The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1902-10-09
SEvENTY.THIRD CONFERENCE
LARGE CROWNS ATTEND SEMl.ANNUAl
CONFERENCE At SALT LAKE.


The seventy. third semi-annual con.
Terence OF the Latter-day Saints op-
ened Saturday forenoon, October 4th,
in the Tabernacle, with an attendance
that completely filled the vast edifice.
Promptly at 10 o'clock President Joseph
+. Smith arose aud bxde the congre.
cation open the conference with the
singing of the hymn, "Our God. We
Raise to Thee Invocation was offered
by Stake President Ilggs, of Nepbi,
and, after the mammoth congregation
had sung "Redeemer of Israel" Presi-
dent Smith, the first speaker, stepped
to the pulpit and addressed the asse tn
blage briefly. President Smith ex-
pressed satisfaction at the unusually
large attendance, and spoke his graft
tude to the Almighty for the prosperity
that has attended the people during
the past season.
During the morning session Presi-
dent Ben +. Rich, of the Middle States
mission, denounced in severe terms the
eastern press, which has set up the
,ry of "blood atonement" in connection
with the cold-blooded murder of which
Hooper Young is accused.
"What damnable lies they tell" said
President Rich. 'They will die and
90 to hell and be damned forever. And
they will remain in hell forever u D less
some Mormon elder goes down and
helps them out"
President Rich said the press in New
York, where Hooper Young is in Gus.
tody, had been trying to bring home
to the Mormon church the responsible.
ity of the crime of which the young
man is accused. Regarding blood
atonement, Mr.. Rich said the church
authorities, in 1889, declared openly
that the shedding of blood was abbor-,
rent to them, and denied that enemies
OF the faith had ever been ordered
killed. He said the Mormon people
believe in blood atonement only to the
extent demanded by the laws of the
country.
President Joseph Robinson, of the
Calinifornia mission, in short talk
before the conference, reported thai
the California mission is prospcriug,
and that the me IN bership is now fully
600, despite the fact that the elders
who are at work in that field have met
much vigorous opposition during the
past six months.
President f. II. Nye, Of the Southern
States mission, followed with short
address on conditions throughout the
South. He said there are about hun
dred elders operating throughout the
Southern States, mostly among the
rural and back woods districts.
President McRae, of the Colorado
mission, was the next speaker, and he
told of the work being done in his
districts, giving a most encouraging
report of the success of the mission.
Apostle Byrum Smith made the clos
ingsaddress Of the morning session,
dealing with those who are defaming
the church. Apostle Smith said the
spirit that is being manifested by some
Is the same that caused the murder OF
Joseph Smith, whose blood is still cry.
ing for vengeance. He deplored the
fact that people, among them minis
tiers, go east and deliberately lie abou,
the Mormon people.
At the afternoon session Presiden
putiin Of the Southern States mission
said that mob violence in that district
is dying out, and that people in tn,
southwest are becoming favorable u
missionaries.
President Woodruff, Of the mission o
the Northeast, said that there wer,
many converts being made constantly
throughout his mission.
President Nephi Pratt, of the North
west mission, also spoke OF the hatter
ing state Of affairs ia his field of la Dor
Apostle John Henry Smith said he
had visited Hancock county, Illinois
during the past year, and found tina
al the hard feeling that once existed
against the Mormon people has diet
eat. II found that the place Is Jack
Mormon rather than anti-Mormon,
said Apostle Smith. "There seems t.
" . belief that the Mormon peopl
could return to that country and bull
up the towns that have wasted sine
they were driven out by persecution.
SECOND DAYS SESSION.
Apostle Reed Smoot, the first speake
~ the morning session called tn
4.inta IN taak for THAR failnra IN m