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Show QUARTERLY CONFERENCE. The Quarterly Conference of Cache Stake met in the Tabernacle at Logan Saturday, July 31, 1880, at 10 a. m. There were present on the stand President John Taylor, Apostles Erastus Snow, T. D. Richards, Geo. Q. Cannon and Brigham Young; Presiding Bishop Edward Hunter, Pres. J. H. Hart, of Bear Lake Stake, and Elder Arthur Stayner, of Farmington.<br><br> Singing, Prayer by Elder Erastus Snow. Singing.<br><br> The clerk then read the statistical report of this Stake of Zion. FOLLOWING is a summary of the report:<br><br> Apostles 1 Patriarchs 7 Seventies 352 High Priests 435 Elders 1,387 Priests 301 Teachers 811 Deacons 473 Members 6,618 Total officers and members 9,887 Children under 8 years of age 4,871 Total member of souls 14,288 Marriages 13 Births, males, 69 Births, females, 62 New members baptized 10 Children baptized 189 Excommunicated 2 Deaths, males 15 Deaths, females 81 Individuals drawing support 138<br><br> After the reading of the report, President Taylor addressed the conference and urged the necessity of having ward reports forwarded to the clerk of the Stake in time. Three wards had failed to do this.<br><br> THE CLERK then read the temple report, after which Presiding Bishop Edward Hunter addressed the congregation and congratulated the Saints of Cache Stake on their favorable condition. He praised their liberality in donating to the Temple, and made some happy remarks upon the blessings of the Lord in store for the Saints, and the easy terms upon which they may be obtained. Testified that he knew there was a God before he embraced this work, but that he did not then know how to approach Him. Rejoiced to know that this was the work of God, and exhorted the Saints not to forget their blessings, but to bless and be blessed.<br><br> Prest. [President] Taylor spoke again, and expressed his pleasure at having Bishop Hunter present with us, and thought that, as he was so aged, the Saint would like to hear him talk. He then referred to certain reports which he had seen and which showed that some Latter-day Saints paid a full tithing, some a half, some a fourth and some none at all. Such comparisons were odious to the delinquent, but to Saints who did right, they were not odious. Spoke upon the subject of temple building, and of those we were now erecting, and set forth the necessity for the same. In ancient times there was but one temple, while the Jews were living under the Mosaic Law. But in our day it would be different, because our circumstances were different. Said that, in the recent celebration of the 4th of July in Salt Lake City, there was a representation of twenty-five different nations from which Saints had been [line unreadable]. Mentioned the minutemen who part part in the celebration and said we all ought to be minutemen. Again referred to the subjest of tithing and predicted that those who paid none would see the time when they would regret their neglect. Spoke of the great duties resting upon us as Saints, and exhorted all to be faithful, and to speedily complete the work on our Temple.<br><br> Benediction by Elder John Morgan.<br><br> TWO P. M.<br><br> Apostles Lorenzo Snow and Wilford Woodruff in addition to those mentioned attended. Opening exercises.<br><br> Elder Erastus Snow read the 11th chapter of Isaiah, and treated upon it in a lengthy discourse, which was very interesting. This chapter was full of interest and instruction in those whose minds were enlightened by the Spirit of God, and contained many glorious predictions and principles which the speaker dwelt upon and expounded.<br><br> Elder Brigham Young addressed the meeting. Was greatly pleased to again meet with his friends and the Saints of Cache Valley, and to witness the spirit manifested in their countenance. Spoke of his pleasure at witnessing the integrity of many of the Saints, but deplored the fact that some were lukewarm. Treated upon the wonderfully rapid development of this valley, which but a few years ago, was deemed a region where good crops could not be raised, but was now called the granery of Utah. Its rapid development was due to the blessing of God. Urged upon the Saints the principle of unity, for if we would only become thoroughly united in the spirit of the Gospel, we would be strong indeed, and set forth the necessity of our being united in our elections.<br><br> Benediction by Elder J. H. Hart.<br><br> SUNDAY, TEN A. M.<br><br> Opening exercises.<br><br> Elder John Morgan was the first speaker. He described the valley in southern Colorado, where the Saints, who have recently emigrated from the Southern States, are settling. In general form and contour it resembled Cache Valley, but was much larger. Was an excellent region for farming. A railroad ran through it. The inhabit of that region, who were of either Mexican or Castilian descent, were nearly all Catholics, and very poor. From five to eight dollars a month was all a man could earn, while groceries, &c., were as dear there as here. The rich were greatly oppressing the poor, and the enmity between capital and labor was increasing. The natives who have had dealings with the Saints, like them very much, and there is, among them, a very favorable feeling respecting our religion. The speaker dwelt upon the great field of labor for our missionaries, now presented by the southern states, and exhorted the elders to prepare themselves for the great work which must shortly be accomplished.<br><br> Elder Wilford Woodruff then addressed the meeting. He dwelt upon the present distracted condition of the United States, and of the judgements that had already been and shortly would be visited upon it. Refered [referred] to a revelation which commanded Orson Hyde and others to speak by the Holy Ghost. Said it was fallacious to suppose that no one but the Apostles had a right to receive revelation. Every Latter-day Saint had the right to receive revelation from God for his or her own benefit and guidance.<br><br> The speaker said we were not a hidden people. The eyes of the rulers of the earth were upon us; many of them feared lest God had indeed, established us here.