Show THE CLOSING DAY The Mammoth Meetings at the Tabernacle i LARGE OVERFLOW MEETING Probably th i Largest Crowd Ever Assembled at u Mormon Conference A large emblaze attended the forenoon meeting of Conference held in the Tabernacle on Sunday last Apostle Lorenzo Snow presided The choir sang When earth in bondage lone had lain Apostle Franklin D Richards offered prayer The choir then sang How great the joy the promised day When the discipes met to pray APOSTLE MOSES THATCHER who arose to address the congregation desired to speak upon the systems of government that have prevailed amongst the most intelligent of Gods creatures from the beginning The great key of power in divine and human government is not force but persuasion not coercion but love The systems of human government have greatly changed as the ages have rolled by and where God has not spoken to the people and revealed to them thit which is periect because all things are perfect that come from Him the tendency of human governments govern-ments have beeu to the monarchial oroer governments of centralization and not governments of diffusion kingly governments as in opposition to democratic or republican governments govern-ments remaps the grandest system of monarchial government of which we have account was that represent by King Nebuchadnezzar To this great monarch the Almighty had given supremacy su-premacy and rule when ver the children chil-dren of men dwelt He felt as is natural nat-ural to the human heart that he accomplished ac-complished a great worh When we remember the extent of his dominions it is not a matter of surprise to us that he became proud But the Lord humbled him by taking away his intelligenct and caused him to live as a beast of the field without rule and without power to ever comprehend the extent of his work Then comes the government of the Medes and Persians Following the rule of the Medes and Persians I came that of the Macedonian or Alexandrian power a government that was very strong and extended its supremcy throughout the habitable globe Succeeding Suc-ceeding the Alexandrian power followed fol-lowed that of the Roman Empire represented rep-resented in the legs of iron out of which grew the ten toes or kingdoms king-doms mixed with iron and clay partly strong and partly weak And in the days of these ten Kingdoms according ac-cording to the interpretation of the great prophet Daniel there was to be a kingdom egtaohshea never more to be thrown down borne claim that the Church of Jesus Christ is a theocratic form of government govern-ment The speaker endeavored to show that this is not the case in the sense m which the world generally look upon it He also proceeded to show how the human forms of government in past ages have ultimately failed in bringing about the ends sought after the reason being that they were not founded on a divine plan He made special mention of the three forms of government which exist and which are embodied in the British constitution There are the monarchical ars ocratic and republican systems The tendency of the British subjects to enlarge their own liberty has had a tendency to weaken the power of the two former forms of government and consequently the government of Great Britain is more republican in its character than that of the United States Apostle Thatcher dwelt largely upon the Constitution of the United States the government of which has been formed by the people and hence democratic demo-cratic in its characler Its laws which are enacted bv the representatives and not by the direct will of the people are republican The Supreme Court is another feature Its members are selected by the President Senate and not by the people It is not therefore there-fore controlled by public opinion It is claimed by the Latterday Saints that those who signed the Declaration of Independence and those who framed the Constitution did sounder the influence influ-ence of inspiration from God But the broadest and most liberal form of government was tnat revealed from the Lord to an untutored boy and its organization is i reoognzsd to day as the Church 01 Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints Tno sp aker dwelt bri fly upon the power and restrictions the priesthood and the ri hts of the people in giving their sanction or rejetion to those who may be called upon to act in any position in the priesthood The church has also cot its courts of jurisdiction If a case is taken into consideration the first means of settlement settle-ment is that of reconciliation The spirit of reconciliation should char acterise all true Latterday Saints I dhould this means fail in settling a dispute a third party is called upon to act by arbitration Should this fail then the case is taken to the bishops The next higher court is the Stake I High Council Should either of the con tendin parties still remain dissatisfied another appeal can be made This system I sys-tem entends to all members of the church so thatnoneareexempted Tuis form of Church government has been founded on divine principles and a perfect per-fect system of government Towards the close of his remarks the speaker read the following which treats closely on the above subject I Behold there are many called bnt few are chosen And why are they not I I chosen 7 Because their hearts are set so much I I upon the things of this world and aspire to the honors of men that they do not learn this one lesson That the rights of the Priesthood are inseparably connecioi with