The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-21
CONFERENCE is FINISHED
Mormon Elders Highly Pleased
With the Results.
MEMBERSHIP INCREASING
Important Church Work Accomplished
Half Dozen Missionaries in the
City All the Time-Reve-
lations.

The Mormon elders concluded their
conference yesterday, and they ex-
! pressed themselves as being highly
| pleased with the results of the meeting
| and with the unusually large attend
| ance of members of the church and
| others who are not members. An ex-
ecutive session was held, at which some
| important church work was finished
| and assignments and appointments
were made. President Bramwell of
this district stated that the membership
of the church up this way was increas-
ing and that the prospects for still
larger membership We're very encour-
aging. The congregation in this city
numbers about 100. nearly all of whom
| meet regularly every Sunday at the
meeting house at No. 902 Utah avenue.
near the B., A. & P. depot. 1t is not
generally known, but it Is fact, that
there are on an average from two to
half dozen missionaries in this city
all the time. They are securing new
converts and reviving interest among
the older ones, who during the interval
have become lax in their devotion to
the faith. A new house of worship is
among the possibilities for the next
year.
Apostle Cowley said that Mormonism
is in direct harmony with the Bible
and that in it's makeup Mormonism is
well nigh perfect.
Without revelation" said he, I'VE
are lost. The Bible intimates much
doctrine and laws, but there is no suffi-
cient explanation to allow us to Off
Saints can do nothing except that which
God teaches them. Joseph Smith re-
ceived instructions from angels, and we
shall also be governed in our acts by
the inspiration received in revelations.
I trust that the people will become bet
ter acquainted with us and our meth
DDS of spreading religious thought"
The apostle spoke Of the courteous
manner in which he had been received
upon the occasions of his visits to Mon
tana. He paid a glowing tribute to ex-
Governor Richards, who three years
ago extended the right hand of fellow
ship to him when he called upon him
in Helena 81 like to meet such men
as he-men who are men in the real
sense of the word I shall never forget
him and his kind words
Apostle Cowley handed a reporter a
bit of paper upon which was printed
an extract of an interview had with
Ben E. Rich of the Mormon church.
This answers the question regarding
the dllltuue VI eiiS Si"iSi oi iAoi
riageS:
Previous to the enactment of laws
forbidding polygamy and Furnishing it
as crime the church taught the doc
trine of plural marriage, and to small
extent comparatively. it was practlced
under the most sacred covenants and
obligations of chastity and purity. But
since those laws, after much litigation
and much suffering on the part of many
persons, We're declared constitutional
by the supreme court of the United
States the practice of marrying more
than one wife. in violation of our laws.
has ceased; the president of our church
issued manifesto to this effect No
matter what may be preached or pub
lished to the contrary, what l say to
you is the truth, which you can de-
pend upon. Polygamous or plural mar
riages are forbidden by the constitu-
ton of the state of Utah, and a PEN
atty of $500 fine and five years impris-
onment is imposed upon those who vio-
late this provision. One of our doc
trines is that we must obey the COLI
stitutional laws of the land. We there
fore submit and leave the result with
the Lord But what God has joined to-
gether no man can put asunder. There
fore marriages solemniZed by His au-
thority and commandment will con-
tinue, if the parties are faithful in
| this world and in the world to come.
But the parties are under solemn OBJ
| legation to preserve themselves for
| each other only, and sexual crimes and
immoralities are viewed by the Latter
| Day Saints with the utmost abhor-
renee"