<br><br> Elder Lorenzo Snow read the 13th and 16th verses of the ?? chapter of Galation. It appeared to him that many of us who hold the holy priesthood, do not realize the nature and magnitude of the responsibilities resting upon us. Spoke of the great blessings we have received and may yet receive, by obtaining the help of a supernatural power to enable us to keep the commandments of God, and treated upon the nature of that supernatural power, the power of the Holy Spirit. He spoke of the growth and progress that would be made by a person who kept the commandments of God. Spoke of the qualifications that should be acquired by our young men and women, in order to fit them for the performance of the great work that will shortly devolve upon them. He said that the sisters in the absence of their husbands might and should if their children were sick anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord, and lay hands upon them and rebuke the power of sickness and death in the name of Jesus, though they could not do this by virtue of the priesthood for that they did not possess.<br><br> Prest. Wm. B. Preston then presented the general authorities of the Church and of the Stake who were all unanimously sustained as at the last conference, with the following changes: Elder Geo. L. Farrell a bishop of Smithfield; Counsellers not yet selected; John Parry as president of the High Priests quorum, instead of Elder Farrell with Francis Gunnell as his first and George Barber as his second counsellor, Elder John B. Thatcher as president of the Y. M. M. I. A. of this Stake, in place of Elder Farrell, who formerly filled the position, with I. C. Thoreson as his first and Frank Benson as his second counselor: Fred. Turner as assistant superintendent of Sunday schools.<br><br> Benediction by Elder J. H. Hart.<br><br> TWO P. M.<br><br> Opening exercise, and preparing the sacrament.<br><br> After the opening exercises Elder George Q. Cannon addressed the conference. He referred to his labors in Congress during the last session. When he reached Washington shortly before the opening of the session, the prospects looked very dark for our people. During the preceding extra session of last summer, a great many petitions from all parts of the country were rained in upon Congress, asking that body to enact some law to suppress polygamy in Utah. As many as a dozen such petitions were often presented to Congress in a single day, and referred to the committee on judiciary.<br><br> The only pretext this committee had for not taking action upon them during the extra session, was that Congress was occupied too busily with other business, and it was widely expected that, at the regular session, our people would not escape. And it seemed for a time they certainly could not. The enemy seemed to have massed at Washington all the forces and influences which he could bring to bear against us. Acting under the inspiration of certain federal officials of this Territory, the Michigan legislature sent a petition to Congress asking that some law be passed for the suppression of our religious rights. The Anti-Polygamy society of Salt Lake City also sent circulars to the same effect to every member of Congress, [line missing/unreadable] of members, urging them to use their influence with members to have some action taken for the suppression of polygamy, and for the expulsion of Elder Cannon from his seat in Congress, because he was a polygamist. About this time too, some half a dozen bills, aiming to destroy the religious liberties of the Latter-day Saints, were introduced into Congress, so that our rights appeared to be in great danger.<br><br> But God mercifully gave to Elder Cannon, great personal influence among members, and caused him to find favor in their sight, in so much that they would befriend and put great confidence in him, and, by his personal influence, the friendship of influential members and the blessing of God, action on the Utah question was not taken during the session.<br><br> Elder Cannon said that he, residing in Washington, and openly admitting that he had more wives than one, was a standing lesson to men who lacked the courage to follow his example, but who, he knew, respected and honored him for the bold course he took.<br><br> He called attention to the fact that men in this church who have unlawful dealings with the other sex, usually apostatize, and that this sin has been the cause of the fall of an overwhelming proportion of those who have fallen from the faith. While men who have married additional wives in accordance with God's holy law, have been abundantly blessed, temporally and spiritually, and deduced from these facts a strong argument in favor of plural marriage.<br><br> Elder F. D. Richards said that during his recent visit to Washington, members of Congress had spoken to him in the highest terms, of the ability and fidelity to duty of Elder Cannon, our delegate, and the speaker desired to convey these compliments to our delegate's constituents, and it gave him pleasure to improve the present opportunity for doing so.<br><br> President John Taylor followed Elder Richards. Observed that we had had a good time during our conference. Said the people all looked well in health, well fed and well clothed. Did not notice evidence of much destitution among us. Spoke of the many noted men from all parts of the world, who visited Salt Lake city, and who called upon him. They always called it a very beautiful city. Spoke of the spirit of persecution. There must needs be such a spirit, for the Lord says there must needs be opposition in all things. It was a spirit that had existed in heaven, where one third part of the heavenly host rebelled, and it had existed in the various oppose plural marriage or any other principle of truth which God has revealed, cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven unless they repent. He referred to the Temple, and predicted the final triumph and glory of Zion.<br><br> Benediction by Elder T. D. Richards. |