Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-04-06
Conference Opens AuspiciousIy on
Seyeuty.Fiith Anniversary OF
lis Founding in New York.
PICTURES OF GREAT CONTRAST.
President Smith Congratulates the
Saints and Tells Of Their Pro-
gross and Prosperity,
CHURCH GETTING OUT OF DEBT,
This, Notwithstanding Much Aid Has
Been Given These Ia Distress and
10 Purchasing Mission Houses.

Been Given These Ia Distress and
Ia Purchasing Mission Houses.
That great oaks from little acorns
rrow never had a stronger eXempllh-
cation than that presented mt the Tab
srnacle today on the occasion Of the
openng OF the great annual confer
snce Of the Church. The scene that
urfolded itself to the gaze and admi-
ration Of the thousands in attendance
was most Impressive and In marvellous
contrast to the picture that the menu
DRY Of many painted of the historic
beginning Of the work Of the Latter
day Saints, in the wonderful Empire
state Of our country Just three-qua
tiers Of century ago.
It was a mighty sea Of earnest and
happy faces full OF confidence and en-
couragement that confronted President
Joseph +. Smith when he called the
congregation to order little after 10
o'clock In the gallery, too, there was
multitude Of similar faces whose at
tention was directed to tho stand, It
was quite observable, and a matter of
comment that the great preponder-
ance Of those present were men.
From the moment that the grand old
organ poured forth it's first strains Of
melody under the manipulation Of
Prof Mcclellan and the choir under
the conductorship OF Prof stephens,
filing the building with the words and
music Of the praise poem, "Redeemer
Of Israel" the strictest attention was
paid to every utterance that fell from
the lips Of the speakers,
President Joseph f. Smith delivered
the first address Of the conference, lie
spoke clearly, distinctly and at times
eoQuenty of the conditions Of the
Church today. His remarks were not
confined to any particular subject but
covered a wide variety of topics assoc
caled with the affairs of the Latter
day Saints, lie congratulated the peo-
pie Oh their honesty, falthfulness, In
dustry and prosperity. There never vas
time, he said, when there were fewer
differences among the people than at
the present, or more general prospect
,y experienced. The church, too, as an
organi@tion, was progressing, In all
these regards, During the past year II
had been able, he thanked God, to give
assistance In cases Of extreme distress
10 the Latter-day Saints I'm many
places. They had been helped where
hoods had destroyed their homes ana
Their crops, Headquarters and churches
ior foreign and home missions had been
purchased at considerable expense, A
large tract OF land had been purchased
IN Jackson county, where the Church Is
some day to erect magnl1-
cent temple, In addition. more
man half OF the bonded Indebtedness
otthe Church had been liquldated, and.
sald the speaker, with marked empha-
ts he hoped soon to see the Church ali
solIely free from debt, and under obH-
talon 70 no man.
Animadyerting to the criticisms Of
some persons he said that they should
no' be regarded too seriously. They
were the bolls, carbuncles and other ex-
..tescences OF the body of the organl2a-
Won IN such instances there was but
Vnt lhlng to do-What the surgeon does
NSuen a patient Is thus afilicted-cut
wem out ana on When this is done
,,ne general body will be the better for
me inference was that pimples were
neither hoalthful nor beneficial any
wy Eradication OF them was essen.
w. So too, Is cutting Off necessary,
-. INDIVIDUALS who have become a law
unto themselves.
THOSE PRESENT
Ihere were present of the general
aauthorlties OF the First Presidency.
Iweph T. Smith, John II, Winder and
Aan'3non H. Lund; Of the Council Of the
pmmgsNe Apostles Francis NJ. Lyman,
SSuuser ClaWson, Hyrum NJ. smith,
ppssorge A, Smith, Charles w. Penrose:
issuing Patriarch John Smith; First
ppe'eeh Presidents Of Seventies, seymour
loung brigham H. Roberts, George
Wsyniuus' j. Golden Kimball. Rulon $.
ms ana Joseph w, McMurrln; of
p,a, presiding Bishopric, William h.
ge1s NM. Robert T. Brton and Orrin n.
N W. mere were aIsO large number
~. presidents OF stakes, their counsel
n,o , presidents OF missions, and other
'TTSS, M. men Of the Priesthood
COM. services began by the choir and
beo,neessnuon singing the hymn which
~" Nedeemer Of Israel"
Fla" opening prayer was offered nv
chotIr, Honry Nalsbett. Singing by the
ana H., lone, dearest Lord, descend
'"LSlDENT JOSEPH r. SMITH,
n, usual nO made the opening address Of
tor,s inference, He spoke with his Gus
nston.y, freedom and spirit, and was
ai,s.tu 10 throughout with the closast
OF his address: ''e 10 'un report
'''pENr SMITHS REMARKS.
re mae 5nil text Of President Smiths
tainiy brethren and Sisters-It ia GER
ure Il a great satisfaction and pleas.
Of Ist,.ue TO see this large assembly
the onoelIuay Saints, gathered here On
annual mug day OF our seventy.afth
Zee yo,, .onierence | am pleased IN
the So..gn d meet with YOU, and win
lnR inc,,'llBs Of the Lord ana the g,id-
that t' sIIGGe OF His Holy Shirt 7 tr,st
portuni,,',a l also be pleased I'm the on
Of sns,t AFFORDED me at this no,ront
feel o"Us to You Tor A short Tine
ptomnit' rulhgly dependent unon ,he
You mugs mug OF the Spirit 10 nv MIND
kay tbsP ,'hlnk II strange FOR me- ~
wat l have had my 49,, n,u w