Show SE SECOND COND DAY 31 MORNING ORNING SESSION t sunday april ath conference convened at 10 am the tho choir san sang I 1 I 1 I 1 come thou glorious day of p promise romise como come and spread thy cheerful ray prayer by apostle F 31 lyman hark nark ye mortals hist be still voices from Cumo Cu MR hill was sung by the choir APOSTLE JOHN W TAYLOR addressed address edthe the conference although as a people we are subject to many frailties we also exhibit many qualities that are noble the speaker had not since his arrival in logan heard the name of the deity blasphemed neither had he observed obscured any intemperance or disturbance of the peace the homes of the deop people p are neat and comfortable the ilbe p people copl of the community are of different nationalities and their gathering together ought to be a g great reat testimony to the world if they would receive it lt etwas it was one of the most significant ant aut signs of the latter times the tre saint saints s have come to zion to feast upon the instructions ulven civen them by the servants of god they believe in inspiration and prophecy they had faith in the inspired predictions delivered in ancient times some had been fulfilled some are in process of and others would surely be verified ve rifled in due time the prophets of olden times notably isaiah had prophesied in relation to the establishment in its present exa exalted ted location of zion the speak speaker erha had heard it admitted by people who do not believe in the divinity of this work that it is a wonderful phenomenon no menon for according to its history the more its adherents were abused and the mare determined the efforts made to suppress it it had the more bucce success S s the church isa is a nursery destined it to spread and yield good frait trait in every nauga the thy young pare themselves for the work chatwill th that atwill will devolve upon upon them in the world this opposition which has bee been 11 prominently mentioned during this conference need fearfulness Thi this called to mind the fact that irr in the sta state te of georgia in the year and a half following the assassination of joseph standing more people were added to the chu church r ch than during the same length of time anany previous period I 1 the T h e principle of plural marriah mardi marri aw e a against aln ain st which the main f force orce of EL the 0 so sit iowa towa being hurled had bee bet beta been a divine 1 vin institution from before the foundation of the world there had been some talk about President taylor issuing a revelation abo abolishing lishin that system of marriage when a revera reverl tion of that kind kind as is given it will be when the lord has no use for the lat ter day saints and this will never transpire for he has promised to give them we kingdom andio and to sustain them but those who oppose the church do not care much about aboul plural marriage it Is the principle of unity and conse bently uenta ot of power that is feared the atte ater day saints are then most thoroughly organized of any people ci ol earth this is admitted oy dy who have studied the associations ot 0 every part of the world who are opposing the church are ta pursuit of money and power take away the one and the prospect of the other and their work would cease those engaged in the crusade are seeking to break the political power ot the community if the government would take less lets trouble to pursue the latter day saints and add gay pay more attention to rooting out the destructive elements that were threat euina enina society at large it would be much more conducive to the public weal the secret combinations that are forming mean destruction and devastation they will increase lucrease and cause fear to seize upon we th e people f and prominent men would be marks t for their antipathy men alen i conspicuous positions would be i in danger because of the state of bf things thing s approaching I 1 the speaker related an anecdote about an elder named butterfield who was i in the bya lady relative of a late utah utan federal judge to call at her house when he visited her he was asked into a room where there were a large number of ladies and none of the other sex heas he was placed in the middle of the group and the hostess asked him what the people in utah thought of judge 0 AT 2 11 oh we pay any a attention to such small potatoes as he was the reply this Incense incensed ds the questioner and she said 1 61 I suppose you dont like the judge because he wont allow you to have as many wives as you want I 1 well I 1 said brother butterfield 11 1 I had two wives when he arrived in utah and I 1 have got them yet this so excited the ladys indignation that she sprang to her feet and exclaimed lad heslet us put him out so to as many of them as could get near enough seized hold of him the elder looked at them imploringly gly and said now ladles ladies I 1 va vish h you would wait as this is not the t time I 1 e nor or place for such a manifestation 1 of affection it you will only be patient a and come along to utah aux aur and aud if I 1 you continue in the same mind I 1 will fulfill fulfil the words of isaah isaiah who said the time should come when seven women would take hold of one man and ask him for the privilege of taking his name in order to take away