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Show stances, they do not refuse their donations. W'e commend the people uf this Blake for the erection erec-tion of 60 many fine buildings to the Lord. The presidency take pleasure in traveling among the people and seeing the work they are doing. There are evils existing here as elsewhere; we do not expect perfection. perfec-tion. We should use our inilueuce ; to eradicate these evils, and above all things, to show by good example and a worthy life, that it is not profitable to live an ungodly 'life. Let us unite to correct evils and abuses that spring up among the people. It affords the presidency great pleasure to say that very few difficulties reach the High Council j for adjust ineiit. lint when any ! cases come before that body, it is : their supremo desire to bring an j erring brother back to a sense of j right. They have no object than their duty. In relation to the home missionaries, mission-aries, they have so fai accomplished accomp-lished a good work; and I feel to say that their mission is just as important im-portant in its sphere ns the missionary mis-sionary field abroad. F prav God to bless the. saints of Box Elder Stake, and prosper them in every good work, both spiritual . and temporal; and bless the presidency of this Church that they may he sustained by (he pcoi.le. Apostle Gko. Q. Cannon: It is always a matter of interest to listen to stake reports; it is often the means of suggesting ideas which are beneficial in their Wlect. In regard to the teachers, there is in this work too much formality and not enough of spiritual instruction; j they pass their visits oil' by asking a fc v fo r m a 1 u es t io n s. The result re-sult is a decay of religious feeling; a good many of our' young people are drawn aside and indulge in thoughtless habits and practices. The brethren of the Priest hood ha ve talked the matter over, and think a method should be adopted to combat evil influences. Another j thing, there are some poor people who have no employment; steps should be taken to prevent these people from falling into bad ways through hick of employment. They come from their native countries to Zion at a great expense; they land here in a strange country, poor and with no one to look to their support; it is a great trial to their faith. The devil has considerable power in Zion, and he is seeking to exercise it; if he can lead away our children by any kind of al lurement, I believe he will rejoice exceedingly in his success. The souls of this people are just as valuable as those abroad; the care of the Hock after it is gathered is of the utmost importance. Are occasional visits of teachers sufficient? suffi-cient? I arn afraid not. One of the duties of teachers is to strengthen strength-en the hands of the parents, and do all in their power to strengthen righteousness in the family. We all comprehend the necessity of this care to save the flock; every one of these souls is precious, and if one is left a prey to the wolves, someone is responsible. Will our garments be unspotted when we stand before the judgment seat of God? The first and most important duty of the men of this Church is to magnify our priesthood ; by which we mean not only taking care tor our own salvation, but that of our feJIowmen. We suggest that a corps of missionaries be selected se-lected who can devote their time exclusively to visiting the saints, in the same manner as missionaries who are sent abroad. Let these elders find out the condition of the saints; if any are sick, administer to them; if any are unemployed, find them work if possible; feel after the people and save our children. I believe be-lieve that the day is at hand that the people are 1o be tried with riches. The preparation necessary for either prosperity or adversity, is to feel as a servant or handmaid of God should feel. If we lotc God more than evcrythingon earth, then are we in the right condition. The man who labors for himself alone, will not be so blessed of God. as the one who labors with an eye single to His glory. The choir sang an anihein. Benediction by E 1 de r W i n . 1 . Wat kins. SUNDAY AFTEHNOON. Meeting called to order by Counselor Coun-selor Chas. Kelly. Singing by the congregat ion. Prayer by Bishop Jensen of Hear River City. Singing Sing-ing by the choir. The sacrament was administ ered. Phes't Ci.awson then presented the general authorities of the Church, and also the stake officers, which were unanimously accepted by the conference. Pit ESI DENT Wir.FOUD WOODIU'T-T arose and delivered a powerful sermon, ser-mon, which was listened to with almost breathless interest by the assembled saints. In substance he said: 1 feel deeply the importance of the work of the lesser Priesthood which was spoken of this morning. This work has been in a measure something of a failure. It is the duty of the presidents of stakes and bishops to see that these principles prin-ciples are carried out. I have not had a teacher visit at my house for a year; and when they did come they did not talk of church work. I want to say to you, we as a people can not afford to go to sleep: our sons and daughters are to take up this work, when we have passed away. There are many things in my mind in regard to our present position; but the hand of the Lord is in all we are passing through; Pie has ordained the establishment of his kingdom among these mountains. mount-ains. All earth and hell have combined to overthrow Zion, but God has ordained differently. We have every reason to rejoice, and we must not get weak in the faith. Many of our people have felt that , we no longer have the spirit of revelation, because Joseph Smith gave revelations