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Show FORTY-FOURTH SEMI-ANNUAL CONFERENCE. Agreeable to the adjournment of May 10th, the Forty - fourth Semiannual Semi-annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened con-vened in tho New Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, on Tuesday, October ilth at JO a.m. There were present on the stand : Presidents BriyUam Young, Geo. A. Smith and D. H. Weill, of the First Presidency; Elders Oraou Pratt, John 1 Taylor, Wilford Woo:lruO'( C C. Rich, Lorenzo Suow, Franklin D. Richards, Geo. Q. Cannon, Brigham Voung, Jr., and Albert Carrington, of the Twelve Apostles; John Smith, Patriarch; Presidents Albert P. Rock-wood, Rock-wood, Horace 8. Eldredge and John Van Cott, of the first seven Presidents Presi-dents of the Seventies; Edward Socl-grove Socl-grove and Elias Morris, of the Presidency Presi-dency of the High rrieats Quorum; Geo. B. Wallace, W. H. Folsom and John T. Caine, of the Presidency of this Stake; Edward Hunter and Leonard Leon-ard V. Hardy, of the Presidency of the Bishopric. There were also present a large 1 number of Presidents, BishopB, Elders, and othor representative men from different parts of this Territory and somo from Idaho. The Tabernacle choir, Professor Gcorgo Careless, leader, Joseph J. Daynes, organist, wero present and 1 performed the musical part of the service. The Conference was called to order by President Gcorgo A. Smith; the choir sang the hymn, "All you who love Emanuel's name," etc.; prayer by President George A. Smith, after which tho choir sang "Sweet is the work, my God, my king," etc. President Geo. A. Smith said he was thankful to meet iu these Conference Confer-ence capacities and to behold the faces of tiie Latter-day Saints. They had received the first principles of the gospel and had thereby entered into covenants to which they would do well to give heed. Owing to tho manifestations of human weaknesses, many in the early history of the church apostatized from the faith, and some supposed that most of the talent of the church had left it, but the subsequent progress of the kingdom king-dom was such that the previous apostasy apos-tasy was scarcely felt and the talent never missed. He said the subjecU for contemplation contempla-tion during this Conference would be the necessity of a general reformation among tho people, including the principles of union which had already been extensively Dreachod; but theie- was still greater room for improvement improve-ment in their practice, in order that they might become a self-sustaining community. They should, therefore, commence iu good earnest, not only '. to manufacture what thoy required to use and wear, but also to patronize in : their families every branch of home I industry. The speaker alluded to i the building of temples, and referred re-ferred to the magnificert structure now being erected in this city, and the great ezpcn.se attendant upon the work; and urged upon the Saints the necessity of assisting in this work by liberal donations. The temple at St. George was also progressing; but they wanted to make a united effort on that building the coming winter, and would probably call some two or three hundred workmen from these northern settlements to go down to St. George this fall and spend the winter there laboring upon that temple, as workmen can be employed em-ployed there during the entire winter months. He wished the elders to consider and speak upon these subjects sub-jects and the saints to manifest then-faith then-faith and pray for the elders, that thoy might be filled with the light and intelligence of the gospel, that all may be benefitted during the sessions of the Conference. Elder Charles C. Rich rejoiced that he had the privilege of bearing his testimony to tho Saints. The things which had been spoken were true; his experience had taught him that the principle of a community importing everything that they used would lead to ruin in a very short time. He Bpoke in a plain, practicable practic-able manner f the duties of the Saints, the necessity of becoming self-sustaining, manufacturing what they needed and exporting rather than importing. The temporal salvation ol the people depended upon then-being then-being united in nil things. He urged diligence and strict adherence to the principles of the Gospel so that they might enjoy the blessings which had been promised to the faithful. Elder B. Young, Jr., said he was pleased to have a testimony to bear before the Latter-day Saints. It was a great satisfaction to him to know that there were men upon the earth who had the spirit of revelation; that knew the things of God by the spirit of God which' was within them. He bore testimony to the truths of the Gospel as revealed to the Latter-day Saints, and said that the testimony of the elders of Israel would condemn the world; referred to the mission of , Joseph Smith; the testimony 1 which he had bcrno while an unknown un-known youth, and how his testimony had been sustained by subsequent results, an instance of which was set forth in. the gathering of scores of thousands of people to these valleys for the purpose of serving God and keeping his commandments. There iwas no deception in this, the people had received this testimony and witness wit-ness of the Gospel for themselves, and it was this principle that had sustained sus-tained them through persecutions persecu-tions and drivings. God had manifested himself in behalf of thia people, and had delivered them from their enemies. NoCwitbstandiug all the persecutions which the Latter-Day-Saints have passed through and are passing through, they havo been and are engaged in gathering the poor and down-trodden from the old countries, bringing them from oppres-pion oppres-pion to a land of freedom, where they could have a shelter over their heads. Thu was the example which they give to the world and tbeir enemies. He inquired why the opponents of the Siints did not meet them with moral weapons why did they not convince the Mormons with the Bible? They were willing to meet them on these grounds; but the opposition feared defeat and resorted to persecution. He urged the Saints to faithfulness, that tiitjy migttt be able to endure to the end, and come otl more than conquerors. Cboir sang anthem, "Who is like unto Ihee ?" etc. Conference adjourned to 2 p.m. Benediction by President D. H. Welis. 