OCR Text |
Show GREATEST THRONG OF CONFERENCE VISITORS FOR A DOZEN YEARS. The greatest conference crowd that has ever gathered in Zlon since the dedication ded-ication of the Temple, a doien years ago, has assembled here to listen to the counsel of the leaders of the church. Fourteen thousand persons. It Is estimated, es-timated, passed into the Tabernacle grounds yesterday afternoon to attend the opening services of the seventy-fourth seventy-fourth annual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the opening prayer in the morning. Elder J. E. Taylor gave thanks for the manner In which the presidency of the church had defended the principles of the faith at home and obroad. President Joseph F. Smith, presiding, counseled the Saints to be firm in their faith, declaring the Lord would reward his children for following the laws of righteousness and truth. Apostle Francis M. Lyman advocated "multiplying and replenishing the earth," and declared that all the Saints know that when President Smith speaks God Is speaking through him, and God makes no mistakes. Elder Brigham H. Roberts gave warning warn-ing to the Gentiles to not reject the word of God as taught by the believers in the Mormon faith. Apostle Lyman's Speech. At the afternoon session, Apostle Francis M. Lyman was the first speaker. speak-er. He declared that the people of the world deemed It a mystery the way the Saints- held together. The world thinks it a compulsory power, but it is the inspiration in-spiration of the holy trinity. "We are here that we may have posterity," pos-terity," he declared in the course of his remarks. "We are here that we may multiply and replenish the earth.. We can't spare a moment. It must be utilised. util-ised. " . ' Replied to Dr. Paden. After a musical number. Elder Brig-ham Brig-ham H. Roberts spoke. Without mentioning men-tioning names, he replied to some recent re-cent sermons by the Rev. Dr. W. M. Paden of the First Presbyterian church, attacking the book of Nepht, in its reference ref-erence to Christ. He closed with a warning to the Gentile nations of the Western world ir they steeled their hearts against the true religion. Big Overflow Meeting. . A great overflow meeting was held In the Assembly hall. The building was crowded to the danger' point. Joseph Christensen opened the meeting with prayer. Short addresses were made by Nephl Pratt, president of fhe Northwestern North-western States mission; Asahel Woodruff, Wood-ruff, president of the Northern States mission, and Joseph E. Robinson, president presi-dent of the California mission. J. Golden Kimball said his heart was so filled with a protest against, the, la- lqultles of the world that he had difficulty diffi-culty In restraining himself. President David H. Cannon of the St. George temple and Joeeph W. McMur-rln McMur-rln were the other speakers. President Angus M. Cannon, in delivering de-livering the benediction', prayed that the people of the world would learn to look upon the Mormons in a different and a better light, and that the church might thrive despite all opposition. Outside, Rulon S. Wells and others spoke to the crowds on the grounds near the bureau of information. Sunday-School Union. The Deseret Sunday-school union held its conference at the Tabernacle and fully 10,000 persons were in attendance. President Joseph F. Smith presided. The music was furnished by the choir of Granite stake undefthe direction of Prof. Evans Stephens. Every Utah stake was represented as well as the California. Northwestern States and Southern States missions. After the reading of statistics on Sunday-school work, the names of the officers offi-cers were presented by the federal secretary, sec-retary, George D. Pyper, and sustained. They are as follows: Superintendent, Joseph F. Smith; first assistant superintendent, superin-tendent, George Reynolds; second assistant as-sistant superintendent, J. M. Tanner; general secretary, George D. Pyper, business manager. W. A. Morton. These officers and the board of twenty-Are twenty-Are wecabaraiisi1?? 25 pja2w., I |