almost every dav of his life; it was necessary then ; and it is no sign t hat God lias forgotten for-gotten his people, that it is not so at the present time. But we are not entirely without that spirit. The Lord has revealed plainly io me of late that many have been tried in their hearts, because of the Manifesto. The Lord has given :i revelation to me and commanded me to lay a question before the saints it is this: Which isthebetter way, for the Latter-day Saints to continue to exercise this principle of plural marriage, at a sacrifice of their temples and prophets and the imprisonment of their fathers, into in-to let it rest? If this had continued, our temples would have been sacrificed, sacri-ficed, out private property confiscated confis-cated and our prophets imprisoned. The Lord knows what he is about; the Priesthood has not ot its power; what your leaders do will be by inspiration of Almighty God. Let us be true and faithful to our God. All the hosts of heaven and all eternity are watching watch-ing this people. The presidency know what, they are about; how can they go astray when the prayers of this great people are ascending to high beisven in their behalf? I have seen great change;; coming com-ing over the people. Jn the late campaign it was the will of the Lord that we should unite with the political parties. Let us try to keep the commandments and tin-glory tin-glory of God will, rest upon us. All the powers of earth can not stay this work. There is no rmin who has lmd plural wives who should turn t Icm AT THE TABERNACLE. The Quarterly Conference Ilfld There Sunday and Monday. MANY IMPORTANT SUBJECTS TREATED. Among thn Spttukrrs, 1'ri'i. Woinlrnll', Pri-K. Snow, Counselor C'biiikiii. Elilr Youiiu unt Pr-H. Clnnnon. (K.-jponed by Tin: IUhji.eii's special rc.pr,-:i-n(-ittt, Miss Virginia. Suow.J The Quarterly Conference of the Box Elder Stake of Zion was held ii, the. Tabernacle last Sunday and M o n d ay . The bu i 1 d i n g was w e 1 1 filled at each meeting. Sunday afternoon many could not, gain admittance on account of the k, -mense throng. Among those who occupied the stand Sunday afternoon were. Wilford Wood ru IT, President of the Church ol Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Lorenzo Snow, President of the Twelve; Counselor George Q. Cannon ; Seymour JJ. Youi'12, President af the Seventies; Stake President Rudger Clawson; his Counselor Chas. Kelly; Patriarchs Patri-archs Samuel Smith and D. M. Bur-banks; Bur-banks; Bishops Carl Jensen of Bear River City. 1 fen ry Tin gey, City, J. C. D;?wey of Dewcyville, Thos. Harper of Call's Fort, A. A. Jansen. City, and Bp. Jensen of Mantua. Elders Crandal Dunn of Beaver Dam, J. C. Wixom, W. L. Watkins, and M. L. Ensign. City. SUNDAY MOKKIXU. Conference called to order by Pres't Rudger Clawson. Singing by the congregation, "Do what is right." Prayer by Bishop Dewey. Singing by the choir, "Praise ye the Lord." . Pres'tClaws.on: J am gratified to see so many of the brethren and sisters gathered together this beautiful beauti-ful Sabbath day. to learn of the duties and responsibilities which rest upon them. The speaker took pleasure in reporting the condition of Box Elder Stake of Zion: the saints are trying to live their religion; re-ligion; they always respond to calls made upon them we have no fault to find with them in this regard; even when in stringent circum- The choir sang the anthem, "The I-ord is High." Benediction by Patriarch Samuel Smith. off and not support and care for them and their children; but at the same time we must obey the laws of the land. I pray God to bless this people and open their eyes, that they may see and understand. under-stand. Apostle Geo. Q. Cannon: I bear testimony to the truth of what has been said. I know it is from God. It is a time when this question should be dealt with plainly. It has been no greater irial tor others, than for the leaders who took action. It was a great responsibility; responsi-bility; on the one hand the word of God; on the other, the law of the nation. There are some who h?ve thought this Manifesto was not a revelation; almost any other man but President Woodruff would have said to the people, this is a commandment, com-mandment, thus saith the Lord. And to me this is just as binding upon the Church. It is not a contradiction con-tradiction of Joseph Smith's revelation; reve-lation; that principal is eternal ; but the word of God comes to us that its practice must cease. Sonic are anxious to know when we will resume it; let me ask, can any human being perceive the least chance for the1 resumption of this practice? Looking. from a -rational standpoint, any purson would say: "No." I have not the least idea that the people will resume it. Wise people will examine thiB subject sub-ject for themselves. The principle has been abused in a manner unworthy un-worthy of Latter-day Saints. I took wives because God commanded command-ed me personally. I believe I would have been damned had I refused. There will he men in the Celestial Kingdom who have had no wives, and men who have had but one wife. Let your hearts be at rest; He will judge us for He knows our every secret thought. I believe it is our duty to euuvinee this nation that we are in earnest, and not temporizing; at the same time, I say that a man shall take care of his wives and children. It is the word of the Lord that we j should obey this Manifesto. We must be loyal to our Father in heaven; to whom can we turn, if we leave this work of the Lord? There is no deliverance for us in any other direction. Let ufl cling; to the rod of imn, the word of God in our own hearts. God bless you that you may be filled with the power of his spirit. President