Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-06-02
YOUNG FOLKS MEETING.
Annual Conference Of the Improve.
maRt Associations.
INTERESTING PROCEEDINGS.
Instructions by President Woodruff,
apostles Thatcher, Lyman
and Others.

e The general conference OF the
: Y. N. NJ. l. a. convened ut IOa.m.
yesterday, in the Tabernacle, the
o attendance being large. There
: were present on the stand President
e MILFORD Woodruff. Apostles Lorenzo
5 Snow, Moses Thatcher, =. NJ. Ly-
I. man ami 4. II. Lund, Elders Jacob
Gates, 3. II. Roberts, George Rey-
: nolds, Junius F.wells, MILITARY,
JOSEPH 4. West, Rodney c. Bad
: ger, VIM. :. Burton, E. II. Ander-
con, Joseph E. Taylor, c. W. Pen.
rose and others.
: The opening piece was sung by
the Harmony and Fifteenth Ward
Glee clubs.
Prayer by Elder NJ. II. Handy.
Singing 10y the Fifteenth Wand
Glee club.
ELDER JUNIUS +. WELLS,
one Of the assistants to the General
Superintendency, was the frst
speaker. He dwelt upon the ne
cessity Of systematic, practical work
in the exercises OF the associations,
aud Of the guidance OF the Holy
/ Spirit, in order that success might /
attend the organizations. He hoped |
that a definite plan would be agreed
upon, for the next seasons work, at
the meeting on Monday, June ..
ELDER JOSIAH BURROWS
spoke On the subject Of the sOrigin
and objects Of the Mutual Improv-
ment AssOciations.' Their origin
was due to President Brigham
Young, who in 1870 appointed
Junius f. Wells Us an organizer.
Brother Wells began this labor and
organized n number Of associations.
There had been Improvement as
sociatiOns, literary societies, etc,
prior 10 this time, but they were |
not under the direction Of the |
Presidency Of the Church. Brother |
| Wells was called on a mission in |
the fall OF 1875, an9 Elders J. III. |
Smith, NJ. II. Hardy and b. VI. /
Young took Up the work Of the as
l sOciatiOns, and that winter about !
I one hundred organizations were
/ effected. In 1879 there were nine
| thousand members enrolled in the
associations. The object of these
societies was mutual Improvement
Of the youth and the requirement
Of testimony OF the G0spel-the
education OF the young morally,
socially, religiously and intellectu-
ally. This day, which may he
termed the fifteenth anniversary
Of the organization, there are nearly
iOHr hundred associations, with a
membership Of over fourteen thou
sand. Their work Las been grand
and glorious, aud the future has
still brighter prospects.
ELDER JOSEPH E. JOHNSON,
of Emery Stake, spoke on the senti-
ment, obedience, the Key of
Power" He cited instances re-
corded in the Bible and Book Of
Mormon where, by Obedience TO the
commandments Of God. great power
was obtained by men and nations.
The Lord Jesus obeyed his Fathers
viii that He might become the Re
dcemer Of the world.
ELDER GUY c. WILSON,
Of Sanpete Stake, was the next
speaker. His subject was "The
Promises Of God to His PEOPLE -
The number Of these promises was ,
so numerous that there was not time
TO mention even the prominent ones.
All the promises Of blessings are
predicated on Obedience 70 the laws
OF GOu- One Of these laws is tithing.
FOR Obedience TO this the Lord has
promised to pour out upon us bless Y
lngs till we are not able 10 contain =.
them. He has bestowed upon us
great blessings, and asks that we de-
vote to him but one-tsnth Of our in
crease. There are men who have o
accumulated immense wealth, s
who think they need all they :
have. They do not feel will o
ing 10 trust God for further bless a
lngs, by paying their tithes. Other ]
promises the Saints have are con- a
nected with the Word Of Wisdom. Y
Obedience to which ensures that the n
destroying angel will PASS US by. {,
ms Is an important one to the y
youth of Israel, and those who trust =
In the Lord VIII not he disappoiut- e
ed. One great promise 10 the Saints q
IS that given 10 Abraham and his ! n
chliuren. The Lord has also prom Il
ised that those who have faith in Il
Him, repent OF their sins, and are Il
laptized, will receive the Boly %.
Shost- This is one Of the greatest h
.'romists that is given to mankind, Ii
or the Holy Spirit will lead them n
INTO all truth God has promised 10
hat in this dispensatiOn His kirg- er
iom will triumph and will be estab- N
ished forever. Certainly We should NJ
i've 50 as TO partake Of these glorious III
blessings. Our Father taught the =,
nations of past ages that He was /.
'Ole 70 deliver His people from the al
over Of their enemies, and that ii,
lie held the destinies OF men and Ia
latiOns in His hand. Surely tic In
saints can afford 10 implicitly trust ar
n Him and keep His command MI
leDts. H.
The GIee Club sang a selection. Ia "a.
ELDER b. II. ROBERTS w
ddressed the audience ON the tje
Life Of Joseph the Prophet DIR
lie said that Among the co
enefactors Of our race, Josrph s q.
mith holds the second place. Next ha
} the Messiah, there is no man who ON
al done more for mankind. There ~!
ave been Prophets and phiIau- CO.
lrOpists who have done much for La
he benefit Of men, Tut their Iai.ors n c
ile IN comparison with that which we
1seph performed in the few years hiI
lotted TO MIN. Enoch Noah. ma
.elchesidec, Isaiah, Ezekiel. Dam yol
J. Joel; and all the Prophets per fro
rmed glorious missions, but JoSeph the
NTH stood in an age when God for
signed 10 perform a greater work VIII
an at any other period. and all lie
ose who stood at the head of fpr- bee
eT dispensatiOns came 10 Jusepb ity
ID transmitted to him the KEYS we
ey held. IL is needless to com the
re the work OF statesmen and Go,
leading spirits though TO I
ey were, with that performed
Joseph; for TO him was commit
the great mission Of restoring Of
E fulness ofthe everlasting Gospel mex
the last dispensation. -.
Early in his youth God revealed -
mself to him, and he beheId the 80
ther and the Son and talked ~ :,
tn them, aud could declare 49,,
At God lived. The Lord revealed or,
Joseph the testimony Of sn entire 30,
and volume Of scripture wo,
1al. at least, in Importance "a that 81
'epted by the Christian world r.,
, Bible. He also gave to joseph tbs
; authority OF the Priesthood. 10