Show GENERAL conference FIRST DAY AFTERNOON SESSION APRIL the hymn on page was sun suns by the choir may we who know the joyful sound still practice what we know not hearers of the word alone but doers of it too opening prayer by counselor daniel H wells singing by the choir when the voice of friendships heard sounding bounding like ake a sweet toned bird when the holy notes inspire with devotions pure desire APOSTLE SNOW SHOW spoke the substance of what he be said was as follows I 1 have beau pleased with the instructions given givan this morning we have gathered for the pur pose of worshiping god and transacting business necessary for the f furtherance therance ar of the cause of truth on the earth toe the character of the instructions will depend largely upon the condition of our minds we should dismiss our secular business and devote our attention to the purpose of this conference fifty eight years ago this church was organized fifty two years of that time I 1 have been connected with lt it when I 1 concluded to te identify myself with iti felt it necessary to ascertain its divins divina character it 11 is to be presumed that every man sod and woman views this subject similarly the gospel gives us this opportunity the pe person who does not take advantage of this privilege is not in a sate safe condition we have passed through many trying scenes since this work was established there is no other way in which the saints can make spiritual improvement and be prepared for an inheritance in the celestial than through tribulation it is the process by which knowledge is increased and peace will ultimately ultimate fy be established universally it had been said that if all our sur soundings roun dings were peaceful and prosperous now we would become indifferent erent it would be a condition that would be all that mat would be desired by a good many na baures ures they would not stretch teti out after the things of eterei eternity present circumstances are exceedingly disagreeable and so they have been at many times since the work of god was established for some time previous to the present crusade matters had been for a lengthy period pleasant and peaceful it was questionable whether we were then making as much progress as we are doing surrounded by adversity we have open to us opportunities port unities to indicate whether or not we are willing to endure any trial that any apostle or saint in any age has accepted ce for the sake of the truth the cited he channel of revelation is open to us as anciently in the meridian ot of time tima while he was in mortality the savior did many mighty works yet these did not cause the people to recognize his bis identity as the redeemer this Is exhibited in the ques question Lion put by him to peter whom he asked who men said he be was peter told him he was taken to be a variety of person ap abes es christ asked peter who he said he was thou art the christ the son of the living god was the answer the savior therefore blessed him and gave him the keys of the kingdom and promised to build his bis church on the rock of revelation peter had power ower to impart the holy ghost to believers bievers and that spirit was to communicate to them the things of god joseph smith whose divine mission was referred to this morning by speakers ap eakers claimed to receive the same authority that was conferred upon peter it was given him under toe tae hands of peter james and john this power having been revealed and conferred upon man it is the privilege of the latter day saints to understand by the spirit of god tile the reasons why they are required to pass through the difficulties by which they are beset in the career ot of the church the lord has done for the saints all that he be promised he has brou brought us through affliction and has enlightened us in regard to his bis own nature and our relationship to him there is no people that has more reason to be grateful to him than the latter day saints he has shown us that if we are faithful faitha al we will associate with each other in an immortal and glorious state that those connections formed here that are of the most enduring character shall exist in eternity As we keep the commandments of god new things that give us knowledge and joy are unfolded to our view among amene our trials are temptations by which we are enabled to show how much we value our religion you are familiar with the experience of job in that respect he was given a knowledge of the resurrection and of the redeemer and he knew that although he be should die yet should he be in the latter days see his redeemer on the earth the tem temptations lations to which he was subjected stowed showed that he valued these heavenly considerations above everything else the lat ter r day saints nave gone further than itar r sectarian friends profess to have done we have met with men who claimed to have authority from god who have informed us if we believed were baptized by immersion immer f tor or th the remission of sins and hecei received ved the lay ing on of hands for the imparting of the holy ghost we should know ot of the truth of the doctrine we have accepted these doctrines and having found a divinity in them we are taits thus enabled to withstand trials when they come upon us we have received a of these things