Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-04-05

What promises to become one of
the most Important conferences of the
Church. commenced AL 10 O'Clock this
morning In the great tabernacle. the
auditorium of which was completely
filled by saints from far and near
The distinguishing features were the
DISCOURSE of President Joseph r.
Smith, who spoke for nearly an hour.
and the reading or an address. APP
pearing over the signatures of the
First Presidency, by Apostle Orson +.
whitney. The document Is directed
to the people OF all the world and liz a
review of the tenets and practises OF
the Church. a statement OF its faith
and a denial or the numerous false
charges recently made against it. The
reading was listened to with rapt at
tention and was followed by n unarl-
nous adoption on the part OF the
large compensation,
Conference opened anspicaously, not
withstandfng threatening weather.
There we're present of the &c neral air
thorities the following. Presidents
Joseph +. Smith. John h. Wfnder and
Anthem H. Lund: Apostles Francis NJ
Lyman, John Henry Smith. George
Teasdsle, Heber j. Grant Rudger
Clawson, Reed Smoot Hyrunt NJ
Smith, George Albert Smith. George
IT. Richards. Orson F. Whitney and
David o. Mckay; Presiding Patriarch
John Smith, presidents OF seventies.
Seymour b, Young. Brigham r. Rob
erts Jonathan q. Kimball, Rulon s.
Wells Joseph w McAlurrln and Chas.
n. Hart. Bishops William &. Preston
and orrin r. Miller. There WAS also
a In rera aA, s1f Ia, ~
OF stakes and missions. and bishops OF
wards.
The m ornlns session WAS opened by
ihe choir and congregation singing
the hymn beginning Guide us o
Thou Great Jshovsh' PRAYER was
'Redeamer OF Israeli was then sung
by the choir and congregation. TIE
opening address saa delivered as usus
al by President Joseph r, Smith.
PRESIDENT SMITHS REMARKS.
President Joseph II. smlsil was the
first speaker at the opening meeting.
and delivered very interesting and
Instructive discourse. He expressed
his delight In seeing so many presen.
al the first meeting of the conference
which, he said Indicated an interest
In this work, which was very COM
nendable
President Smith spoke at length OF
the condition of the Church. and was
especially happy to be able to say that
there never Was time Since the o1-
ganlration OF the present presidency
when they We're as united as today,
as united In spirit, in faith, and in
works. Ths presidency and the apos-
ties are also united and labortng to-
gether in love and harmony. He was
also pleased to soy that the same good
WILL love and union, exist between
these two bodies and the presiding
seventies OF the Church, and II was
a source OF gratitude to him that all
these brethren were SO faithful In the
performance OF every duty and that
shsy arc always ready and willing to
perform every duty thai Is required
OF them The president spoke briefly
OF the efficient work being done by the
presiding bishoprc, and OF the work
10 be accomplished by the patrfarchs
OF the Church.
RESIDENTS or STAKES.
Referring 10 the presidents 81 tile
various stakes OF Zion. President
Smith said II can speak heartily and
warmly OF the fdelity, intelligence.
who today, through the crsanised
stakes OF Zion are'actIng as presidents
OF stakes. with very FEW exceptions,
ana would hardly desire To admit
fiat there Is any e3 eeption, hat II there
are any exceptions, they are exceed
lnaly few The presidents ot the
stakes or Zion and their counselors are
men after Gods own heart. They ere
men true 10 their calling, true TO their
hishopros true to the Church OF
Jesus Christ OF LatreT-day Saints
faithful IN the discharge of their duty
diligently looking after tho spiritual
as well 0s the temporal welfare OF the
ankes OF Zion over which they pre-
lde,'
President Smith then spoke Of The inl-
pOrlant duties deY0lvlng upon the high
councils OF the various stakes, and said
that men would not be seleaied for
these places who were not exemplary
In their lives said they should be z
oounsslOrA to the presidency OF The
stake. they should not only be able 10
fairly ADJUST the differences that mas
arise In the stakes. but look after the
proclamation nt the gospel both by pre-.
oept and by example. Speaklng or tho
members or tho blshopre Of the various
wards, President Smith said he did moi
know Of any organization In the Church
or greater importance than that of the
bish0prics OF the wards, They were In
deed fathers Ia the people II Is their
duty Ia look after the widows, tho
fathorless, tha poor this needy, the sick
and the AFFLICTED. II NJ their duty not
only TO b. semporu. fathers OF the
people bur spiritual fntherh M welt
1lo snld 1t WAS expected that the hIsh
ops nt the wards should know every
Ia ~ IAl| tEN al...M - tA..l..