OCR Text |
Show f: TEMPLE AND TABERNACLE g I sustained: Franklin D. Richards, Krigham Young. F. M. Lyman. John Iienrv Smith, George Teasdel, Heber J Grant. John W. Taylor, M. M. Merrill. Mer-rill. Anton II. Lund, M. F. Cowley and 0. A. Woodruil". President Cannon then stated that the apostles had decided unanimously upon a person to fill the existing vacancy va-cancy in the quorum of the twelve apostles, and he offered the name ol Rudger Clawsou, president of Box Elder stake, for confirmation by the conference. The vote on the new apostle was then taken, and Mr. Clawson was unanimously sustained. Motions in the following order were then put and unanimously carried in each instance: To sustain the first presidency as prophets, seers and revclators. To sustain John Smith as patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To sustain the following seven presidents presi-dents of the seventies: Seymour B. Young, C. J. Fjeldsted, B. II. Roberts, tieorge Reynolds, J. G. Kimball, Rulon S. Wells and J. W. McMtirrin. To sustain the presiding bishop, W. R. Preston, with John R. Winder and R. T. Burton as counselors. To sustain Franklin D. Richards as church historian, with Elders Penrose and Jensen as assistants. To sustain President Lorenzo Snow . as trustee in trust of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To sustain John Nicholson as clerk of the general conference. President Cannon then said the presidency had been contemplating for some time the advisability of relieving the European mission, which consisted of Elders Wells, McMurrin and Parry. Elder Parry, he said, had already returned, re-turned, and he put a motion, which was carried, to 'replace the present mission mis-sion with Piatt G. Lyman, with James McMurrin and Henry W. Naisbit as counselors. President Lorenzo Snow and Apostle Clawson addressed the congregation, and at the close of President Snow's remarks Mrs. Emily II. Woodward sang the solo, "Come Unto Him All Ye Who Labor." Joseph F. Smith then pronounced the benediction, and the conference adjourned for six months. , Rudger Clawson, the newly elected apostle, is well aud favorably known to all the Mormon people. He was The sixty-ninth semi-annual general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-jay Saints opened Thu r-s hi v. - let.oi ie r i, in the tabernacle, at Salt Lake Cit-. The new president of the church. Lorenzo Snow, with George ',). ( annon and Joseph F. Smith, the two other members of the fi rst pre.sideney . on each hand, occupied occu-pied the scat w hich, for so man- years, was filled by the late President Woodruff. Wood-ruff. Of the other general authorities present on the stand there were of the quorum of the twelve apostles, Franklin Frank-lin D. Richards, Prigliam Young, John W. Taylor, Mai-rincr W. Merritt, An-thon An-thon n. Lund, Mathias F. Crowley anil Abraham Owen Woodruff; Patriarch Pa-triarch John Smith; of the first seven presidents of seventies, Seymour B. Young. H. II. Roberts, George Reynolds and Jonathan G. Kimball; of the presiding pre-siding bishopric, William B. I'reston, Robert T. Burton and John R. Winder. President Lorenzo Snow delivered tli e opening address, expressing pleasure pleas-ure at the large attendance at the conference. con-ference. President George Q. Cannon spoke in regard to education and the church's missionary work; Apostle Lund gave an interesting account of his labors among the Turks; while Apostles Cowley, Merrill and Elder Golden Kimball addressed the large audience, after which the choir sang "Light and Truth" and Elder Penrose pronounced the benediction. Second Day's Session. At the Friday morning session, President Pres-ident Joseph F. Smith was the first speaker. He delivered a discourse, the 1 opening portion of which was devoted to defining the objects of the general conferences of the church. He urged the people to take a deep interest in the establishment of the work of God on the basis of inspiration, revelation and every principle of righteousness. It was shown clearly that the temporal concerns of the Saints were inseparable from those that are spiritual, the nature na-ture of man being both physical and spiritual. Many profitable suggestions sugges-tions were given as to the best course to pursue to secure success in the ordinary or-dinary affairs of life, and methods which led in the contrary direction were pointed out and delineated. Apostle John W. Taylor, the second speaker, created a profound sensation by making charges of immorality against members of the choir. He was"1 followed by President Cannon who soundly rebuked Apostle Taylor for his utterances, and at the afternoon born in Salt Lake City forty-one years ago last March. His lather is Bishop Hyrum B. Clawson and Mrs. Margaret Clawson is his mother. From his youth he has been a devout member of the church and an earnest promoter of the faith. In 1879 Elder Clawson fulfilled ful-filled a mission to Georgia, and while proselyting in that' state in company with Elder Joseph Standing a mob of a dozen desperate men, armed with shotguns, shot-guns, attacked the missionaries, and without provocation or warning, assassinated as-sassinated Elder Standing on July 21. Elder Clawson escaped unharmed, and he believes the hand of providence spared his life from the assassins. In proving his faith by his works, Elder Clawson took unto himself a plural wife in 1884, and for this offense he was convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment. His devotion to principal was rewarded by his elevation ele-vation to the presidency of the Box Elder stake about ten years ago. It was reported at the general conference con-ference that there are not as many elders now in the missionary field as there were six months ago, owing to the fact that of late more have been released than have been sent out. But few, comparatively, have left home during the past three months. Elder Neilse C. Hiselt died at Pleasant Pleas-ant Grove on the 30 ult. of asthma. He had lately returned, from the Colorado mission, having been released on account of ill-health. Mr. Hiselt came to Pleasant Grove in the year 1862. A few years since he went to Colorado and made a home, but returned re-turned to Utah. Last spring he was called to fill a mission. About a month ago he came back on a visit. When his time expired, faithful to duty he returned to his field of labor, but President John W. Taylor, seeing his condition, sent him home with another elder to nurse him on the way. Mr. Hiselt was a very industrious man, having done much to to build up Ltah and Colorado. He leaves a wife and one son here, besides a number of children in Colorado. He was about Co years of age, and a native of Denmark. session Sunday Apostle Taylor made an apology to the members of the choir. At the afternoon session Apostles Franklin D. Richards, Heber J. Grant and George Teasdel addressed the large congregation, after which conference adjourned till Sunday morning at 10 o'clock. Closing Session. The attendance at the closing session was probably the largest ever seen at a conference. The great tabernacle was packed in every part, besides which there was an overflow meeting in the assembly hall, and many hundreds hun-dreds were in the grounds unable to gain admission to either building. Apostle John Henry Smith was the first speaker. He said he was glad to see the spirit manifested among the saints from all parts to endeavor to be represented at the conference; he spoke of the need of the sons and daughters making a greater effort to cultivate the study of the scripture, and to lead in family prayer at home. Apostle Francis M. Lyman and Brig-ham Brig-ham Young followed, after which the session adjourned till afternoon. The afternoon session was opened with pra3er by Apostle Lund after which the choir sang, "God of Isreal Hear Our Prayer." President George Q. Cannon then announced that the business of the afternoon would be devoted to the sustaining sus-taining of the choice of the quorums for the various officers of the church. President Lorenzo Snow- was unanimously unani-mously sustained as prophet, seer, revelator and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the world, The councilors to the president were then unanimously sustained in turn, George Q. Cannon first and then Joseph F. Smith. Xext came the motion to sustain Franklin D. Richards as president of the twelve, which was voted upon unanimously. The apostles came next and the motion mo-tion was put collectively by President Cannon that the following apostles be |