The San Francisco call., 1897-10-11
INDIVIDUALITY
OF THE SOUL
Sermon Before the Northern
Mormon Confer
enCe.
Remarkable Case of William
Graham's Resurrec-
tion.
Elder Nye Uses the Story as Text
for a Sermon on Immor-
tality.

The Northern Conference of the Church
OF Latter-day Saints was in session at
Pythian Castle yesterday. There were
ABOUT forty elders. representing about
sixteen churches, present, and thero were
also present number of young mission
aries, lately arrived from Utah to work
in the California field.
The conference was opened at 10 A. NJ.
by It's president, T. c. Parkinson. After
devotional exercises reports were heard
from B. ]. Bennett, A. Wall, J. Y. Smith,
j. Bushman, Fl. Bushnell, o. G. Thorn
ton and ]. Hanson, all missionaries who
have been Iaboring within the jursdic-
tion OF The Northern Conference. They
reported excellent results so far and en-
couraging prospects.
In the afternoon the speakers were J. A.
Lovelace, w. Knight, G. Hendricks, J.
| Davis, w. Z. Stoker and f. C. Parkinson.
Their addresses were also full of encour.
| agement to the lay mem bers and exhorta-
| tions TO remain true to the principles
| enunciated by Jesus Christ and pro-
claimed by Joseph Smith.
| At the evening session E. II. Nye, presi-
| dent of the California Mormon Mission,
! was the principal speaker. Elder Nye
| based his address upon remarkable story
| which was published exclusively in THE
! CALL some days ago. In brief he said:
The Call of September %, 1897, published
| an account OF the death of William Graham
of Santa Monica, who died of consumption,
! and after twenty minutes was Tesuscitated
| when he Immediately exclaimed: "Oh, who
! brought me back Everything was SO bsau.
! ttful." The writer proceeds to say: There i
| no question OF more importance than that ot
future existenee-not only of existence but
| as 10 the individuality of that existence
whether when life is ended the spirit is
merged with common source, even the most
high, or retains its knowledge and is per-
| mitted 10 go on in higher state and prove
| the inherent divinity that has prompted its
hopes and am bi lions"
| 1t is not N purpose to call in question the
| statement made In regard to Mr.. Graham.
| am quite ready 10 acce pit that and believe that
! during the absence of the spirit from The bod Y
| he was permitted to see little of the life and
! scenery beyond the veil, but the question al
| luded 10 by the writer regarding future exist
ence Is the line desire to follow.
We, the Latter Day Saints, as firm believers
| IN the Scriptures of Divine Tru h, are not in
doubt regarding this question. We accept the
| teachings OF the Bible as information and in
structlon from on high, which, when taken in
connection with the revelations given by the
Almighty 10 the Prophet Joseph Smith in this
age, prove beyond question that there is a
future existence OF man, and that it is an in
dividual existence. We shall now briefly con-
slider some OF the facts connected with that ex-
isteuee.
The Savior's answer to the thief upon the
cross was: To-day shalt thou be with me in
paradise" Hence there has arisen in the
Christian world the belief that a death-bed re-
pentance or the acknowledgment OF the
Savior by hardened criminal upon the gall
lows is acceptable TO God But to every
must be evident. On the morning OF
the third day, when Mary stood
weeping at the sepulcher, Jesus saith
unto her, "Touch me not, for l am not