The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-06-02
THE YOUNG MEN MEET
Opening Of the Y. NJ. NJ. [. A. Con
ference Yesterday.
A TRIBUTE TO BRIGHAM YOUNG.
Apostle Thatcher's Eloquent Address The
Remarks of President MILFORD Woodruff
Sentiments by the Young Men.

I. 4. l.
OF Utah, while new one, is bound to grow
in popularity and will prove one of the best
plans for bringing the young men of the
territory together for the exchange Of
thoughts and ideas that has yet been con
ceived.
The second annual conference OF this or
ganization convened at 10 o'clock YESTERDAY
morning in the big tabernacle. There were
present: President MILFORD Woodruff ald
Moses Thatcher, of the general superin
tendency; Junius f Wells, Milton H
Hardy, Rodney c. Badger and Joseph A
West; President George Q. Cannon
Apostles Lorenzo Snow and john Henry
Smith, and many others prominent in mu
tual Improvement circles.
The music for the occasion was rendered
by Prof. Stephens juvenile classes. After
singing by the children, Apostle Lorenzo
Snow opened the conference with prayer
and the choir sang Lord, Accept our True
Dey0tiOH"
President Woodruff.
President MILFORD Woodruff addressed
the congregation as follows:
In my view there never before was .
time when all the powers of heaven, earth
and hell were working in their respective
spheres as hard as they are now for the ad-
yancement of the purposes of God. The
Lord has labOred FROM the creation to lead
men to do good and to obey such laws as
would result in good to mankind. What
ever leads to good, we are told, is of God,
and whatever leads to evil is Of an cppO
site source. AS a people we understand
somewhat the nature of the warfare ne
cessary in the carrying on of this work.
We cannot expect any less opposition than
has been shown to the work of God in past
ages There has always seemed to DE a
determination on the part OF the powers OF
darkness to Illustrate the purposes of God.
This has been especially the case in this
ace. We know that God has again re
vealed His viii and established His king
dom John the revelator foretOld the fly
ing of an angel through the midst OF
heaven having the everlasting gospel.
Many declarations OF scripture point to the
restoration of the gospel in these the last
days.
We have gathered in these valleys, per
haps 10, 900 saints from all parts of the
world, and from various occupations. The
weak things of the world have been chosen
to bear the priesthood and testify to
THE RESTORATION OF THE GOSPEL.
Those who have listened to and obeyed
their messages have received the Holy
message had not been from God, the people
who embraced it would not have gathered,
and Utah would have still been a barren
desert. Since the saints gathered they
have had the same trials and temptations
which the saints in all ages have had to
contend with. The hosts of evil spirits
who were cast down out OF heaven, are
warning against the saints and all good
men.
We have different organizations Of our
youth for their proper spiritual training.
There are the primaries. where the little
children are taught truths Of the gospel;
also the Sabbath schools, which embrace
10000 children. Thank God there are so
many. From these the youth progress
and become members Of the Mutual In
provement associations.
regard the work awaiting the youth Of
this people as equal in Importance to that
which ever lay before a class of young men
and women on earth. It rests upon them
To take the kingdom OF God and bear it
forth; 10 stand in the midst of the iUdg-
scents which are coming upon the earth.
regard the present generation as lying in as
deep darkness as any that ever lived upon
the earth. a thousand murders are com
mitted now where there was one seventy CT
eighty years ago,
THE KINGDOM OF GOD,
its KEYS and priesthood are here, and
want TO say to my young brethren VINO are
prasent. Lead your fellows from that which
IS evil. and lay aside everything that cor
rupts Either mind or body. No man can
inherit a kingdom of glory without abiding
the law of that kingdom, and we are all
aiming, or should be, for q celestial KING
dom.
Nine out of ten of the young missionaries
now being sent abroad are chosen from the
Mutual Improvement associations. The
members of these organizations are prepar-
ing themselves for the ministry. In com
Dany with some Of my brethren, l have the
honor to be associated with these laStltu-
tons, bat l have not much time to spend
with them.
In 1874, about seven thousand persons
were baptized in England; but now the
labors of our missionaries are like gather
ing grapes after the vintage is done. If an
elder. during a mission Of two or three
years. baptizes half dozen or a dozen per
sons, he thinks he has done d good WORK;
and he has.
Young men, leave grog shops alone
avoid everything that is evil; remember
that you have law to obey and never break
it. Keep the law of purity and chas,
tity.
pray God to help you to comprehend
YOUR position, duties and labOrS. | am
sometimes asked, why does not God pre-
serve His saints from persecution and
temptation? God has His own way to deal
with men. In no age has He kept His PEG
pie from contact with persecution anC
temptation. We have to meet these things
therefore prepare yourselves for them.
pray God TO bless you all, to guide you
and preserve you, in the name of Jesus
Amen.
Other Speakers.
Elder Richard w. Young delivered a lee
ture on America 1t was an excellent
paper, and only the crowded condition Of
our columns prevents giving a verbatim
report of it. AS it is, however, we arr
compelled to leave it out At the close OF
nd II Young S address Miss Mable Cooper
d.. Louie Felt sang a duet, '"Teu Us,
Merry Birds in very pleasing manner
In the absence of S. E. WoOlley, super
intendent of Tooele stake, Assistant Gen
eral Superintendent r. G. Badger read the
sentiment, written by him in behalf Of th4
stake. upon the Effects of Mutual In
provement upon the Individual"
Charles England, superintendent Of
Oneida stake, read a sentiment on thu
effects of Mutual Improvement Associa
ton Work on the Community"
Superintendent Reinard Maeser, of Bea
yer stake, then read the sentiment OF
Mutual Improvement Association Worl
as an Aid to the Priesthood, Support TO tn
National Government and Factor Of UNI
versal Progress"
Singing: Chorus, Good Morning"
Benediction by Elder Johnson.
AFTERNOON SERVICES.
Singing: ''Wake Song of Joy and Glat
ness'
PRAYER by Assistant General Superb