The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-03-05
STAKE CONFERENCE.
The Latter-day Saints of Salt Lake
Stake Assemble.
presidents Joseph f. Smith and Angus
NJ. Cannon, Counselor c. w. Penrose
and Elder j. ID. T. McAIIister
the Speakers.

the Speakers.
The semi-annual conference of the Lat
ter-day Saints OF Salt Lake stake convened
yesterday morning at 10 a. m. in the AS
sembly hall, adjourned at u, met again
at 2 p. N. and adjourned again at p. m.
President Angus NJ. Cannon and his
counselors presided over the meetings,
while President Joseph F. Smith and
Patriarch John Smith occupied seats on
the stand. The attendance was good.
The music, rendered under the leader
ship of Professor Stephens, was most ex-
cellent.
After the choir and congregation, in
unison, had sung hymn No. Sc, prayer
was offered by Elder Theodore Mex can,
and the regular business of the priesthood
meeting was attended to, number of
young men being recommended for the
office of elder.
ELDER ]. D. T. NJ 'ALLIsTER
of st. George was called TO the stand.
He said he was glad to be able to meet
with so many OF the old veterans of the
early settlements and felt that God had
been good to them and himself in permit
ting them TO live so long. In the few days
he had been in the city he had lived
his whole life over again. He
remembered coming to these valleys.
and spoke of the laborS and struggles to
provide homes for the people, also how
peaceful and secure those homes were,
the absence of vice, the safety with which
property could be lett exposed, and ladies
could go unattended by night or day. 1t
was forty years sisce the saints gathered
In the old bower for worship. Since then
many material improvements had been
made. He spoke of the necessity of faith
fulness and obedience to the laws of God,
and of being willing to give up every
thing to serve the master. Commenting
on the recommendations for ordination as
elders OF some persons holding the lesser
priesthood read earlier in the morning,
the speaker discoursed at some length on
the duties of the priesthood; saying that
the members thereof are the leaders of the
people, from whose mouths are supposed
TO fall pearls of priceless wisdom aud
whose example should be worthy of en-
nlation, and that they, therefore, should
be careful how they act IN the sight of
God. He also spoke on the necessity of
calling in elders when there is sickness,
saying that the ministrations of the elders
are best Tor one afflicted, though it is
sometimes necessary to call in q surgeon,
bpt he should be one who is gifted as we'll
with knowledge OF anatomy as with the
power of the priesthood. The women, he
said, also have great work before them
in looking after the members of their own
sex and other work. Illustrating the say
ing by personal experience, ne said that
one is most happy when he is doing his
duty; and all members were urged to do
their whole duty, more especially in rela-
ton to the work for the dead.
Referring to the feet that some of the
young people are being married by JUS
tees of the peace, he stated that an elder
of the church is a minister of the gospel
and as well qualified to solemnize the
marriage ceremony as any legal officer or
other person, and 1t was better for
couples to be sealed properly Sc they can
live in, and their children be born IN, the
everlasting covenant. The speaker re-
lated incidents in his rough journey here
from the south, and the 10y he had ex-
perienced since his arrival in meeting
with old friends.
ELDER CHARLES W. rENRosE
Said the elders should always be ready to
do whatever labor they are called upon to
perform, whether in this life or in the
life to come. Men are called to the priest
hood to devote their talents. abilities and
powers TO the work of God. not as re-
ward or to give them pos it,on that will
place them high in the estin alton ofmen;
they are called because it is believed they
viii be efficient and faithful, and the
primal motive of recommendations
should be such fitness. Bishops should be
careful in their recommendations, be-
cause when voted on in the priesthood
meetings, the brethren who were not &C
Quainted with those recommended had to
depend on the Judgment Of the bishops
and they, therefore, were responsible. Ii
was expected that men ordained elders
were chosen, not because they wanted to
marry and have the ceremony performed
IN the house OF the Lord, which they
could not unless hoiding a portion of the
higher priesthood, but because the
gifts and callings of God to them showed
they were fit for the office. Then, those
ordained should respect their engage
ments and fulfill the duties of the office,
or they became covenant breakers.
The speaker referred to various evil
practices that were becoming prevalent
IN the community. We should not pat
tern after the follies, fashions, customs
and wlckedness of the world. EVERY
thing that is comedy should be encour-
aged, but we should take the lead and not
follow after the world. We should
not be of their spirit for
God had called us out of the world. He
strongly denounced the introduction
into the community of practices that had
as their object the limiting and proven
ton of natural increase. Such things
were murderons and would bring dis |
grace and damnation upon those who
were guilty of them. The Saints must
not countenance such things. The |
speaker showed how many humble,
faithful men were laboring in obscurity
IS teachers, etc.. but said that God |
would reward them and that their future
would be glorious All men would be |
rewarded according to their works.
The choir then sang the anthem, |
q Jesus, My Cross Have Taken
Renediction by Bishop Elias Morris.