Show WESTERN ARKANSAS conference the first conference of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints ever held in this part of the lords vineyard convened here an may 13 14 and 16 15 1898 and those who had the privilege of being in attendance and especially the elders laboring in this part will look upon the event with pleasure and satisfaction those who have not had the opportunity of a conference of the elders of israel in a land aher the stream of prejudice flows high cannot measure the worth of such a treat before leaving my mountain home I 1 wondered while listening to a returned elder tell his missionary experiences and the joyous times the elders would have at conference and the number of miles they would walk in order to be present on such occasions if it could be possible if such could be the case while people at home possessing fine carriages and teams would often remain at home and let priceless opportunities pass them by unheeded but since I 1 have been traveling in a similar capacity and have experienced the invaluable benefits of meting with the true servants of god in conference assembled and of partaking of unadulterated spiritual food which builds up the spiritual part of man increases his knowledge broadens his intellect strengthens his falth faith renews his desires to do good and causes him to rejoice in the work jn in which he is engaged as an ambassador of jesus christ I 1 have come to the conclusion that what others have said in this respect I 1 can also say at our conference there were present besides the eighteen elders traveling in this part of the state wm T jack president of the southwestern states mission and elders jos J richardson and B H allred the two last mentioned have been laboring in the cherokee nation indian territory for some time past but by the request of elder wm T jack attended our conference we were unable to obtain a public building in the city of port fort smith in winch to hold our conference but were kindly tendered the use of a large office room rom which supplied the wants of the elders and the saints that Is was large enough to accommodate the member my companion and aad myself endeavored to procure each public building la in the caty but in every case were refused feld we have held meetings on the ma ete at ight at every meeting large use crowds gathered to hear what the mormons cormons had to say and at the I 1 dose of each meeting a number would shakeout shake our hands and admit that it was the first time they had ever heard the he dospel preached prea clied in 14 its purity and aad st simplicity city and that the idetta they had had 41 had doncer hing the leitter day saints were false the good that was done by holding these meetings is immeasurable A number will be led to investigate our teachings and as soon as an honest investigation is begun the investigator will no doubt find that nothing is found wanting and in consequence will obey the gospel I 1 remain for the muse clause of truth A V |