Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-04-06

der the leadership of Elder Charles J.
Thomas. "Redcemcr of Israel, our only
delight" Prayer WAS offered by Elder
stewart Icces. followed by singing,
Como. come. We saints"
Tho first speaker was Elder German
u, Ellsworth president OF the Northern
States mission who reported briefly
hts labors. He said he felt greatly
honored In having the privilege OF la.
boring with 80 many good men and
women as are the active workers IN
that mission and who, he believed, feel
that their parents and brothers anu
sisters and the saints of Zion are pray
ing for them as II they were angels
without sin. The elders there are strugs
Cling manfuly, cheerfully and earn
estly In the work, and they arc re-
Jocing in the manner In which their
way Is opened to reach the best classes
of the people. They are calling upon
the heads of government and the inilu-
entail people. and making warm friends
among the honorable men of the earth.
For the past three years the elders
have turned more to the distribution
of the Book of Mormon, and by doing
so find that II has more than doubled
the distribution of tracts and other
books. When they distributed LOCO
Books of Mormon in the mission field
three years before. they had something
like 1000 smaller books reported as be-
ing distributed and when, two years
ago, IN 1906 they increased the number
OF Books of Mormon distributed 70 o,OO0,
they found their other books ran up
to 10000. Last year the elders incieas-
ed their distribution of Books of Nor
mon to something like 1850, and found
it Increased their 10 cent book distribu-
lions 10 $1,000. making total OF $4,000.
The health of the elders Is very good.
There have been but two cases OF SICK
ness. and then they were not con-
fined to their beds, though taking the
contagion of smallpox.
Elder Nephi Pratt, president OF the
Northwestern States mission, next
spoke reporting the condition of that
mission as the best he has known since
he has presided over II. In notaple
instance the eyes OF the blind have been
opened, and consumption cured through
the prayer of faith. The elders and
saints of that mission are being mag
nified before the world by theirs goody
example and influence, and the speaker
eXhorted all the saints TO faithfuiness,
cheerfulness. and preaching the gospei
TO their neighbors and the world, both
by example and precept.
Elder Andrew Jensen spoke interest
ingly of the gathering. of the destiny
of the people of God in the land OF
America, and the striking events tlat
have already marked the history or
the saints since the organization of the
Church to the present time.
Elder II. s. Bramwell. president OF
Union stake, Oregon, said the WORK
of the Lord is prospecting in his he
partment of the Lords vineyard. ana
he felt very much encouraged In the
work He bore II strong testimony or
the truth of the restored gospel through
the prophet Joseph Smith. and eXhorteo
the saints to be true and faithful TO
the end.
Elder William II. Smart, president
of the Uintah stake of Zion, said that
his portion OF the work and of the state
is RAPIDLY growing, and the people are
increasing in their earnest work anu
in the effectiveness OF their labors IN
the organizations of the Church he
spoke strongly of the Importance OF
all the Latter-day saints pelng TEN
perate in their lives. and said that
the people of his stake would JON
hands in the very gratifying movement
now on foot for prohibition.
APOSTLE Heber j. Grant spoke forcipiy
of the Importance of keeping the Word
of Wisdom and living in keeping with
the prohibition laws OF the gospel 10,
our temporal salvation. He welcomed
the movement now on looking 10 Ell
fective measures to prevent drunken,
ness and intemperance, and TO avon
its long train of evils. Said the power
of God was with His people in these
mountains, and appealed to them 10 De
faithful TO the living laws of the gospel
The meeting came to a close by sing
, inp 1T ord dismiss us with Thy bless
ings" Benediction by Elder Joseph f.
Smith.