Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-04-07
A GLORIOUS CONFERENCE.

The Seventy-second annual confer
enoe win be noted In the history Of the
Church OF Jesus Christ Of Latter-day
Saints, as the largest gathering Of
The kind ever attended, AT the opening
session on Friday morning, the Taber-
nacle was almost entirely filled, and In
the afternon was crowded in every
part. on Saturday the audience over
flowed the building and many could not
obtain even standing room on sun
day morning and afternoon both the
Tabernacle and the Assembly Hall were
occupied to their utmost capacity, and
great crowds thfonged the grounds out
side the buildings.
The interest exhibited by the attend
Ing Saints was most intense. They had
come from all parts Of the country.
with An evident desire to be instructed
rather than TO visit or attend to per-
sonal business, They gathered from
Canada in the north, and Old Mexico
in the south. from New York In the
east and California In the west. All the
States and Territories contiguous to
Utah furnished their representatives
The teachings impaired were both
spiritual nd practical Mormon doc
trlne was expounded In great plainness.
The duties Of the Saints were pointed
out clearly. The necessity Of purity
Of life. chastity or conduct. Integrity
OF character and devotion to the work
of the Lord, were dwelt upon with
force and inspiration, ana every word
was listened to with eagerness and sat
isfaction The power of God rested
upon President Joseph +. Smith and
his associates, and every speaker was
aided In his utterances by the Spirit
Of truth.
The Tabernacle choir was. as usual,
pleasing feature OF the devotional ex-
crcises. Brother Evan stephens was
in his element The singers responded
readily to his leading. and the tones
Ct the grand organ blended with the
voices OF the choir at the skilful touch
OF Brother J. j. Mcclellan. and when
the audience Joined in the congrega-
tional exercises, the great building yl-
Drated With harmony and the songs Of |
praise and thanksgiving.
The unanlmity OF feeling characterls- !
tic OF the Saints Of God was never more |
sirlklngy manifest than on this great |
occasion The authorities Of the |
Church. with all the measures adopted |
end all the instructions Impaired. re-
ceiyed the united approval Of the body
Of the people without one dissentent
voice, Never was the Church Of God
brought nearer TO the unity Of the
faith" than at this conference
From the reports thar we've made.
the progress OF the Church as body
and It's extension ana success among
the nations Of the world are Of the
most encouraging character The
old established missions ere prospering. I
new fields Of lab or are opening up.
The introduction Of the Gospel into Ja-
pan appears 90 be- The beginning Of
great things IN the Orient ihe barriers
Of prejudice are melting down. the
hearts Of many people ere slftening
towards ihe truth the Efforts o. its
adversariss are failing the thinking
portion Of the public ere obtaining a
better understanding Of the system
called "Mormonism and the iniica-
lions everyWherl ore favorable 10 the
great latier-dsy dspensatlon.
The immense amount of work accom-
plished In the Temples on behalf Of the
dead as described during the confer
cnce, indicates tn union ~ labor be-
tween Tho servants o. GOD in the splrlt
world and those IN The flesh. and gives
promise Of the fuAliment Of the apos-
tolic prediction. that IN the dispense.
tion Of the fulness Of times an things
IN Christ both in the heavens and on
The earth shall be gathered together I'm
one"
II has become almost an adage that
the latest conference Is The best" It
Is certain that no better conference
than that which has just closed was
ever held since the day Of the organic
alton Of the Church In these last times.
That the keys and powers and author
ity Of the holy Priesthood restored to
earth are with the leaders Of the
Church today. 10 an the strength. light
Ind force hat rested upon the Prophet
Joseph smith, was evident 10 the vast
congregations which assembled and
fejoiced under the influence that was
made manifest.
The spirit OF this conference win 20
out with the returning Saints and III.
ders TO the utmost extremitles Of the
Church in oil the world We may con
fldently look for an increase OF faith
and good works, and the spread OF the
principles Of De Gospel 10 the enlight-
eminent and salvation OF hosts Of the
honest In heart The Church has TAX
en- one more important step towards
the REDEMPTION Of Zion and the estab-
llshment u the kingdom Of God on
earth. We can an ioln In the avu,sa.
ton OF the splendid anthem rendered
BY the choir Let the Mountains
shov, for Joy"