Show Q QUARTERLY conference ENCE continued rampage page one SUNDAY july 10 am there were present on the stand presidents L J herrick and C F bishops of the ward warde high councilors councillors Counci lors an dother members of the priesthood the congregation was called to order by president L J herrick errick II the choir sane the morning breaks the shadows flee bisho bishop P sanferd anford bingham offered up prayer rayer and the hymn let those X who would be saints indeed was sung elder E ider E H anderson clerk of of the stake read the statistical report of weber stake of zion for forthe the quarter the congregation was then 1 addressed 1 d by ELDER JAMES JAMM TAYLOR he laid it down as an in incontrovertible principle that god gave man free agency as concerns his religion reli boil no human enactments can flave have any an 1 1 nf luence upon mon tho the reason or julai judgement jud gement e ment of man man ilan may be awed by tho the fear of punishment pains and penalties may keep him in submission to wrong but ho be will eventually break the fetters and exercise his bis god given rights and privileges governments have sought to enforce certain forms and principles in various countries and anal ages doctrines have been preached at the point of the sword and arid bayonet we are accountable to god alane alo no for the exercise of our reason god will persuade but not force the the human mind the speaker by the light of history s showed owed in graphic language how the humble followers of christ were persecuted in the early ages by the powerful arm of the pagan state but these early saints maintained main their right to worship god according to the dictates of their own consciences consciences they were convinced on the exercise of their reason and judgment that Christi christianity anit was right and arid true but the worly world both pagan and jew said they should not exercise their judgment except in conformity with theold dogmas and onel cl forms elder taylor further on sketched the oppressive policy followed by the roman catholic Catli olic church when when she became powerful and aud depicted forcibly the cruelty and ty ranny with which the papal church exercised its universal sway over the believers when whole nations were brought in humility to the foot of one man simply because they dared to exercise their judgment and assert their reason on some special point then the exercise of man mans a reason in in regard to I 1 his belief if contrary to the tenets of the catholic church constituted the heinous crime of heresy which whick was punished with penalty of the most atrocious character and inhuman nature the speaker gave an interesting sketch of the tile horrors of the spanish inquisition whose dark and damnable deeds were committed in the much abused name of religion inflicting unspeakable tortures en on men women and children for daring to think in contradiction to the catholic creed the speaker also narrated the fate of the spanish seb armada which had been sentous sent out by the romieh pope and king ki g philip to extirpate protestantism in in england at the time of queen elizabeth all these historical incidents illustrate the disastrous disposition in man to control other peoples minds and thoughts this reminded the speaker of the bed of on which that mythical greek robber laid his victims either to shorten them or lop them off to reduce them to one stature As that ancient worthy did in physical matters modem legislation designs to bring mens minds winds into one size and shape Mea measures such as the edmunds bill are devised to reduce men to one stature intellectually and religiously I 1 J te to prevent them from thinking their air own thoughts and acting upon their own reasons As in times of old when the pagan priests fearing the decline and collapse of their temples and sacrifices invoked the tile civil arm to squelch the christian believers thus in modern modem days the hireling priests of a bogus chris christ ti anity call upon the powers of the civil government and are moving upon the rulers of state to assist in suppressing those who assert their free agency and own reasoning fac f ac unties on matters of worship and faith those roman augurs and jewish pharisees pharis ees of 1800 years ago have their counterpart in the sectarian preachers of this day who have bave in sti gated the d despotic persecution of the latter day saints because they use their own judgment on questions quest ions of faith the animus of these enemies of 11 mormonism is to deprive them not only of their inherent p political political oli and cavil civil rights but even to deny them f fair air trial by their I 1 peers more than that we are I 1 to be ruled over by comparative I 1 strangers invested with arbitrary power all tins this ia is inflicted over the latter day saints not on account of any wrong they have done or any any crime they have ave committed but because they dare to differ from froin the outside world in its sectarian views and so called christian civilization the latter day saints arc are so high above these modern christiana christians in virtue honesty integrity Ps 03 arc are the heavens above the earth what has followed in ill the wako wake of those self styled reformers and slid regenerators of utah but vices of the most