Show conference IN NEW ZEALAND TE ORE ORE ORB Waira rapa new zealand sept im 1886 editor deseret news I 1 we send you a brief synopsis of our half yearly conference held at this place inept ept and the elders present besent from utah were Wres president ident wm Pax nian E newby A aldrick and E L Davi a goodly showing of the local priesthood european and maori saints after the usual open exercises in a few brief remarks president newby stated the object of our meeting together and called upon tho the branch presidents to give in their reports which was donethea donet do nethe be saints feeling well in general president in a short address said that these meetings were to learn the condition of the district and make ourselves acquainted with each other and things pertaining to the work wark of god to see the growth of our faith to strang strengthen then us as and to show our love for the gospel it was worth jevery every th ato to us sud and gave to us eternal riches before we came to this earth we dwelt with god we came here as free agents to reject or accept the plan of life by obedience it would take us back to him and we would again enjoy that knowledge which we once bad but it would depend on our faithful ness nes s said he w was as pleased with the reports e 0 arts but sorry that all were not fe feeling e pl ing well because he realized the position of ef the disobedient ones we were worshiping a god and he would not be mocked obedience to true principles and wholesome laws lawa was characteristic of a true saint of god he exhorted the saints to live purer lives at 2 p ra the reports were read showing four branches with a total membership of souls after which the time was occupied by the maori brethren who expressed their feelings in glowing terms a and nd their joy at receiving the gospel eld elder er amasa aldrich followed comparing the work to a school he clearly aud and forcibly showed that all would receive the blessings prom ing they fulfilled the requirements test testified i fled that the servants of god were vested with the same power today to day as formerly and closed his interesting remarks by exhorting the saints to hold fast to the truth elder dark clark bore a faithful test testimony mony to the truth of the great latter day allwoo all who were present enjoyed the valuable instructions given at the priesthood meeting in the evening by president on sunday at 10 a m conference again convened afeei the sacrament had been administered ered president arose and occupied the time referring to the ordinance di nance said it was in commemoration of the sacrifice made for the human family and us in particular and was a renewal ot our covenants the latter day saints were preparing for the coming coaling of the son of god and were looking forward with pleasant anticipations to tb the time when he will be revealed in his glory spoke of the life of the prophet joseph as being similar in many respects to that of it the he lord jesus christ the same power of darkness fought against them both but they were the chosen instruments in the hands of god to perform great labors for the salvation of the children of men said it would be necessary tor for the saints to gather to build temples and perform other labors and it would be necessary for them to brin bring 9 the themselves melves elves into subjection to ta all the laws that were made known to them and to have oil in their lamps they should live up to the word of wisdom as it was a law of god his spirit would not dwell in unholy tabernacles he spoke of the signs of the times as shadowing foreshadowing fore the near approach of the coming of the son of god to reward every man according to his works exhorted the saints to be diligent and prayed the lord to bless them A I 1 p m the general and local authorities ties of the church were presented and aad unanimously sustained brother was then ordained to the office of an elder president deni newby occupied a portion of the time said we had all been baptized into one spirit and come in possession of the same and were brothers and sisters in the gospel of christ we could seethe see the dilemma the outside world is in at the present time all claiming to worship god but being destitute althe spirit ahey were not able to understand him nor his works we must mui t do our best to help to roll the wor work along and listen to the whisperings of the spirit which would warn us of many evils and snares of the devil and enable us to know one another lie he bore a faithful testimony to the truth of the gospel and exhorted the saints to be faithful elder otini maihano Ma iliana said he was pleased to see the br ethern and sisters of both races come together to worship god and to listen to the good instructions which had been given by his servants whose hearts and souls were in the work elder davis spoke of the testimonies and knowledge that the latter day saints had received through obedience to the principles of the gospel and bore his bis testimony to the remarks which had been made macle and the truthfulness of the everlasting gospel in the evening mea meeting tid which followed president occupied an hour and a half in speaking of the disposition and attributes of our father in heaven and his son jesus christ this th ended a very enjoyable conference and the saints both speakers and hearers enjoyed a goodly portion of the holy spirit the elders are all feeling well and enjoying the spirit of their callings ever praying for the welfare ot zion we remain your brethren in the cause of truth EDWARD NEWBY president E L DAVIS clerk of the conference aw |