| Show IN NEW ZEALAND LAND translation 0 of I 1 th the is book of mormon ordaining native elders etc KAITI BAY new zealand dec 1887 editor deseret news the con conference conferee feren ce ot of the poverty bay district convened at the above named place saturday december president ent F H wright presiding there were present from utai president wm who had just returned irom from a three months tour of the 11 island president F H wright ezra F richards sondra sanders jr A T wright president J E magleby eagleb from the kalapu district slid and bid J J jackson who has been appointee appointed to labor with him also the two sisters from zion we bad aad arranged ta have our christmas festivities during conference pon ference and we had a large number of saints ot of this and some visitors from r neighboring districts to rejoice when president wright onjel led hed the meeting to order at 1080 a ap saturday morning the houst house waa washed g d we met in the new meeting tinse e lately built by the saints ot of t abw lip a new branch which to Is located about 11 t three allies southeast fram arora Gisbon re prayer by elder J 9 president wright 11 to his ti opening pening re marks said he felt t yell in seeing so many of the saints in attendance and stated that we had assembled to b be e fed spiritually and rejoice in the cause caus e in we the saints saluta are engaged HE SPOKE on the commencement of gods work la in this dispensation the calling ot of the prophet Josep hSmith to this im portail mission and the coming forth and several translations of the book of ef mormon invoked tho the blessings of the lord saints that they may prove faithful to the cause and worthy ot eternal life the presidents of the four branches in this distri district dt were called upon to speak and they reported them in the main as being in a good healthy condition I 1 Bie benediction diction by a native elder in the abe afternoon the meeting was elied called to order at 2 p in m prayer by elder ezra F richards the statistical report was read by the clerk showing souls in the district there having been 13 baptisms during the past p eight ight months elders sondra sanders sander jr J J jackson and three nati native ve el ders occupied the time speaking on the principles ot ol the gospel and each here bore a strong testimony to the work of god at 8 p in a general priesthood meet ing was held prayer by elder sondra sanders thirteen names were presented some to be ordained to and others to be advanced in the priest hood A fla financial ancial report was read react showing that thai 39 as lod bad been contributed tri buted by the saints in this district to assist in the translation of the book of mormon president william through elder E F richards addressed the meeting on toe the powers of the priesthood bald baid it was THROUGH THIS priesthood that not only mankind would be redeemed but the earth also and rejoiced to see names presented worthy to receive re ceide higher priesthood he referred to the translation of the book of mormon on which elders E F richards and sondra sanders jr have labored assiduously for the pusi pa si seven eve n months and which is completed and the revision begun ile he thought it would be ready for the printers oy the general conference and told the saints he ae it an aa honor bothem to them to nave have the work performed in this district and that they would never regret aba they had bad done for it tor for it would prove a blessi blessing og to baem and to all who accepted the principles contained therein lie ile closed by warning them against the weaknesses of the flesh and 0 01 satan sunday morning christmas in order not to interfere with our meetings it was decided best to have our christmas dinner for breakfast break tast at 8 wo we were called to the least feast and we found it no small affair fot for the saints had come loaded with the loud good things of this world they bad spread our table under a large awning greeted and decorated with ever greens for the special occasion for it will be remembered that we are now the warmest part of our new i zealand summer we were surround ed by our native friends who to in maori style were seated on the ground and all were engaged in talking laughing and enjoying he be mutton pork chicken new potatoes fruit pies and christmas pies which were there in abundance at 10 am a m meeting meet ang was called to tel or dier der prayer by elder sondra sanders jr the ear sar cament was administered to the saints president wm arose and wished all A MERRY CHRISTMAS said it was observed by all christians christiana as the day of the birth of our savior and it ita a fitting fit ting time for the saints to worship god and give thanks to him for his mercies he spoke at elithe length to on oa the prophecies concerning bod tire humble birth ot ol our lord and ana said that him god had accod his designs which were before the foundation ot of the world toe jews lived to in a favored time wherein they enjoyed the society of the lord but vve ve are most privileged of all people for we are living in the day when he will come in great glory to reign as king of kings as he now reigns as lord lora of lords but his coming would overtake the world worl worlds das as gedly as the flood dood overtook the world in the days of noah spoke of the signs of the coming of the son wt ut man those re corded in the scriptures those of destruction st and death unto the wicked but as god had bad a refuge prepared fur for the righteous in the days of noah so has he his gospel to save the obedient in these days said that the elders had bad been ordained and authorized as apostles ot of christ and their ladours were approved oi of their king and honored testified to the truth of the work of god and that the best branches of thi the house bouse of israel were being gathered to zion to be prepared for the coming ol of toe the lord while the wicked would oe be left and receive the wrath of god benediction by a native elder A priesthood MEETING was held field at 1230 t D in at which chic ti some native brethren were ordained to the priesthood afternoon meeting began at prayer by brother henran poian elder J E magleby occupied a portion of the time delivering a very in er es esling ting and aad instructive discourse on toe the progenitors of and the people of the book of mormon and bores bore a faithful testimony tile tie general and local authorities were presented to the assemany and sustained by unanimous vote elder ezra F richards Eich ards spoke of the plan ot of redemption and the way to be saved and exhorted all who had not come forth to do so before it was t too 00 late lest they should be overtaken by the judgment that were to come upon apon those chose who would not obey tile the truth prayer by a native another meeting was held in the evening when elder A T wright and several native brethren made short addresses of exhortation and bore their te ti timotes monies closed by benedic tion by president wm win Pax inan and thus ended our very interesting conference one long to be remt rem for the unanimity good fee feeling which good attendance and spirit which prevailed throughout SONDRA SANDERS JR clerk of tae conference Con terence |
