Show SABBATH SCHOOLS the j eleft 9 annual meeting of the des wl aisy school union convened e tabernacle salt lake city 1 aay udd i ay Y april ath at 7 p m ut t george Q cannon ft were present on the stand a api first J presidency resi enc of the r wilford woo woodruff ruff and cannon apostles john and heber heber J grant president angus M cannon of the salt lake stake the general officers of the union stake superintendents and others there was a very large attendance the choir composed of members of schools sang well sing all hail to jesus name prayer by elder david john of utah stake the choir sang let the holy spirits prompting the roll was called showing 18 stakes of zion to be represented at the meeting the general officers of the sunday school union were unanimously sustained as follow george Q cannon as aa general superintendent with john morgan and george goddard as his amsih assistants tants levi W richards secretary deorge george reynolds treasurer and john C cutler assistant secretary and treasurer elders john C cutler thomas C griggs george reynolds jos W and abram H cannon were sustained as the general board of the union and william willes as general missionary to the sunday schools the statistical report for the year ending december alst 1888 was read showing 52 pupils u ils enrolled and the tolaf total officers cers echers teachers and pupils to be ELDEB JOHN MORGAN said this report shows a very marked increase over the preceding year but it is painful to say that a large number of of the children of the latter day saints do not attend our sabbath schools those engaged in this great work should gather all the children in so that they may be trained in the ways of eternal life quite a percentage of the rising generation of zion are not receiving that religious training which is essential to their salvation and one of the objects in gathering here tonight is to try and infuse in your hearts a greater desire for the welfare of your children and get them under the influence of our schools throw a wall of protection around about the sons and daughters of zion and it will be a benefit to them in their lives superintendents and teachers should take hold of this work with an earnestness seek for the spirit of the lord to aid ass mss you ou in this direction and he will bless you while visiting the saints in arizona last fall I 1 had the privilege of visiting the sabbath mckool school of of the papago indians they have their own choir and teachers superintendent informed me that the teachings imparted are having a W wholesome holesome influence in raising these Lama from their fallen condition if the gospel has such an in influence over them how much more will it have upon the children born bom in the new and everlasting covenant ELDER ELDEB EL DEB GEORGE GODDARD expressed his pleasure at seeing so large an attendance at the meeting and remarked that the sabbath school institution was second to none in the church therefore the best talent in israel men and women possessing the love of god should be selected as teachers this is of the greatest importance for it requires such people to into the minds ds of the young such principles as will make them disciples of our lord jesus christ to have a successful and flourishing sabbath school there should be as little interruption tion as possible nothing short of of stake and other conferences of the people or other justifiable causes should interfere with the sessions of these schools funerals should not interfere with them every teacher knows how difficult it is to get t all the pupils of a sacrool school together if only one session be not held this should be guarded against where the presidents of stakes and an d the bishops take a deep interest in this work and the latter attend sunday school regularly as some do the benefits are greater to the schools than where this is not done it is also important that punctuality wad and order be strictly observed on all occasions ELDER GEORGE REYNOLDS said in a late circular issued by the deseret sunday school union reference is made to some sunday school lessons prepared for the use of the children of the latter day saints sainte we have some sample lessons for distribution to superintendents of stakes and also to the superintendents ten dents of schools these lessons which are intended to be taken up consecutively treat on the life of christ the first number is dated for the first sunday in june we have eight lessons ready containing the following subjects the birth of christ jesus as a boy the testimony of john yohn the baptist t Is t with regard r to the savior the baptism of jesus the tem temptation of jesus in the wilderness the e marriage at cana of galileo galilee and first miracle performed by jesus jesus cleansing the tem temple bellil e of those who defiled it by delfing ng oxen sheep doves etc and jesus and nicodemus these tire the first eight el lit numbers which have been decito decided upon by the general board of the union an and d will be sent free to all the sunday schools of the latter day saints in the proportion of one to every four of the number of children in the school it is the intention hereafter to make a nominal charge and ask five cents for the whole of the remainder of the series of thirty one numbers in addition to lessons taken from the old and new testament sketches will be taken from the book of mormon doctrine and covenants and other church works the numbers which I 1 have mentioned are