Show 10 A M called to order by pros C 0 card singing by the choir prayer by elder K 0 edlefson choir sang hark vc mortals clial bo still verbal reports were given of llie following wards by the bishops respectively ively as follows isaac smith ath ward logan fians funk newton jacaci john jardine Cl irkston J B jardina Jar dinc trenton A L ath ward logan the reports showed a material advancement van cement and improvement both temporal and spiritual in the feelings conditions and circumstances of the people the statistical report of tho Y M BI I 1 associations of the stake was read after which the meeting ans addressed by rues V W tERI lILI I 1 have listened with interest to the of the bishops and I 1 feel they arc the best reports that have ever been given in this stake tho calling of bishops arc of great church responsibilities epou them that tho people hardly realize and that they hardly realize themselves according to the organization of the church from tho bishops recommends people are introduced to the blessings god has revealed tor his people while proper recommendation from the bishops blessings cannot be received iho bishops should be acquainted not alii ough the ars with every person and every family in his ward lie should know their occupation the conduct of then daily life how they get their living that lie may know whom to recommend to the house of alic lord this is a very important thing one that should require the closest scrutiny of the servants of god with regard to these malleis however we belive the bishops arc doing the cry best they can but I 1 will here say being reminded of it yesterday by one of the bishops who reported that there was no president to the elders quorum in his ward the former president having been called to another quorum that whenever such a vacancy occurs the bishop of the ward should report the fact in writing to the presidency of the stake and it would be proper for him to suggest a name to fill such vacancy one of the most important duties we have in this church is to look after the poor and see that they arc not left in want or destitution As a rule we have in our wards plenty to make everybody comfortable those of the poor who cant work should be provided for by the fast offerings those alio arc able to work should be given something to do by which they may support themselves we should give them work though we may not ly their services we as 0 people have assisted the poor and the bucek of the earth to leave the homes of their po verties to conic here to the vallice of the mountains where by their industry their uprightness and perseverance they might obtain comfortable for table homes of their own asa people we have been kind to the poor the lord has commenced his act his strange act lie has commenced his work ilia strands warl in earth and no power oil earth can stop it the men that rise up and light against god and against his kingdom will be buried in oblivion their names will be lost and forgotten among men while those who arc tried and remain steadfast in the that god has g n en to his people will shine forth like the stars of the morning and god will save and exalt them with crowns of eternal life we have everything to encourage us and nothing to discourage us we have nothing to fear aply the evil inclinations of our own minds and the nets of our on u lives if there ever was a time in the history of this people when they should live near to hie lord it is today to day in god we may have consolation it is jhc thc duty of heads of families to set them in order it is our duty to cast oft evil that god may be our friend that vie may be enabled to pass through all the trying ordeals that we may lie called to meet for the gospels sake it we have any difficulties with eacle other we should follow alic injunction of our savior go between him and thyself alone and settle thy difficulty the bishop and the teachers encourage this among the people and not call upon the hiigli council to adjust what may bu made right by the par lies themselves if they will but cultivated alie love of the gospel wo should learn to deaf justly with one another learn to lovo one another to keep the commandments of god and teach our children to do so you may examine the church records for twenty years past and juwill and that those families that have been prompt in paying their tithes and offerings have been abundantly god has provided for them in a way they knew not of if we would only live as god desires us to live the ant us in a manner such as has never been known before the sick would be healed and the lame would be made to walk if we have been using tobacco or the things that god has forbidden in the word of wisdom now is the time that we should turn from them and turn to the lord that we may he healthy and strong if this whole people would with one common consent observe the commands of god you would sec a mighty change in the midst of alic people how do our young boys become addicted to the use of tobacco by example of those older how do our become accustomed to the use of tea and coffee they receive it from their parents wo houed cease to do chese things for our own good and for the good of our children whom god haa gi en us for i mighty pin pose wo should drop oft all these habits dont go to tapering them off for the tapering end will always be the largest if we could overcome alie w and tic diseases we inherit from our fathers wo become healthy strong and vigorous and our lives would be greatly lengthened upon the earth these things ui still p keep the commandments of god and god will sustain 3 and if in tins midst of the persecutions of our enemies you should be deprived of the counsel of the presidency of the slake and of the bishops you will bo in a position to receive the counsels and revelations of god for yourselves alic choir sang an anthem and meeting adjourned until 3 p in benediction by elder francis