Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-21
PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH.

y INCE last Christmas day the Church of Jesus Christ Of
Laer-day Saints has made advancement and taken new
steps in accordance with its genius and the require
men of new conditions showing that it living organism
ready for every emergency and endowed with that vitality
which is needfu to resist opposition and take the initiative
in important movements Notwithstanding the loss by death
Of two of its venerable chieans standing at the head of its
affairs it has not been nuriously affected 1t so cons
tuted that every place made vacant from any filed
as necessary by qualified officials and the work goes
forward without hindrance or delay
All the councils and quorums of the holy Priesthood
organized and in working order There are fifty Stakes
Of Zon including those in Colorado Oregon and Canada
They are established with their several presidenceS and bh
opcs and the various auxiliary societies There are fourteen
missions outside of Zion including that which has recently
been opened in Japan These with their presdences and
tive missionaries numbering about seventeen hundred
busy engaged without pay for their services in promulgatng
the principles of the everlasting Gospel for the ameoOton
and salvation Of mankind Their abors are not in vain.
Seekers after truth led into the waters of baptism and the
influence of the teachings of the Elders felt if not
knowedged throughout Chrstendom AT the October
ference statistics showed that the Church membership at
least three hundred and ten thousand
The mission of the Laerday Church the same as that
naugted by the birth into this world and mission work of
the Redeemer He who was the babe of Bethlehem and then
the lamb that san and afterward the risen aud gloried
Savior and who will he King of kings, has in person
established His church and His Spirit gives it life and light
and power At the Christmas of 1901 the work He has be-
gun in this age has brighter prospects, greater facilities,
stronger unity and irmer position than before.
There is particular feature Of its present existence
which is worthy Of special attention nephew Of the
Prophet Joseph Smith, in accordance with prophecy de-
ed many years ago. stands at the head Of the Church.
cupyng the position first held by the great Seer of the Nine
teenth century Another nephew is the Patriarch of the
whole Church As Joseph and HYum labored together as
brothers before their martydom the brothers Joseph F.
and John Smith intimately associated There in
that early day one of the Smith family in the Council of the
Twelve and today there two Of that lineage in the
body 1t gratifying that sawarts having the blood of the
Prophets figure prominently in the Church today.
Christmas day in 1901 laden with blessings to the
Latterday Saints Peace reigns in Zion joy dwels in their
hearts and contentment in their homes Union faith and
hope are manifested throughout the Church. The sentiment
of all hearts toward both friend and foe is good will to all
men," The angelic song which gave forth tine first notes Of
the opening of the Christian Era echoed in the last
dspensaon as an overture to the onsumaton of all things
spoken Of by the holy Prophets Let God be praised and the
world bow to His everlasting dominionl