| OCR Text |
Show CHURCH GROWING ' Afio prosperous; j SPIRiT OF OPT!V!SM PREV-MLSI IN ADDRESS Or PRES. DENT AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE. Declares Tnat Every Bancn cf Vas Work of Cnurch Has Irrproved During Past Yejr, and Predicts Greater I rr pro verr e n t in the Future. Salt Lake City. A spirit of optimism optim-ism prevailed at the eighty fourth (.-cfii'irnc.. of the Church of J-sus ( hrist of Latt- r-day Saints, lo Id in this city April 4'.h to ',lh. inclusive, t.vo sessions being held each day. President Joseph F. Smith, although al-though Buffering from a heavy cold, made the oputn,,' address, and warf in a most optimistic mood, declaring that the church is stronger, more united unit-ed and in a generally better condition condi-tion today than it has ever been. The president quoted statistics to show-that show-that every branch of the vast work ot the church had improved during the past year, and showed evidence of greater improvement in the future. Therefore, the Latter-day Saints had reason to be optimistic. Members were urged to put forth greater effort in an endeavor to fulfill their duty to the church. They were shown wherein they erred, and advised ad-vised as to how they could better their physical, mental and spiritual condition. President Smith spoke of those whe had worked against the interests ct the church, and said that he believed that iu time those who falsely maligned ma-ligned the people of God would become be-come ashamed of themselves and would cease to wag their tongues. George Albert Smith, member ol the quorum of apostles, who spoke ai the opening session, urged his heai ers to take the words of the presi dent home, with the idea of improv ing their daily lives. At the after::')' .1 session, Charles w. I'enrose ot tne hrst presidency, aud Kudger Clawson and Heber ,i. Grant of the quorum of twelve apostles, apos-tles, were the speakers, church observance, ob-servance, marriage and prohibition being discussed. Apostle Grant electrified elec-trified the gathering with a powerful oratorical attack on the liquor traffic and' declared that if the Saints were given a chance to vote on state wide prohibition, there would he an eud ot the liquor business in Utah. Apostle Claw son's address was largely doctrinal, doc-trinal, dealing with the divine authority au-thority of the church and dwelling with emphasis upon the covenaut of marriage for time and eternity. Apostle Apos-tle Penrose spoke of the divine origiu of the church and of the different phases of the Mormon religion, j wherein it is different from other denominations. de-nominations. A feature of the conference waa the excellent musical program, many of the leading musicians of the state, and the west, being present. Two "overflow" meeting were necessary Sunday afternoon to accommodate accom-modate those who could not even find room in the doorways of the thronged tabernacle. One overflow meeting was necessary in the morning, ""tubers ""tu-bers of the council of the twelve apostles apos-tles were prominent among Sunday's speakers. t-resiaent josepn i. sniitn presided presid-ed at the sessions iu the tabernacle. President Francis M. Lyman of the apostles' quorum. Apostle George F. Richards and Apostle Orson F. Whitney Whit-ney were the principal speakers in the tabernacle at the morning meeting. meet-ing. Apostle A. W. Ivius was in charge of the overflow meeting iu the morning at the Assembly hall. Vital principles of the Mormon faith were expounded at the morning session ses-sion of conference on Sunday. Revelation, Reve-lation, the performing of miracles and the healing of the sick wp r-Aci among the subjects, discussed. At the afternoon tabernacle meeting sermons were delivered by Apostle David O. McKay. Apostle Joseph F. Smith, Jr., and Apcstle James E. Tal-mage. Tal-mage. Apostle Heber J. Grant conducted con-ducted the overflow meeting iu the Assembly As-sembly hall, with Charles H. Hart. Joseph B. Geddes, L. N. Marsden and Walter P. Monsen as speakers. Elder Benjamin Goddard was in charge of the open-air meeting, with Andrew Jensen. Samuel O. Bennion and German Ger-man E. Ellsworth assisting. The Murray First ward choir sang at the morning assembly hall meeting, and the Ogden tabernac:e choir at the afternoon af-ternoon meeting. The tabernacle :hoir rendered the n.usical program in the tabernacle. At the afternoon session, an expesi-ion expesi-ion of the gospel and the word o visdom. advice to teachers, with a word of caution regarding the responsibility respon-sibility that devolves upon them, the iuties of the church members and a re:u;atioa of these who seek to decry the Bible and to cast doubt upon the gospel were subjects dwelt upon by the speakers. As on the opening day. -the ad dresses made to the conference were: j ?" an optimistic and happy nature. The famous taheruaele chi ir was a: .ts host. Fully 1 . 1 ' people crowded -every available inch or" space in th great taoerusele at each cf the two j Flans for the publishing of the official of-ficial organ c r" the Soci-:;.' is'ar.d Eh! dors' association ot the Mor-.i u church in Salt Lake instead cf in the islands were peritcted at a rae-tieg Ahcu: f Germans met Sunday afternoon af-ternoon in B irrett hall to h:ld th-;:r conference reunion- Th se who spoke at th" re-ue.icn veer? Alher; Te:-ii:? r: Salt Lake. 71.,- Geruian i heir c: Li' rtv stake, ."urr.lshed lie i :-:'uiie. |
