Show GREAT CROWDS GATHER AT SALT LAKE at semi annual conference of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints all but two of the general authorities were present salt lake city there were proba people in the tabernacle when the semi annual conference 0 the church of jesus christ of latter day saints was called to order one feature ot the opening was the fact that of the twenty six general author ties ol 01 the church all but two were present the absentees vere apostle heber grant who Is in europe in charge of the mission work aa that field and brigham H roberts ot the first council of seventies who is visit ing in mexico it was a few minutes after 10 clock when president smith called the conference to order and an bounced the hymn redeemer of israel the singing was followed by a prayer by president william mc laughlan ln of liberty stake balza H brows hymn though deepening trials throng your way press on was sung by the congregation and choir president smith then made his open ing address much of it was taken up with a narrative of his recent trip to europe and to the scenes of the early history of the church he corn the relief societies and dwelt at length on the harmony which exists among the general authorities of the church with great feeling and eloquence he referred to the fact that his personal life was being attacked and asserted that he would keep the covenants he had made he angly denounced those who are at tacking him and the church through him and said I 1 do not care and don t want to pay any heed to the ridiculous non sense the foolish twaddle and to the impious slurs that are being cast at me and my people by impious hearts and wicked minds let god deal with them as to him good conf allow yourselves to be troubled over these things in the least john R winder and anthon H lund counselors to president smith also addressed the conference at the afternoon session francis M lyman president of the quorum of the twelve apostles was the principal speaker much of his discourse which lasted over an hour was taken up with doctrinal matters and with an exhortation tor right living and fair dealing between man and man he also alluded to the harmony which exists among the authorities of the church and urged harmony and unity of action between the individual mem berkof the church to the end that the kingdom of god might be built up apostle john henry smith then ad dressed the vast audience much of his talk being devoted to a laudation of american institutions and american liberty he opened by reading a hymn the burden of which was the responsibility resting upon the saints to spread the gospel like mr ly man he laid stress upon the duty of parents to properly rear and train their children and warned his hearers that they could not face the final judg ment themselves it they neglected any opportunity to nurture their off spring in the gospel then mr smith referred to the gov eminent and preached loyalty to the flag which he declared should never be lowered by any hand he said that the san francisco and valparaiso earthquakes were warnings from the lord to the children of men to repent of their sins at the second clay s session on act arday speeches and bv the apostles consumed the entire time the only business transacted dur ing the day was the sustaining of the general authorities and various church boards which was done late in the afternoon As is usual in conferences of the latter day saints the vote on this matter was unanimous not a sin gle hand was uplifted in opposition to sustaining any of the authorities only a few minor changes were made in the officials none of the general authorities were changed horace cummungs succeeded J M tanner on the church board of aduca alon and as general of the church sunday schools apos tie david was sustained to succeed mr tanner as second assis tant superintendent of the church schools and on all other boards where mr tanner held membership mr clummings Lum was named to succeed him apostle F whitney was sus tamed as a member of the church I 1 ard of education to succeed john N cholson who was honorably re leased on account of ill health mr Mc holson was released as clerk 0 the con ferere and ducran 1 1 A lister was to bucce 1 lian in that capacity president joseah F smith presided during the ceremony of sustaining the authorities he was first talked as president of the church and then his counsellors coun the apostles the seventies and the other authorities were sustained in quick succession apostle charles W penrose in the course of his sermon declared sred with much emphasis his belief that the civil rights of no mormon should be affected by hs position in the priest hood mr penrose s remarks were construed by those who heard thee as having reference to the conten alon made by many that new smoot being an apostle should not hold a several apostles including senator smoot declared that the fight against the mormon church in utah Is being led by men of impure and immoral private lives and urged the balents to point out this tact to their children who otherwise might be influenced by the accusations which are being made against the church nearly every speaker exhorted the brethren to pay more attention to training their children in the doctrines of the church and to see to it that young mormons are not led to apos or STOW lukewarm senator reed smoot delivered an address avowing that his duty to his country and his god does not conflict with his civic duty to his state and country alo exhorting the saints to observe the word of wisdom and to abstain from the use of liquor and tobacco the attendance at the closing ees alons on sunday were very large over flow meetings being held both morn ing and afternoon apostle george F richards apostle whitney and nider W wi ley were the speakers at the si orning session elder nibley held that the latter day saints are much misunderstood in the world and even at home their mission was a mission of love AH that they struggled tor in socialism that Is all things best in what they call BOC alisa Is to be found hero he said here was equality gerfe 1 equality the same ordinances the same blessings the same gifts of the gospel for rich and poor alike all men and women are equal in it there Is a safety and security here not found or known in other places of the world there Is a greater respect tor law and order in this community than I 1 believe cheit Is among the same number of people anywhere else in the world epostle george richards held that the saints were not living accord ing to the light they had or a great change and reform would be wrought amongst them there would be a re generation of their lives 1 they were ahing according to the high standard of the gospel as christ had done if they were leading up to the full stand ard there would be no need tor grog shops and saloons there would be no sale tor tobacco and closed by saying we should unite in honor able wedlock tor time and eternity and we should multiply and replenish the earth according to the command the disregard of which would thwart the whole plan and purpose of beho at the closing session in the after noon apostle D elder george reynolds elder J golden kimball rulon S wills joseph W and G W hart were the speakers in adjourning the conference free ident smith made a brief address in which ho declared that an excellent spirit had prevailed throughout its sessions he paid high tribute to the men under him and said the lord who had called them to their eions had made no mistake in doing so president smith referred to the life of the prophet joseph smith and de dared that the time would come when he would be honored by as many peo pie in the world as now honor the name of jesus christ |