Show GREAT CROWDS GATHER AT SALT LAKE tabernacle 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 8 people in the tabernacle when the semiannual conference 0 the church of jesus christ of latter day saints was called to order one feature of the opening was the tact that ot the twenty six general authora ties of the church all but two were present the absentees vere apostle heber grant who Is in europe in charge of the mission work la that field and bangham H roberts of 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 me laughlan ln of liberty stake ellza R snows 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 and to the scenes of the early history of the church he corn the rellie 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 doni 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 bis 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 ahe authorities of the church and urged harmony and unity of action between the individual mem bers of 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 their sins at the second day s session on bat arday speeches and sermons lii 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 tion and as general superintendent of the church sunday schools apos tie david 0 mckae 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 cummungs was named to bucce d him apostle orson F whitney was BUS tamed as a member of the church of education to succeed john N cholson wha was honorably re imbed on account of HI health mi Mc holson was al released cir rk or the confer effe and duncan M 1 aister was 1 to bucce 1 ittia in that cai acety president joseah F smith presided during the ceremony of the authorities he was first sustained as president of the church and then his counsellors coun the apostles apost lea the seventies and the other authorities were sustained in quick succession apostle charles W penrose in the course of his sermon declared with much emphasis his belief that the civil rights of no mormon should be affected by his position in the priest hood mr penrose s remarks were construed by those who heard then as having reference to the conten alon made by many that rear 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 saints to point out this tact to their children who otherwise might be influenced by i 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 grow lukewarm senator heed 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 also exhorting the saints to observe the word of wisdom and to abstain from the use of liquor and tobacco the attendance at the closing see alons on sunday were very large over flow meetings being held both mom ing and afternoon apostle george F richards apostle whitney and elder W nib ley were tho speakers at the moraine 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 alt that they struggled for in socialism that Is all things best in what they call soc allam ls to be found hero he sail was equality perfo t 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 theia Is among the same number of people anywhere else in the world apostle george P 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 it they were living 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 chere would be no sale for tobacco and closed by saying we should unite in honor able wedlock for time and eternity and we should multiply and replenish he earth according to the command he disregard of which would thwart the whole plan and purpose of jehovah at the closing session in the after noon apostle D elder george reynolds rider J golden kimball rulon S wills joseph W and G W hart were the speakers in adjourning the conference president smith made a brief address in which he declared that an excellent spirit had prevailed throughout its sessions lie paid high tribute to the men under him and said the lord who had called them to their alons had made no mistake in doing president smith referred to the life f the prophet joseph smith and de blared that the time would come when ie would be honored by as many peole in the world as now honor the lame of jesus christ |