Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-30
LATTER DAY SAINTS GATHER
Worlds Conference viii Open at Lamont
Next Week.
DELEGATES CONE FROM AFFAIR TO ATTEND
Representative Of Foreign Missions
VIII Consult with Home Lead
ers ~ to work and
Methods.

LAMONT, Ia, March 4s.-(Special.)-
The worlds conference of the R~eorganiEed
Church OF Jesus Christ Of Latter Day
Saints, which convenes at Lamont April G,
promises to be one Of the largest gather
ings Of the church ever held. Among the
ministers and delegates already arrived
are all the members Of the quorum Of
twelve apostles, Of whom Conner 7. Grit
hths comes from England, r. c. Evans from
the Canada mission and Joseph Luf from
California.
This conference will be one OF great in
terest to the church throughout the world.
The church was reorganized in 1860. under
the presidency OF Joseph Smith, the Oldest
son and legal successor OF his father. who
was killed at Carthage, ILL.,, June n,
1874. The twelve apostles have been In
daily session since March 20. the special
duty Of the twelve being the oversight Of
the missionary work throughout the world.
The hrst presidency Of the church Is com
posed OF Joseph Smith, president: A. II.
Smith and E.. L. Kelley, counsellors. A.. Fl
Smith also holds the office Of patriarch, and
f. L. Kelley the ONCE OF bishop. The
patriarch is on a missionary tour to the
South Sea islands. Australia. Honolulu and
other parts and will not be in attedance
at this session.
To Improve Foreign Missions.
The probability is that the foreign mis-
sions will be better supplied with mission
aries than at any previous year. They
now have missionaries in the South Sea
islands, Australia, Hawaii. England, Wales.
Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Ger
many and other foreign countries.
The church believes IN a complete or
ganization, as in the days Of Christ and
the apostles. with all the gifts and bless.
ings Of the gospel. IA a means Of special
blessing and guidance OF the Holy Spirit
during the coming conference April s has
been appointed as q day Of general fasting
and prayer. to be observed by the member
ship of the entire church.
The church Is really organized with 9
quorum of first presidency, twelve apostles
high priests. also different quorums OF sew
entities. elders. priests. teachers and dea.
cons. 1t now has a membership Of so, 0OC
and a force OF 400 in the general mission
airy Held. The people are still called g
peculiar people for their staunch belief IL
all the principles OF the gospel. includin,
faith, repentance, baptism Cby immersion)
laying on Of hands, resurrection of the
dead and eternal Judgment. They also be.
lieve In present revelation.
They are strictly monogamic. being bitter
opponents Of polygamy. the abominable doc.
trine OF the Utah church as taught and
practlced under the leadership Of Brigham
Your.
Their Statement of Belief.
Here follow a few extracts from theil
statement Of belief:
We. believe in God, the Eternal Father
and IN HIS Son Jesus Christ, and in tn
We believe that men will be punished 10
tneir own SINS and not for Adam's trans
We. believe that through the atonemen
of Christ all men, may be saved BY IN,
1pealence to the laws and ordinances o
We believe. that these ordinances are
FIRST faith In God and the Lord Jesu
by Immersion for the remission of sins
fourth. laying on Of the hands for the gil
resurrection Of the body, utbeat the the dead "a u h
Christ will rise first and the rest OF tn
dead viii not live again until the thousan,
doctrine Of eternal judgment. which pro
vides that men shall be judged, rswarde,
good or evil they shall have done. =
We believe that a man must be called o
God and ordained by the laying on o
title him to preach the gospel and admins
ter In the ordinances thereon.
VIC DeISNe III the same klnQ OF OrRantZa
ton that existed In the primitive church
VIZ. apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers
We believe that in the Bible is containe
the Word of God, so far as II Is translate
correctly. We believe that the canon o
scripture 10 not full, but that God, by HI
Spirit, will continue to reveal His word I
man until the end OF time.
We believe In the powers and gifts OF IN
everlasting gospel, viz: The gift OF faitf
discerning OF spirits, prophecy, revelation
healing, visions. tongues and the interpre
tation Of tongues, wisdom, charity
%brotherly love, etc.
We believe that marriage Is ordained q
God, and that the law of God provides 10
but one companion in wedlock, for eithe
mar or woman. except in cases where tn
contract OF marriage Is broken by death o
transgresslon.
We believe that the doctrines OF a plur
ality and a community OF wives ar
heresies and are opposed to the law of GOO
We believe that the religion of Jesu
Christ, as taught in the New Testamen
scriptures win. II lite precepts are accepte
and obeyed, make men and women bette
IN the domestic circle, and better citizen
or town, county and state, and conse
quently better fitted for the change whic
cometh at death.
We believe that men should worship Go
in spirit and In truth" and that such wor
ship does not require a violation of tn
constitutional law OF the land.
The zion's Religio- Literary Society an
General Sunday School tion, auxil
larry to the church. hold their convention
here from April 3 to 8.