Show largest gathering of saints in the history of the church at the seventy eighth conference pres dent joseoh F sm th declares that there is today a greater and more gratify ng spir t of un on and lave in the church than ever salt lake city there can be but litti question that the seventy eighth conference 0 the chu ch of jesus christ of latter day saints was the largest gathering of the kind in the history of the church members of the faith being present tom t om all quarters of the globe the first day s services of the con terence on friday october 4 ed of the semi annual review by pres ident joseph F smith and addresses by president john R winder and apostles A H lund francis M ly man john henry smith and heber J firant in the evening there was an illustrated lecture and an organ recital by J J mcclellan in the taber nacle and a meeting of the quorum of the seventies in the assembly hall D iring the evening aso there were meetings and reunions in various parts of the city in his address at the opening of the conference president joseph F smith took occasion to say that there Is to day a greater and more gratifying spirit of union and love in the church than ever before he said the interest in the doctrine of the latter day saints is more widespread than ever and that the worl of extending the teachings of jesus christ ceases not but in ci eases every day so far as I 1 know and I 1 think we are in a position to judge rightly there is a spirit of union and love in all the church and pervading ane peo pie of god such a condition Is a source of pleasure and strength the duty of the latter day saints relative to the work of the lord should be par amount to everything else it is true that men and women nee essa rily have to engage in various tern occupations to provide them selves with the necessaries of life the lord designed that his children should enjoy this life and its blessings it has been said that the idler shall not eat the bread of tae industrious and there should be no idlers among the people of god the latter day saints should put their highest thoughts to the cause ot zion to the cause of truth to the cause of righteousness the lord in this work for the salvation of men in this life as well as for the soul s redemption in the world to come I 1 do not believe in the doctrine taught by some that it matters not what a man does in this life so long as he confesses christ before death I 1 wish to impress upon the saints the necessity for observing the gospel precepts prece its you know for yourselves the truthfulness of the gospel and now it is for you to live it live up to the covenants you have made with god so that no man can point to you as a transgressor as a wicked and corrupt man let your light so shine that men will see your light and glorify your father in heaven keep away from the haunts of sin have charity there are those who speak only eil of latter day saints these persons are in our midst they shut their eyes to all good and send out false reports I 1 leave such persons in the hands of a just god president anthon H lund devoted a large part of his address during the forenoon session of the conference to the work of missionaries in the for eign field president I 1 und declared himself extremely pleased with the reports that come from various mis the speaker desired to add his testimony to that of president smith that everything points to greater unity and deeper love and believed that the manifestation of this spirit is due in no small degree to those who labor abroad there is every hope and enczur argement for the latter day saints said president F M lyman in the course of an hour s discourse at the afternoon session of the conference there Is avery reason why the people should be cheerful declared apostle lyman the lord continues to sus tain them they have been gaining experience and have an army of vet erans in the service of the lord slowing words of praise were those uttered by apostle heber J grant in memory of the late apostle george teasdale twenty tour years ago the two had assumed the office together said mr grant and there had never been a moment when he did not ad mire the man as he lived and now that he was dead he revered his mem ory apostle grant also urged a corn aliance with the motions laid down in the word of wisdom higher was the theme of an address by apostle john henry smith the trend of the speaker s argument was that the church should encourage ed and the members thereof take advantage of it john R winder first counselor of the first presidency with well nigh four score and ten years hanging over his head apol e mr ander offered up a devout he sal 1 in thankfulness that his life had been spared thus long and he attributed it to the goodness of the loid that this is so mr winder denounced it to be his fixed determination to stand staunchly bv he i res lent of the ch arch and to serve 1 rl more de tl an eyer |