Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1905-04-14
SAINTS MEET ON sEvENTY.FfFTH
ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDING
OF CHURCH.
President Smith Presides at Opening
Session, coneratuIates the Saints
and Tells Of Their Progress
and Present Prosperity.

fifth anniversary of the founding OF
the church In New. York state
The attendance at the opening SEES
sion was unusually large, members
being present from all over the United
States and several foreign countries.
There were present of the general
authorities: or the First Presidency,
Joseph f. Smith, John X. Winder ana
Anthem II. Lund; of the Council of the
Twelve Apostles, Francis NJ Lyman,
Rudger Clawson, Hyrum NJ Smith,
George A. Smith. Charles w. Penrose
Presiding Patriarch John Smith: First
Seven Presidents OF Seventies, Sey
mour b. Young, Brigham II. Roberts,
George Reynolds. j. Golden Kimball,
Rulon s. Wells and Joseph w. McMur-
rim; OF the Presiding Bishopric, VIII
liam t. Barton and Orrin p. Miller.
There were also a large number of
presidents of stakes, their councillors,
presidents of missions. and other
prominent men of the Priesthood.
President Joseph F. Smith deliv-
cred the first address of the confer
ence. He spoke eloquently OF the con-
ditions of the church today. His re-
marks were not confined to any par
ticular subject, but covered a wide
variety OF topics associated with the
affairs of the Latter-day Saints. He
congratulated the people on their hon
esty, faithfulness, industry and pros
perity. There never was a time, he
said, when there were fewer differ
ences among the people than at the
present, or more general prosperity
experienced. The church, too, as an
organization. was progressing in all
these regards. During the past year
1t had been able to give assistance in
cases OF extreme distress to the Lat
ter-day Saints in many places. They
had been helped where floods had de-
stroyed their homes and crops. Head
quarters and churches for 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 a magnificent temple. In adj |
dition, more than half the bonded in |
debtedness of the church has been /
liquidated, and, said the speaker, with |
marked emphasis, he hoped soon to
see the church absolutely free from
debt, and under obligations to no man.
Referring to the criticisms of some |
persons. he said they should not be
regarded too seriously. They were the
boils, carbuncles and other excres-
cences of the body of the organization.
In such instances there was but one
thing to do-what the surgeon does
when patient is thus afflicted-cut
them out and Off When this is done
the general body will be the better
f.x..f Inf
were neither healthful nor beneficial
in any way. Eradication of them was
essential. So. too, is cutting off neces-
sary of individuals who have become
a law unto themselves
President John Il. Winder, Elder
Hugh ]. Cannon and Elder Rulon S.
Wells also addressed the audience.
At the afternoon session. President
Anthem III. Lund delivered the principal
He endorsed the statements
made by President Smith concerning !
the tithing. The tithing, he said. was
used only for the purposes of the {
church, and the president did nothing I
with the finances of the church without
his counsellors. The rec
ords OF the church are open to the in {
spection of the Saints: they are care
year, he said, larger amounts had been I
expended for meeting houses and {
church schools than in any previous I
year. /,
Elder Joseph Il. Robinson. president Il
Of the California mission, Elder Ger |
man Il. Ellsworth, president of the |
Northern States mission; Elder Nephi 7
Pratt. president of the Northwestern
States mission; and Elder Joseph A. {
McRae, president of the Colorado mis- |
sion. also spoke, reporting progress in 9
their different fields of labor.
The general authorities of the
,hurch were presented to the confer c
snce at the afternoon session, and ;
yoted upon by the assembled thous-
.nds. Only two negative votes out
If the mighty multitude were re-
corded. and they were only to part .
II the proceedings.
With fully 5000 souls joining in the d
lynn, Come, come, ye Saints. no toll a
,r labor fear" the second days SEES n
lion OF the seventy-fifth annual confer 4
snce of the Church of Jesus Christ OF v
atter-day Saints opened Friday morn e
ng In the Tabernacle. The meetings a
we're perhaps better attended than on 4
he opening day and spirit of har-
pony and good feeling. such as is a
OF these gatherings, was S
trongly manifested. The first speaker. e
President Francis M. Lyman. fittingly Q
eferred to the remarkable growth OF "
he church and to its wonderful &
In the short space OF
twenty-five years. This In itself. said a
lie. WAS evidence OF heavenly favor. Il
md was striking testimony OF the G
ivine mission OF Joseph Smith. the a
lrophet OF the latter DAYS The sue Il