Show REMARKS iliad at the General Conference ot tho Church ot Jesus Christ ot I LatterCey Saints In the Tabernacle Salt Lake City Sunday Sun-day Morning April 4th 1807 by I PRESIDENT GEORGE Q CANNON REPORTEI BV ARTHUR WINTER J In commencing the lxIsenth anal an-al conference of the Church vve have I i rcat reason to be thankful to the Lord for he favor that lie has shown unto I IH and for the projects that we have o < i < eruing the growth of HU I work There I Is everything to encourage us asa as-a people There is every reason to believe J be-lieve that the Lord is with us and that lie I looks u ith favor upon Zion I think It scarcely too much to say thaI the work of God was never in a more prosperous perous condition in many respects than I it Is I at prevent From l all parIS of the world where the Elders are laboring good reports come of their success I From the Imperlect statistics that me have and we arc trying 10 Improve thee all the tiri we learn that upwards ol ten thousand souls have been added to I the Church during the year In the United Stale the wotk has gone forward for-ward with ccnlderablc rapidity It toe 1 I a claimed that in the Southern t Stales I alone there have been more souls added I to the Church than In all the European missions But Elder Anthon II I Lund I ho has recently returned from pre 1101 Ing over the EUlean mission it II I I not I I adm that the Eicers have been more I successful in the Southern Slates than I they have In Europe lor In propor I lion lo the number of riders engaged in the mlnislrr they have baptized more 10 the Cider In Furore than in the United a States JiiIII1 State I mention this because il Is W worth of mention and shoAs that the Elders in Europe are industrious and successful is i Before the close of thc present year It in cxpecle I that In the Southern Slates 150 Sunday schools will be organized there are nearly loo already I 11rorted in operation and by means of these a great wrrk Is i being den and l many ale being indoctrinated with the 1 principles of the Gospel The Eastern Slate Mission as reo rorled by Flder Samuel W Milliard who ha just returned IS a very prom Ing miion und tilt Irobablhy Is that many souls wIB be added to the Church Iheredulin this cionrugseiFori Adis roitlon is i man rested on the part of a great many to Investigate I and the cry train that miSton Its from nil the mls I sums if We want more help Send us more riders We cannot fi I the cal s that we have for Elders Brother Richards has been laboring ill thit mission mis-sion now lor upwards cf two years and I has been quite successful In gaining 1 access to the public prmt4 getting I our f bl jkp views pub sbed in newspapers and in I I wri prejudice Iroln Ibe minds of M public nun IJooher 1 Alorzo IV I Kesler I has be < n sent to like the pacc of 11 4 Brother Richards i Urolhef LUH i A Kelsch Is I laboring as presidint ef the Northern States mls I I s on Brother Ellas S Kimball is still latorlnl in the Southern States milon Broditr Ephraim 1 Ne h laboring in California and all these Elder and their r laborers are performing their duties with great tucces witilgricat t Llder Ardrew Klmbill a i about to le succeeded by Elder William T jack in the presidency of the Indian Territory I misSIon wlieh Is I alin rapidly Increasing In Colorado Elder John W Taylor and Ills asociatls If ave within the last Iw i Pacifists opened the Gospel la a IlUmber of towns and cities In that Slat lth gratifying propeclS for succeb rider IJ 1 11 Roberts and a few other Elders nave Men visiting manv of the large elms ol the Hast and holding meetings I therein that have attracted wiile < prea attention Nearer home Elders J Golden Kimbal Reply W Nalsbnt And outers nave been laboring in Idaho btill other brethren hive been minister In gin Montana In both of these and Ibe nelghboringstatts there npars 10 be a bright prospect for doing good many scattered Saints who at cilferent time have wandered oil Irom the main body ol the Churchbung found In these regions many of whom are anxious to renew their fellowship with Gods people There is tins noticeable feature at the present time in the preaching of the Gospel all through the various missions it is the faith ol the Ciders to travel without IJ purse nt1e ircip There has I h ldl been a time when the faith of the Ciders did not appear to be sufficient 10 enable their to travel I In Ihlt manner and some have aid that missionary labors auld have to cease In some paris If the Ciders I had to depend ta the upon people to sus j tain them but from all the missions m here the Elders have pursued this plan > It of traveling without t purse and scrip I Ihey have reported that the Lord has r I blessed them as never before and there t I Is ae disposition l on the Fart ol the people I to entertain them and to supply their i it Elders wants are The Idteis I exceedingly that come encouraging from the r They show the faith of the bidets and also the power of God nioving upon I life heart ts t of the people In aPn iI iud on the continent of Europe the 11 lers are struggling to do this Ol course i In some countries It is i an exceed mgy OJUCUlt thing bcaue 01 fee far there I is I cf sodalltm Anarchism and nlhllis and if a man be found In some flaces wthl nt money in hit pocket he I I is in danger of be ng uI In prison as a I vagabond Hence In those countries I great care has to be taken that the El data do not expose themselves to im I 1 prlfonmint bull the spirit in the LI f data i Is to carry out the word of the Lord in i regard to traveling without purse and i I icrip In Europe Ihe uorU is i progressing k pat lieu atJy in northern So effort here 41 great many converts are being made a N also 1 in Holland The I TheS3mts who o 11 live i In 1 tins city I no bl heard ntt the le I r port of rider G S