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Show URGE LOYALTY TO MPfFIHLS OBEDIENCE TO DOCTRINE IS COMMANDED COM-MANDED BY 8PEAKER3 AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE. Principles of Church Government and the Succession of Presidency the Principal Topics Discussed by President Smith In Address. Salt lake City. There was the largest larg-est attendance at the opening session, ln April 4, of the eighty-third annual conference of any recent spring conference, con-ference, at least 7,000 persons bring present. The presidency of the church, with 111 of the apostles of the church ex-teptlng ex-teptlng two and all of the first seven presidents of seventies of the church were present with the presiding patriarch patri-arch and the presiding bishop and bis counselors. President Joseph F. Smith and First Counselor Anthon H. Lund were the ipeakers at the opening session, while V.. A. Callls. president of the southern Hates mission; Melvln J. Ballard, president pres-ident of the northwestern states mls-ilon; mls-ilon; Joseph K. Robinson, president Df the California mission, and Den E. Ktch. president of the eastern states a: Union, spoke at the afternoon ses-iion. ses-iion. Principles of church government and the succession of the presidency of ;he church were the principal topics iiscussed by I'resldent Joseph F. Smith In bis opening address. In commenting com-menting on the attendance at the penlng of the conference be said that ao was particularly well pleased because be-cause conditions permitted practically ill of the leading officials to be pres-int, pres-int, with the exception of Reed Smoot md Rudger Clawson. I'resldent Smith, In commenting on their ah icnce, said that Senator Smoot was uicsged in a good cause and doing nucli for the ministry and that his personal spl-lt and Influence Is a ser-uon ser-uon for good and his example Is always praiseworthy. A president f the British mission, he said. Rudger Tlawson was performing great service or the church. rresldent Anton II. Lund, first coun-lelor coun-lelor In tbe first presidency, gave a rlef historical review of the confer-tng confer-tng of authority by revelation. Ha Uso urged greater activity In the organization or-ganization of religion classes. Den E. Rich, president of the aif ' rn states mission, spoke on the relate rela-te Importance of the Mormon shurch and tbe belief In the Blbfe and n the death and resurrection of Christ. r C. A. Callls, president of the southeastern south-eastern states mission, referred to prophecies of storm and flood and describing de-scribing conditions In Ohio and In-liana; In-liana; be asserted that tnese devastations devasta-tions were In fulfillment of prophecy af tbe events that would come before the end of the world. Melvln J. Dallard, president of tbe sorth western states mission, delivered. stirring address In which be outlined the growth of the church In strength, Influence and membership and mentioned men-tioned the requirements of member-ship member-ship In the church as factors In retarding retard-ing the growth of Mormonlsm, saying , that he believed that this slow growth , aaa for a divine purpose. The second day of the elghty-tbird innual conference of the Church of lesus Christ of Latter-day Salnta was devoted to addresses by mission and Make presidents. Only one address 1 was delivered by a high official of the : church. That was a brief talk at the opening of tbe forenoon session by Apostle George Albert Smith. 1 The stake presidents and mission 1 presidents, with one exception, repre- lented the younger men In the minis- i try. All of them were of the third and Fourth generations, a fact which was i lwelt upon as indicative of the con- i tlnuation of the faith throughout the I fenerations. President Joseph F. smith remarked that while most of i nose who had spoken were of the bird or fourth generation, he could i produce at least a dozen of the fifth I generation, "who are Just as good ai i i am " l The burden of the addresses of I itake and mission presidents was that ihe church Is growing steadily, and that the spirit of Its members is un- llnchlng. They each and every one t i (5 reed with the remarks of the burch president on Friday wbej he 1 leclared that the evasion of duty and i he shirking of responsibilities on tbe ?art of some of the heads of organize- a Jons must ceaae. It was stated that t he duties of each, from the highest to i be lowest, was defined In revelation, idi any who did not observe that , which was therein laid down was d ing that which was In disobedience ol tbe command of God. The Tabernacle was taxed to IU capacity to accommodate the throngs that attended the eecond day's see slons. The speakers at the morning session ses-sion were 8. O. Dennlon, president ol the central states mission; German E. Ellsworth, president of the northern north-ern states mission; Moses W. Taylor, president of Summit stake; Joseph R. Murdock. president of Wasatch stake, and A. A. Hinckley, president of Dea eret stake. At the afternoon session M. H- Welling, Well-ing, president of Hear River stake; William A. Hyde, prealdent of the Po-catello Po-catello atake; Frank Y. Taylor, president presi-dent of Granite atake; I W. Sburt-Ilff, Sburt-Ilff, president of Weber stake; Heber C. Austin, president of Bingham stake, and O. N. Stohl, president of Uox Elder El-der stake, were the speakers. The conference came to a close on Sunday with three great meetings, the attendance being estimated at 18,-000. 