The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-04-06
MORMONS WILL
GATHER TODAY
Seventy-Sixth Annual Conference of
the Church Will Convene
IN Zion.
P0LYGAMY CUTS A FIGURE
THREE ABSENT APOSTLES NAV
BE DEPOSED.

The seventy-sixth annual conference
of the Mormon church VIII convene in
the tabernacle in Salt Lake at 10
o'clock this morning. 1t was seventy
six years ago today-ApriI 6. 1SSO-that
the church was organized by Joseph
Smith, its founder and first prophet.
seer and revelator. This day is held
sacred by Mormons, not alone because
it is the anniversary of the birth of the
church, but because, according to Nor
mon belief, it is likewise the anniver-
sary of the birth Of Jesus Christ.
Great interest attaches 10 the con-
ference session which begins today. II
Is expected by the laity that the atti-
tude of the church toward plural mar
riages alleged to have been contracted
since the manifesto Of 1891, suspending
plural marriages, will be defined. Three
apostles OF the church are suspected of
having contracted plural marriages
since the manifesto. Doubt is ex-i
pressed as to whether the people will
De asked by the first presidency tot
sustain these three apostles.
The three apostles in question are
John w Taylor, Matthias f Cowley ?
and George Teasdale- None of them ,
VIII De present at the conference IN 4,
less the unexpected happens. Except .
for Apostle COWley they have not been 3
IN the United States since the senate
committee on privileges and elections .
began the investigation Of the SmoOt
case. All three were desired as Wit
nesSes in the SmOOt investigation. but
the subpoena servers were unable 10
find them. Taylor and COwley are in
canada, and Teasdale is supposed 10
be in Mexico
Vacancies to Be Filled.
Irrespective of the action on the case
OF the three apostles mentioned two
vacancies are to be filled in the ranks
OF the general authorities OF the
church An apostle is to be named to
succeed Mariner w. Merrill of Rich
mond. and a first president of the sew
entities IS to be named in lieu of d 7
FJelstad. MessTs. Merrill and FfeIstad
have both died within the past few
months. and since the last conference
OF the church convened in October
Those mentioned for the vacant
include J. William Knight.
\ephf l. Morris Hugh 7. Cannon, Brig
nam H Roberts, OTsOn F Whitney, G.
w Nibley. Major Richard ". Young.
Ben Z. Rich. Judge William H. King
and Joseph f. Smith. jr.
May Delay Until October.
1t is intimated in church circles that
president Joseph +. Smith may delay
naming the new apostle until the semi
annual conference next October. II Is
claimed that the man upon whom he
has settled is a pOlygamist. and that
le does not wish to elevate him until
he SmOOt case has been disposed Of
n the United States senate. To name
/ pOIySamist now, it is said. would be
cared by the president of the Church
IN account of its effect upon the nation
Il large and its effect upon che chances
If Senator Shoots retaining his seat
Some believe that Major Richard W.
HhnSar1 lie
lngulshed grandfather elevated Pres
dent Smith to the apOstleship. It is
aid that President Smith. in return.
s anxious to confer the high ecclesi-
sticaI honor on Young
It is also said that Hugh j. Cannon
nay get the place because President
smith is anxious TO heap Goals of fire
IpOn the Cannon family This means
hat the president will appoint a Can
ION as a notice TO the world that he
Oes not hold against the entire family
he apOstasy of ex-senator Frank J.
cannon.
Quorum Will Be Slim.
A reduced and decimated quorum OF
pOstles VIII be present at the confer
nee today. There are only eleven
pOstleS. owing to the death of Mar
iner w Merrill, and of the eleven,
My six viii be present. They are:
ranCis NJ. Lyman. president Of the
uorum; John Henry Smith, Rudger
lawson. George a. Smith. Hyrum NJ
NTH and Charles w. PenrOse
The abSenteeS will be George Teas
ale, John w. Taylor and NJ F. Cow
~. Who as stated. have not been in
ne United States since the SmOot in
esugatOn started; Heber J. Grant
-hO is in charge of the European mis-
Continued on Page 2.