now ready at the juvenile Ina udor office for those who wish to get them and the others will be sent out as soon as prepared Sin singing fing by the choir our mou mountain wn home so dear APOSTLE HEBER J GRANT was pleased to learn of the progress being be ingma made dein in the sabbath schools of the saints sainte fifty thousand and upwards of sunday school children among the latter day saints sainte is a powerful testimony to the world in opposition to the charge made ag finst us that we are a corrupt people this is in keeping with the great and first command not long of since nee I 1 read an article in one of the great journals of this country from the pen of a gentleman connected with the sabbath schools of new york city for 40 years deex he expressed his regret that that christian city with its big fine church on fifth avenue could not muster as many as sabbath school children out of 1500 church members of that district it is looked upon by many people in the world that the giving of birth to children is degrading but the killing of their offspring spring or destroying the fountain of lire life and breaking the commandments of god are looked upon by this same people as being legitimate and roper proper they will come under great condemnation for doing these things I 1 rejoice that the latter day saints are faithful to god with regard to their offspring and that instead of IGO eb children ildren to 1500 members we can produce between and sabbath school children for every 1500 members let more time and attention be devoted to the proper training of the young and rising generation and god will bless us and them PRESIDENT WILFORD WOODRUFF said I 1 am happy and thankful to god to meet with so many of the latter day saints tonight you are engaged in a glorious mission we have an army of nearly immortal souls noble spirits sent from god and born of goodly parents here we have a mighty harvest before us a large field of work I 1 feel that brother cannon has been spared of the lord and he be has performed perform a great and a good work in establishing the sabbath schools in this territory as also those associated with him in his labor I 1 desire the presidents of stakes and the bishops to interest themselves in this work and also to As assist in building up the Iri primary mary organizations and mutual improvement associations for they all need encouragement encourage the sisters who have charge of the primary organizations havin having 9 charge of the smaller children they need to be sustained in their labors take rake a deep interest in all the organizations animations in your stakes and wards and visit them as often as possible minister to all the people in the church of god as they require now I 1 want to say a word regarding the training of the children of the latter day saints A question was put to the aro prophet het josepn as to the time when tae the education of children should begin he said it was at the time when alien the spirit of life came from god and entered into the tabernacle that was joseph smith smithis Is doctrine and it is mine parents are responsible for the proper training of their children I 1 have a great anxiety con corning the young and rising generation of zion for the kingdom of god has got to rest upon their shoulders they will have to carry on this work when their fathers and mothers pass into the spirit world then ae let us as parents elders superintendents and teachers prepare them for the great and important mission awaiting them PRESIDENT GEORGE Q CANNON said it is very interesting to see so many people turn out on a sabbath evening to attend this meeting it gives evidence of the interest in the subject of sunday schools I 1 am exceedingly thankful that we have such an organization and pleased at the results attained still as has been said we can progress and this is our mission the work of the lord is ever progressing we are like a city set upon a hill and cannot be hid it has been said by some that we will be left to ourselves some day or other in a condition of isolation but I 1 have not taken that view of the subject that we have been assailed by the wicked is true this has been the case from the very beginning but our institutions are such as to endure the attacks made upon them and why because this is the work of god and it is designed to remain it was thought by many that the building of a railroad here would v solve the mormon problem but president young remarked that it was a poor religion that could not stand one railroad it would be a poor religion that could not stand many railroads the gospel will endure all ail things it will withstand saloons and the drunkard the gambling den and everything brosiah against it it will remain intact in the midst of this atmosphere no rivalry can affect the church of god it will stand unmoved in the midst of all things it is for us to remain true to its principles bely me 0 on n the lord continual continually lr travel in the path that he has marga marked out for us and we need not fear the re suite you who are called to preside over stakes and wards take an extra interest in the institutions and organizations of your districts seek to qualify the members for usefulness and fidelity to the cause of truth superintendents and teachers of sunday schools ma magnify unify your callings also and the blessings of god will attend all your labors the choir sang I 1 kind and heavenly father I benediction by apostle john H smith W RICHARDS clerk |