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Show Ogden Choir Sings at 8. L. Conference; Attendance 29,000 (By Staff Correspondent) I SALT LAKE, April 5 Tho dominant domi-nant theme discussed by President Heber J. Grant at the opening scs-sion scs-sion of the nineteenth annual general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Sunday morning was the centenary of tho "first vision" of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Other subjects discussed by the head of the church were the present pres-ent attitude of labor unions in the great spirit of unrest prevalent in the world. The members of the church were congratulated upon tho spiritual and material progress of the church. Ogden Choir Sings. A feature of the conference, which is of special Interest to Ogden people, jwas tho appearance of the Ogden tab-iernaclo tab-iernaclo choir at the sessions held in 1 the Assembly hall morning and afternoon, after-noon, ami at the session of the annual (conference of the Descret Sunday School union in the evening at the tabernacle. tab-ernacle. Under the able leadership of Prof. Joseph Ballantync, tho Ogden choir of 2-10 voices rendered a program pro-gram bf music that was both interesting interest-ing and inspiring to the thousands of jisitors at the conference who wero j fortunate in obtaining entrance to tho I large auditorium. Prof. Sam F. Whit-aker Whit-aker was at the organ and solos were rendered by Miss Mildred Ware, Mrs. Myrtle Higlcy. Mrs. Agnes Warner and Win. S. Wright. Despite the wintry weather that prevailed throughout ihe entire day the attendance nt the conference was estimated lo be nearly 20,000. Tho large tabernacle was filled lo overflowing over-flowing and overflow meetings were held in the Assembly hall and the bureau bu-reau of information. The meetings in the Assembly hall were in charge of Apostle R. R. Lyman and fhc speakers weie President Ruriger Clawson, Oscar Os-car A. Kirkham, field director of the Y. M. M. I. A., Joseph Duckworth, ipiesidcnt of the Dlackfoot stake, President Pres-ident Norman S. Lee of Eox Elder stake. President Ray L. Pratt of the Mexican mission, Heber C. Iverson of the Northwest slates mission, Nephi Jensen of the Canadian mission. The s.neakers discussed doctrinal subjects dealing principally with the centenary of the "first vision" cf the boy prophet, Joseph Smith. President Heber J. Grant, President jAnihon II. Lund and President Charles 'Penrose were the speakers at the sessions ses-sions held in the tabernacle. At these meetings the Salt Lake tabernacle choir rendered musical programs under un-der the direction of Prof. Lund with Prof. J. J. McClellan at the great oi-gan. oi-gan. Expansion of Church. At the opening of the morning session ses-sion President Grant brought before tho great congregation proof of the great expansion of the church by reading read-ing figures showing amounts expended during the past year by the authorities of the church in various lines of speci-1 fied activities. These lie quoted in round figures as follows: "For meeting meet-ing houses, $254,000; for vard appropriations, appro-priations, $447,000, for stake tabernacle taber-nacle $35,000; Tor stake appropriations $167,000; for hospitals. $70,000 tho temple maintenance and construction ?214,000; for missions, $102,000; for education 687,000." Special attention to the high cost of huilding material was called. by the mead of the church who staled" that owing to this fact it would be out of th6 question to grant more than half or the requests made for appropriations appropria-tions by new schools, meeting houses, tabernacle and other improvements. This means there will be no new tabernacle tab-ernacle for Ogdcn for some time to come, a fact that is greatly lamented by Ogden people. President Grant spoke at somo length of the occasion as being of special spe-cial significance In the life of the church organization, marking the centenary cen-tenary of tho receiving of the 'Tirst vision" by the Prophet Joseph Smith, then a mere hoy, this vision leading to other manifestations of God's favor, culminating in revelations that led to I tho founding of the Latler-day Saint church with its mission to carry tho restored gospel to the people of tho earth. At the cpnclusion of his address President Grant stated that he had been criticized for his remarks inaoc j at the last general conference of the church upholding the law and unionism. union-ism. He said the only answer he wished wish-ed to make was the following statement' state-ment' made at the last conference: Protect Rights. "I want to say that I am .perfectly willing that men shall join labor unions, that they shall band together; 'for the purpose of protecting their j I rights, provided they do not interfere jwith the rights of other people. Lite, I I liberty and the pursuit of happiness! bolong to all the people of tho United , j States, according to the" laws of our ! country, and should u.pon the face of , the earth; and I say, that to my mind, a provision in a labor union is all wrong that favors boycotting and Ihe I laying down of tools or the quitting of j employment because a non-union man , obtains employment while exercising li is God-given right to stay out of the! union. Men who have that kind of a! rule have a rule that is in direct op-1 position to the laws of God. There! jwas a battle in heaven for what? To give man his individual liberty. An j attempt to take the agency nway is Imade when he does not sec fit to join ja union, when men in that union, with-, with-, out any complaint or grievance, strike,' because a non union man is employed." employ-ed." President Grant also quoted from Abraham Lincoln that property is the j fruit of labor and sa,id lie desiied to, lift up his voice with all his power against the destruction of property o any man or city. Attitude Changes. That the altitude of the people of the world toward the "Mormon" people peo-ple was changing President Grant sliowed by quoting from United States Senator Charles S. Thomas of Colorado Colo-rado and Henry Ashurst of Arizona who highly commended the members lot the church for the habits of industry indus-try and their true patriotism. President Lund spoke for a short time before the conclusion of the morning session. His remarks were in the main theological, being devoted to' an exposition of the significance of the vision received by tho boy Joseph Smith in the early" spring of 1820. The doctrine of the resurrection resurrec-tion and the law ot tithing were also discussed by tho speaker. Pres. Penrose Talks. President Penrose delivered tho lleadintr address at llm nftornnnn una. 'sion and said that the evidence of the j manifestation of Gods spirit In the ad-'dresses ad-'dresses at the morning session was ! proof of the eternal truth upon which the church was founded, indicating that the prophecies made in the be ginning were being fulfilled lo the lot-;ter. lot-;ter. He discussed at length the visions vis-ions and revelations received by the Prophet Joseph Smith. Apostle Meivin J. Ballard in his ad dress said that the message of the Latter-day Saints to tho world, thai the churches of Christendom did not represent the church of God and thai Christendom was in a state of apostasy apos-tasy was verified by the fact that today to-day the sectarian churches were striving striv-ing to effect some plan of unity. As usual sessions of the various auxiliary aux-iliary boards of the church organizations organiza-tions are being held during the present pres-ent week. |
