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Show H MANY SAINTS ASSEMBLE I IN STAKE CONFERENCE. V ' Hi QUARTERLY SESSIONS OF PAROWAN STAKE CONDUCTED flf IN CEDAR CITY WARD TABERNACLE K SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. Hm Apostle Richards, President Rulon S. Wells, the Stake Presidency, f3S High Councilors, Bishops of Wards and Other K OfTlcers and Saints are Present. iB (Reported by Jos. T. Wilkinson.) 1 WmT The quarterly conference of the , BB Parownn Stake of Zion was held in ttfH the tabernaclo at Cedar City last 1 SHf Saturday and Sunday, and consisted jH of four regular sessions, with such flE other incidental meetings as are us- fB ual or were thought needful by those BE in charge. flt Apostle George F. Richards and BR President Rulon S. Wells of the prcs- jjPff idency of the Seventies were in at- 1 i""Pr x tendance, as wero also tho stake prcs- idency most of the members of the 1 High Council, Bishops and other stake and ward officers. I At the oponing session which bc-1 bc-1 gan at 10 a. m., March 21, surprise I was felt by those in attendance to I find that contrary to the usual custom I ' the proceedings wero in charge of the A Stake Superintendent of Sunday Schools, instead of the president of il tho stake. 1 H After the opening exercises Presi-1 II dent L. N. Marsden explained that 1. during the present year the opening H2Sf '-"x sessions would be devoted to the spec-Hh spec-Hh r Sy iaV service of one or another of the Kfl-r-J''."ry- organizations, beginning 8ftBliiM' i'"lrThi8 "session with the Sunday Schools, V and later in the year the Mutual s 'J and the Relief Societies would re-'- ceive recognition. Also said that the v , morning session on Sunday would be 1! conducted by the Sunday School au-Bj au-Bj thoritics. E Hcur for Sunday Schools Changed. j Elder Walter C. Mitcholl of Paro- 1 . wan presented a paper relating to the "p object of changing the time for the i beginning of the Sabbath Schools in JB the stako and church, explaining iVr s therein that the change had been r jj& brought about by the desire to hold VJfl Priesthood meetings on Sunday , " mornings, beginning at nino o'clock. flu which is being practiced in some of Ik the'stakes, and which some times re- -'k ,, quired more than one hour, hence the H Sunday Schools wero being started ijNB half an hour later. ' ' B In answer to a question on' the s jb- ' ject, Superintendent Mortenson said that Sundny School should commence " promptly at 10:30 and continue until 12 m., or longer if necessary to com-B com-B plctc the work assigned or requited. 1H Stake Sunday School Statistics. ' Ml The Superintendent presented sta- fl tistics of the Sunday Schools of the B stake as follows: BE Number of schools in stake, 11. fll Total number enrolled, 2018. BB Average attendance, 01 per, cent. IwT'H OfTlcers and teachers enrolled, 198. I B Averago attendance of officers and n teachers, 64 per cent. I H Ten per cent of the officers and 1 f M teachers arc non-titho payers, and LB do not observe the Word of Wisdom. K Union in the Sunday Schools. H Elder Thomas Durham of the Stake H Presidency discussed the subject of H Union in tho Sunday School, urging H its necessity and reading from the H Juvenile Instructor In support of the H contention. Called attention to the H responsibility in tho premises of tho H officers and teachers, members of tho H school, as well as the' priesthood of tho stake and wards. Said the Sun; I day School included in its scope all tho peoplo in the church four years B old and over. . Elder Jos. H. Armstrong. ' I Edqr Joseph H. Armstrong had labored many years in the interests of the Sunday Schools, nnd was fully I impressed with tho importance 'of jB unity. Was pleased to seo tho intor-H intor-H est that is being taken by our leaders ymg to help tho Sunday School cause. j lB Bishop A. G. Mathcson B belioved that tho now . departure in H tho conducting of quarterly confer- JmW enco was a good one. Had always t H boon deeply interested in tho Sunday ' 'Bk School work. Could recall his first attempt to take part, wherein he had memorized and repeated a passage oL Scripture and which he had always remembered, and which had been of value to him in his life. Urged that greater diligence and punctuality in Sunday School would be beneficial. Thought that a closer adherence to tho subjects outlined in the Sunday School literature would be bettor than to digress therefrom. Thought also that a closer adherence to gospel requirements would bo productivo of much good. After tho singing of two verses of the hymn, O, My Father, in tho German Ger-man language by Elder Lawrence Adams, Ad-ams, Bishop Charles Jones of Enoch related some of his recollections and experiences in tho Enoch Sabbath School. Was surprised and grieved by some parts of the statistical report re-port that had been presented of the I Stako Sunday Schools, particularly ,that portion by which It was shown that ten per cent, of the officers did 1 neither pay tithing nor observe the Word of Wisdom. Believed that few if any of that class were in the Enoch Sunday School. - "" President Wilford Day of tho Parowan Stake presidency was impressed with the importance of tho Sunday School, which may be said to havo the largest membership of any-organization any-organization of the church, as it includes in-cludes all the members as well as many children too young for membership. member-ship. Had taken occasion while In Salt Lake recently to -visit some of tho places of amusement that are frequented fre-quented by numbers of our young people , and that his conclusion jb that they are very good places to avoid. Advised parents to do all they could to keep their boys and girls away from such places of amusement , AFTERNOON SERVICES. Prayer by Elder Henry Leigh. President William II. Lyman said wc live In a progressive age, but we aro not ndvancing as fast as we ought to do and is possible for us to do. We live Jn different times and under different conditions than those in which our parents, tho pioneers, lived. The hardships and adversities that ', they encountered had tho effect of strengthening their characters and developing them, making of them strong men nnd women. Believed thnt hardships and opposition wore not always misfortunes. We have many flno men and women who under un-der trial would also show to good advantage ad-vantage as thoy experienced the do- veloplng power o such conditions. If wo had moro trials our spiritual growth would bo more rapid. 1 Elder William Urlo had recently returned re-turned from the missionary field, and had been greatly benefitted by his experiences ex-periences while away. Had$cen tho power of God mado manifest on many occasions and received a testimony of tho truth of tho gospel. Related several instances of healing that he 1 had witnessed. Said "I know as truly as I stand here that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Belioved that adversity was Inspiring. i After singing by the choir, Elder Fairbanks, a member of the Sunday School gcnernl board, said that the Sunday School activities are not for the purpose of making money, but In the interests of progress. We do not havo our children read the scriptures sufficiently. It is considered a disgrace dis-grace among somo peoplo to have a knowledge of the scrlpturos, or to bo 1 religious, but such is not the fact. Wo should encourage religious feelings feel-ings among our youth oncourngo training along spiritual lines. Tho object of tho parents' class In tho Sabbath School Is to qualify par- 1 ents to superviso and assist their children in the training that the Sun- (Continued on Pago Six.) STAKE' GOIfERENCE. H (Continued from First Pago.) H day School gives. Wo havo taken up B other subjects in the pnrcnts' class H work, but this object should not be H lost sight of. It is egotism that B prompts people to boast that they arc 1 not religious. Education should in- cludo religion to insuro safo develop- Hj Elder George F. Richards. H felt that a good spirit was present. H It is not always what is said that con- H fers tho most benefit, but the spirit H that prevails, and the reflections to H which it leads, which often takes us H farther than the words of the speak- H cr. Greatness consists of doing B things, and failuro should not dis- 1 courage, but should bo recognized as H training for futuro succoss. H Said tho gospel had bocn of great H benefit to him it had mado him n much better man than Jio otherwise H would havo been. It is becauso of H man's frco agency that ho docs not H keep tho laws of God. Man is the H only ono of God's creations that. docs H not keep tho law; all others observe H tho law of their being. Tho earth H with all its products obscrvo the law H of their being, and it is fortunate for H us that such is tho case. H It is a question whether it is hard- H cr for tho rich or tho poor to serve H God, and it is probablo that tho flnan- H cial condition docs not influenco the H situation to any great extent. H Elder Rulon S. Wells H said if a man is reported to us as be- H ing a good Latter-day Saint we can H form a good idea of his characterise H tics without further particulars. The H speaker mentioned a numbor of evil H conditions that wo would know did H not find placo in that man's life, be- H causo they wero inconsistent with tho H character of a good Latter-day Saint. H Tho maintaining and sustaining of H truo religion will influence tho votary I in all his acts and olovato his character char-acter accordingly. Thoro is nothing in wealth that should provent a man from keeping tho commandments of God, and yet m tho Savior seemed to think wealth M was a great trial, as shown in the H ig case o&the-young man who failed to M follow his directions. H SUNDAY. MARCH 22. H w On