The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-10-05
CONFERENCE IS
RECORD-DREAKER
Throng Attends Opening Ses-
sion and Visitors Are Ar
irving on Every Train.
JOSEPH F. SMITH SPEAKS
EMPHASIZES OBLIGATIONS TO
CHRIST AND CHURCH.

There can be little question that the
Seventy eighth conference of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints now
in session will be the largest gathering OF
the kind in the history of the church.
The record of the first days attendance
is such as to warrant the prediction that.
reasonable additions taken into account,
the conference by Sunday will exceed all
previous conferences, remote or recent.
Yesterday from the pulpit the officials or
the church took note OF the unusual 1lrSt-
day throngs. one of the speakers at the
afternoon services in the tabernacle COM
menttng upon At at some length
And there is warrant for saying that
there is q great throng present For the
first time in the history of Mormon con-
ferences in this city, and that history
covers practically all OF the time when
there have been history-making poSsibili-
ties, the city found itself unable to ac-
commodate many of the conference Wis
itors Thursday night and not a few OF
them were obliged to find shelter as best
they could: There was no actual suffer
ing, but there was much inconvenience,
which will readily be realized when 1t Is
known that a large number of men found
resting places in the buildings where are
housed Mormon mercantile, industrial and
professional businesses. The women folk
and their children were cared for before
the night was over. but not until after a
tramping Of the streets that was weari"
some, very wearfsome.
Appeal for Accommodations.
Yesterday the church issued an appeal
to its people to throw open their homes
to the visitors. Heretofore 1t has been
the rule that the people from the outside
have been the guests of relatives or
friends, or have had little difficulty in Sc
curing accommodations at the hotels and
lodging houses. This year. however, the
rule seems no longer to apply. The church
asks that all Saints who have accommo-
dations leave word with Elias Morris &
Sons, on Richards street, opposite the
south gate of the temple; the office will
the evening while the conference lasts.
Great Throngs Attend.
There is no means of accurately esti
mating the number of visitors who are
here for conference time. They arrive on
every train and viii continue arriving un-
| I'll Sunday. Some of the tabernacle
grounds yesterday afternoon said that
| more than 10000 were already here; that
yesterdays trains would bring at least
| 5000 more and that by Sunday the 10000
| mark would be long passed. II Is believed
| church members will have the effect OF
| materially relieving the congestion.
The first days services of the conference
| consisted of the senii-annual review by
| President Joseph F. Smith and addresses
| by President John r. WinGer and Apos-
| ties A H. Lund. Francis NJ. Lyman. John
| Henry Smith and, Heber J.. Grant. In the
| evening there was an illustrated lecture
| and an organ recital by ]. j. Mcclellan
| in the tabernacle and q meeting OF the
| quorum of the seventies In the Assembly
| hall. During the evening also there were
meetings and reunions In various parts
| of the city.