Show DISCOURSE DELIVERED BY elber ELDER ili I 1 at the general conference on tuesday morning april 1879 REPORTED BY GEO JS GIBBS GIBES the privilege that we enjoy of bf meeting together again in conference I 1 believe Is highly appreciated by the bitter latter day saints the dry details of our reports are arp somewhat tedious I 1 am aware but bult liol no doubt many are interested edin in the reports of their several stakes for there is a feeling in the hearts of this peppie that causes interest to be felt for all the stakes of I 1 believe that the present organization together with the reports that are mad made equarT quarterly semi bemi semiannually annually and annually are drawing the people together in their thein interests we are better ac quain ted with each other than ever before within my nay recollection repol lection our general assemblies bring us erand pleasant reunions re reuh unions ions lons are made and the good spirit ol 01 god being dl disseminated semina ted among us makes us feel more like the chil ebil children drell of one common parent thau than when we are widely dispersed and seldom behold each others faces many reflections have passed through my mind during this conference I 1 have nave listened with interest to the remarks which have been made and to the reports which have been read zion is grow growing ingi ingy financially and iw numbers it is wonderful wonder full fuli I 1 was as well acquainted tas as I 1 have been with thid thia people for the of years that they have haxe inhabited these valleys to know that lohe lobe on e third of the entire population of this Terri tory as asfar tar far as the latter batter day saints are concerned are children under eight jears years of age but buch euch is the fact thebe these reports do not take in the entire population of this territory there are quite a number of children over eight years of age who have not been baptized and consequently q they are not represented in inese these report I 1 presume that there are tire hundreds if not thousands of cases in the midst of the latter day saints where we have neglected to administer the ordinance of baptism to our children who according to the revelations 0 of f god ought to b be numbered among the meir melr members ibers of this church the instructions which we have received are arc plain and pointed perhaps I 1 may not be a competent judge for all man mankind kind kidd or for my brethren yet to me they are full fall of the inspiration of the lord and are calculated to lead and guide bid bis children in the path of everlasting life and it does seem beem impossible to me for any man or any set of men to refute th testimonies that have been bor borne no to this conference it is proper and consistent that we look for counsel to those who are advanced in the knowledge of the Gospel we should do the bame same in regard to law or politics if I 1 w were ere ero to go to washington among the politicians of the country aud bet set myself up as a politician pretending to understand all the ins and outs of political life as aseal bay say one of tb the e representatives of our oun nation I 1 would find myself greatly deficient and I 1 would gladly seek tome some experienced man on whom I 1 could rely to instruct me in regard to these things it is true I 1 might read the congressional record in which the speeches of our jour statesmen ate published I 1 might go to hear them delivered and exert myself otherwise to inform myself yet though through diligence and perseverance I 1 might acquire very consIder abW knowledge of this kind of business Y yet set et I 1 would lack a most important part namely the experience and I 1 would willingly and gladly avail myself of the teaching of an experienced man ifa if I 1 were to start stait in the business of law laws it lt would be reasonable to suppose of course counse that I 1 like tile the seventy fen pen men or more who follow that business hess in this city would have a smattering of legal knowledge but like them thorn too if a more experienced man were to come along and especially if he were a genius in his profession I 1 would gladly learn of him and it would afford me pleasure to listen to him this is the case in all th thing ingi lugi suppose a it member of my family is sick I 1 am ruil at once prompted with a desi dest re to consult some experienced nurse who ia 18 more competent than myself in administering such things as ono in that condition ought to receive perhaps a finger of one of my children may need amputating I 1 might take an ax and cut it oft off in my way but I 1 could not do it like our dr ander son for instance a man who la Is a skilled surgeon I 1 would naturally yield my way to theirs in regard to these things and so it is ahr through 0 ugh all the branches bf guisness buls buis ness nesa transacted in this life ilfe li feThe dethe the influence opinion or ki knowledge of somebody else controls or affects that of ours today to tb day dav we may lilay be acquainted with a man haan who is really excellent in his profession but another man comes along who can surpass him arnd arid the for former niler is glad to jeara of the latter iatter and so we may follow it chri oetigh until we come to the a subject U but the moment that subject Is touched men rao nao nel nol rei up no matter how ignorant they may ift bot with regard to the principles w which bich are calculated to exalt man mankind kind kIdd and say II 11 think for myself my self seif no man must be trammeled in those matters every man must have the privilege of wo god according to the dictates of odais bis bla own conscience so bayt bayl but I 1 do know knor and we have indubitable evidence of ahe the fact that the men who stand at the head of this people are skilled in the things pertaining to the building up of the kingdom of god in the last days this fact is proven to the satisfaction of the atter day saints to those at least who have followed them for the last 15 to SO zo years we know that they understand more about these things than tham we do when questions arise whether in poli politics finance morals oraw or ilaw requiring the judgement jud gement of sound and experienced men or when circumstances arise in our individual lives which are cerp perplexing and of such a nature as to exhaust our ability we naturally seek the counsel or of these our brethren and our ex experience experienc perlene e has proven them to be masters of the situation that they are skilled in their profession bession and abundantly able to di dl reatus why should I 1 riot follow jhb leaders lenders whom god has placed over ovorn mk why should not this privilege ge be granted me Is le it m broil fi consIstent in me in r how show ing my principle and desire for right in following these men than in acquiring the art of mechanics mee mec hanics hanica in being taught by a more experienced mechanic or in politics or law or surgery by men who are farther advanced in those professions than myself certainly not and besides this the spirit of god which I 1 have received which la to an unmistakable guide bears witness to me that it la Is right for me to be taught of them and that their teachings are the etchings ings of heaven to the children of men sand land that they are calculated if lived jived up to to fead lead men back into the presence preb pree ence of god the father yet ii I 1 in connection with this whole people am aee accused used of yielding my own will and free agency to an overbearing priesthood thus becoming their d dupes e A and slaves this is in short the judgment u generally passed upon the latter day saints by the whole american amerlean nation and while they say eay this of us their better sense bense would tell them that t they he y the same in law in morals in mechanism in politics etc direct ly and in rell reil R oum they do the same in indirectly d fierily fie itly cily well for one and in saying this I 1 speak the sentiments of this whole people I 1 intend to follow the men ap pointed and aud ordained of ga god d to lead and direct his hia saints ha as they follow christ knowle owye ve not says the apostle thai that that to whom ye leid beld yield yourselves to obey his servants ye are to whom yo obey whether of lin L hin in unto tinto death or ot of obedience unto 10 lay may the bies blea blessings sings of god rest upon oi this thia people and the peace of heaven be with them in all their locations and settlements and give unto us strength to continue faithful fu I 1 in the cause of truth that we may do our part towards the building up of his kingdom kingdoms and at last be saved with the faith fRith faithful ful fui is my prayer in the name of jesus amen the fishing schooner 1 yda lda ida da E baker of gloucester mass is lost with a crew of 12 men herr Seyde Beyder ritsy ritas its conservative has been elected president of the reichstag in place of herr Forc kenback resigned 1 he be alaska has been ordered to return from sitka bitha itka to san ban franck co 11 t is stated the king of spain has signed a decree reestablishing establishing re rc the state of siege in the basque provinces |