| Show Y conference three interesting meetings held last sunday OBJECT OF THE organization the give a esala nation Excel kat by officers anil others the annual conference of the young mens mutual improvement association of utah stake waa held in alie meeting house prove stake superintendent geo II 11 brimhall presiding there w ere present of alio territorial officers assistant general Super indent milton II 11 hardy secretary edward II 11 anderson and treasurer wm S burton services TV ere commenced at 10 a in after the usual opening exercises elder william S burton addressed the congregation gre gation we ar eliere because we are all interested in one great cause alie young mens conferences the young ladies conferences and all these meetings have but one great object in view the building up of alie kingdom of god I 1 remember hen president young first called upon some of us to go out and establish young mens associations but w little dreamed to ahat extent these associations would go these associations have one a great deal of good among the young people of many who did not know what their own opinion were have been brought to a knowledge of the truth it makes little difference to you whether we work among the young people of zion whether we labor as home or whether we go to preach the gospel among the nations of the parth we are all laboring in one great cause for alie up building of the kingdom of god alie presidents of missions say that they can always tell when young men go ou missions whether chev have been active members have to study the principles of the gogoel chev are already acquainted with them and chev go right to work I 1 have sometimes thought that the young mens tion shave not always met with the sup I 1 port from alie authorities of alie church that they should receive bishops have sometimes said that they did not object to the mens association but they did object to their holding meetings every week and breaking in upon the deacons quorum kow these young mens meetings tend to make every young man who attends them a better deacon or a better teacher or priest or a better officer in any position that he may hold ELDER E II 11 ANDREWS trusted that he might enjoy a portion of the spirit of god while addressing the saints I 1 realize eliat the kingdom of god upon this earth must be carried on by the young people what the kingdom of god shall be and how it should be conducted to a certain extent depends upon our training the importance then of the training of tha young people in alie proper paths and having the principles of the gospel firmly founded in their hearts can not be over estimated god no doubt expects to accomplish a great and marvelous work this work cannot be furthered more quickly than bv preparing our helyes lor the great task that lies before us battor day saints arc a peculiar people they have faith in god they repent not fauch ropen tence as we see in the world repentance tonce for the time being but sincere repentance when we enter into the kingdom of god we do not desire to be considered as a thief or a robber but we wish to enter in through the gate and to be welcomed by the angels from the beginning this people have lived lives of sacrifice devoting their time to building up the kingdom of god these sacrifices have not been made because they expected to gain any worldly wealth bin because aliey desired to do gods will when I 1 look around and see some who are departing from the lives of fathers it gives me pain to eliat they vill not stand up in alie places of their athers but I 1 believe there are many sons and daughters in zon today to day who are willing to stand up on the same platform which their fathers and stood upon god has promised Dromi sed us that we shall pros per it is an old promise but as true today to day as when it first was given those who depart from the paths of truth and goto making other calling to others to follow them will in the end be brought to trouble those alio live lives of hobor and truth will triumph in the end and will be rewarded of god I 1 would advise vou all to read christs sermon on the mount I 1 think 11 is good for us to read it occasionally I 1 do not think there is a religious people upon the eartle ho live nearer to the principles laid down in this sermon than do the latter day saints although all may at times appear dark to them still they will triumph in alie end I 1 have often thought how strange it was that a people could dance and sing while they were being driven from their homes as this people did it is this spirit of revelation this spirit of living near to our god that will make us strong in alie faith of god when we are in this position of what avail are these efforts that are being made on all bides to crush us this is why our fathers and mothers were enabled to rejoice in tha midst of their troubles we need not expect to gain strength in any other way today to day when we travel through the land we haye no trouble in securing tha testimony of young men who are as firm in the gospel an were mens mutual improvement associations have done a good work ELDER CHAS was the next speaker I 1 lope by the inspiration of god to say something that may be of benefit to us all I 1 have lived in this territory since 1857 and this ia my first visit bouth of draper