The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-07

and labor of tine Saints to assist in
the accomplishment OF this object.
The time had come for dissensions to
he thrown away, and for men and
women and their children to unite in
| aiding in the regeneration of a fallen
world. From this people must spirit
ual sustenance and Improvement go ia
the world.
Franklin d. richards
said he had greatly rejoiced with the
Saints duNng the sessions of the con-
ference thus far. and had profited
much by the words which had been
spoken, by the dictation of the Holy
Ghost unto US. There was a great
work devolving upon Gods people in
their daily life, and the speaker here
pointed out the vast importance Of
strictly keeping the sacred records of
the church. He then referred to state
ments in The Bible, Pearl of Great
Price and Book of Mormon, showing
that God had, in various ages, COM
manded men to write the things which
were profitable to be preserved for his
| tory. Since the temples had been
constructed. he said, and the Or
dinances therein had been admins
tered, there had begun to be a better
understanding of the Importance OF
keeping family records. history and
geneaIogy than existed before among
this people. There was one among US
who had from the time of his earliest
connection with the church taken an
especial interest and care in this re-
gard, and in his wisdom therein he
had shown much wisdoIn-he referred
to President Woodruff. He had from
the outset or his public career kept
journals Of all passing events, and the
Saints were especially indebted TO his
eXertions, as we'll as to those Of other
brethren, for the sermons which the
Prophet Joseph delivered in the city
of Nauvoo and other places on differ
ent occasions. To these brethren they
were deeply indebted for those precious
things which were now preserved on
the pages of the church's history, and
which served to SO refresh US at this
day. Some of the most important mat
tiers instituted by the Prophet Joseph
has been brought down in history to
the present time and we are thereby
the happy recipients of those blessings
and ordinances. While we had been
limited in our efforts to write I'D much
in the history of the church in these
times. because of our records being in
a scattered condition. and our inability
TO obtain the requisite information, yet
one Of the brethren had been going
around from ward to ward, from stake
to stake. from mission to mission, dur
ing the last three or four years. hunt
ing up the early happenings in the
various settlements of Utah and the
surrounding territories. He had sue
ceeded in gathering the information
necessary to produce a good and faith
full history Of all the stakes of Zion.
and from the report which he had
made to the speaker. as church his
torian. he learned that there were
wards which had been organized quite
a length of time in which no semblance
of record had been yet kept.
Let parents teach their sons and
daughters to devote their attention
to this subject. and instruct them in
their school days how to keep nota-
tons Of the general doings around
them. In future generations it would
be interesting for children to know
what part their fathers. grandfathers
and Observation-Disclosures played in the
church history of. the past. Not only
were the records wanted of what hap
pend at home. but Of the happenings
in foreign countries. and he hoped soon
to see that matter also earnestly taken
UP. Presidents of stakes and bishops of
wards should go around among their
people at least once year. inspect
the records which were made. and see
that these were being thoroughly kept.
and thereby a complete history could
be assured. In conclusion. Elder Rich
ards commende his suggestions to the
thoughtful consideration of the Saints.
President George @. Cannon.
briefly supplemented the remarks of
Elder Richards upon the subject of
record keeping. and urged the import
ance of the Saints employing the best
quality of paper and ink in the COM
pilation Of their private records and
journals. He offered some pertinent
suggestions in that regard,
The choir sang the anthem. Wonder
full Counselor"
Benediction by Patriarch John Smith.
Conference adjourned till o. m.