The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-10-06
THE CHURCH CONFERENCE.

What promises TO be the greatest
conference of the Mormon church mem
bers since the foundation of the or
ganization will reach it's elimination
in this city today. In numbers attend
ing, in devotion TO their leaders, in
material prosperity and harmony of
purpose conditions were never better,
as evidenced by the report of the men
at the head of the various activities of
the church. As is always the case, the
attacks made on the organization and
its leaders for political purposes have
resulted in cementing its members
more closely and arousing active soil
acquiescence in its purpose might other
wise have prevailed.
A non-member, more or less familiar
with conditions here during the past
decade, is impressed this year by the
prosperity evident in the individuals
ance. and by the spirit OF enthusiasm
which marks the conference proceed
ings. Time was when the speakers
dwelt on the difficulties confronting
them. on the critical financial condition
of the church. on the hardships mem
bers were compelled TO endure. Now
the tone of the addresses is one of ex-
ultation, of triumph of qualification
over the progress made during the year
and the outlook for even better things.
Such a spirit may offend the cap
tious opponents of everything that sa-
vors of Mormonism. but the fair
minded will perceive in it nothing but
cause for congratulation TO the church
and the state in which it has its chief
membership and administrative organi-
zation. Prosperity for the church
means prosperity for the whole state:
distress for the Mormons would mean
distress for the whole commonwealth,
since the interests of Mormon. Gentle.
Jew and unbeliever are inseparably
bound together, whether it pleases some
to recognize the fact or not.
1t may be said truthfully that the
mass of the church, the men and wo-
men who hold to its faith sincerely and
practice its teachings with reverence,
comprise body OF citizens remarkable
for their frugality. their industry. their
temperance and their observance OF
the moral code in everyday life. Com
mercially they have always been noted
for their strict observance of business
obligations-a fact which accounts IN
a measure for the very high standing
of the state and its municipalities in
financial circles here and abroad.
Biunders may be made by their lead
ers, they may be charged with all the
civic crimes in the calendar by men
who have a purpose In the charge, but
no one has ever accused them of wav-
ering in recognition of responsibility
for Indebtedness or OF bad faith in
their financial and commercial under
takings
That being so. the outside world will
be loath TO believe that they lack all
the other qualities of substantial good
citizenship. An intimate acquaintance
with them In their homes. both in the
cities and in tho communities far re-
moved from lines of travel. justifies the
assertion that, as a people, they have
done and are doing a great work in
the reclamation and development OF this
arid west. They are the foremost pio-
neers of the desert; they unhesitating-
ly undertake tasks in remote places
which would discourage a less hardy
people or one less devoted to the task
ship uncomplainingly and they have