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Show SEMI-ANNUAL CONFERENCE. , Satubday, Oct. 6, 1877. 10 a. m. i The forty-eighth semi annual con-' fereuce of the Church o! Jesus Curiat of Latter-day Saints convened in the tabernacle in this city on Saturday ! morning. Then: were present the enliro quorum of the twelve uiuUlea, Counselors J. W. Young and D. H. Wells, and the general church authorities, who occupied the stand and platforms in the order designated by their Beveralcalliugs and positions. Conference wus called to order by President John Taylor. The choir then sang the hymn commencing, " What wondrous things w now behold," be-hold," etc. Prayer was oflered by Elder Joseph Young, sen. Singing by the choir, "0 Lord, our help in ages past," etc. Eider Geo. Q. Cannon then read the reports of the presidents of the following stakea: Cache valley, Weber, Tuoelo, Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, Mor gan, Summit, Wasatch, Juab, Sanpete, San-pete, Millard, Sevier, Bear Lake, Kunab and St. George. Elder Cannon then said that in order to impart a better understanding understand-ing concerning the reports required, a meeting would be held on Sunday evening at 7 o'clock in the 14lb ward assembly rooms of the presidents and their counselors and clerks. He also stated that it had been desired and intended to give a full report to the conference, but owing to the imperfect reports from the various stakes it would he impossible. In future, however, it was expected this would beaccomp- lished. Elder Wilford Woodruff then made a report ol the labors in theSt. George temple, and concluded by saying that labors would be resumed therein on the 20th of the present month. Elder Euastus Snow then ad dressed the couferonce. He believed the building of the St. George temple, through the spirit which it had aroused among the saints, especially those who were able to enjoy its benefits, ben-efits, wub doing a great good among the people; aud this was making itself manifest in the payment ot tithesand ofieringH. He also belived that the building of other temples which bad been commeuced would have a similar sim-ilar effect. The spirit of the Lord would cement the people together in their objects and lives. They were called upon to be the saviors of men. Their mission was first to the living, to preach the gospel for theexaltation of mankind. Jesus had not attempted to do all the work himself, but like the good shepherd, had commenced the work by giving his life for the sheep; had culled to his assistance the twelve and the seventies and others. If the paints desired to be saviors they must first bless the liviug by preaching to them the gospel, and by gathering the poor; aud then work for the buI-vation buI-vation of the dead, in the temples erected to the most high for this pur pose. The saints must do their work here on this earth, as there was no promise of another creation for them to perform the labors whichehould be done here. As St. Paul had said that the dead could not be made perfect without the saints in his day, so the saiuts of latter days might supplement sup-plement bis remark by saying that those in Paul's day could not be made pertect without the saints of the present pre-sent generation. To be successful in their labors the saints must be united and must withdraw their heart) and affections from the vanities of the world and place them on the things of God. There ahould be the utmost freedom of Bpeech, but none Bhould, through a spirit of fault-finding, speak unwisely concerning the errors or imperfections of those presiding. He tlien gave instructions to those who were called to Bit in judgement, before whom the difficulties of their brethren came to be adjusted, and showed how all their decisions must be governed by wisdom and the spirit of righteousness. The Lord had given the privilege to the saints of sanctioning sanction-ing the appointment of the judges in Israel, and others called lo preside, or to minister among them. He bad also given the privilege of appeals from their decisions, owing to the weakness and imperfection of mortality. mor-tality. But if all lived bo bb to retain the spirit of truth they would be able to judge, not merely by the "seeing of the eye or the hearing of the ear," but with a righteous judgment, Elder Geoege Q. Caunon Lhen gave instructions as to the seating of the various quorums during the conference. confer-ence. Choir Bang the anthem "O, be joyful in the Lord." Adjourned till 2 p.m. Beuediction by Counselor John W. Young. 