and we have a right to testify no one can consistently deny that we possess this witness unless tie be places himself under the conditions by which we claim to have obtained it the prophet joel predicted that the spirit of god would in the latter times be poured out upon all flesh one of the effects of ef the spirit is a spiritual faith then there are other gifts of a miraculous character which are according to my knowledge distributed among amon the latter day saints there are ahou sands of people who can testify that the predictions of the elders made to them to the effect that if they should by obedience to the principles called mormonism they would obtain a knowledge of the divine origin this is toe the reason why they have gathered we have a testimony concerning christ that he is coming to the earth to reign we testify concerning these things and for them we are willing to go to prison and endure all manner of abuse contumely and reproach because god goa is our friend we do not fear we may have to continue to be subjected to many conditions that are disagreeable by them we are enabled to 10 show the angels that we love the 03 things of god better than the things of the world I 1 remember very distinctly in kinland forty one years ago perhaps that there was a spirit of speculation lil aaion it came moving maving from the wor world and finally reached the latter day saints some of them began speculating they forgot their religion they forgot the principles that had bad been revealed to them and many of them fell into the spirit ol 01 01 the times and were carried away with speculating difficulties Difficult les arose envy and strife and the lord beau being displeased with them brought destruction into their midst and they were broken to pieces as a settlement but bat we do not wish that such things should transpire again the latter day saints ought to be too far along in wisdom and intelligence to tall fall into snares of this character it does not pay it will pay no man to turn his cay back ack upon these glorious principles and those things which have been received from the eternal worlds to turn our backs upon these things and mix up and devote ourselves to the beggarly things of the world it will not pay us what ever temptation may come upon us ur or to which we are now exposed we should listen to the history ot of the pa stand not allow ourselves to be overcome or we will much regret it every man has got to learn to stand upon his own knowledge he cannot depend upon is neighbor ever every man must be independent he be must lacend depend upon his bis god tor for himself entirely it depends upon himself to see if he will stem the tide of trouble and overcome the impediments that are strewn in the pathway of life to prevent his bia progress A man can get information by the operations of the holy 8 spirit irit 1 and he approaches to god and F increases creases in his faith in proportion as he be is diligent every trial a man goes through if he be is faithful in that trial trial and does honor to god and his bis religion he has lespo espoused used at the end of that trial or affliction that individual is nearer to god nearer lo in regard to the increase of faith wisdom knowledge and power and hence hence is more confident in calling upon the lord tor for those things he desires I 1 have known individuals who have trembled at the idea of passing through certain ordeals who after they were through the temptation have said they could approach the lord in more confidence and ask for such blessings as they desired what will be the end of these troubles which now hang around us we do not pretend to say neither is it a matter bf very deep interest to any of us but bat what is of particular interest in regard to these things is that we be careful and do right our selves and not be overcome overcome by the weak things but be humble before god and follow his there was very many who apostatized fifty one years ago in kirtland when the same kind of difficulties as are now BOW upon us were among the people then there were many to whom the lord had revealed things and blessed them in many ways but they could not withstand the temptations of the world but they went aut to work and increased their wealth in a way that god was not pleased with they grasped at every opportunity to get wealth in a way that was displeasing to the almighty hence some of them acosta sized in consequence of their indulging in that spirit I 1 wish to make these statements for the benefit of the lat tor ter day saints listen to the whisperings of the holy spirit that when such things are brought before us to tempt us we may have power to lay jay them one side perhaps I 1 have said enough this afternoon ter noon we have every reason to rejoice and to be f ull full of joy oy and satisfaction not withstanding the difficulties that surround us and how tar far have we advanced how much knowledge have we obtained and how bow much more are we able to bear now than one two or five years ago and are we able to stand more now BOW than a few years BRO ago the lord has strengthened us and increased i us in our growth like the infant when it grows up it knows not how bow it received gradual strength and the man ner in which it increased in stature it is larger this year than last so to in