The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-13
Two Sessions Held at the Taber-
nacle Yesterday.
THE TOTAL MEMBERSHIP
1T HAS NOW REACHED ABOUT
THIRTY THOUSAND.
Elder Penrose of the Presidency Says
the Church Is Stronger. Now In
This Stake Than Ever Before
Apostle Joseph F. Smith Speaks
Authorities Sustained.


The quarterly conference Of the Salt
Lake stake Of Zion was opened in the
tabernacle at 10 a. m. Sunday. Prayer
was offered by William b. Preston, fol-
lowed by the reading of the minutes
of the last priesthood meeting. Thirty
five teachers and priests were sustained
and promoted TO elders.
Elder Claudius V. Spencer delivered
few remarks. during the course of
which he deplored a lack of fidelity
among many Latter-day Saints, in an
unfavorable. contrast to the condition
of the church in the old days.
President Angus NJ. Cannon delivered
a discourse, taking up the sinister in
nuence of scandal-mongers, who, he
said, We're the worst people in the
world. He spoke of the existence of
bacl1biters, and warned the people to
be careful OF them.
Counselor Joseph E. Taylor spoke of
the peace and harmony among the high
priests, and said that the general con-
dition of the church is satisfactory,
although there are many things which
they wished could be otherwise.
The benediction was pronounced by
n. Y. Jones.
A very large congregation attended
the afternoon session, which was
opened at . o'clock with selections by
the choir, followed with prayer by
Apostle Golden Kimball.
Elder C.. w. Penrose presented the
authorities of the church, all of whom
were sustained. A list of home mission
aries was proposed and sustained.
The following statistical report of the
Salt Lake stake for the year was re-
ceived and ordered filed: Membership
of first presidency, 8; apostles, s; patri-
arehs, IA. high priests 531: seventies,
1.615; elders, 2.691; priests. 525; teachers,
sos; deacons, 1891; members, 20,S94;
officers and members, 29,2S1; children
under s, 9,27S; total souls in the stake,
3S,556.
Elder Penrose said that harmony ex-
listed through the stake and that the
church is stronger than ever before.
He said most Of the Latter-day Saints
are good, some are not so good, and a
few are bad. He lifted warning voice
against the alluremtns of the city,
which are leading some astray.
Apostle Joseph r. Smith delivered
the discourse of the afternoon. opening
with q reference to his recent trip to
the Sandwich islands, the scene of his
first missionary labors. The work in
the islands was never before in better
condition. In speaking of the traits of
the natives, he said they were very
steadfast in clinging to the church and
lldA lHtN tANlDfleu d ItlldIhdDle ldIllll-
iarity with the Bible
Referring to home missionary work,
the apostle said that some had been
dropped from tie list of home mission
aries, but tna they should not feel
hurt, as The are only honorably dis
charged The changes had been made
so that all would have the experience
OF the work. Selections We're read from
the Book of Doctrines and Covenants,
showing that the people must put God
first III order to qualify them to be
apostles of Jesus Christ and faithful
members of the church. Every men,
Der should enter into a covenant TO
honor God and love his neighbor as
himself Truth should be placed ahead
of everything. Obedience to the laws
of God is truth. You must forgive your
neighbor who trespasses against you,
even three times. How majestic. and
powerful we would be if we obeyed
these laws; how despicable and mean
We must appear in the eyes of God
when we put on the contentious of the
world. We cannot afford to quarrel and
be angered; we must be reconciled
with cur brother The man with this
spirit will never be found in a saloon
and among corrupt men, but he viii
choose to associate with. the pure and
honorable.
A quartette composed of Mrs. Ed
wards. Miss DU-yer, Messrs. Ashworth
and Christopherson rendered a selec-
ton. with the choir accompaniment.
The benediction was pronounced by
Apostle Lund. The conference will re-
convene at 10 a. m. today.