the powers of heaven and that the power of heaven can not be controlled nor handled except upon the principles of righteousness That they may be conferred upon us it is true but when we undertake to cover our sins or to gratify our pride I I our vain ambition or to exercise cor trol or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men in that I decree of unrighteousness behold th heavens withdraw themselves the I Spirit of the Lord is grieved and when it is withdrawn Amen to the Priesthood Priest-hood or the authority of that man Behold I ere he is aware he is left unto himself to kick against the pricks to persecute the Saints and to fight against God We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of i almost all men as soon as they get a i little authority as they suppose they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous un-righteous dominion Hence many are called but few are chosen No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood priest-hood only by persuasion by song suffering suf-fering by gentleness and meekness and by love unfeigned By kindness and pure knowledge which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy and without guile j Reproving betimes with sharpness when moved upon by the Holy Ghost and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hat reproved lest he os teem thee to be his enemy j That he may know hat thy faithfulness faithful-ness is stronger than the cords of death Lot thy bowels also be full ot charity toward all men and to the household of faith and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly then shali thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God and the doctrine of the priesthood priest-hood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from Heaven The Holy Unoat shall be thy constant con-stant companion and thy sceptre an unchanging sceptre of righteousness and truth and thy dominion shall been be-en everlasting dominion and without comr ulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever ELDEB JOHN NICHOLSON said he found himself in a somewhat embarrassing position feeling the importance im-portance of addressing so large an assemblage as-semblage of the people of God He desired the sustenance of their faith and prayers while he sought humbly to perform the duty to which he had been called He greatly enjoyed the teachings teach-ings that had been imparted during this conference and endeavored by the aid of tne spirit of truth to scrntanize the facts and exhortations which had been delivered by the servants of the Lord Many important questions have been preented to us One of these related to the necessity of devoting a closer attention at-tention to the interEsts of the rising generation The speaker had for some time been deeply impressed with the character of our surroundings and the situation in which we find ourselves as the people of God We are in the most efficient schoolthat of experience that it is possible to institute It is one that is essential for the development of faith Without it faith could not be developed de-veloped and instead of teing disconsolate disconso-late at the appearance of obstacles he felt to lift up his heart in gratitude because be-cause of them for where there is nothing to overcome there is no progress pro-gress nor development It is plainly laid down in the revelations that in order for the Saints to take hold of the principles of salvation so that they shall know that their course is accepted of God they must b3 willing to sacrifice all things including life itself for the sake of the truths Doubtless many are not in a position to accept an ordeal of this character Some of the noblest instances of self sacrifice were made mention of during this conference One of these was the case of the three Hebrew children Shaderaoli Meshac and Abednego who were left to choose from one or two alternatives al-ternatives And what was their position posi-tion when they wens confronted with these poaitoaV Their attitude was this They were in a position of preparation prepa-ration for the ordeal It was a question ques-tion whether they knew the conse quencja of being cast into the fiery furnace out they knew that they would not fall down and worship the image They were conversant with that fact if not with the other It behooves the Latterday jints to consider whetner that is their position is j well The Lord has made varions promises and the Saints should not fear for He will fulfill them In a revelation the Lord had said Be not afraid of your enemies for whosoever layeth down hts life in my cause shall take it up again And I have decreed in my heart that I will try you and prove you even to the laying down of your lives to s e if you will abide in my covenant Therefore this 11 one of ten Bromides to the Saints that they ihall have the opportunity vf choosing between two alternatives Then we will see who will say We do not know whether we will overwhelmed by the fo ces that are brought to har against us and crushed under the weight of the powers that bej but we do know that we will not go ba k upon the re7elalions of Jesus Christ The Lord has decreed that He will have a tried p ople in the day of His power If the dav of His power is iininent immediately preceeding that will be the day of trial not to a few men who are willing to go to prison or to deoth if necessary nor to a few families who have suffered but it will have wider application The present situation of attuira is