The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-04-03
THE MORMON CONFERENCE.


This morning the Sixty second annual
conference of the Mormon church convenes.
Sixty-two years ago the church was or
gained with only six members That was
In the western wllds of the the state of
New York, in log room not more than
l4xl6 feet in dimensions. To- day it will
convene in the largest hall in which relig-
lous services are regularly held in the
world. The congregation will number from
ten to thirteen thousand; but this great
congregation will not represent the entire
membership of the church, for that must
know be- in round numbers, two hundred
thousand. The congregation will be COM
posed of representatives from the various
settlements in this territory and the sur
rounding territories and states, where nu-
merous "stakes" and "branches" of the
church are located. Its services will be
splendid Its grand choir of several hundred
voices, under a competent leader, and &C.
companied by the great organ, is enough Of
Itself to insure that. What contrast
there Will be between the conference COM
mencing to-day and that held sixty-two
years ago! How frantically insane would
that man have been esteemed, who, wit
Messing the insignificant organization of
slxty-two years age, had predicted that in
little over half century that organiza-
ton would result in what we to-day shall
witness in this cityl
Let the world say what it will about the
Mormon church; the great bulk of man
KIND may disbelleve its message. sheer at
lis enthusiasm, hold its doctrines in con-
tempt, despise its origin, ridicule its aspir-
atlons-but here it is with its marvellous
growth, its phenomenal success 1t is
nineteenth century fact. 1t promises to
remain. 1t is wonderful organization,
with vigor and strength in it, and
Tor carrying on charitable, benevolent and
educational enterprises there is not re-
nglous organization in the world that can
be more effective. 1t has sought for its
right to exist, for its life, during the past
sixty two years against fearful odds, and
comes out of that fight with record for
valor anG patient endurance under adverse
circumstances that entities it to the respect
OF mankind. During the past two years it
has doubtless gained much strength as one
of the spiritual forces in our country; not
by any great increase in it's numbers; not
by the requirement of a great legacy
or increase of wealth in any
other way; but by dlsarming its
foes and silencing the slogan of
its oppon ents. This the church did when
1t dec AIRED against the further practice of
polygamy, and gave up all claim to dictate
its members in political affairs. 1t is but
fair to state that the Mormons have never
considered that they believed in union Of
church and state, or that high officials die
tated its members in their political action;
but since the charges of such conduct were
repeatedly reiterated they wisely took
steps to do away with the very semblance
OF such thing, and having done these
things, there is not broad-minded man in
the country but will raise his voice in
claiming for the Mormons the right to their
religion, to their church organization, and
will say they have a right to work out
their own destiny in spiritual, in CHART |
able, In benevolent and educational affairs |
AL Will claim for them the right-and that
we believe is the thing they claim to be the |
express work of their church-to 90 to
with their might and prepare the earth |
ANA VIZ bAOA4Ouo VI messiah, |
Every one with any breadth of soul-the |
only people whose friendship is worth |
haVlng-will concede them that right and |
claim 1t for them. And of late, all over
the land, stout voices are raised, saving
that since the church has put away from
it the practice of those things which Of |
Tended the moral sense of the age and
were contrary to the fundamental doc
trines of our political faith, the church |
must now be permitted to enjoy all the
freedom guaranteed to all other churches.
Those voices will increase in numbers.
and in the emphasis of the demands made
until the Mormon people have full religious
liberty
The event of the conference of cours.
will be the laying of the capstone of the
temple on Wednesday. 9th. Thirty nine
years ago the ground was broken for the
temple foundation. During that time. |
while the walls have been steadily rising
great city has been as gradually growing
up around it, of which it is soon to become
the chief adornment. AS the corner stones
were laid in the spirit of hope and ioy. so
may the capstone be secured in its place in
peace and a realization of all the fond anti
cipation INDUCED in by those who laid its
foundation.