The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-10-08

MORMON CHURCH
STANDING STILL
Reports at Conference Show
Practically No Change.
GENERAL HARMONY PREACHED
APOSTLE URGES FRIENDSHIP
WITH THE GENTILEs.
GENERAL HARMONY PREACHED

The morning session of the second
days meeting Of the seventy-nfth semi
annual conference Of the Church Of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was
begun shortly after 10 o'clock yesterday
III the tabernacle. Both the morning
and afternoon sessions were mainly
devoted TO the giving of testimony by
presidents Of stakes as to the progress
OF the work of the church. The at
tendance was larger than on Thursday,
the first day Of the conference.
testimonies given at the conference
have shown that I'm several of the old
established stakes in Utah the church
population is either stationary Or grow
ing very slowly. They also have shown
that in some Of the mission fields nota-
bly, the eastern and California missions.
with headquarters in New York and
san Francisco, few converts have been
made during the past six months or
year. To offset this discouraging con-
dition, IL is stated that some Of the
new stakes in Idaho and Wyoming are
growing rapidly, and that the missions
IN Canada and Mexico are making
good showing. An analysis OF all the
reports shows that the church is but
matter OF increase of population.
Reports at Morning Session.
The morning meeting was opened by
the singing by the choir and congrega-
ton Of the hymn, 'Redeemer Of Israel,
Our Only Delight" Prayer was Of
fered by Elder Thomas Chamberlain
who asked the Lord to pour out his
spirit abundantly,. and to bless all the
Interests of Zion, both at home and
abroad. Then the choir sang the
hymn:
'Ye simple souls who stray
Far from the paths Of peace"
Elder II. :. GOwans, president Of the
Tooeie stake. told of the work in that
jurisdiction. lie said when he was
chosen president of the stake a score
of years ago the Mormon population
was about 5000 souls, and it was the
same today. The fact that there had
been no increase in the church popula-
ton in the stake was accounted for by
the going away of many young people
10 other stakes. Notwithstanding this
discOuraging situation, the faithfuiness
e OF the Saints was more manifest than
ever before. He Endorsed the advice of
President Francis NJ. Lyman 10 build
canneries, encourage manufactures
and pay their debts.
Declares Climate Changed.
Elder William Bulge, presiden; Of the
Bear Lake. Idaho. stake, told OF the
work in that state, Instead OF the one
stake, which was organized when he
first went to Idaho there are now ten.
, hese stakes were ali growing numer-
ically and prospecting. Until fifteen
years ago it was impossible TO raise
iruit trees in The state but great
change m climatic conditions had come
about since the MormOns began set
Ting there, and he thanked Cor ior II,
Formerly there were high winds that
blew the snow off the benches, but now
there is never such a wind. God had
tempered the elements for the benefit
OF the Saints.
Elder AlOnzO A. Hinckley, president
OF the Willard stake. followed He had
been presiding over the stake Tor two
years, he said. The stake boundaries
were Identical with those of Willard
county. Utah. and in il we're 5000 mem
bers OF the church and about 900 Gen
tiles. OF the 5000 fully One-tfth were
in the priesthood, and although the
church population was not increasing
numerically, the members of the chltrch
in the stake We're growing in spiritual
ity He said the MOTmons and Gentiies
were living together in the utmost har-
mOny, and among the latter were
many good, conscientious men and wo-
men, There had been a shortage of
water for irrigating purposes in the
stake but he expected this would te
remedied in the near future. he hoped
TO see the day when certain prophecies
concerning the future of the stake would
be fulfilled. In conclusion he said that
he had received the gift Of tongues
while laboring as a missionary in The
Netherlands.
Elder Arnold II. Schulthess. counselor
10 the president of Liberty stake. salt
Lake city, next gave testimony. He
said that owing TO the fact that Pres
ident Hugh j. Cannon was away Ion a
mission" the management OF the stake
had devolved upon the cOunsel1rs.
There were eight wards. he said, in the
stake with a Mormon population Of
between 5000 and 5000. The work was
progressing satisfactorily in every part
of the stake.
At the conclusion of Elder Schulthess
talk the choir sang the anthem, FrOni
Afar. Gracious Lord."
Smith Praises Friendly Spirit.
Apostle John Henry Smith found
considerable satisfaction in the state
ment OF Elder Hinckley that the Nor
mems and Gentiles were living in har-
n1ony in Willard county stake and said
he was glad because Elder Hinckley
had declared that the non-members of
the church there were good people In
making these statements Elder Hinck-
ley had manifested a commercial bic
spirit, that should b.. generally imi-
t8ted. \ good word spoken for those
who were not of the faith would be GER
tain to bear good fruit. 1t was the
duty Of those in the faith to establish
and foster friendly relations with out
siders' and there was an obligation
resting upon the members OF the
church TO bring the gospel truths TO the
attention OF those who had not been
brought into Zion
81 trust. my brothers and sisters. E"
said he, that We will not be unmind-
ful OF the fact that many men and
women have received the gospel after
living in our midst for years. One OF
the presidents of the stakes has re-
Gently beenNc considering The advisabiIity
Of esta biishing missions to reach those
who are living among US"
He said Mormons should neglect no
opportunity TO speak TO those outside
the church. They should DO this with
out attempting 10 overdo the work or
He knew VI no reason why he and his
neighhOrs who were not Of the faith
should be enemies. and he knew Of no
reason why Mormons and non Nor
mons engaged in uDbuilding the state
should not be friends.
Apostle Smith said he had known
Brigham Young, MILFORD Woodruff. I.o-
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