18,-000. Dy resolutions adopted by the Saints the conference was declared to have been the most helpful In years. Short addresses by members of tbe quorum of apostles along doctrinal doc-trinal lines with the sustaining or all authorities without change and a unanimous unan-imous vote that tbe conference had been one of the best In tbe history of the church marked the afternoon session. ses-sion. The speakers were Heber J. Grant, Hyrum M. Smith and Orson F. Whitney Whit-ney of tbe apostles; Hyrum O. Smith, presiding patriarch, and Drlgbam H. Roberta of the first seven presidents of seventies, while only brief remarks supplementary to some of the address ad-dress were made by President Joseph F. Smith, who presided. One of the distinctive features of the conference was the selection of spejkers; many of them being chosen from the ranks of tbe stake presidents. Addresses were delivered by the presidency, pres-idency, but only five members of the quorum of apostles spoke from tbe stand In tbe tabernacle and only one member of the first seven presidents of seventies wss heard at a regular conference con-ference session. Charles W. Penrose of the first presidency presi-dency and Francis M. Lyman, president presi-dent of tbe quorum of apostles, were the speakers at the morning service In the tabernacle, while the morning overflow meeting In Assembly hall waa In charge of George F. Richards of the quorum of apostles, assisted by Charles II. Hart and Levi Edgar Young of the seventies and Andrew Jsnson, assistant church historian. A telegram waa read from Apostle Reed Smoot at Washington. Senator Smoot expressed regret at bis Inability to be present at the conference, but he was with his brethren and sisters In the spirit, be wired. From New York came a message from John W. Young, a son of Prasl-dent Prasl-dent Urighjrn Young. He congratulated congratu-lated the Saints and tbe authorities upon tbe continued growth of the movement and conveyed his very best wishes. Not only waa the conference one of the best In history from point of attendance, at-tendance, but all of the ipeakers were st their best, and the visiting 8alnts were regaled with worda of counsel and cheer, and encouraged by the reports re-ports of tbe growth of the church In every department, Tbe musical numbers were of the highest order, adding to the auecsss of the conference. Seventeen missionary reunions In connection with the Mormon church 1 conference were he'd In various parts ' of the city Saturday night. These In-1 eluded missionaries who had labored In tbe following missions, together with former and present residents: ' Australia, California, central states. 1 French, Hawaiian, Hull, Leeds, Manchester, Man-chester, Newcastle, New Zealand, northern states, northwestern states, Nottingham, Scottish, Sheffield, South African and western atates. At each of these meetings there was an excellent ex-cellent program. Representatives from twenty-four ilakes attended the quarterly meeting f tbe Genealogical society held In Assembly hall Saturday afternoon Immediately Im-mediately after the close of tbe conference con-ference session. Charles W. Penroae f the first presidency presided in the ibsence of Anthon II. Lund. Appointments for stake conferences at the Mormon church from April it to September 28 have been made by luthorlties of the church on a schedule that will allow some of the leading officials of-ficials to be present at each confer-rnce. confer-rnce. It was decided that dally publio rgan recitals will be given at he Tabernacle on April 21.. The rentals re-ntals begin at 12 o'clock noon and est about one bonr. Tbey are free, i ud are given at the expense of tbe Mormon church. Hundreds of thou-isnda thou-isnda of tourists each summer attend be recitals, carrying away with them profound impression of tbe great rgan of the Tabernacle and sweet collections of delightful music. T. George Wood, one of the founders found-ers of the "Boy Scout" movement imong tbe M. I. A. of tbe Mornpn :hurch.ls planning a summer ramp or the boys. A definite place has not ret been selected, but It will probably e located near Salt Lake More than 600 members of the Mor-non Mor-non church, refugees from tbe various itakee of tbe church la Mexico, who tad been driven from their homes by I hltxkans. held a reunion la the Blab- I ps building Sunday afternoon The Fathering was not only Interesting, ut unique |