tho second day of tho confer- KV enco tho officers and tcachcrjs of the L3 Sunday School, together with the oth- H or stake and ward officers, assembled M at 9a. m. in tho Ward hall, and after H tho opening exercises tho assembly H4 separated into sections for department H.aI work Tho 8tnko authorities and oth- h'1 cr stako officers, with tho bishops and m their counselors, remaining in the 1 i main room of tho building, whoro they H j wero addressed by Superintendent H ' Mortcnscn on School Discipline. Ho M ' placed great stress upon tho Sunday H t morning meetings of the oflkers and M teachers as a strong factor in secur- B ing tho necessary order nnd nttcn- m tion in tho school. Compulsory obc- H dienco cannot bo enforced in the Sab- H bath School. Tho preparation of the H teacher is indispcnsiblc to success in H kcoping tho school in order. H Elder Richards had been asked to H address tho meeting on tho subject H of Courtesy in tho Sunday School. B Had not had time to dovoto much at- H tcntion to tho subject but ho consid- H crcd that courtesy consisted of the fl manifestation of a due respect for tho H rights and privileges of othors. H Thero aro different ways of manifest- H ing respect, and much depends upon m tho degrco of intimacy and acquaint- nnce existing between the parties, or H whether any acquaintance at all ex- H ists. A bow or a smile to a stranger, H while not actually required, is not at H all inappropriate under many circum- H stances, though on a crowded street H it is not convenient nor requisite H More than that is duo from and to H friends and acquaintances, in which H relationship words of friendly grcet- H ing and a warm hand clasp are prop- H cr manifestations. Coolness is im- H proper among co-laborers. Warm H and friendly greetings are inspiring H among Sunday School workers, and Hj between teachers nnd their pupils. Hj And aro productive of very good re- H Sunday School officers should be HH courteous and genial to their assist- H ants and show appreciation of their H work. Much failuro is often attribut- HH able to neglect in this respect. U In administering the Sacrament it jjfl' is not necessary to select the VB highest in authority in tho order of B their standing, one after tho other, Sfl but it should bo offered to tho highest BS officer present and ho will pass it on sMH to his neighbor, which is all that is ffip necessary. Then let it tako its own jwft course.. JUM When highor authorities visit the 3$PL Bchool thoy should bo "consulted bo- &$ I """"" foro proceeding With tho regular ffiHI 1 wprk. It would not be out of order j to curtail tho regular proceedings in MH I order to give them an opportunity of H being heard if thoy so desiro. When J strangers visit -the school tho super- H ,j intendent .Bhujd And out who thoy ', t 'A , ,, B J " "t.. - -A, ",,.. , ,.,, t ii i n i i ti i i -- " " aro and treat them with courtesy, making them welcome. This is often neglected. Teachers Bhould extend a cordial welcomo to each of their students and bo pleasant and agrecablo to them. This has a great influence on tho students, stu-dents, especially in tho primary and intermediate grades. Supt. Mortcnscn Makes Suggestions. Superintendent Mortcnscn exhibited exhibit-ed a specimen copy of a book that hfts been introduced into somo of tho Sunday Sun-day Schools, tho purpose of which is to keep a record of the visits and suggestions sug-gestions of tho stako authorities. It Is to be kept on flic in the school library li-brary or ofllce, and when any of the stako authorities visit tho school the visitor is to inscribe therein such suggestions nnd comments as ho regards re-gards as necessary or for tho benefit of tho school. A motion to adopt tho book and its uso in tho Sunday Schools of the Par-ownn Par-ownn stako was carried unanimously. Elder Fairbanks of the general board said that the superintendents of Sabbath School teachcrs.should devido their labors in tho management of tho schools, one of them should tako chargo of the officers of-ficers and another should havo charge of tho teachers, this man should bo an export, and if ho wero not ho should qualify. Ho should see to it that teachers aro prepared, and lessons should always bo prepared a week in advance. Tho timo for conclusion having arrived ar-rived tho company adjourned to the regular fccssion of tho Sunday School part of the conference in tho Cedar tabernacle. Eider Richards Talks After the opening exercises, including includ-ing tho administration of tho sacrament, sacra-ment, Elder Richards said it had taken nbout thirty minutes to administer admin-ister the sacrament, but that it was a very important matter and tho timo had not been lost. Ho had noticed a few pcoplo who were laughing while partaking of tho sacrament, which he thought was not right, how anybody could do so in vlow of tho sacred char-actor char-actor of tho ordinance, and the