2 p. m. Called to order by Wilford Woodruff. Wood-ruff. Choir sang the hymn commencing com-mencing "The time iB nigh, that happy time," etc. Prayer was oflered by Elder A. O. Smoot. Singing Sing-ing by the choir, "Sweet is the peace the gospel brings," etc. Elder George Q. Cannon referred to the method adopted in voting for the church authorities in Kirtland, and gave instructions as to the plan which would be followed on this occasion, occa-sion, and stated that the members of quorums who desired to vote affirmatively affirma-tively would stand up and raise their right hands ut the same time. He then read some remarks of Joseph Smith on the subject of the twelve apostles being the presiding authority of the church. The name of John Taylor was then presented as president of the twelve apostles and one of the twelve and first presidency of the church-, and each mernberof the twelve was separately sepa-rately presented for the vote of the quorums, who manifested their approval ap-proval by standing up during the presentation of the names and raiding their right hands as each member I wus presented. The vole was unanimous. unani-mous. The twelve were upheld as the presiding pre-siding quorum and authority of the cuurch, and as prcphets, seers aud revelators. The presidents of the various quorums quo-rums on the stand were calffd upon to vote in a budy on the various authorities, au-thorities, which they did unanimously. unanimous-ly. Alter the quorums had voted the whole congregation were required to vote in a body, which they did unanimously. unani-mously. President John Taylor moved that John W Young and Daniel H. Wells be sustained as prophets, seers and reveiators, to act with the twelve as their counselors. The congregation voted on this motion in a body, and the vote was unanimous. Juhn Taylor w3 unanimously sustained sus-tained aa trustee in-trust, with the twelve apostles and the. two counselors counsel-ors as his counselors. The general church authorities were presented in turn and unanimously unani-mously sustained by the quorums and congregation. Eider George Goddard was sustained as clerk of the conference. Elder Geo. Gibbs was sustainei as clerk and recorder of the Salt Lake: stake ol Zioa. President John TiTLOKthen a:os3 and addressed the conference. He I leit very happy to find such unanim-l iiy existing us was exhibited in the; veiling to day. There was a Baying1 "Vox Populwi'ox Dei," but the saints j did not believe in this entirely and alone. It was a custom among ancient , Israel fur God to speak and the peo-1 pie to say aineu, thus it was the voice j ut the people assenting to the voice of; God. J'lie twelve felt the weight of the responsibilities resting on them, in view of the recent changes which had taken pi ice; and were it not that j the law was plainly laid down, they i would not have assumed these responsibilities.- Othce was honorable when honorably obtaiurd, and while the twelve thanked tho saints for the confidence they had manifested, they depended on the OfsistHuce of the Almighty. President Taylor stated lhat lie had tpoken but little in public pub-lic since the death of President Young, for several reasons. One was that ho had felt sorrowful at the loss of a servant ser-vant of God, and another was he did not desire to put hi a1 self forward; neither had he done so. But the twelve bad expressed themselves unanimously on the matter, ami Elders Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith had the same feeling on their return from Europe. The priesthood was not for the purposo of personal aggrandizement, but lor the build int up of the Zion of God, and all should act aa the servants of God in advancing advanc-ing the interests of his kingdom on the earth. If they cairied out the principles of righteousness Zion would rise and shine, and the glory of God would reBt upon her. Elder George Q. Cannon then read an extract from a writing of Joseph Smith, concerning righteous and uo-lighteous uo-lighteous domiuiuu over tho souls of men. lJBKiiIDENT JOUN TAYLOR Baid that he dcuired these words should be read today, tor they were true when they were written, and they were also true at the present time; and by exercising the principles of righteous dominion the saints .vould become united. Lei no man suppose the work of God would stop, for it would continue to progress and would not be impeded. Elder George Q. Cannon announced a meeting of the Sunday school teach era, and also instructed the ushers to seat the congregation on Sunday, as usual, admitting the public to the seals which had been hitherto reserved for the quorums. Cnoir sang the anthem, "Awake ! put on thy strength!" Adjourned till Sunday morning at 10 o'clock. Benediction by Elder Orson Hyde. |