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Show f 137tH ' V ,, Conference Will Note 1 00th Birthday 4 By HENRY A. SMITH Church News Editor i Twice yearly for the past century general conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints have been held m the historic Salt Lake Tabernacle. With .this conference the 137th Semiannual General Conference the Mormon Tabernacle one of the worlds unique religious landmarks begins a new century of service to the Church and community. It is ndting its 100th birth day'Vith all the dignify and grace that has marked its genuine service over a century span which bridges the days of the hardy Mormon pioneers in which it was built to the present era of advancement and progress. Today, as it was a century ago, the Tabernacle is filled to capacity for conference sessions. The faithful Latter-da- y Saint leaders and members have come to this conference from the g readies of the Church. They represent over 2,600,000 members who are in the 443 stakes and 77 missions which dot the free far-flun- world. When the Tabernacle was first used in there were approximately 100,000 members of the Church. They were located in only four stakes (Salt Lake, Weber, Utah and Parowan) and in 10 organized missions located in the United States, England, Europe and the Islands of the Pacific. 1867 Comparison of figures for 1867 and 1967 reveal the century of remarkable progress, growth and expansion of the Church. As have seven other presidents of toe Church before him, President David O. McKay, revered prophet-leade- r of toe Church, is presiding over toe sessions of conference which mark the Tabernacles centennial. He is being assisted by his counselors in toe First Presidency, Presidents Hugh B. Brown, N. Eldon Tanner, Joseph Fielding Smith, and Thorpe B. Isaacson. Members of the Council of the Twelve all in attendance at the conference are, Joseph Fielding Smith, president, and Elders Harold B. Lee, Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, Mark E. Petersen, Delbert L. Stapley, Marion G. Romney, LeGrand Richards, Richard L. Evans, Howard W. Hunter, Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson. Apostles, Other General Authorities present at toe conference include: Alvin R. Dyer, apostle. Eldred G. Smith, Church. patriarch to the. Assistants to the Council of the Twelve: Alma Sonne, ElRay L. Christiansen, John Longden, Sterling W. Sill, Henry D. Taylor, William J. Critchlow Jr., Franklin D. Richards, Theodore M. Burton, Boyd K. Packer, Bernard P. Brockbank and James A. Cullimore. First Council of the Seventy: Antoine R. Ivins, S. Dilworth Young, Milton R. Hunter, Bruce R. McConkie, Marion D. Hanks, A. Theodore Tuttle, and Paul H. Dunn. Presiding Bishopric, Presiding Bishop John H. Vandenberg, Robert L. Simpson, first counselor and Victor L. Brown, sec- ond counselor. This unusual wide-angl- e Dtservt photograph, taken with a special lens from the ceiling of the his- - The historic Mormon Tabernacle has wi nessed many events of importance wh.ch relate to the progress and growth of the Church. Perhaps none are more re- markable than the technical advancements in the field of communications J Nw photo by Don Grayston toric Salt Lake Tabernacle, shows most of the capacity crowd at last April's conference. which carry Hie spoken Word from the pulpit and the music of the Tabernacle organ and choir at conference time to all parts of the world v ia radio, television and short wave. Thus the principal difference between this conference and the one a Century ago in the historic pioneer edifice is the international scope of the 1967 sessions." of people the world over now join with the Saints assembled on Temple Square in a program of worship in sermon and song. WEEk ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1967 I Mil-lio- CHURCH- -3 |