Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-04-17

His Spirit upon us, when we seek fir it.
He viii dssipate darkness. and will show
us the truth He will give us strength
ID temptation and trial, and He will de.
liNer us rom snares. II we are true TO
Him. and put our trust in Him, He will
no; suffer US to be led astray by false
and deluslve splrits. look back to the
Yeas OF trial through which we have
passed, and recall with great satisac-
hon and peasu how the Lord assisted
and sustained His servants and people.
| When everything was dark. audit looked
as though the powers OF darkness would
prevail over the Church OF Christ, He
sustained His servants ana His people.
Through the blessing Of the Lord our
sisters were filed with strength that
was almost superhuman, and the whole
peopIe felt the sustaining hand Of our
God And He will continue to do this
ioi us II we viii put our trust In Him
When we pass through the deep waters,
lie viii he there TO guide and sustain US;
when we SO through the fiery furnace,
| lie will be with us as He was with the
three Hebrew children.
| The Young Mems and Young LADIES'
Mutual Improvement Assoc tons have
rtceivtd quite an impetus Of ate, and in
creased interest is being manifested in
them The prospect is that the viii do
a great amount OF good among the
people. We have NOT the statistics at
hand concerning them as we have Of
other institutions.
ind that the Sunday schools are
growing. There has been an increase #
nearly six thousand during the past
year We number now in our Sunday
schools about one hundred and five
Thousand, officers, teachers and pupils.
This IS an exceedingly gratifying show
ing. In the missions abroad where
there is opportunity, Sunday schools are
est iblished and MANY people who arc
not members OF the Church send their
children 10 them, because they see that
they are taught the word Of God and the
principles OF righteousness and true
morality. II Is very encouraging to |
Know That through this humble instru- |
mentality so much good is being done.
we ought to be di igent in like MANNER |
at home, aud seek after the souls of our |
own offspring, who certainly ought to be |
as dear to US and as worthy OF sacrifice |
on our part as the of prng OF strangers.
There has also been great increase
in the Primary associations They show
mem ership OF $4,000. Besides these,
there are 777o officers No doubt. I.
every Stake reported with care, there
would be found 10 be much larger
number. is estimated that there are
at least IS 90.
linen there are the religion classes,
You are aware, no doubt, that it was
deemed proper 10 have religion classes
established IN some settlements, SO that
II there should be any tendency on the
part OF some OF the pupils OF the district
schools to drift mo unheliel these
classes would have the ell ct to CHECK
that tendency. We do not want TO saw
one word disresps clful to the district
We have excellent schools in
our State. But there app .ars TO be a
nitural tendency in the human heart to.
wards unbeliei. remt mber when was
Chance Tor oil the Destret University.
he charge was made several times that
me teachers OF that institution were dis.
posed to lmplant skeptica thoughts and
suggestions in the minds OF the students.
We investigated The matter. and we
ound that this was not correct. We
learned, however that the text books
md the general DRIFT in such an institu.
ion. where not counteracted byrelipious
eachine, was in favor Of unbelit 1. The
ext books in all our universities and
-olieSes nave tendency u unsettle |
aith in the Bible To counterfeit Ibis
Sendeno,y in our district schools, il was
leemsd wise to establish religion
'lasses. The statement is made Thai
here are at least seventy classes now in
operation, with over three hundred in. {
,ructois, ami an estimated attendance
y nearly four thousand pupils These I
iasses should increase, There are
'laces, no doubt, where they are needed. /
nd they should receive attention, be. {
ause i is when the children are young. $
nd when their minds are plastic. Thai |
is,ing impressions can be made upon II
hem. Il
lpray God to bless us in our Confer. c
nee, and that His Holy Spirit may be /
CURED out in power upon all who shall t
peak. That this may be the case. we |,
Y should pray in our hearts Tor The h
'lders, who shall address this Confer a
nee, that they may be inspired, and o
nat each OF us may be filled with the \
pirit to receive their instructions and
be profited by attending this Confer. Il
nee. God bless you, Amen. a