mv first impression of provo is verv favorable one feature that I 1 noticed that does not exist in the northern parts of the territory is that the doors are kept closed durin the gIt is onn oving to the gingera to have a noise made by people enter ing the church while aliey are singing I 1 notice throughout zion a great im in the celestion sel estion of song sOar I 1 sons and daughters are coming forward and are leading our choirs and bands 1 can remember tho time when there was scarcely a choir or a band in the territory that was not lead bv a foreigner another thing I 1 noticed this morning is that you have alio theological seat of learning in the territory in mv travels in the northern part of the territory I 1 seo on all sides graduates of the brigham young academy I 1 notice also on the hill an institution where are confined those unfortunates who through oh their vices etc have lost their reason lou have the two extremes take bour choice for know that every soul is free to choose his course in life ye members of mutual improvement associations ciati ons dont wait for your presidents to tell you what to do realize that you have a mission to attend to help those who are abick in their souls never no never dispose the fathers and moth ars who have built this country und have mado it what it ig Ile member that you can never raise yourself any hie herby standing on your parents you need not wait to go on a mission to get a mony you can get it at home dont close your eyes in sleep until you do get it go out in the wooda and ask bour father for that I 1 if yon have cot a testimony of your own the waves of persecution and prosecution will beat so strongly eliat yon will be overthrown the choir fans an anthem was by elder bi ocko anks the choir sang 0 kiy s ihfe man ahat ania vf prayer was offered by T N taylor the choi sang blied fit K deain rne A broaden law u amul imul ay iy tiie sacrament was administered by the bishopric of the first burd secretary john D read the stake report for the year ending may 1 a mem le ship of an increase over the pevious year of average attendance regular held conjoint extra meetings 50 missionary appointments filled 36 toral number of missionaries sion aries 31 number of books in libraries br aries showing an addition of 95 volumes value of libraries 1653 total number oi exercises the and stake officers of the association were sustained by the members J B was afforded pleasure at beholding the large congregation that filled the tabernacle he felt anre that on going away from abe meeting the feitli of each would be renewed if we arc actuated by the cioper spirit all opposing elements will be banished at our approaching footsteps it is necessary that we should meet together oft and partake of the sacrament in remembrance of the broken body and shed blood of our lord and savior you have all read of two of Savi ouis disciples traveling after his death and how they were joined by the savior unknown to them and when he had none they remarked how our hearts did burn within us my brethren and sister sit was the spirit of cabrit which burned in their bosoms let us try to live so that we may always have that spirit burning within us to guide ns in the path of righteousness if we walk in the light of truth we will deserve the assistance 0 god and we will have the power of faith alook upon the associations as schools where alie members may learn tho principles of the gospel they cannot attain everything there but chev can have instilled into their hearts a liking for sciences and truths these mutual improvement pro institutions aie like palm groves and springs in the midst of the burning sands I 1 believe that no young man who is a constant attendant at these meetings will be found in the saloons or will be lound breaking abe sabbath to any great extent how necessary it is that we should encourage each other to become members of these institutions that their influence may go abroad I 1 would urge you my bretheren and sisters you who have children to see that they attend this meetings I 1 feel encouraged in these work chich we are pursuing I 1 have seen hundreds yes thousands of young men who have conformed to thesa principles we are living in momentous times we are engaged in the work of god there are no powers on earth that can move us out of our place the young men of zion will go forth and preach the gospel and they will be given power to convert abe dionest in heart there are thousands who have not heard the glad tidings of abe gospel and who is to bear aiese tidings to them if our young men do not do BO great changes are about to take place wherein the wicked will fall upon the wicked and the honest in heart will be called upon to come out from babylon we do not need to expect the world to become more righteous chev will grow more and more wicked we sometimes think that we as a people should be better but whether we are better or not the time will conie just the same we are told that we will be held accountable for every idle word if we are to he held accountable for every idle word we will also receive credit for every word of truth we utter PRESIDENT GEO II 11 had not intended to speak at anis conference but aa one of the brethren who had been appointed to was absent he would speak on the spur of the moment on