Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-04-03
AT rms GENERAL CONFERENCE.

Tomorrow, Sunday, April 4, there
will convene 10 this city the Sixty.
seventh annual General Conference OF
the Church Of Jesus Christ OF Latter
day Saints. A brief glance at the two.
thirds OF century which has passed
since the organization of the Church,
reveals wonderful change In the con-
ditlon OF the world, compared wit b
any chRngs that has bean &C
compllshed in any like period OF
the esrth's history. The only parallel
is that offered at the inauguration OF
the Christian era. AT the open
ing OF the latteT-iay dlspensslion the
Lord declared that "a marvellous
work" was "About to come forth
among the children of men,"
This was revealed through the
Prophet Joseph Smith; and the general
history OF the world since that date, as
compared with the ages which pre-.
ceded II, is sufficient to establish
Josepn's claim to the divine prophet
gift; for subsequent to the time win en-
he gave voice TO that prediction there
has been going on, without cessation,
"a marvellous work aud wonder"
among mankind, not only in the re-
ligious world, but In discovery, 10
commerce, in mechanics, and In all
intellectual and scientific development.
The progress OF civilization during the
past sixty.seven years is more pro-
nounced than during any other like
period In history, and there never has
been such revolution Of ideRs in
religious matters particularly in the
same time as has taken place since the
year 1880. The past two.thlrds Of o
century has been pre-eminently the
age OF marvellous work, and 1t is yet
rolling on.
When the Church was organized 1t
WAS by express instruction and au-
thoriEstion Of the Lord; therefore it lie
His Church. The conviction OF this
fact has not come to all men yet, but
it ia surely, steadily and speedily gain
ing ground. The Lord established the
Church to stay, 60 He states, anu 1t
Ia His business to maintain II in.
violate from foes without aud foes
within. And as surely rs He organ.
ixed that Church by directing what
was done on the memorable sixth day
OF April, 1880, 80 surely He has main
tanned that organization intact. Their
could be no lapse, no failure, in ths
Church organization or progress, fol
tho Lord had declared otherwise; there
could be no necessity for another
organization, or an assumed re-organi
cation, for il there had been
then the LORDS organization won lc
have been u mistake and q failure
which cannot be. Hence the Church
as it was organized in April, 1880, ant
in the development and growth 1t hn
made since then, hRs remained intact,
its organization unbrOkeu, its work
unceasing. And this Church holds II
Conference ia this atty tomorrow AM
succeeding daga-a strong. progress
sive, dIvineiy g-ided organic alton
which has come up through npot
tribulalion, and stands as witness oil
the almighty power Of God in brIng-
TO pass His purposes.
In the early days Of the Church tn
Lord thus summarized what had baen
done In the institution Of the Church
and what it, work thould be:
The keys Of the kingdom of God Ar
committed unto man on the earth, an
from thence shall tue Gospel roll Tort
unto tho ends OF tho earth, as tho ston
which Is cut out of tho mountain with
out hands shall roll forth, until It ha
hlled the whole earth.
10 Its experience, the Church ha
met many, very many, obstacles 10 ia
mission 1t wRs called to perform; an
there havA bean soma dark DAYS wr-'