hideous character and mast most degraa de grad ing nature these hireling priests who are denouncing the cormons mormons Mor Ilori mons C even all clamor in in unison and barni harmony oliv with a detestable murderer lik 0 guitrau Guit cau the Latt erday saints claim nothing but what the constitutional law guarantees to them and they intend to maintain their ern christianity notwithstanding those snow clad mountain summits that reach to the clouds and greet tile I 1 morning sun will never look down upon slaves we shall and will bo be a free people c exercising exer exercising cisin 9 those rights and privileges which god almighty JUn lightY gave us with the very breath of lifo life after the spirited discourse of elder taylor which was listened to to with great interest AMOS MAYCOCK north ogden ward gave all an rev account of the recent re reorganization ll 11 of north ogden ward irwy by which brother 11 D wade waa was appointed bishop of the tile newly formed ward of pleasant view formerly hot springs and brother thos wallace bishop of the north ogden ward bishop maycock having tendered his resignation PRESIDENT L J HERRICK made a few remarks explanatory of the division of north ogden ward and the reason showing how the tile separation IQ had acen been a progressive measure resulting in giving the people there more watchmen more gerders to take care odthe of the flock after an anthem by the choir and benediction by elder joseph hall the tile conference adjourned for the afternoon 2 pm p m the congregation was called to order by president L J herrick the choir sang tile hymn great god attend while z ion sings elder edwin stratford 0 offered up the prayer which was fo followed I 1 by the choir singing the b n hymn ind arise I 1 my soul arise while while the sacrament was behag administered the clerk of the state presented the general and stake authorities which were unanimous ly sustained ELDER JOSEPH STANFORD first addressed the tile vast audience asking for the faith and prayer of the saints that he lie might be filled with the spirit of the tile lord and enabled to speak of tile things of god it is now some 35 years ago since these valleys were first settled by the latter day saints since then followers of the pioneers cers have rion spread over the val valleys ays eys of these mountains cultivating the land building up towns and cities filled now by people we feel thankful to god our father today for liis his bles blessings sinas and the prosperity that has attended us on every hand land we see that divine providence has manifested itself to wards this people so that today to day in in i zion we are enjoying the fruit of our labors the lord has sanctified the elements to our bapp happiness iness i and blessing wo we have been and still arc are permitted to worship that god who gave us these bless blessings i free and unmolested all th these bounties we owe to our zeal and faithfulness in li elpina to usher in the reign of righteousness nes and peace upon the face of the earth we came hereto here to this isolated re region 0 O n first because wo we were obliged obliged to being driven by the per ot merciless mobs from our homes and habitations it was the tile spirit of intolerance that drove the tile pioneers of utah into this then barren and desolate country count rj can it bo be true that in this boasted land of liberty the spirit of the op oppression on of th thought ought and speech manifested itself yes thus it was and is Is it po possible sible that a government which got its iti existence by contending f for or freedom and peace and against opples sion and arbitrary power could suffer those latter agencies of evil to to drive a portion of the people from their peaceful domiciles domiciled domi ciles yes this is the f fact act the speaker here dwelt on th the inci incidents dente and influences connected with the persecutions of the saints at nauvoo showing how bow the arm of law failed to exten extend d protection to the latter day saints when I 1 they were assailed and despoiled by unscrupulous hordes these mob dobbings bings brought the tile latter day saints into the re recesses of tho the rocky mountains and thousands have since come across the continent and far off from across the alantic ocean what has caused all cheso I 1 people eople of all tongues kindred and nations nation sto to gather here it is the f fact act that t they bey realized the divine mission of the prophet joseph in these the last days the tile principles which lio ile taught we have investigated nv t il abed and have found them identical and cor 4 responding with the primi principles ples of the gos gospel 1 as taught by jesus christ we ve are not a class of ignorant fanatics yielding blind obedience to a grasping priesthood wo we are obedient true and our obedience to divine authority has secured us the bler blessings sings we arc aro enjoy ing ill and will lead us to the ae heights lits of the glory of the gods 0 this obedience is the highest eft intelligence based on investigation and reason we have found the scriptures bearing out tho the teachings aud and the doets doctrines ri nes of tho the latter day missionaries and have been convinced of the divine character of the tile prophet Prop liet joseph Jos epli those who received tho the gospel messa