Spencer who re i turned a r few weeks ago front presiding f over the therland mission I sup pose that ta that mission there are more exeoplebemgaddedtothe i Church than j IB any of the Europen countries and the Elders leA I exceedingly encourage 1 in their abiH and believe there is a grant work lo he done in that land t In i Germany ihe riders are laboring with i Peat 1 and with a large degree of f suc P case a id lea ingrren ire more dipocd 11 to lave kI gate the principles of the Gas f < pel ttitn they I have heretofore been In cllri Id id I do There is also a disposition m Berlin lad other cities to grant larger I I liberty The police are not so rigid and FO disposed to Interfere I lilt the meet Ings in fact here they have attended the meetings 03 they have done in some instances to get an idea of the nature 01 our leach ngs they have been almost converted at least their prejudices < s have bten en lo a great extent removed At the clly ol I Breslau the police com iisloner his granted to the Elders per hot liberty to preach So It may be naid wherever the Elders have gone tile Lord h ling opened their vv IY and ha raise up friend tit them and has bleed them In I the r labors I From Turkey we have deemed it wise to w ilhdraw the Elders Jar the time be Ing In consequence of the Armenian troubles It being thought that it was dangerous lor our brethren to be there hen there was rioting and Armenians collisions i I between the Turks so and many the Looking therefore at all ili > field the Polynesian Islands life United States and Lun n poIhere Is I reason to be tlnnklul to God for the biesslnir tint Helm has vanes saled it < > U3 for the seften ing of the hearis iris of the pei ple and for Ihe pouring tut of Ills I hoi spirit upon them to prompt them to serlt to under land the principles ol the Gopel Everycercistbo is at t all acquainted a with our hlsttr > for the past few lean tcire ot can see the I I great change lhat I has leen urousht out m this direction how won derfully Ihe Lord has operated the large liberty lie has broUlht tj Ills people Ihe removal ol prejudice and ol flat deadly animosity Iliac was so severely di rected against use lew years ago God can llO t uu a UOnderflll WCrk uonucnui wori < hell H I when He pours I out Ills I Spirit upon the people He cm soften the hearts ol the hardest hearted men arid omen and lie can remove blindness from their OeJ and cause hem to see the s truth The E data are feeling the benefit 01 th s witen me Hunk lint there are i joo Elders sent out learn this hnd to these write laboring Indefatigably vinous without coun purse arid SCIp and testing tire uond we can form some Idea cf how great the wk of God u and how it is I spreading And wq have scarcely louche the In dials races There is an immense field spreading be ore the Elders of llui I Church m ihe redemption of tlese por reomants cf the house 01 Israel The Lld < rs now are laboring among nat ons I ol our oivn blood excepting In ihPoly mission Islands But here stretches out before us this train rise coilioent on the south peopled ulth descendanis ol the house of Israel and there I is scarcely an Elder Among them When we 21 think ol these millions of people who are await ing ihe glad tWings cf salvation and concerning u1som so many precicus promise have been made we call imagine what animmens labordevolvcs upon us as the servants of God This hould Incite us to renewed diligence It should fill the Ileartsorour young men with burning zeal 1 and a determination II > qualify themselves for the great work of redeeming the hunrm family which Past upon us as the people ol 81adwhich So far as oar own Surroundings ate concerned we have every raon to be thankful lor that which the Lord has done and Is I doing There was II I rrobibi it that wa should have division In the church at home In consfnuince of false doctrine that was laulnt and false statements that were made It looked fir a while as though a great many of our people would be misled and come 10 wrong conclullon concern ing the authority and power ol the Pries hood of the Son of God But from all pans of the Church in these mountains the Intel ligence conies tint the members of the Church are having their minds enlightened enlight-ened and error is being removed and dcce ions I which have been in dusirousr J f duslnously propagated 1 are now being understood in their true light This Is the t representation that COme from all the Slakes of Zion and it Is most gratify Ing because the Church ol Christ can no prosper OD the earth unless incre is union If there be divisionsor schisms If error prevail U lalse doctrine be be lieved they will Inevitably retard the progress ol The work of God I am thankful myjef fillet the issue has teen raised among us Some have found fault will the Declaration thala made here a year ago Some have thought il unnecessary and that it was framed for the I purpose of entrapping somebody Now I wish 1 to say to this Conference I Ihat no such purpose ever entered Into the hearts of the men who sinned that There ad but was It was no snare felt that nor there no trop than I 7repar a declaration of principle made at that time in consequence of the statements which had been made concerning these matters and the misconceptions and division of sentiment which had arisen therefrom so that our views concerning the Church of Christ and Its government might be ihoroughly undcrsloo Cvery man that signed that paper felt that It was opportune and that it was necied The very fact that there should be Terences of viewsou such Important questions furnishes fur-nishes all the proof necessary that It was an appropriate and necessity document to Issue to the Churchand all Litter day Saints will see how appropriate It Is I if they will lead It In the light of the Spirit 01 l God It was