preparing the people peo-ple for that which is before them Elder Nicholson alluded to the interest which is being taken in behalf of the young He had the deepest solicitude for their welfare A number of the children ol Zion are deparing from the lath and repudiating its principles We should ascertain the causes which produce this effect and I apply a remedy By removing the causes the effect will cease Educational Educa-tional affairs are being looked into As a commencement one academv is to be instituted in each stake for the furtherance further-ance of the eoject in view This is good but there is a financial question involved The leading brethren have shown their disposition to support sach institutions to the best of their ability The school in this stake of Salt Lake is excellent in every particular partic-ular Its teachers are accomplished and those who come under their supervision super-vision are tauuht not only in the principles of secular knowledge also in those which tend to their spiritu welfare When yo ing people graduate from a school of this description they may not only be ripe scholars but true Latterday Saints with the knowledge and faith of thll gospel Implant in their hearts It is not in keeping with the object to confine the educational advantages ad-vantages of such institutions to the wealthy It is not desirable that class distinction should be encouraged but that the poora well as the rich maybe may-be elligible to them There is a dispo siiiqn on the part of our brethren to h3 willing to sustain asnoble a moxemsnt If we carry out the will of God in this respect by yielding financial aid and 1 showing our faith by our works there would be sufficient to meet every exigency exi-gency The speaker exhorted the Saints to observe the law of tithing The apostle who spoke on this subject was appalled on learning by investigation that so few were willing to make this a land of Zion by fulfilling this law We should comply com-ply with this law because we have agreed to keep the commandments of God It could not be expected that a man who held the priesthood was in the fnlleet sense a Latterday Saint unless he was willing to comply with so plain a requirement In concluding his remarks Elier Nicholson desired that God would enable the Saints to plant their feet upon the Rock of Ages and come what may continue firm thereon Owing to the large concourse of people it was evident that the Tabernacle Tab-ernacle could not conveniently accommodate accom-modate the afternoon attendance It was therefore announced that a meeting meet-ing would also be htld in the Assembly Hall in the afternoon The choir sang an anthem and Bishop John R Winder pronounced the benediction bene-diction Conference again met at 2 p m Apostle Lorenzo Snow presiding The choir and congregation sang Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah Elder George Goddard offered prayer The choir then sang Behold the Mount of Olives rend And on its top Messiah tunas His chosen Israel to defend Ana save them with a mighty hand The sacrament was administered by the priesthood of the First Ward APJSTLE FRANKLIN D BICHAED3 said they would have taken great pleasure in laying beforethe people full reports but these had not been received from all of the stakes Some stake had not reported at all while others had made only partial reports This was no doubt owing to the peculiar situation in which so many of the people peo-ple were placed at the present time These reports are very important and should be made at least once a year at the annual Conference in April Presidents Pres-idents of Stakes were requested to hereafter here-after see that full reports were delivered at the Presidents office Salt Lake City not later than March 20th for the April Conference and September 20th for the October Conference A complete report had been received from the Relief ao ciety but it is not deemed advisable on the present occasionto read it because of not having the other reports It was hoped that hereafter full reports world be made promptly that the people could be made acquainted with the growth and condition of the Church Apostle Richards then presented the General Authorities otthe Church who were unanimously sustained as follows Wilford Woodruff as President of the Council of the Twelve Apostles as one of the Tffelva Apostles and of the Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints The Council of the Twelve Apostles Wilford Woodruff Lorenzo Snow Franklin D Richards George Q Cannon Can-non Brigham Young Joseph F Smith Moses Thatcher Francis M Lyman John H Smith George Teasdale Heber J grant and John W Taylor Counselors to the Twelve Apostle John W Young and Daniel H Wells The Twelve Apostles as the Presiding Council and Authority of the Church and with their Counselors as Prophets Basra t nd Revelators Patriarch to the Church John Smith First Seven Presidents of the Seventies Seven-ties Henry Hernmau Jacob Gates Abram H Cannon Seymour B Young U D Fjeldsted John Morgan and B H Roberts gwfl William B Preston as presiding bishop bis-hop with Robert T Burton as his first and John R Winder as his second counselor coun-selor Wilford Woodruffas church historian and general church recoruer with Franklin Richards as assistant Clerk of Conference John Nicholson The following officers of different organizations or-ganizations were also presented and unanimously sustained Central committee on education for the church Wilford Woodruff o salt man Salt Lake City