message 90 gladly received ft testimony of its truth which is impre impregnable liable and unmistakable we eve havo had the fortifying experiences of lica healings lings speaking by tongues interpretations visions and other gifts of the gospel when men wo we then embraced the gospel and clung to it wo NYC realized an alienation of feeling in ill our families and our friends cast us off the spirit of the gospel is one of joy beace Fe peace ace bap happiness hence the wor world with its i ti strife and contention opposes it and endeavors to extinguish it we separated ourselves from the nations and kingdoms of tho the world because they campel compelled led us to wo have cultivated tho tile f fields ields redeemed the desert and made it the flourishing country it is and all devant is to bo be let in ill peace and enjoy without let or hill hindrance the fruits of our soil and thrift we ave do not expect the world to abandon the fw feeling i ng of hostility hosti hostility lit y they have ever b been n exhibiting against us indeed they haye no reason to indulge in angry resentment against us we have bave ever been solicitous to extend to them the glad tidings of the gospel we have sent our scores and hundreds of missionaries to them without purse or scrip at a great sacrifice and often at the risk of deaths death where is there another peo people re I 1 on earth that performs such mission missionary ar y labor without temporal reward or remuneration mormonism is a stern an undisputable reality it is embodied in in the faithful from the crowns of their head to the soles of their feet all we ask of the world politically religiously aud and otherwise is a fair investigation of our past history present conduct and future aspirations if then we arc are f found wanting in tho the scale in equity justice probity morality then let them enter verdict but we protest against tho the opposition using poly polygamy 9 as an excuse for the crusade it is not plural marriage they arc seeking seekim to destroy but the rights and privileges of tho the battel latter day saints as a people the enem enemies les of Ifor mormonism monism covet our wealth our individual in accumulations our city trea treasuries s and our territorial fiscus they want to despoil the tile people of their property and enrich themselves with the plunder but we arc are resigned to the decrees of providence and though the clouds may be lowering at present ire we hope and trust in him who has always led his people out of difficulties cul ties zion will never a again ga i n be brought under the feet of other b er enemies L no m this kingdom lias has been established for the last time and will never no never bo be thrown down god has created it for the kedem redemption P cfall of all who lead righteous lives and strive after purification referring to plural marriage the speaker exploded the hackneyed objections with which polygamy is is stigmatized and showed that the vices of civilization have been introduced trod and are being supported and patronized by the very men who de declaim I 1 a i in aga against i it s t t tho I 1 i 0 immorality i ammo cahty i at af the latter day saints A time will come conic when zion will be clean and purified when the wickedness imported in arted by christian reformers will lip bo be rooted out the speaker concluded his forcible discourse with a prayer that the spirit of god may rest upon all who are laboring to promote tho the interests of israel APOSTLE P V D RICHARDS expressed his regret at having been prevented by delays on the trains from attending to the whole of the conference but was gratified to see sele such a good turnout and to witness such a goodly outpouring out pouring of the spirit he ife then gave wholesome counsel as to the conduct of latter day by which to secure the approbation odthe of the lorland Lor dand admonished the saints to lift up their hearts to him from whom comes all light ligli t truth and intelligence the lord is carrying on his work with might and power and consummating his purpose let every man take upon himself the armor of the gospel and teach his children tho the doctrines of truth apostle richards also pointed hinted out how t tho h c iu judgments ments G of t the e almighty are b beginning egill to bo be carried r aed out and ex exhorted I 1 lorte the tile saints to be watchful if we only do our duties and fulfil fulfill our engagements wo we will como come out triumphant many arany evil spirits are abroad in the world and even among us but if wo we have f faith aith abiding within us wo we will be able to discern tile spirits all we beedis need is te to draw near unto god and refrain from doing evil with the evil ones which the speaker saca ker pointed out especially warning the parents to exercise tho the utmost caro care over their children ildren cli this work is not only true but grows truer and truer every I 1 daytner day iner increasing casin not only in magnitude but in ex excellency cellene y coming nearer and nearer to perfection and godliness the speaker closed with a prayer for the divine blessing and AV wished died tho the bishops to save souls from blindness of mind and hardness of heart the edifying conference was brought to a close by a few remarks from P president resident 0 F 1 middleton an ail anthem |