The Garland globe. [volume] (Garland, Utah) 1906-191?, 1910-10-15
SAINTS IN CONFERENCE
Record Breaking Attendance al
Eighty-frst semi-Annual Meeting
of Mormons in Salt Lake.

Of the church authorities of a tremen.
semi-annual general conference of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, was fully realized. Not only
was the attendance a record-breaker,
but 1t was one of the most satisfactory
conferences of the Saints in many
ways.
The sessions were held upon three
days, beginning Thursday, October 6
and lasting over Sunday, there being
no session of the conference on Sat
urday, in order that the visitors might
have an opportunity to visit the State
fair. The first session of the confer
ence was held Thursday morning at
10 o'clock, in the Tabernacle, and the
afternoon session at 2 o'clock, while
in the evening a convention of the
Genealogical society was held in the
Assembly hall.
Members of the faith were present
from all part of the world, but espec.
tally from Utah, Idaho, and number
of the nearby colonies of the church
On Sunday the authorities of the
church were sustained by the men,
bers Of the church present. There
were no vacancies in the higher of
fee of the church, but the recent death
of Mrs. Bathsheba w. Smith, one of
the best known and most highly re-
spected women in the church, had
caused a vacancy in the presidency
of the Relief society. Mrs. Emeline
B. Wells was chosen to succeed Mrs.
Smith.
Music was a prominent feature OF
the conference. In addition to the
great organ and the famed Tabernacle
choir, number of the best soloists
Of the state were on the musical pro.
gram.
Although 1t had been feared Presi.
dent Joseph f. Smith would not be
abe to be present, owing to recent
Illness, he presided at the opening ses.
sion of the conference, having risen
from sick bed. His speaking was
an effort, however, and several times
during his talk of twenty minutes his
voice broke, and he was almost com
PEELED to give way to his weakness.
After welcoming the Saints and ex
pressing his gratitude for such large
assemblage at the first meeting, Pres
ident Smith talked on honor and
truth. He said there was never a
time within his life when he had done
anything dishonest, nor had he ever
broken faith, he said. He declared
that he had been true to his God, tC
his church and to his fellow men
and that there was nothing in his
life which would make him quai
when he came before the Almighty OF
the day of reckoning.
1t was with voice of challenge
that President Smith defended his
| honor and character against attack!
coming, he said, from men within thu
| church. 1t was not a defense of thu
| church position upon any matter, nor
in general, in regard to the pollcie
of President Smith. There have beer
some attacks against the presiden
| by members of the church, it Is yin
derstood, and these President Smitl
answered in no uncertain terms, IL
spite of his weak condition.
The rest of the work of the opening
session of the conference consisted o
addresses by Anthem H. Lund an
John Henry Smith, counsellors in tn
first presidency, and four of the sevel
| presidents of seventies
There are 1000 missionaries in tn
field, said President Lund, who ar
working diligently in the cause. II
urged attendance of children an
membership in the various organizf
| lions for their benefit. He said tn
juvenile courts were doing good wor
and he hoped the coming legislator
would sustain them.
President John Henry Smith said tn
apostles of the church had neve
counseled the Latter-day Saints
steal, to lie, to bear false witnes
against their neighbors. They had a
ways exhorted the people to pay the
debts and to live the upright life. II
urged the extreme necessity of vi
tue among young men, as well
among the maidens of Zion.
At the afternoon session the speal
ers were Seymour b. Young, Rulon
Wells, Joseph w. McMurrin an
Charles Fl. Hart
Elder Hart talked upon the doctrine
of the church, and declared that I'll
Book of Mormon was of divine origi
Elder McMurrin dwelt at some lengt
upon education. as a part of the VOL
of the Mormon church. Seymour
Young declared that he was absolut
ly certain that Joseph f. Smith ha