Lorenzo Snow Brigham City George Q Cannon Salt Lake City Karl G Maeser Provo j Williard Young Salt Lake City George W Thatcher Logan Amos Rowe Salt Lake City Anton H Lund Ephraim j James Sharp Salt LaKe City President of the Relief society Zina D H Youn secretary Snah M Kimball Kim-ball assistant secretary Romania B Pratt treasurer M Isabella Home President of the Youug Ladies Improvement Im-provement Associations Elmina S Taylor secretary Mary E Cook President of the Primary Associations Associa-tions Louie Felt s cretary Cornelia H Clayton General superiaf cadency of the Young Men Improvement Associations Wil ford Woodruff Joseph F Smith and Moses Thatcher General superintendent of the Des eret Sunday School Union George Q Cannon assistants Ueorge Goddru and John Morgan secretary Levi W Richards treasurer George Reynolds Apostle Richards explained that the names of the counselors in the superia tendency of the Young Ladies and other associations were not submitted as the list was not at Land but there were no changes Snttr Young of the Relief Society had not yet selected her counselors APOSTLE JOHN HENRY SMITH then addressed the congregation He desired the benefit of the faith and prayers of the Sain s He read the following fol-lowing portionjgof scripture from the second chapter of the Prophet Joel And it shall come to pass tnat I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh and l your sons and your daughters shall prophesy your old men shall dream dreams your young nun shall see visions And also upon the handmaids hand-maids in those days will I pour out my spirit In reading this portion of Scripture the speaker said that he did not intend using it a j a text on which to follow out a special subject He desired however to draw the attention of the congregation to one of the many uromises of our heavenly Father to His covenant people It seemed that a promise such as h > had read should fasten itself upon the mind of every Latterday Saint and inspire him or her with a desire to be earnest in the performance of the duty and recnonsi bilities which rest upon them Dumb g the conference many principles have been touched upon per aining onr duties as memberu of the Church of Christ Our brethren have dwelt variously upon these matters and have sought to impress upon our minds the I I obligations which rest upon us from tha < I agreement which we entered into in the waters of baptism They have touched upon the education and schooling of the youth of Zion It has been admitted ad-mitted by some of those who have spoken unto us that scepticism to some extent has made its appearance among some of them that are being reared in the midst of the Latterdav Saints Our efforts to very great extent ex-tent for many years past have been directed so far as practicable to the curiug of the evils of this character Ve are informed in the passage that has ben read that the Lord would bring about the time when dreams and visions and manifestations of His Holy spirit wouM be manifested to a very great extent among the people When Joseph Smith the boy prophet of this dispensation came forward and announced under the inspiration of the HolySpiiit that God did again communicate commu-nicate with mankind the world was thrown into commotion Scarcely had the inspired words fallen from his lips and the world was left to witness one of the grandest dispays Of the goodness of God One ray of light afteranother dawned upon the universe and in rapid succession they have continued to flow unto the people from that time to the present and they will continue to flow until our Father himself may see fit to restrain them if He should choo5e so to do Inspiration is a motive mo-tive power among the many forces in the universe The world may inform us that the voice of inspiration was hushed that the windows of heaven were closed and that we stood alone in this cold world without the blessings and privileges which were enjoyed oy those of former dispeosatioi B It was the inspiration of God that actuated Newcomba and Watts in the accomplishment of the purposes which have assisted in revolutionizing revo-lutionizing the world The same is true in regard to the electric telegraph It was inspiration that led a Morse to the accomplishment ot God purposes and led him to say What hath God wrought We 01 the people of God should instil within tl e minds of our children that inspiration is the groundwork of all true success in man It is our duty to instruct the sons and daughters of Zion to understand the principles that per tian to life and salvation We saojld teach them faith in God The gospel teaches up that we are responsible for our own sins and not for the sins of others It has been differently taught by those who lived in spiritual darkness fur they did not possess the light of the gospel Towards the close of his discourse the speaker testified that Christ lives and His work on earta will continue according accord-ing to the righteous designs of the Almighty Al-mighty Grave responsibilities have been placed upon the servants of God Jesus was the author of this work and His servants have been called upon to proclaim it to the world Apostle Smith exhorted the Saints to observe the commandments of God He testified that Zion would flourish and no power is able to overcome her in her progress The choir sang an anthem Conference Confer-ence was adjourned till April 1839 and the benediction pronounced by Apostle Lorenzo Snow brought the services to a close |