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

Oct. :. 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.
Shurtlln.
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 great benefit
to the people He showed by references
to the dealings Of God in various dis
pensations that the Lord had com
manded the people TO meet together
In such capacities as this At such
times we renew old acqualntances, re-
ceive new thoughts, and are strength
ened thereby In our faith
To be Latter-day Saints means to
walk uprlghtly before the Lord II We
do otherwise. the world will point us
out as hypocrltes, II requires constant
self-examinatioq 10, remain good Lat
ter-day Saints. Let us study the word
OF God. whether written or given orally
through His servants The Saints are
not limited In these days to the written
word OF God, as given TO the ancient
prophets, but have with them the llv-
Ing oracles, through whom the Lord
speaks continually. These latter are as
important as the former.
Stlll 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 10
the effect that those who believe In
revelation arc adding 70 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 a great deal
Of time. During the winter evenings
we ought TO devote much Of our time to
self-improyement. We ought to in
dulge less IN amusements, which
so often lncapactate 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, and
this history should be written. At an
early period the Lord instructed the
Prophet 10 keen records This matter
OF keeping records has been 10 a great
extent neglected, In every ward there
should be a genealogical record, and al
so a record Of everything not genealog-
icai. Then there would be connected
history OF every organization In the
Church. He was pleased 10 notice the
indications OF Improvement In this d.
rectlon. There should be two records
also IN the Stake a record Of the High
u
a whole. When the presidents Of Stakes
visit the respective wards under their
care, they should appoint a record-day.
SO that they may BE- well Informed con-
corning the history Of these wards. In
The families too there should be records
kept and every family should feel a
pride IN the correctness Of It's records,
genealogical and other.
He was pleased 20 know that
the Church is In such a good condition.
Accommodation from the Church Is
rare The people understand the prin.
ciples 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 De knew that
this Is the work u God. lie had re-
ceived manifestations from the Lord on
the subject Means are provided by
which al the people can learn the
principles OF the Gospel We gather In
conferences TO be reminded OF the
truth. To have our minds stirred up
In relation 20 things We have read and
heard. There Is much room for i'm
proyement among the Saints. There
needs 10 be among US in our various To-
calitles 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 ~ Deity2Yet,to some eX-
tent, II Is done Is II not possible for
us In our organizations 10 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-
Gent Smith. az the opening session Of
this conference When We leave here
and return home we should think these
matters over and take steps TO make
81 unnecessary for one OF the First
Presidency 10 speak upon the existence
81 the evils referred 20.
We ought. In every respect. TO be an
example 10 the world Some OF the
youth think IL manly to indulge In
practices that are foreign TO the spirit
and principles Of the Gospel There
n evidently a degree Of neglect on the
part Of the officers 81 the branches 0f
the Church. more especially perhaps
among those who act In the Lesser
Priesthood Enquiries should b. made
as TO who are not performing their
duty. We ought 60 take 20 heart the
hdmonition 81 President Joseph r.
Smith. We certainly can do something
toward the abolition Of practices that
lead rlong the pathway Of destruction
and death
II +" highly improper for any Of the