regard to our spiritual advancement we feel stronger today than we did a year ago and thi Church firmer now at this afif fifty ty eight 11 a ana annual ual conference than fifty years ago when it i was organized with six members there are men who have a very extensive knowledge of god and would suffer almost any kind of martyrdom bej fore turning their backs upon the principles god has baa revealed we are increasing in as a body we can suffer now a great deal more than we could several years ago then we could not exercise the pati patience cuce in ia the midst of our persecutions that we can today baere is jw n people upon the face of the earth wo who can exercise tile the patience and bear the evils of the world as we have done it is marvelous that th the people thousands and thousands of hem can stand difficulty and trials and suffering lu in so much patience we turn not and revile not our eur enemies it is because the spirit of god has increased within our midst as a people aud and those who have persecuted us have done so because of their ig lorance if they could see as god does they bev never er would think of persecuting us as tb they e y do had the jews known jesus wile n lie he was in their midst and known what tie he was willing to suffer from them they never would have done what they did neither would our enemies do as they have and are still doing if t they e knew what we are willing wl ling to suffer for them but they do it because satan has power over them it is not because of their natural disposition to afflict their oret brethren bren and sisters for we are all the offspring of the same god and these our persecutors are the children of god the evil one may have such power over them mew that they cannot receive the truth and wu we cannot do for them the good we w would like to do but in years to come we will go into the temples and administer til id ordinances through which they may there have an opportunity after they have suffered ered for their evils on earth of receiving rece ivine these gospe truths which god has so clearly made known unto us this is what we expect to do to our enemies god bless the latter day saints and may we have the spirit of the lord sod and exercise patience sod and long ions suffering may we have a glorious conference bon conference ference that it may be said as it always has been that the last conference is always the best this is my prayer in the name of jesus christ amen ELDER JACOB JACOD GATES was the next speaker he said I 1 am glad to have the privilege of meeting with the saints in conference the church was organized f fifty eight years ago with six members it was one of the most important events in the history of the earth it was destined to revolutionize the world sod and prepare the way tor for the coming of christ and the introduction of that righteousness that will produce the millennium I 1 I 1 am thankful to have the privilege of living in such a momentous age notwithstanding wit the difficulties we nave have to encounter people win will over all their enemies who will yet regret their course toward this people who have hare sacrificed their comfort for the welfare of humanity although Altu ough we have been buffeted and persecuted we have in the face of it all increased in strength but we are hardly half grown yet la in our immature condition we appear to be feared by those who wish our destruction they are afraid we will become trone and numerous and overturn their false systems which to is correct all that has come upon this people in the shape of persecutes has been for their good every possible effort has been made to induce ps as to become like the rest of the world b but tat we cannot afford to do that this sis is the work of god he prepared the platform upon which we should stand and we propose to stand by it what is that platform to do the works 0 of righteousness and show to the world that we are just what we profess to be this course will lead iese us up to all that the heart can wish for eye hath bath not seen nor ear heard that which is in store tor for the faithful faitha al such will receive according to the promise all that the father hath bath 11 I 1 have never in all my experience in this church almost fifty tive rive years seen a better time than the present the situation was predicted b by the prophet joseph and the haler harder it blows the quicker it will be over oer if we are persecuted for righteousness sake blessed are we but if otherwise we get only what we deserve we are cal callesto called ledio to be latter day saints and aad nothing else our course should be upward and onward and we should never yield a single point until victory is won we nevar will let up in our labors until every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that jesus is the christ the anthem 0 be joyful in the lord was luang by the choir benediction by president angus M cannon SECOND DAY MORNING SESSION APRIL ath singing 0 jesus I 1 the giver cfall we enjoy our lives to thy honor wo we wish to employ 1 prayer by apostle heber J grant the choir sing sang come all yc sons ol 01 zion ind and let us praise the lord with harmony unceasing according to his word i APOSTLE JOHN W TAYLOR was the first speaker this morning tk n following being a bi jet oth remarks I 1 desire to enjoy |