Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-03-04
THE STAKE CONFERENCE.
Closing Proceedings Of the Two
Bays Meetings.

| ~NeAlac VI TIC SAT- LAX
Stake Conference closed with th.
list Of authorities put before th,
people for their votes. When thil
business was finished,
COUNSELLOR JOSEPH z. TAYLOR
addressed the congregation. II,
said, we number in this Stake al
most so, eOOsouls including chil,irer
torn and blessed in tae Church
who, though not yet baptized. ar,
counted as members in making oul
report. The necessity for o complet,
organization of every ward ought
TO be apparent to every one. Their
would be fewer difficulties for Bish.
ops to settle if there were an efficient
corps OF teachers in every ward 10
search out iniQuity end min il in the
bud. and many Maynard sun and
daughter might have been saved
from going astray aud their parents
spared the ScfrC~ entailed upon
them rs consequence, II the
teachers and priests had done their
uuty. In many instances Parents.
on finding their children turning Ia
Vaywardness, feel delicate about
calling fce The assistance OF the
Priesthood to help control them, but
II the members of the lesser Priest
hood were alive to their duties they
would discover the need Of their
services without being a-ked. II
the quorums Of the Priesthood were
fully organized AMI performed their
duties as they were designed to.
there would be no neei OF such
helps TO the government Of the
Church as now exist in the shane
OF certain associations and orrnn-
izations, however worthy their OBJ
ject anu beneficial their efforts.
PRESIDENT ANGUS NJ CANNON.
1t is to be regretted that so many
quoruD.s Of the Elders have failed
70 make their reports: also that four
Of the wards have failed to report
the amount ofthe fast offerings they
received l know OF one ward at
least in which no fast oilerIs=s have
been collected of late, the reason for
abandoning TIC custom being that
there ale no poor therein. The re-
quirement TO fast and pray and
make offerings IL made 10y the AL
mighty, and should not I've
abolished 10y man. II the Saints
IN any ward are 81 well provided
for thar none Of them require assist
ance they have abundar. cc,lae ros
gratitude 10 God and = mike offer
ings Of their substance for the benefit
OF those less fortunate i'm other wards.
and in s'sch case theirOGerings should
be sent 10 the Presiding Bishop. II
is a reproach to US that 50 so large
a sum for the support OF the moor has
to be drawn from the tithing in The
hands of the Presiding Bishop. If
the Saints generally were faithful
in paying their fass offerings this
need not lie tho case. Ii will he
noticed that the names Of the
Bishops and their COunselors have
not been placed before this confer
ence. The reason for this is that
the wards in which they preside are
the proper places for them TO be
voted upon, and the Presidency of
the Stake will visit the various
wards ana place the names Of these
and other ward officers before the
people for them TO sustain or reject.
This is a large Stake, there being
rorty-fOur war b in it and
we therefore require a large
corps Of home missionaries,
which we have. The organiza-
ton Ofthe wards should be complete
and kept in thorough working order.
the Priests and Teachers doing their
duty TO see that the Saints-are in
structed and that no iniquity exists.
do not remember when l was last
visited by a teacher, il is so long
since. | wish bishops who are
short Of help in that line would cali
to their assistance some Of the young
men who are growing up in their
midst aud who are liable ii not
called into service in the Church TO
fall into evil hatits. I WISH also
the Bishops 10 see that the
transgessors in their wards are dealt
with, and that those who are found
unworthy Of a Standing are severed
from the Church. l regret to see a
disposition on the part Of many of
the Saints to barter away their pos
sessions. Think OF the scenes
through which the people have
passed before being led to this land,
and OF the marvellous manner IN
which the Lord has blessed this
country for the sake Of his people,
and then ask yourselves if they are
justified in selling their heritages.
When / think OF the tendency in
this direction which is being mani
tested am reminded Of the prodigal
son who plead with his father
to give him his portion ami, having
obtained il, sguaudered it in TDtous
living, and then returned to his
fiIther, famished and nakei and
humbied. Some might feel 10 ask
now, rs did the faithful son men
toned in the palable, why il is that
those who have sold their posses
siOns, engaged in riotous living, and
disobeyed counsel, are still fellow
SHIPPED and sustained, rs If their
acts had always been worthy; but
they might be answered as was the
prodigal's brother, ''All that / have
is thine" The leniency shown the
prOdigals. would not detract from
the glorious reward in store for the
faithful Let Us reprsss the scandals
which are being circulated IN our
midst and purge out iniQgity from
our midst. Bishops, tgIm up your
Wards. Presidents of qIorums,
labor with your members who are
slack in regard 10 their duties, that
they may be led 10 reform, and the
blessing Of God viii attend you.
Ii was announced that conference
would adjourn till the first Sunday
in September 10 meet at tho same
place.
The choir sang:
Captain Of Israers host, and Guiie
% all who seeL the land above;
Beneath the shadow We ABIDE.
The cloud Of Thy protecting love.
Benediction was pronounced by
President Wil!Ori Woodruff.
C.I ~.