Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-04-04

was the first speaker. He said;
At the request Of President Wood
run, rise to make few remarks nj
the opening Of our Conference. Not
withdrawing the inclemency Of the
weather, there IN great cause for thanks
giving this morning ON the part OF the
I.atter-day Saints In having the priyil-
edge Of meeting n, the opening Of our
tixty-second annual conference Of the
Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter.day
Saints, aud meeting together, too,
under such favorable circumstances ~
now surround us, having n comfortable
building In which To worship, where
we can alt and listen In peace TO the
words OF life and salvation that may
be addressed unto us by the servants OF
God.
In contemplating the past, there can
be no soul In this congregation from
whose heart thanksgiving and praise
cannot arise to God. our Eternal
Father, for the goodness and mercy
that He has shown unto w. We are
never without causo for Thanksgiving;
for our God has been good, and kind,
aud meyclfil. He has not forgotten
us. He has not turned His face away
from ia. He has not closed His ears 10
our petitions. Neither has ho refused
to answer the prayers that we have
offered unto Him. The evidences Of
His mercy arc around us, are within
us. We have received them, and we
rejoice In them this morning. And
feel, for one, TO lit up my voice, In
the congregation OF the Saints, In
praise OF our Eternal Father, our Great
Creator. | feel that We eau come TO-.
gether this morning full OF gratitude,
full OF humility, with broken hearts
and cOntrlto spirits, bringing them aa
willing Offering unto our Coda
sacrifice that He will accept, II being
the sacrifice that lie requires at tho
hands OF His Saints.
when we contemplate the great
changes that have occurred within the
past few years, and wee how wonder
fully God has softened the hearts Oftho
people, how He has turned aside the
wrath Of man, and given favor, 10 n
goOdly extent, 10 HIS people, we
certainly ought TO feel thankful to
Him. | have just returned from the
East, where have been for several
weeks, and | never In my experience
among men, saw kinder feeling
manifested towards this people than
have during this visit. This Lord has
sOfiened the hearts Of the people Of our
nation and OF the leaders thereof, and
they feel kindly disposed 10 the
Latter-day Saints. The misrepresenta-
ton, the alaehooda, the mists OF dark
ness which have beclouded Us and cur
reputation, have, to a very great ex-
tent, been removed. Ana | have felt
exceedingly thankful TO the Lord be-
cause there IL no power but His that
could have done this. Mans power
could not have accomplished such re-.
suits. But God has all power, and lie
has poured out His Spirit and softencd
the hearts OF the people, and taken
away that animOsity and removed
many OF those misconceptions that
hRve existed In regard 10 us.
The Lord has blessed His people In
many directions. We have, of course,
our difficulties 10 contend with. We
have many things 10 overcome. We
are still In the world; aud being NOR.
tai and subject to this vicissitudes OF
human life, we must expect TO have
many things 10 contend with that will
try US. hut looking at our condition
rs whole, nj this entire people In Nil
their abidings, think II can be truth.
fully said that we are exceedingly
favored of the Lord-l mean In ten.
poral matters. | do not believe there
can be found an equal number % PEG.
pie In one community On this cont.
nent who arc no well provided with
food, with ralment, with shelter, aud
with the convenience ana comforts OF
life. IL IL true, We do not have a great
excess Of riches among Va. On the
other hand. We DO not have extreme
poverty. We have the poor, but Rs q
rule they are cared for. The cry OF
the poor and the oppressed, | hope anl
believe, does not ascend 10 tho God oil
heaven against this people because O
that which they suffer at oul
hands. On the contrary, | trust
and believe that the prayers II the
poor ascend In thanksgiv ng 10 God
imploring blessings upon their breth
rem and sisters for their kindness and
henevolence. At least, II this Is U0I
the case It should he among us. TIL,
pooI should be made to rejoice. rhey
should be made to feel 20 glad that
when they bow their knees before th,
Lord they Will implore BLESSINGS unor