W. C. White to A. T. Jones, Jan. 6, 1887

[Selection is taken from p. 3 of letter]

I have received lately your big letter of Dec. 10[?] accompanied by a copy of Eld. Smith’s letter to you and your answer. I am very sorry that he and Eld. Butler feel so serious over what you have done. I cannot regard it as so serious a matter as opening up a controversy of the law in Gal. And when I read your letter it seems that you have argued the case well, and I hardly see how they can avoid the conclusions. This may be because I have only heard one side of the question, but I see from a note in the last Review that we shall soon have something on the other side, then I may reverse my decision as quickly as the judge who testified in favor of the plaintiff before hearing the defendants proposition. There is only one thing that I can do to help along in this matter and that is to try to persuade Eld. Butler that no great harm has been done. I shall read with much interest what Eld. Smith writes about the ten kingdoms. I certainly hope that it will not be another dead lock like the law in Gal. I must confess I have not read Eld. Butler’s pamphlet yet, nor all of E. J.’s articles. I hope it will be straightened out some way before another conference, for I guess the controversy did not add much to the union and good feeling of the session that is just closed. Elders Butler and Haskell both seem to feel quite sad at the way some things turned and at the future prospects. I hope all feel of good courage since the week of prayer. It has been a profitable season for us here. Our people are learning more and more how to take hold of the work.MMM 48.1