concerned, still remains
unchanged, the instructions upon

(Continued on Page 204.)