not issued or the pur pose of encroaching upon the puvileges or J sails ol I the Laturdiy Saints I j rI have said If I and I repeat 1r here I that mere IS no Ill people UPI n bc face of Ihe car h than the Latterday Saints There Is no people that enjoys fuller liberty than ue do There Is I no people whoaioint rlerel with less Ly their re hgicui teachers than ore the Latter day Saints I am willing lo tick that title n ent and have it eximined in the light of that which has been mid is ben done amcng us Thcelns been no Intel fer ence with human right In fact vve have re talned from haling and donr that which I have sometimes thought Vie ought to co but in our anxictj 10 avoid slung the least col r to the charges that have teen mad ngal at its we have reo lrafnd I trom cxpr ilnj ourselves when It t was really needed I The leading men d this her chnd I I peak this with out boasting are the t lItn nllu have helped lay ihe foundation of Ihs commonwealth com-monwealth All there is i that it I loosed upon a 9 admirable In our Stale Is due in part at least lo them Bit I pd rot dtll on this I need only oncounce ou that tohy all the signs are favorable to II correct compre henslon ol Ihe duties of the Irieslhcoj and ol the m mbers ol the Church In All parls of the land I am happv lo t las able lo soy Ibli I kniw that jour Eiernallathirvvill enlighten the minds ol lull people I know lie will pour out J Ihs Spirit 1 upon u when we ace k far It lie I I will pairs udI I I in a u dh 1 ill low us the trmh Ho will give us strength in temptation und trial and lie willt tie Bvr u Irom snares II we ole true 10 11Im n1 put I our trust in Mail lie vwIll nol sner liS to be Iii astray by lithe and delusive still Its look I back to the yens of trial through which we hive passed and I recall with treat satisfaction satisfac-tion and plcasu how the Lord assMid and sustained Ills servants and people When crything w as dark nnd it 1 inked as though the powers of darkness would ptcvall over the Church ol Christ lie sustained Ills servants and Ills people Through the Messing of the Lord our ssttrs were filled with a strength that was 0111I1 ollperhuOlall news the hole people felt Ihe custainuit hand of our God And He will continue to do this lor us if we will put our trust In Him I When we pass through the deep witera lie will be there to guide and 1 sustain us I when we go through the firry furnace He will 1 be with us as He was with the three Hebrew I children The Young Mens ami Youns Ladies Mutual Improvement Assod itiont have receivid nuitaan Imnelunoriile end in crtased interest being manifested in them The proipcctU I lint Ilwy will do asi amount 01 good amonl the r aside We w have flat the statistics t cs at hand concerning them as we have of other institutions I find that tin Sunday schools are growing There has been increase C I I nearly six thousand during the p1S1 year We number nw fit our Sunday ochoob abut one hundred and file thousand officers teachers and pupil This IS an excccdlOgly gratlrjing how iVth1mlslon Ing Ie the msSlon Abroad8 where thre Is cpoortunit Sunday schools are estihhhcd ard manv people who are not members of the Church send their children to them because that sec that thevarenughtthe order God and the principles ol righteousness and true morality It It try encouraging to know lhat through kiwis humble Intro mental ty so much ool Is being dene ooughttobediigent In likcininntr at ham and seek after the souls I of our owuoffsptln who certainly ought In bens be-ns dear to us Ands worthy ofsicrihce on r our pin as the off pr nzof strangers rherthasalso bcena Irellucreae In the Primary associations They show a ollVershillOf 33600 Besides these there are 770 othrrrs Nj doubt if tvety Stake reported vwitti care there I would be found to be a much larger I number It it estimated that there are at leas JS OW Then there ore the religion dae You are aware no doubt that It was deemed proper lo hae iliglon classes established in sonic 5IltImn so that II there should be any tendency on the part of tome of the pupils ol the district schools to drift into unbelief these classes would have the ellct to check that tendency We do not want to say one word dlsretuctful to the di > ntet scnoou we nave excellent schools in our Sate Hut there opnars to be a intural tendency in the human heart towards to-wards unbelief I remtmbervvhenl was Chance lot ol the Dcstret University tilt charge was made several times that the I teachers of that institution were disposed dis-posed to implant skeptical thoughts and suggestions in the mmds of the students We Investigated the matter and we found ihat this was not correct We learned however that Ihe textbooks and the general drift In such an Instltu lion here not counteaM tell bv religious leichmc was in fivor cf unbeTif file text books In all universities and colleges have a tendency tj unsettle faith m the Bible To counteract this tendency In our district schools It was deem ill wise i to esliblUh religion classes The statement Is I made that there are at least seventy classesnow In operation with over three hundred snucuis an I an estimated attendance of uearl lour thousand pupils These classes should Increase There ire places no doubt whee they are needed and they should receive attention be cause it is when the children are and when their minds are plastic jcunj that lasting Impressions can be made upon them I pray God to bliss I us In our Confer once and thai His Holy Spirit may be poured out in power upon all who shall speak That this miy be the case we all should pray in our hearts lur the Elders who shall address this Conler cnce that they may be Inspired and that each of us may be fills d with the Spirit to receive their instruction and to be profited by attending this Confer ence God bless von Amen |