Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-28
IN VIRGINIA.
Delightful Branch Conference-More Con
verts Baptized.


Sandy River. PittsylvanIa Co, Va.
May 20. 1898.
To the Editor:
With pleasure I submit for the peru
sal of the many readers of the News
g. brief account of branch conference
held at Patterson. Wythe county, Va,
April 80 and May 1, 1893. at which were
present Elder Samuel T.. Taylor f. NJ.
Wilkinson. T. C. Romney. and a goodly
number of Saints and friends.
The conference days rolled around,
bringing with them delightful weather.
1t was neither too warm nor too cold.
Just happy medium. The surface of
the earth was covered with a beautiful
carpet Of dark green, the monotony of
which was broken here and there by
its rich decorations of wild flowers of
varied hues. the odor of which was
waited to and fro on the refreshing
zephyrs as they played gaily DER hill
and vale.
The birds sang sweet lays. filling the
air with varied melody as they fitted
about In the tree tops.
In fact, the whole scene was we'll
calculated to draw ones mind from
this corrupt and sim stained world. al
lowing HIS thoughts and imaginations
to fly back six thousand years to the
time when man was residing In a we'll
watered garden. swaying his scepter
over the entire universe. One thing
which added to the enchantment OF
the scene, and which was not enjoyed
in the days OF Eden was the orotund
voice of the darkey heard singing. 20,
de ole time religion rs good enuff 70
me-"
Our conference, which begun at 1880
Saturday morning, was held in a va
cant building which was seated for the
occasion. Elder Samuel T., Taylor con-
duo Oh tA eks. ,.t,.
speakers at our conference were Elders
S. Il, Taylor, II. NJ. Wilkinson and r.
C. Romney, though strong Testimonies
were borne by the president OF the
branch. and by C. o. Richmond w. D.
Rotenberry and w. o. Tomlinson
Teachers of the branch, and John
Roberts, superintendent OF the Sab
bath school. The chief topics treated
We're Faith. Principle OF Power, Re.
pentence, the Holy Ghost, Revelation
| and the Word Of Wisdom.
The Spirit of the Lord was richly
poured out upon the speakers and tht
Saints and friends listened with rapi
structions as they fell from the lips ot
the servants Of the Lord laboring un-
der that divine Spirit. Three meetings
Were held the first day and two til,
second. all of which were we'll at.
tended. The endesvor was made by
Tue riueis 70 impress upon the minds
of the Saints the Idea that though the,
had been adopted citizens into the
kingdom of God. their salvation wa.
not obtained nor would 1t be till the,
had perfected their lives.
The attempt was made to impress
upon the minds OF our friends" the
necessity of obeying the principle,
taught by the Latter-day Saints. In
ordr that they might be exalted in
| the eternal worlds. The words took
| effect. The Saints have made up theiI
mind that they will live better lives
In the future. and flYe OF our friends
were baptized by us at the close of GU,
excellent conference, which raised the
number belonging to the Patterson
Branch to thirty-eight, the first OF
which We're baptized last August b,
| Elder ii. ID. Smith and myself at tn,
| close of n two weeks meeting
| held in church. Elder Il. NJ. wilkin,
son., who 20 ably assisted us at on,
conference was the first to enter tn,
waters of baptism. He was n Metho.
dist exhorter. leading medical doc.
tor OF Wythe county, and held higf
county position. Last fan he was or,
dained an Elder and set apart to fl
a mission to the Southern States b,