Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-04-04
coNFERENoE THOUGHTS.

GUN GEltfINtiD
The seventy eighth annual CONFER
ence OF the Church opened today with
n large attendance. 1t Is a general
observation that these gatherings are
growing from year to year. indicating
the numerical growth of the Church.
and showing that the interest in Church
affairs is steadily increasing. Anti
mormon" leaders. at one time, USED
TO say that II they could only get the
antl-"Mormon' legislation they wanted
"Morlnonism" would soon be thing OIL
the past. But actual events have prov
ed them false prophets. The Church
has withstood the assaults by mops'
the assassinations and drlvlngs. the
Journey through the wilderness, and the
struggle with cold ad hunger In these
valleys in the earliest days. 1t mas
grown. Notwithstanding all changes
like tho oak in the storm. The Lord
has preserved His Church. for the per-
formance OF an important mission
among the children of men.
The time in which we live Is one OF
peculiar significance. The human nina
penetrates the secrets of nature ana
makes discoveries in the light of which
they perform miracles" Distances are
being annihiiated. The products of
labor are multiplied by machines that
are almost human. Scientists penetrate
to the furthest boundaries of the uni
verse and to the very limits of the
microscopic world that borders on the
spiritual cxistences. There is not Il
corner OF the world so remote that
human thought does not attempt TO PEN
citrate to 1t. There is not problem too
intricate for human intelligence to at
tempt a solution. Even the mystery
and origin of life is the subject of
scientific research.
knowledge Is multiplying. This the
Prophet Daniel predicts as a charac-
teristic OF the last days" 1literIcy
is now the exception In all the civilized
world. Children fifteen years of age
know more about history, geography,
mathematics, hygiene, etc. than their
grandparents, as n rule, learned I'm
life time. II would be considered a
crime In our age TO bleed man to
death, as was done in the case of
George Washington though he had the
best medical attendance obtainable,
Wealth is also increasing, The hum
blest citizen today can enjoy luXuries
that only rich men formerly could think
of purchasing. Food and clothing of
superior quality are within the reach
of all. And with the increase of wealth.
national influence has increased. Men
at the head OF nations today need to be
very humble, indeed lest pride deadens
they intelligence and they become
brutes, like Nebuchadnezzar.
But with all these advantages, our
time shows many signs of decay
Crimes are also multiplying. Knowl-
edge alone does not enable man to
conquer sin, Intelligence alone does
not furnish moral strength. Grimes of
violence are increasing. Dishonesty in
private and public affairs Is frequent
The standards OF public morality arc
being lowered The divorce ,yll is
spreading.
Lawlessness is one OF the charac-
teristics OF our time. Not only do
men and women transgross the laws OF
God and man, but they defend ther
tiansgressIon by denying the authority
that fcrblds 1t. The Apostle PAU pro-
phesies that the man Of sin"
or the lawless one" will app
pear IN the last days, when
the conditions are rife for such an
incarnation, and It Is impossible TO look
at the signs of the times without being
reminded OF that remarkable predIe-
ton. The world is very much agi-
tated The fires are burning and roar
ing below How cuu "a terrible explo-
sion be prevented?
lnddelity is rampant II lfs It's
head even in the pulpus, with many II
has become an axiom That tho Bible
aud scientific truth are opposed to each
other, 1'hey have succeeded ln Great
Ing an impression thai humanity can
not progress except upon tho ruins OF
religion, pney hold that We shall ,lce
clearly ON earth only whom we put out
the lights OF heaven, Higher criticism M
but form of This rejection of the
Word of God.
Peculiar errors flourish, The ancient
PHILOSOPHERS OF the East have been re-
Nived and are recommended az substl-
tutes for the teachinss Of Jesus, though
they ought 10 be Judged by the fruits
they have produced, Here ana there
Voice Is heard olamoring for leoog-
milton as the "Chrlst,' or "EliIah," aud
thousands follow, Men must believe
something. and when they reject truth
uhey take naturally 90 superstition.
There iH discomfort IA the rpnke OF
mo Sorkers OF the world II breaks out