death and suffering it is to commemorate, ho could not understand. Ho asked all tho children as a personal per-sonal iavor to promiso him to obscrvo tho Word of Wisdom which ho explained ex-plained to them. Also asked all tho congregation in behalf of President Joseph F. Smith to obsorvo tho same law, and also asked them in behalf of tho saviour, to do 0. Culled attention toJtho inconsistency of thanking the Lord for n prophet and neglecting to follow his admonitions. admoni-tions. Eldor Myron D. Higbeo Jr. a recently re-cently returned missionary had learned to appreciate the value of the gospel while laboring in the mission field. Feurcd that wo do not nlways realize its worth hero at hpmc, this he thought was on nccount of tho opposition op-position which is to be met in tho world, which causes deligcncc. Thoro should bo no drones in tho church of God, nil should be workers, people in tho world aro impressed with tho fact that our church provides something for overy faithful member to- do in its interest Said ho know tho gospel is truo nnd to him it is the greatest thing on Enrth. Elder Fairbanks of tho General board explained to tho children tho meaning nnd importance of the sacrament, sac-rament, and tho covenant which tho pnrtnking of it implios Showed by our lovo of beauty that wo aro made happier, and thnt it lends to moral and spiritual uplift. Elder Rulon S. Wells had been much pleased with tho good order which tho children hnd observed and explained ex-plained thnt although ono boy might mnke only a little noise when many boys mado each a littlo noise it altogether alto-gether would make a big noise. Asked what would make more noiso than a pig under a goto nnd was a little surprised sur-prised and a great deal amused by a small lad who had held up his hand exclaiming "Two pigs". SUNDAY AFTERNOON SESSION. After tho opening exorcises and tho sustaining of tho gonornl and local church officers, which Includes somo changes, and also tho sustaining of a list of homo missionaries for tho quarter, quar-ter, Elder Uriah T. Jones mado an earnest plea for a more strict obsorv-nnco obsorv-nnco of tho requirements of tho gospel gos-pel and tho living of moro exemplary llvos, basing his premises on tho declaration de-claration of scientists thnt acquired characteristics nro not trnnsmissiblo nnd that therefore environment is the great character builder. President L. N. Marsden thought that, tho salvation of our souls is tho groatcst thing in life, Said all tho various church activities and organizations Jinvo this end in view. To succeed in business requires preparation and to succeed in tho work rof God requires attention and earnest labor. Is it not worth while to spend timo and effort to secure this greatest great-est of all blessings? MOro missionaries, aro needed from our stake, wo aro behind tho nverago in this labor wo wont good men for i this work, bad men are a disgr'aco to the church and would do moro harm than good. Monthly meetings of tho Sunday School Union Board aro required, but this requirement has not been met as it should havo been. These meetings should not bo neglected. Also the Sunday school teachers and officers meetings every Sunday morning should be held regularly. Eider Rulon S. Wells said in two weeks tho Christian world will bo celebrating tho anniversary of tho resurrection of our Savior. Upon the truth of this resurrection is hinged tho Christian's hope. If Christ roso not all our hopes aro vain, but our hopes are not vain. Tho authority held by the apostles of our saviour has been restored and it is held in the Church of Jesus Christ of Lattcrday Saints, in this respect re-spect we differ from othor professing christians. We also differ in many athor respects but this is tho greatest distinction. Elder Richards Said that those members of our church who embraced tho gospol in tho world did so after becoming convinced of its being the same gospel that was taught by Christ and his apostles. It is strong evidence of tho truth of n system sys-tem of religion that it is in accord with tho scripturos. "To tho law and to tho testimony if they speak not according to these thero is no light in them." Whilo faith is necessary it must be a living faith, a faith such as will causo us to observe tho law, any othor faith is vain. In order to get and kocp such faith it is necessary to meet together often to hoar tho word of God and it is also necessary to read the scriptures with a prayerful heart, and follow their directions. Too many are neglecting theso things and in consequence conse-quence their faith is diminishing I am thoroughly convinced that we aro not studying tho gospel as we ought. Read tho scriptures to your children. I bear my testimony that the gospel ns revealed to tho Prophet Joseph Smith is tho only plan of salvation. Conference adjourned for three months. Benediction by Elder Richard Palmer. |