Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-10-04
CONFERENCES OF THE SANS.


The practice the Church OF Joiua
Christ Of Lattor-iay Saints 10 gather
regularly 10 Conference 10 one founded
on divine command. The authority
for II, as for other Institutions OF tho
Church, IL revelation. Immediately
after the equalization Of tue Church,
the msmbers were by tho Lord in
slrucled - to their duty In this matter
The several Elders, comprising Thu
Church Of Christ are TO meet la cnnicH
ence once In three months, or from tlune
TO time a. said conferences shall uireo' oI
appoint; and said conferences are 70 10
whatever Church bushes. u necessary 70
DO done at tho timo. Doc. aud cow
Sec. II. OF, %.
To meet In Conference with tue
Saints l., therefore, to keep h COM
manJment OF tho Almighty, ~ lin.
por,abt as other commandments given
Tor the benefit Of the Saints.
Il IL not dinioulI to perceive why tho
Lord has directed the Saints TO como
together ne often as possible. Character
10 10 n large extent formed Ia our a.
ISOLATION with our fellow-men. And In
no other way In this earthly region
can those sentiments, those feelings
and modss OF thinking be developed,
which should be Characteristic OF sane
nned mon snd wOmep, ami which
should In fiue ace cur dealings In every.
thing with every body. Tho children
Of God need TO lay aside, once In a
while, all their temporal oares, and In
the undisturbed communion with one
another In sacred precincts gather new
strength to battle with liie's troubles
and TO meet them, as behoovss their
high aud holy calling. In gatherings
OF this kind faith is strengthonsd, en-.
thusiasm Ia kindlsd anew, ana ooven-
ant. are renewed. For tho special
promise OF the presence Of the Spirit Of
the Lord 10 given 10 those vino gather
In the name OF the Lord.
One OF the more e, matkable mAniief-
ta,iOns Of the outpourlng OF that Spirit
IL that recorded ~ one Of the Iea,utes OF
tho first conference held In the Church.
This was on June /, 1890, when the
Saints slfeady had commenced 10 ex.
psrience much persecution on account
OF the appearance In print OF the
Book OF Mormon. rho young Church
needed some special sign OF the divine
protection promised, just as the follow
ers Of the CFucifiei one at the day OF
Psnteoosi needed . powerful testimony
from on high. About thirty members
were gathered at this conference. The
exercises we've opened with singing
aud prayer, after which the Sacrament
was administered and several who hsd
recently been bapt zsd were confirmed,
while others were ordaiueJ TO tho
varIou, offices OF the holy Priesthood.
Many Instructions were then given,
and, according to the Prophet Joseph
himself, quoted In the Historical
Record, the Holy Ghost was poured
out In miraculous manner. Many OF
those present prophesisd; others hal
the heavens opened TO their view and,
like Daniel In tho presence
Of 4 heavenly messenger, were
overcome. Among those who
had such wonderful experiences at
that time was Newell knight. by his
own account, he felt his heart Oiled |
with love aud pleasure uuspuakable, |
and could discern all that was going
on In tho room, when, all OF n sudden, |
a vision Of the future burst upon him.
He saw represented the great work |
which through the fundamentally Of |
the Prophet was 10 DO accomplished. |
He saw tho heavens opsned-aud the |
Lord seated n, tbs right hand o., the |
Majesty On high, and had It made
plain to his understanding that the |
time would come when no would be
admitted into HIS presence. Whom
the bodily strength was restored TO |
these brethren, they shouted, "Ho-
tanna 10 God and the Lamtl" aud told
the glorious things they had seen Aad
felt while In the splfit.
In this way, the Lord mirAculously
aIiesled His approval OF tho obedience
Of tho Saints to the commandment
concerning the conferences OF the
Church, and while the Vltible maui |
ieslallons OF the presence OF the Holy |
Ghost may not always DO tho
same, IN reality He Ia present
today rs In the frst days ofthe Church,
anu HIS Influence will bo felt by all
who are prepared to receive II; thu r..
suit will DO "a life OF righteousness, |