their reproach walt wait till you go 0 o to utah and I 1 will marry you all this anecdote caused the audience to smile more mord or less audibly the speaker continued what Is the cry of women who have neen been neglected and injured by men it is that their reproach may be taken away the hue and cry about poly gainy gatny g L abe will w cease after awhile and it will 1 1 1 be supplanted up planted by another in regard to treason it is the frait of the goodly tree that ls is is 19 now being assailed in course of time the assault will be upon the tree itself APOSTLE HEBER J orant 0 was the next speaker through our diligence and faithfulness we ve will be entitled to the blessings of the lord i there is one thin thing I 1 that is certain about the present trouble the latter day saints will come out uppermost at the end of the controversy troverse tro versy no matter what restrict restrictions ions lons we e may be placed under by men our only consistent course is to keep the command ments of god we should in this regard place ourselves in the same position as that of the three hebrews who were cast into the fiery flery furnace if we are living in the light of the gospel we have haye a testimony of the tile truth and we nye have but one choice that Is to abide in ih the law of god no matter as to the consequences quen ices ces it Is sometimes held that the saints aro arc in error because so many i are opposed to them therb but when people lie lle know they are arc right it lt is wrong for them to forgo their own honest convictions by yielding their judgment to that of a majority no matter mattei how large when a man knows himself that he is ts honest he needs care but little as to what the world may think or sav concerning him some people are tire thought well of in public while in their do a conduct they are hot what they should be every mans life should b be such that his wives and children can b bear ar the best testimony concerning him the speaker stated that his esteem and love for the he servants of god had increased by closer association with ath them this was because he had opportunities of discovering their devot tun lun to the truth rare la theitis that Is ngut nut ther they are ready joady to do if it con conduces dudes to the advancement of the cause of god on the earthm earths chehad heard it stated that was a stupendous fraud and those jhb were of that opinion had wondered that ho had been selected for one of the leaders and he had been asked whether he did not realize that it was a humbug to such he had bad borne his test testimony imo with good effect because ho he had lived live accord according inz inc to his profession A good deal was wag being said sald about some of the authorities retiring from public view for a season deaso h why should any people thrust their bands hands into the fire when they kno know y they will be burned by so doing the there eaf will be opposition to the latter latteri i day saints stunts until the whole social fabric of the world is revolutionized in seeing these things we are only witnessing the f fulfillment fulfilment of that which has been prophesied we may expect to see men who are art corrupt arise and proclaim that this people are wicked no mant matt in this church can commit the sin which the world falsely accuse the saint saints of perpetrating and retain the spirit and a standing in tha community adultery is of all sins the most abominable the shedding of innocent blood excepted in the kight bight sight of god god cod by incidents of his own experience the speaker illustrated the confidence th speaker that people outside the church have an in a business capacity in faithful ful latter day saints and the distrust with which they look upon apostates there are however some men who hiye have been in the church who never were sere energetic while la in it and have exhibited a similar indifference after leaving it some who have withdrawn from the church the speaker hoped someday some day dax to see return to the fold foid of christ some who had been filled with light and energy enery ener y when in the faith of at the gospel gosper ard are equally bitter against acan asan st the truth seeking to tear down what they formerly were engaged in building up notwithstanding withstand ing the evil that is falsely spoken ot of the prominent elders in this church if it anyone any one of them were to give glye ive iye his elsword word of honor to any of these deputy marshals that arel hunting them that he would appear at a stated stated time and alid place chehad henad he had no doubt that it would betoken betaken taken by the of officer fleer the best and und most honorable men of the community as ag a rule had entered into plural marrage mafrige mar and were ge the objects of the cruel prosecutions that were now being enforced speaker concluded by expressing conil conti confidence dence the catis cause c oi of truth and ri would be vindicated ELDER HARVEY II 11 CLUFF counselor in the presidency of the utah stake was the next speaker ile he had been engaged in the work of god nearly fifty years in all his travels in the world he had never encountered anything chien he be was wil wll willinar linz to accept in exchange for his faith he had bad a testimony pt the truth for himself lie ile had witnessed and