Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-10-06

blHNlliu upuh the lDualhh OF MS dhaO-
'ciotcs who had preceded him.
THE PROCEEDINGS,
There We're present Of the General
authorities Of the First Presidency,
Joseph r. Smith. John H. Wlnder ana
Anthem II. Luud. OF the Council Of the
Twelve Apostles. Francis NJ. Lyman,
John Henry smith. Rudger Clawson,
Hyrum N. smith, George A Smith and
Charles w Pcnr0sepresldmg Patriarch
JOSH smith First seven presidents OF
Seventies seymour y. Young. Brig
ham II. liohegis, George Reynolds. J.
Golden kiDla1 Fulon s. Wells and
Joseph w @'Nga.', OF the presiding
Bishopric Ron i Burton and or
rim w. Mlllel Iwere also many
presidents ut N. their cOunselors.
presidents Of ms M and other proml-
nent men Of lhs gpsthood
The choir ana congregation sang the
hytdn which begins;
Come let M anew our journey pursue,
Ron round with the year.
Aud mover sand still TN the Master
appears
Ills adorable Will let us gladly fulnll.
The opening prayer was offered by
Elder Angus NJ. Cannon
Singing by the choir:
sweetly may the blessed Spirit
On each faithful bosom shine.
May we every grace inherit,
Lord We seek boon divine.
OPENING DISCOURSE.
President Smith delivered the opening
discourse lie spoke as follows
u am happy in the privilege that
enjoy OF being present at the opening OF
this, the seventy fourth semi-snnual
conference OF the Church Of Jesus
Christ Of Latter-day Saints and ! am
pleased 10 see the number Of brethren
and sisters who are present at the OPP
enlng meeting We realize the difficulty
IN the way OF many OF the people at
tending conference ON week day ike
this, as many of the people are com.
PEELED 10 labor. business II in full swing
throughout. not only this city and coun-
~, but in every other part Of the coun-
try. and people are busy attending 70
their labOrs and secular duties, ana II
is very difficult thing for many TO
leave their homes to attend conference
on the days OF the week.
III is gratifying to see the number
who are here today AZ the opening
meeting OF our conference, and ] con.
graduate you. my brethren and sisters,
upon being present and upon the bless
ings, both temporal an dspirltual that
have been poured out upon the people
during the last six months, since our
last conference, Taken as a whole, the
season has been a prosperous one, but
the fore part of our season was afilict-
ed or seriously injured by a drouth,
and many people I'm the southern mart
of the state and In Arizona and in New
Mexico, and In old Mexico especially as
also In the far north In our colonies IN
Canada, have suffered seriously be.
cause of the protracted drouth that
has been upon the land. But the pros
meet Is that the long continued spell
of drouth has been broken by coplous
rains that have descended upon the
land making the fields and the plains
and the mountains luxurlant with the
growth OF. herbs and grasses Tor the
sustenance Of the hocks and herds OF
the neople. and also for the support OF
the water for irrigation purposes ON
their farms. Taking the whole condi-
lion throughout the length and breadth
of the land, we feel that II Is favorable
and that the blessings Of the Lord ana
His merciful hand is over all the inter-
ests OF the people throughout the land
and we know that we are Indebted
largely and greatly to His mercy and
Kindness for the favOrs and blessings
that have been bestowed upon us.
Il trust that the spiritual condition
Of the I.atter-day Saints has been MS
good as the temporal conditions have
been and that we are progressing and
growing In the knowledge OF the truth
and IN faithfulness before the Lord IN
keeping His commandments ana It's
laws as He has prospered u.s. Tor aiter
all the great consideration Is the taith-
fulness of the people TO the covenants
that they have made with the Lord
and which Is theirs IN righteousness.
SOME INTERESTING FIGURES,
oReAectlng over briefly the condition
of the Church at the present time. since
have been sitting here upon the seat,
/ have iotted down a few little Items
thai wish to refer to briefly. ] find
that we nave now In the United States,
Canada and Mexico 50 organized stakes
OF Zion. As matter OF course, nom
this we understand that there are 90
presldng officers IN the Church over
these various stakes and that there are
ITO counselors 10 the presidents OF
stakes. | am informed also that we
have or al least IN these various stakes,
i'm each Of these stakes, is an organ
lied High Council, consisting OF IL
Uiah Priests In each stake, which ag-
gregates TIE number of $50 High
priest In the Church today as II Is or
qanized who possess the authority Of
the Holy Priesthood to minister for the
salvation OF the souls Of men and who
ali as Judges with the presidents OF
stakes and their counselors, In all the
affairs of the Church and VINO are
called upon and who are supposed 10
be examples before the people setting
before them examples that are worthy;
That are worthy OF imitation and OF
emulation. Fathers indeed TO the peo-
ple and Judges Of Righteousness In their
midst. This OF course, constitutes
unite an army OF special workers, men
upon whom rests sreat response
bility. fathers TO the peo-
pie aud wise counselors 10
them. assisting the presidencies OF the
various stakes to regulate the affairs
OF their churches and TO set IN order
the houses OF The saints and the stake
organizations throughout the Church
TWENTY MISSIONS.
oIn connection With the IS organized
stakes OF ziou We have IN the neigh
borhood Of twenty different or
ganlzed missions throughout the world
presided over by presidents ana hby
ccunsslors. and these missions are sup
Piled With Elders ana Seventies that
arc sent out 10 preach the Gospel num-
J bcring At the present time In the neigh