Woodruff desired to speak a few words to the young people. He admonished them to live virtuous lives; to read good books and to be prnyerful. He concluded by say i n g, ' Boy sand girls, I want you to rise up and be noble and be prepared to know God and receive His grent blessings." bless-ings." The choir sang an anthem. Benediction by Bishop Harper. MONDAY MORNING. Singing by the congregation. Prayer by Bishop Dewey. Singing Sing-ing by the choir. Apostle Lorenzo Snow: I take pleasure in occupying a short time. I hope to say something of mutual benefit and improvement. The instructions and inspirations given through the brethren who have spoken are very applicable to our present condition. They should cause us to reflect, and reflect deeply, deep-ly, on these things; the circumstances circum-stances that surround us, and the relationship we sustain to God and one another; and, also, cause us to cs.ll upon the Lord for his assistance to gather strength, which iB important because of our surroundings. sur-roundings. It is strange, indeed, to mark the course the Lord has led and is leading His people. There are none of us who ever thought we would have to cope with the strange and marvelous things, that God has seen fit to require us to accomplish. The speaker then related re-lated a vision given to a member of the Church in Italy in 1802, in which tliis principle was given by the Savior: "Obedience and sacrifice sacri-fice will bring forth honor, glory and immortality." The man who receives the priesthood has got to make xacriiicee, and often of a verv unpleasant nature. The people of ancient times were required to sacrifice; sac-rifice; but the Lord pays well for it; exaltation and glory are given in the next world. If this people ever anticipate reaching this glory, they have got to sacrifice not in ignorance, ignor-ance, but in the light, of God. Before Be-fore the court, I have testified that plural marriage was a divine principle; prin-ciple; and, furthermore, that the revelation of President Woodruff was us much in force as the one given to Joseph Smith. I know it is the word of God, and it is for our good and that of thousands who have not yet come to a knowledge of the truth. God bless the saintB. and lead us on from knowledge to knowledge and from faith to faith. As has been said. I love to live among a people who will do the will of God whatever it may be. It shows we have reached an advanced stage of progress that will astonish the ! world. Lot un be wise; the Lord is at the helm. Apostle Snow then read from the Doctrine and Covenants. Cove-nants. Pres't Woodruff related a vision given to a woman in the Church, on baptism for the dead, before the revelation had been given to the Church. Also related an instance illustrating the great results following the exercise of the principle of patriarchal marriage. Elder Seymour B. Young: In speaking of the revelations given by the prophets of the Lord from time to time, I will refer to the time it was revealed to Joseph Smith that he should go and redeem re-deem the land of Zion. The Asiatic cholera broke out while they were journeying, and a score of the brethren succumbed to the disease. After their death, Joseph saw them in a vision ; and he said, 'If I get as great a glory for myself as they have inherited.it will be all I ask." The prophet said this with tears rolling down his face. The brethren breth-ren believed that Zion would be redeemed, but when they were near to the place, a revelation was given, that the Lord was not yet ready, and they received and obeyed obey-ed that word as readily as the other. ' The speaker related the circum-; stance of the massacre at Honn's Mill. The Lord suffered this to come upon the saints because they had not kept their promise, or heeded the warning that had been given them. The Lord makes known His will to this Church from time to time. Brigham Young succeeded Joseph Smith and was a Moses and a lawgiver law-giver to the people. He said ho would never cease his efforts, till all the saints were gathered from the four quarters of the earth; he made a covenant with the apostles, and they have carried it out, to my certain knowledge, for forty years. By his instructions, the Indians, the remnant of Israel, were won over to a friendship for the people by the administrations of kindness. The love of the gospel is like the first love we have for some loved being. It" any of you have lost the fervor of this love, humble yourself your-self before, the Lord, and get this first love in your heart, and you will say it is the first and best, the Alpha and Omega, and though i crushed to earth it will rise again. Apostle Canxon followed with ! an interesting sermon, principally I on the subject of man's agency and I obediance to God. A quartette was sung by members mem-bers of the choir. President Woodruff said, this is the last and greatest dispensation. dispensa-tion. The Lord had to have a special element for this work. The men and women have been j kept back in the spirit world, to appear now and do this work. What a work is before us! We are the only people that believe and preach these principles. The hour of God's judgment has come. Every man, woman and child has a right to inspiration; it is not confined to the presidency and prophets. Revelation is the still, small voice of the spirit of God to man. We ought to live by it every day of our lives. There is a great change coming ovt the world; read the prophets and you will learn what it is. I feel to praise God that I have lived to see this day. I pray God to bless all the saints, that they may not lack faith, but continue to the end. President Clawson made closing remarks. |