Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-10-05
SECOND DAY.

SECOND DAY.
oct 5, 10 a, m.
The choir and congregation sang the
hymn which commences
Come, come. ye Saints, no toll nor la.
Dor fear,
But with Joy wend your way.
Prayer was offered by Elder Lewis W.
Shurtllf
The choir sang:
Come, dearest Lord, descend and dwell,
BY faith and love, In every breast.
ELDER ANTHoN II, LUND,
OF the quorum of Twelve, was the first
speaker He was very much Interested
yesterday In the proceedings OF the
conference. The words OF the Apostles
were dictated by the Spirit Of the Lord.
These conferences are a great benefit
to the people. He showed by references
to the dealings OF God In various dis
pensati0ns that the Lord had COM
manded the people TO meet together
In such capacities as this. At such
times we renew old acquantances. re-
eeive new thoughts, and are strength
ened thereby IN our faith,
To be Latter-day Saints means to
walk uprightly before the Lord. II we
do otherwise, the world Will point us
out as hypocrites. 1t requires constant
self-examination to remain good Lat
ter-day Saints. Let us study the word
OF God, whether written or given orally
through His servants The Saints are
f..l Ia, Ints ...tt
word Of God, as given to the ancient
prophets, but have with them the lly-
Ing Oracles, through whom the Lord
speaks continually. These latter are as
important as the former
Still we should not neglect the writ
ten word Of God, We should become
familiar with the Bible, Book of Nor
mon. and Doctrine and Covenants. The
Lord has always given revelation to his
people We have revelation today. We
could not live day without II. He re-
ferred TO the teachings OF the world TO
the effect that those who believe In
revelation are adding to or taking from
the word Of God. The speaker said
that he believed as firmly as the Apos-
tie John that they who altered the
word Of God would be accursed, and
yet he believed In revelation The
point which the ancient Apostle de-
sired to emphasize was that no man
could change the language OF revelation
and give this out as the word OF God.
Many OF our people have great deal
of time. During the winter evenings
we ought TO devote much OF our time to
self-impr0yement. We ought to in
dulge less In amusements, which
so often incapacltate the mind
for study. The young should
connect themselves with the Mutual
Improvement associations. and regular
ly prepare themselves to do the work
done there.
We are a history making people, ana
this history should be written. Al an
early period the Lord instructed the
Prophet TO keep records. This matter
of keeping records has been TO a great
extent neglected, In every ward there
should be a genealogical record, ana al
so a record OF everything not genealog-
zeal Then there would be q connected
history Of every organization In the
Church He was pleased to notice the
indications OF Improvement IN this d.
rectlon. There should be two records
also in the Stake a record OF the High
Councils and record Of the Stake as
q whole When the presidents Of Stakes
visit the respective wards under their
care, they should appoint a record day,
30 that they may be we'll Informed con-
corning the history OF these wards, In
The families foo. there should be records
kept and every family should feel a
pride In the correctness OF its records,
genealogical and other.
He was pleased TO know that
the Church is In such a good condition
Accommodation from the Church Is
rare. The people understand the prin-
clples Of the Gospel better than former
ly and they love the truth more. The
past two years has given evidence OF
this He concluded by asking Gods
blessings upon the people in their ef-
forts 10 serve the Lord
ELDER MARINER w. MERRILL.
Of the quorum OF the Twelve. was the
next speaker He said he knew that
this is the work " God. He had re-
ceiyed manifestations from the Lord on
the subject. Means are provided by
which all the people can learn the
principles OF the Gospel. We gather In
conferences TO he reminded OF the
truth. To have our minds stirred up
IN relation 10 things we have read and
heard. There Is much room for inn
proyement among the Saints. There
needs 10 be among US. In our various To-
calities. an effort IN the direction OF re-
form Who among the Elders, In view
OF the light we have received dare pro-
fame the name OF Deity2YettO some eN-
tent, Il is done. Is II not possible for
us. in our organizations TO institute re-
form IN this respect The same could
be done In relation TO the use Of to-
bacco and strong drink. We should
take up the lesson given US by Presi-
dent Smith. az the opening session OF
this conference When we leave here
and return home We should think these
matters over. and take steps 10 make
Il unnecessary for one OF the First
Presidency 20 speak upon the existence
Of the evils referred 90.
We ought. In every respect. TO be an
example 10 the world, Some Of the
youth think Il manly 20 indulge In
practices that are foreign 20 the spirit
and principles OF the Gospel There
Il evidently a degree OF neglect on the
part Of the officers Of the branches OF
the Church, more especially perhaps
among those who act In the Lesser
Priesthood. Enquiries should be made
AZ 20 who are not performing thelr
duty. We ought 60 take 10 heart ths
admonltion Of President Joseph F
Smith We certainly can do someihinG
toward the abolition Of practices thai
lead along the pathway Of destruction