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Show ! MISSION IN MEXICO 10 BE MOONED PRESIDENT SMITH SAYS SAINTS ARE RELEASED FROM DUTY IN SOUTHERN REPUBLIC. Head of "Mormon" Church at Semi-Annual Semi-Annual Conference Discusses Troubles of Colonists Session Ses-sion One of Interest. Salt Lake City. At the opening session ses-sion of the eighty-third semi-annual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held in this city on Friday, October 4, President Presi-dent Joseph' F. Smith spoke of the trials of the Saints in war-stneken Mexico, and declared that the mission there is, at least for the present, at an end; and that the brave men and women who had risked their fortunes and their lives in the attempt to build up a branch of the church in that country are released from further duty in the southern republic. The president paid a glowing tribute trib-ute to the members of the church who had gone to Mexico to make their homes, declaring that they "have suffered suf-fered a great deal at the hands of a degraded, wicked, unprincipled grade of men, many of whom unquestionably have good hearts in them, and will manifest the goodness of their hearts when under the influence of good men and of favorable surroundings." "The American government," said President Smith, "has played the part of wisdom in standing aloof and letting let-ting dog eat dog." The church dignitaries were well represented at the conference, only two of the apostles being absent, Rudger Clawson, who is in Europe, and George F. Richards. - Of the first seven presidents of the seventies, there w;ere present: J. Golden Kimball, Seymour B. Young, Rulon S. Wells, J. W. Mc-Murrin, Mc-Murrin, and Charles H. Hart. Bishop Charles W. Nibley, presiding bishop of the church, and his counselors, O. P. Miller and David A. Smith, were present. pres-ent. Scores of other high churchmen, including Patriarch Hyrum G. Smith, occupied seats of honor. Fully 8,000 persons, many of them pilgrims from throughout the world, far and near, where the branches of the church are located, were present, the attendance exceeding that of any opening session in years. Following the address of President Smith, President Anthon H. Lund made a brief doctrinal address, following follow-ing closely the line marked out by President Smith in the closing of his sermon. 7 11 f . , .tour of the first council of seventies, seven-ties, Charles H. Hart. Joseph W, Mc-Murrin, Mc-Murrin, Rulon S. Wells and Jonathan G. Kimball, also spoke at the opening day's sessions, each delivering an instructive in-structive and entertaining address. At the Saturday session, the vast audience listened to three more of the first council of seventies, Brigham H. Roberts, Seymour B. Young and Levi Edgar Young, the principal address being be-ing delivered by Elder Roberts. In the afternoon four of the Apostles spoke, including President Franci3 M. Lyman and Apostles Heber J Grant, Reed Smoot and Hyrum M. Smith. In his address at the Saturday session, ses-sion, President Smith said: "God, in, His boundless wisdom and gracious mercy, has provided means and has shown the way to the children ot men, whereby even in the realm of freedom and the exercise of their own judgment judg-ment they may individually come to God in faith and prayer and find out what should guide and direct their human judgment and wisdom; and I don't want the Latter-day Saints to forget this is their privilege." It is estimated that there were 12,-000 12,-000 persons in the tabernae'e at each of the meetings on Sunday, and, in the afternoon, there must have been 20,000 persons in the tabernacle, assembly as-sembly hall and outdoor gathering. The closing sessions rounded out a conference that has been gratifyingly successful. It was a mighty exposition exposi-tion of the wonderful and close fellowship- w-hich binds together a great people in one faith, one hope and united worship of one supreme being. Especially in the afternoon did the overwhelming throng typify the compact com-pact unity of the Mormon people. Speakers at the tabernacle meetings were Elder Charles W. Penrose, of the first presidency; Elder Orson F. Whitney, George A Smith, David O. McKay, Joseph F. Smith, Jr., and James E. Talmage of the quorum of twelve apostles, and President Josepn F. Smith, who closed and dismissed the conference in a brief address of admonition. Elder George F. Richards is confined to his home on account of illness, and President Smith asked the saints to make a petition for his recovery a special subject of their prayers. One of the overflow meetings was held in the assembly hall, in charge of Elder Anthony W. Ivins of the quorum quo-rum of twelve apostles. Assisting , him as speakers were President Sam- j uel O. Bennion of the Central States ' mission. President German E. Ellsworth Ells-worth of the Northern States mission, President Charles A. Callis of the Southern States mission and Elder David H. Cannon of St. George. Ten missionary societies of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day , Saints held reunions Friday night, ;alked over old days while on missions, mis-sions, renewed old acquaintances from among the many who are in the city to attend the conference, enjoyed music and dancing and listened to short addresses of good fellowship frorr representative men from among them. Sixteen stakes were represented at the meeting of the Woman's Genealogical Genealo-gical society of the Mormon church held Saturday |