The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-10-06
First Day of the Fifty-Ninth
Semi-Annual Conference.
A VERY GOOD ATTENDANCE.
The Speakers AMI the Various Sub.
jecrs Of Interest Dw.l. Upon
by Them.

Litter-day Saints dawned bright and
clear. The audience that assembled in
the Tabernacle in the morning, how
ever, was not large one, the lower
hoor being scarcely filed when the
congregation wss:called to order, but.it
increased II numbers as the services
progressed.
There were on the stand, of the
Qu1rum OF the Twelve Apostles: Lo-
renzo Snow, franklin D. Richards,
John Henry Smith, Moses Thatcher
aud Heoer ]. Grant; of Couuselors to
the Twelve: Daniel H. Wells; Patriarch
John Smith; of the Presiding Council
of the Seventies: Henry Herman,
jacob Gates, Abram II. Cannon; Sey-
mour B. Young; OF the Presiding
Bishopric, John r. Winder. There
were also present a number of Pres
idents of Stakes and others from vari-
Gus parts of Utah and surrounding
| States and Territories.
The services opened by the choir
singing the hymn commencing:
Praise we the Lord; It's good to raise,
Your hearts and voices in his praise
His nature and his works invite,
To make this duty our delight.
APOSTLE JOHN HENRY SMITH offered
the opening prayer, and the choir sang
the hymn:
What glorious scenes mine eyes behold,
What glories burst upon my view!
when Ephraim' records unfold,
All things appear diYinely new.
Apostle Lorenzo Snow
was the first speaker. He was very
pleased to meet again with his brethren
and sisters in the capacity of general
Conference. There had been many
changes during the last six months
some of pleasant, others of an I'M
pleasant character. Brother Erastus
Snow, Brother Eldredgs, and other
prominent men in our midst had passed
away to meet the reward in stoce. We
are here to-day; whether We will be
here at our next general Conference,
God only knows; and l do not know
that it matters much. We were sent
here for certain purpose, and it may
be that we covenantet with God in the
assist in the accomplishment of one
of the greatest WORKS ever under
taken by the children of God. It would
certainly seem as though we must have
had some idea as to our work before we
came. We have found in our expert
ence, so far as we have gone, that there
are many things req uired at our hands
that are not of the most pleasant ma
ture, but If We attune ourselves Alright,
we will be able to find considerable
pleasure In them-pleasure and salts
faction.
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF GOD
These duties will rest lightly upon u.s.
In the past, the hand of persecution
has been laid heavily upon us-if not
on all, at least upon some. and it is
hard for Us to enjoy ourselves when
others of our brethren are in distress.
But there is one singular fact
that has been developed in all
this persecution-thst in sacrifice, men
achieve their glory. For instance,
when Shadrach, Mesac and Abednego
were cast into the fiery furnace from
which they emerged unscathed, they
were so filed with the power of God
that the laws OF nature were reversed;
| and had it net been for their steadfast-
ness and faith in their trials,
we should never have heard
Of their virtue and their integrity.
The Gaze of Daniel being thrown
into the den of lions, when the Lord sent
a holy angel to close the mouths OF the
beasts, is another instance. There was
glory secured. 1t was glorious AMI a
grand achievement in favor of God and
| in favor of Daniel. He secured ro>him-
self Vas .er amount Of character than
he had previously gained in any of his
| former experiences. And so it Is. But
how was it that Daniel caused his
safety? Innocence was found In him,
and it should be found in all. We are
bound to be chastened, we are bound to
pass through the fiery furnace. There
is none of US that can escape, and we
need not think it strange as individuals
Or as a church when We are being
chastened, when We are passing through
the fiery furnace. 1t must be so. The
| Ders cutions OF the last three years,
whas have been the results? They have
been
GREAT AND GLORIOUS.
Aad we were never stronger than we are
now. Some 500 or 800 of US have gone
to the Penitent iary. and these have
shown to the world how great is their
| faith, and how greet is their gratitude.
We all have the same chance to show
our love of the truth-some in
one way and some in another.
The sisler who raises family
of Oh ldren, at times eel' that she is
being sorely tried, ana she makes ex-
pressions that she afterwards wishes she
had not. For time her faith wavered,
but only for a time. Many of Us have
trials as serious as that Of going to the
Penitentlary. 1t is st such times that
many enjoy themselves better than
when in pleasure, because then they are
humble and are near the Lord. We have
many duties to perform, and in the diff
ferent associations of the church there
are many openings for the brethren
and sisters to aid and assist each other.
The sister in her association can arise
and address her sisters in accordance
with the mind and the will of God, if
she will but claim the spirit of God.
There thy Gao qualify themselves.
There is 70 class of people anywhere
who Rave such opportunities to i'm
prot themselves as have the Latter