gun ucal SERVICE 2 arx choir sang glorious things arc spoken prayer by bishop aco L farrall singing by the choir sacrament was administered the general authorities of the church and the local authorities of this stake where then presented by acting clerk elder bously sustained by the conference the statistical report of the stake was also read after which the meeting was addressed by SMITH by the reports which we have heard today to day we behold to what an extent alip church of god lias grown in the short period of its existence there has been a great and mighty work accomplished and yet as it may seem to the world this people have been persecuted from the very beginning with these things before us can we doubt that god will sustain us can we not look forward and rest more securely we have done in the past we have proven beyond a doubt thil in god we have a friend on whom we can we have solicited aid of acs mid of governors and of presidents and have been refused but we do know that our prayers to god have been heard and answered we arc having and enjoying prosperity in these valleys of the mountains mounta ius men nowadays now a days take it epou themselves to say that we shall obey the laws of man just so far as man shall designate we believe that god has revealed his will from the heavens and we feel that we would rather take the condemnation of man than the of our father in heaven it we arc deprived of our earthly we have a liberty given us of god beyond anything that man can give instances arc recorded in history of governments trying to control the consciences of the people such a course proved their downfall when you make a contract with a baily jou dont want another party to come and make you break eliat contract but we men now who tell us to break the contract we have made with our families and our god I 1 am really sorry that the nation docs not understand us better we are not a detriment to the nation coining here poor ragged and under unfavorable circumstances we would have died if god had not desired that we should live we have formed settlements in valleys of the mountains and beauli alicd the earth god lias delivered us in bic past and it is for us to ue faithful and he will deliver us in alic future rites c 0 cabin I 1 feel that we have been very much blessed during our conference the reports we have heard show there is a good spirit and furling among the saints we have given CO a c ISow iu of pann j nial wv want to labor for peace although we arc persecuted by those eliat arc not of us we are continually sending to the nations of the earth and even to the nation of which we form a pail messengers of peace of life and salvation iwas pleased to note at this conference alie brevity and completeness eness of the reports of the bishops yesterday we heard I 1 believe seventeen reports in about an hour of time I 1 was also specially pleased to hear that many of the wards have opened up farms devoted to the sustenance of the families of missionaries this was suggested some years ago by president john taylor and it should be carried out in every ward in this slake it was also statsy in alie reports that the different quorums were meeting in the form of theological classes I 1 will say that the quorums of the priesthood are instructed according to the revelations of god contained in hie doctrine and covenants to be theological classes alie bishops are called to preside over thice wards accordingly they have a right to make suggestions to those who preside over the different quo arums rums m their wards if there are not enough seventies in a ward the seventies and the high priests or hie ciders may meet together we expect to labor together throughout endless ages of eternity hence we should learn to labor together here families eliat move out of one ward into another should invariably obtain a recommend from the ward they leave and present it to the one in which ihly tale up their abode the bishops should sec that there is no iniquity in the wards over which they preside they should watch over the people and root out evil from among them same nf clinin alin arc not of seem to want to think that wo are a little tame because we plead for peace god docs bot want ins people to imbrue their hands in tha blood of their fellow men but he has taught us by his to seek for peace god has promised us eliat he will light our battles it we will keep his commandments he will sustain us and will show a mighty hand ere long that he is with us it does not look as if we aiato our enemies when wo arc sending missionaries to preach to them what do wo do to those who oppose us we allow them unmolested to roam our streets docs this look like disloyalty we have settled valleys in the face of many hardships have wo ever been assisted by our nation no and by he licup of god we have always been strong enough to maintain our rights against the red inen of the forest I 1 desire that the brethren ami eis tars who have come from a distance will carry the instructions that they have received home ritu them and allow the spirit of tho same to prevail in the of this stake of wa the lord lias given nil express command that we should teach our children alic gospel we want them to be faith we r want them to be with alic spirit of of alic love of the lord we have had a very auspicious season this year and now let the brethren open every possible avenue of improvement that the unemployed may receive aid I 1 am the grandson of a man who fought in alic revolutionary war to inaugurate this great government yet I 1 am deprived of my rights by living in territorial serfdom I 1 ask god our eternal to be nith you in all of your substance and assist you to keep his commandments preserve you in your families and bless you in nil your abi dings in the name of jesus christ amen the choir sang an anthem and conference was adjourned for three mouths benediction by arcs M W rill |