The Garland globe. [volume] (Garland, Utah) 1906-191?, 1908-04-11
SIGNIFICANT UTTERANCES
At CONFERENCE Of SAINTS
PRESIDENT Joseph r. Smith Declares
Church is In sympathy With
Movement for curtalment of
Liquor Traffic.-Record Break
ing Attendance Of Con-
ference.

OdlI iIuht -fNl Illt ODtllhb otb-
sion Of the seventy.eighth annual con-
ference of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, in this city on
April 4, 1t is estimated that the at
tendance was larger than for any
opening day in the past. With few
exceptions all the high authorities of
the church were present
In addition to President Smith,
there were on the stand the counsel
Tors Of the first presidency, John r.
Windor and Anthem H. Lund. All of
the apostles were present save two.
The absentees were Reed Smoot, who
is In Washington, and c. w. Penrose,
who is on a mission to Europe.
President Smith, in his address at
the opening session, declared that the
church was in sympathy with the
movement that is sweeping the coun-
try for a curtailment of the liquor
traffic. Other speakers. members of
the quorum of twelve apostles, also
urged the more general observance
of the rules of temperance, saying
that the embargo laid on excuses in
the Word of Wisdom is a command.
ment, not only with regard to strong
drink, but as well in respect to to-
bacco, profanity and tea and coffee.
The church was declared to be in a
better condition than ever before. The
auxiliary societies were reported to
be fiourishing as never they had in
the past. The testimony of President
Smith and other speakers was that
the favorable conditions were a fact,
in a spiritual as well as temporal
way. The laws laid down in the COS.
pei are observed with greater fidelity
than they have ever BEEN 1t was as.
serted
President Smith, in the beginning
of his remarks, extended welcome
to the Saints. 1t was extremely graft
flying, he said, to see so great an out
pouring of people. 1--WE have every
reason" said President Smith, "to
feel grateful to the Lord for his man
fold blessing showered upon us since
our last conference. The eyes of the
Almighty are upon his people, and he
is mindful of their welfare. We dc
not claim any honor for the deliver.
ance of our people from enemies and
opposition; we thank God for his mer.
cies and blessings"
The president said that 1t was writ,
ten that woe is unto them by whom
offenses come, and a day of reckon
! ing Is sure to come. The speaker
| said that he did not for an instant
doubt the truth and divinity of the
gospel that has been restored to man
Feeling reference was made to the
| brothers and sisters who had been
called by death since the last confer
ence, saying that they had gone tC
await the resurrection.
On the subject of temperance the
president said II believe the time is
near at hand when We shall observe
the laws of temperance in accordance
with the Word of Wisdom. We find
that the Lord knew better than We
when he gave that revelation.
| When see man protesting tC
| be member of the church befoulinp
his mouth with tobacco and liquor II
pains me greatly and my heart goes
out to him in regret. We believe in
| strict temperance. We believe In alb
stinence from all poisonous and per
| nicious things.
| Just now there is movement
spreading over this country for the
extension of local option, and ] hope
that every Latter-day Saint will co
| operate with this temperance move
ment. | and my brethren are in har
mony with the movement. We thlnl
! the people ought to have the right tC
say whether they will have drunken
ness, murder, robbery and iiot in theil
midst, or whether they will hav,
peace"
The president declared the auxil
iaries of the church to be in excel
lent condition. He said they were
active and energetic and declared
that the spirit of contention is MOI
| known among the Latter-day Saints
and is present only among those who
have become apostates and have los
the spirit of the gospel.
| President Smith, in making a par
tial report. said that on December 81
| 1907, there were in the field 1,Sl(
missionaries. During the year there
were sent out 927 elders, and 707 re
turned, the returning fees of these
being paid by the church. Forty-foul
sisters accompanied their husband;
on missions. President Smith sale
that the elders who go out into thu
field do so at their own expense anC
support themselves while in the field
| John r. Winder, of the first presi
dency spoke of the work performed
In the temple last year, referring to thu
ratification felt at the additional in
terest taken in the work of redemp
ton for the dead The work per
formed in the temple, said Mr.. Win
der, has often been so great that peo
| pie have been turned away not infre
| quently.
President Anthem II. Lund SPOKE
on the principle of gathering. HI
said that Moroni taught 1t to JOSEPH
before any one was baptized int
the church. President Lund said tina
revelations bearing on the subject o
gathering were given to the churcl
during the first years of its existence
|