educational influences let the young man baboid his little brother besore him the little brothers strength haa never been tried bind a thread around his wrist and he will snap it asunder he may snap the thread when it is two fold three fold or nerhama ten fold but tie it fifty fold and he is unable to break it this is like a at firs the habit is easily broken but the habit grows stronger and stronger until it is impossible for the victim to shake it off he is bound as with chains knowledge is power these associations have been organized for lie purpose of placing in he hands of our young people the weapon of knowledge the boora cf the universe have been open and our vung people havo been invited to walk in and to prepare themselves for a future life of usefulness if abeso organizations will do this for the individual what will they do for the I 1 believe during the past year twenty one lectures were given by this means the multitudes were fed father and mother were fed let us touch upon abe influence of our associations from a social stand point of view we belie e that a chain n no stronger than its weakest link our society must composed of pure members we may have our weaknesses the greatest jewel that can sparkle upon our brow is the jewel of fidelity we propose to derive our strength from inspiration and shall nourish in the soil of humility do we want a class distinction yes but we do not irant a distinction that is based upon 99 cents and 10 mills we propose to have a class distinction in which the young man or tha young woman in homespun can reach the highest pinnacle we want no sabbath excursions but the standard shall be upon purity of heart ELDEK ALMA stated that he had been called upon to speak briefly on the influence of the mutual improvement association politically I 1 have not been because I 1 am a politician for I 1 know nothing of politics I 1 know not liing of government but I 1 sun pose I 1 have been chosen because I 1 am a member of the young mens mutual improvement association the character of a citizen depends to a certain extent upon his early training in many rj our associations civil government classes have been organized with good effect we have put into effect the three great principles of american citizenship which are first to see the nee cassity of a law second to make a law and third to abide by the law the true standard of manhood is the con that god lias placed in our breadth breas th it is not physical or mental strength in alie mutual improvement association with which I 1 have been identified with we have always been instructed 0 o honor the constitution of the united states if the time should ever come that strong and willing hands wera needed the members of the mutual improvement pro association would be the first to grasp the flag and carry it safely gli god controls the elements lie causes the winds to blow the raina to fall and the grass to grow but he will force no man to heaven we each have our own free agency PRESIDENT A 0 was always afforded pleasure in the youth of zion the coming forces of israel 1 have a very few suggestions to make and that is to ever be ready for the discharge ef every duty at present or in the future and to leam the important lesson tant obedience is better than sacrifice and to hearken better than the fat of rams I 1 have found in my past experience that very few are willing to take upon themselves the various capacities of building up ion I 1 would say to the young people that when you are called be ready this fact was impressed upon me last week by one of my counselors informing me that young man desired to retire from a position which he held the only reason he ascribed was that he held two other positions I 1 reckoned up the number of positions I 1 held in aliis stake and 1 found that I 1 held eleven nearly all of which were of as much as those held by this young man oat of there positions I 1 stood at alie head f eight making eight weekly rs eliat I 1 should attend to one more than there berc days in the week and sometimes they hold two meetings in one week the choir sang an anthem benediction was pronounced by elder S A pace EVENING SERVICES the academy choir sang crac 1 el us MUS an evening hymn to cairn conr for rest prayer was offered by elder J E bombard Bos bard the academy choir sang haw tiby ht beet atio shill G H stated that he had expected some brethren to be present who bad not yet arrived he felt that weh id had a very profitable time together we have not had adv of the apostles with we are not like the world we do not depend upon any juan to instruct us the ward conference means to commune or to confer togs ther and that is what we have done today to day brother keeler remarked today to day when he got up to speak that ha felt aa empty as a tin can told him to go ahead and we would assist him with our faith and brayere pr ayere I 1 remember an instance when I 1 had been appointed to no out with a very eloquent barotti i er to speak when it came my turn to speak I 1 did not feel as though I 1 could say anything but I 1 stood up and asked the lord to kielp me an old lady remarked to me afterward that when she saw me stand up she said to her daughter that young man needs our faith and prayers 1 said yes and I 1 got them too BISHOP J E BOOTH desired to |
