Letter to Marriner Wood Merrill, 29 August 1888
(Salt Lake City, Utah, )
President M. W. Merrill,
Logan Temple.
Dear Brother:
At a meeting of the Council of the Apostles yesterday it was decided that the
Presidency of our Temple should be separated from the Presidency of the Stake,
lest if we should be attacked with a view of getting possession of our Temples
an attempt should be made to show a connection between the Church and the
Temple Association, because of the President of the Temple acting in a high
Church capacity. This is the policy that is suggested by our attorneys as safe,
and we have thought it best to adopt it. We understand that in consequence of
your position you have not been able to appear but little in public, or to take
any public action in your office for some time; but your name is presented, we
suppose, at your Quarterly Conferences as First Counselor to Brother Card. It
will be well hereafter to not have your name presented in this capacity; and
in order that there may be no misapprehension upon the subject, the reason should
be carefully explained to the priesthood, and as far as prudent to the conference.
Of course, it will be well, in making the explanation in public, to have it done
as carefully as possible.
With kind regards, I am, your brother,
Wilford Woodruff