passed through persecutions and he rejoiced in them if sra sya we are keep the commandments of god we will behold his ills salvation ile he had always believed the saints would have to pass through difficulty and that every species of subterfuge uge age would be resorted to to bring about their destruction st the ungodly will continue in this line it is not the practice of some of the doctrines doctrin ed that brings the animus alluded to it Is the principle cf power among the saints that is opposed many of the very men who are opposed to the church are the ones wha are cor corrupt rapt and would bring immoral practices into this community Ile he concluded by exhorting 11 the saints to increased faithfulness the choir saus sans an anthem benediction by president charles 0 card daring the afternoon session the following epistle from the first presidency was wag read by Eld eid elder eider erB BF F cummings jr presidents DENIS OFFICE salt lake cit city april 2 ath 1885 to officers and aird aad members of the church of jesus christ of zatter day saints in conference assembled BELOVED BRETHREN AND SISTERS it is eminently proper under the circumstances not being able to be with you inverson in person at our annual conference f rence that we should address you a few lines I 1 lines iines and cap express ress to you our faith feelings and hopes hope concerning the great work of our god in which w we ueail lre are all ati mutually interested Nevera tany any time in our lives have we had more joy idd ind satisfaction in the gospel dospel and in the labors thereof than we have at the present time profoundly grateful to our god for his kindness to us ds in la permitting mittin us to have a name ana and a place among III iti 0 I 1 L 1 and to be the bearers berrera of iii lii his s everra everlasting stan g priesthood we aye are arc determined with alis his help to pres forward with increased diligence and zeal in doing our part towards the carrying d on of if ills llis Is purposes oses and work we see ills band hand marvelously manifested in behall ophlis people we know that ills his power is with us that his angels have charge us and that no fall upon aily any one however humble without it belna belne fully known to him jiete knowledge that god Is ear near td to us and hears and answers our prayers is isan an unceasing bause cause of thankfulness and praise for fon a wise purpose in his providence he ile permits the Ivic wicked ked in the ener eger exercise eise else of their agency from time to time to afflict his ills 10 followers 11 owens since the days of our father adam this lias has alm aim always ays i been ho tho caser andl andi bijl conyne to be ao so long Us its bita has any power thi the hearts kearis oi of taa children ot of ahou ulta we are all chIl chii children dren drea of the same great parent and each one has the opportunity and privilege granted to him or her to exercise his or her agency we have chosen to t serve the god of israel we have submitted to llis ills lawsl laws leave lave lava obeyed his gospel and have chosen the path which reassures he assures us will bring us into ills his presence others of his ills children prefer a different course they yield to a diff different bent influence and under its power they seek to destroy the work of gad and all ait who are connected with it this they can do luth in the exercise ot the father has given unto them not only in n times past but in our own civil day the wicked wicket nave have have persecuted tormented and murdered the saints faints of god buu bui while in so doing they bring upon themselves everlasting condemnation their acts are overruled for thu the glory glor alid abid exaltation of lils his faithful people and the accomplishment of ills his purposes in the redemption of the earth for a few months past we have seen in these valleys an exhibition of deadly hostility against the latter day way saints we need not enumerate to you all these acts of oppression and wrong you are familiar with enem but the best men in the community men of pure lives men who have set an example to the people ever since they came to thee mountains and in all their days who have led in works of righteousness who have been citizens oi of the highest type of character have llave been selected as victims of a vile persecution and been assailed arid and denounced as criminals of the lowest grade rade Jurie juries have shave been selected for bie rie the express purpose of convicting men who are prominent in the church and their partisan bias has become so thoroughly ehly known la the community that the tile colimon common expression pr eslon is that an accusation in the courts as noy now constituted IK ISA e equivalent I 1 va to a conviction the rule onu of jurisprudence ris which has come down for ages past h has been that the accused shall be deemed innocent until proved guilty in our courts we are sorry to say this has been reversed the burden of proof has rested upon the accused la ta almost every instance the Ju judetha judg dethe ethe jury equally with the prosecution appearing tovie whim him as guilty and the thau that appearing it I 1 t was his duty to furnish guilaf a all ail 11 the proof necessary to exculpate him from the accusation of guilt 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