2 p.m. Choir sang "Come all you Saints who dwell on earth," etc. Prayer by Eider Albert Carrington. Hymn, "Happy the man who finds the place," etc. Elder John Taylor addressed the Conference. He attributed the situa- tionofthe people to God, who was tiie creator of circumstances, and j who was and is the controller of all tilings. God had ever had h:a designs and purpoees to accomplish in what he did; thus, in ancient times, the people of the earth hnd become wicked and corrupt, and to prevent ' the continuation ami multiplication of such, he caused, the earth to be Deluged De-luged with water and the wicked to be swept OiT tiie world. He then briefly revi ;wcd the history of mankind man-kind alter the days of Noah till people agtin became wicked and sinful, when Abraham was raised up and God promised to nive lo him, and his seed the earth us an inheritance. Many prophets and great men sprang from Abraham, and they grew to be a mighty nation; but niter a time they also became corrupt and lost the priestlioad which had been conferred upon them. Then it was that Jesus Christ came upon the earth with the gospel. If the people had then listened lis-tened to him and profited by what he taught, peace would have been established; estab-lished; but the people would not hearken. hear-ken. Jesus told the people that a time would come when a people would arise and make war against God and his Gospel. As Jesus had said so it had been; the inhabitauts of the earth had been at limes good, at others bad, down till the present the season predicted by Paul as the dispensation of the fullness full-ness of times. The Mormons had a specified work to perform, yet they had had nothing to do with bringing that work about. God had indicated all, and worked all to his own pur- , poses. He had told what should be done and how performed, s God had raised up his men, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and others, and given them the power for performing the work which he desired them to do. Joseph Smith could not have accomplished what he did unless God had told him what to do, and given him the power and keys to do it. The speaker and mauy others had traveled thousands of miles with- out purse and scrip, preaching the Gospel of Christ, yot oxcept God had given them the power and intelligence intelli-gence necessary, they could not have accomplished their work. The enemies ene-mies of God would have crushed his servants from .the earth long ago, hod not the Lord had another purpose, pur-pose, and controlled tho wayward children of men. And God would continue to thwart the plans of the wicked against his people, and his church, and his Samts would continue con-tinue to prosper, despite the powers of earth and combinations of men to crush them out. God was at the helm, and would steadily guide and roll forth his work, . The speaker referred to the building build-ing of temples which the Lord had commanded, and ursed the people to ! exert themselves cheerfully to that 1 work. All were deeply interested in: the completion of the temples the dead of ages past and the living were interested. For himself, he desired to do what God commanded of him to be a friend to the Lord and have the Lord for a friend; to see all men friends to each other and to themselves, them-selves, and to see everyone striving to do right and to bring about a reign of peace on the earth. f r Elder Wilford Woodruff followed, follow-ed, and bore his testimony to the frutli of the words spoken by Eider Taylor.- The Bpeaker was pleased to know that he was a (follower of the gospel of Christ a gospel which had ever been unpopular since it was first given on the earth to the present; all who had believed in it were despised; but it would survive despite the endeavors en-deavors of God's enemies to sweep it off the earth. God had ordained that in these days the dispensation of the fullness of times the gospel should stand, and all of its ordinances and requirements be performed by his people. He cited instances where God had raised up inspired men and given them intelligence and power to do his work; and how these men had succeeded. But to receive God's spirit and blessings the people must have faith and live according to the requirements asked of them. The enemies of the churoh asserted, and frequently had done so in times past, that if the leaders were cut off the earth "Mormonism" would die, but it was not so. . The gospel was God's gospel; had it not been so, it would have perished long since. It was hot a work of men, but of God. It had never stopped with the death of a prophet, and never would die with the demise ot a leader. He exhorted the people to worship God and live according to his requirements. By doing so a short time while on earth, eternal happiness was the reward. Elder Woodruff delivered a spirited sermon and full of sound truths and useful instructions. Choir sang the anthem, "Beautiful "Beauti-ful are thy towers." Elder B. Young, jr., pronounced the benediction. Conference adjourned till Wednesday Wednes-day morning, at 10 o'clock. BRIEF TELEGRAMS. Thiers addressed the French at Milan on Tuesday. Emperor William is displeased at Yon Arnim's arrest. A $-50,000 fire in Paxton, Me., Monday; insurance $3S,000. The Emperor William has not declined to visit Rome this Autumn. The old Catholics now have thirty-five thirty-five congregations in the Jura, Switzerland. Swit-zerland. - It is believed that the Bank of England is about to advance its rate of interest. Kupfer ifc Co., New York dealers in woolen goods have temporarily suspended. The tribunal at Trevis has decided to release Bishop Eberhard and remit re-mit his fine. Meyer & Brothers' furniture warehouse ware-house at Evansville, Ind., burned. Loss, $50,000. The Irish team of riflemen had a public reception at Toledo on the 6th en route for the West. The Protestant Episcopal Church Congress met at Calvary church, New York city, 9th inst. Kuflerele & Boisseles' brass foun-ry foun-ry and hardware store in St. Louis was burned Monday night. Rev. J. F. GlendenniDg, of Jersey City, has applied to his Presbytery for an investigation of the charges against him in the Pomeroy case. Lieut. -Commander Kellogg, of the mxdiedof yellow fever at Pesa-cola Pesa-cola on the 6tb. Paymaster McMa-hon McMa-hon is seriously ill at the same place. It is stated that the arrangement in regard to the Turkish succession was made in consequence of the precarious pre-carious condition of the Sultan's health. A lieutenant of the Turkish army, who was inspector of arms made in Providence, R. L, for the Sultan, committed suicide on the night of the 5th by drowning. The grand jury of the Common Pleas court, at St. Paul, have presented present-ed twenty-three indictments against Charles Mcllraih, the late State Auditor Au-ditor of Minnesota, for malfeasance j in office. He has been arrested and I will make a statement. |