The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-04-06
WORKING TO SAVE
DEPARTED SOULS
Speakers Tell the Purpose of
Genealogical Researches
of Church.
INVESTIGATORS ARE UNPAID
GIVE THEIR TIME AND MONEY IN
ORDER TO FURTHER PROJECT.

The adjournment Of conference until
Wednesday gave opportunity yesterday
for meetings of church organizations
and reunions. At 2 p. m. in Assembly
hall, the Genealogical Society OF Utah
held an enthusiastic meeting, when
prominent workers in the field addressed
the gathering. The society, which now
numbers 800, is in flourishing condition,
although an active campaign viii be
made to increase the membership which,
according to Secretary Joseph +. Smith
Jr., should reach $4,000.
The first speaker of the afternoon was
President Anthony Lund, who made an
address of welcome in which he cor
daily urged the cooperation of all
church workers and explained the needs
of the society. He said that the work
of the organization is among the most
important activities of the church, in
that it provides for the salvation Of the
dead, as we'll as the living. The JUS
tice Of God" said President Lund,
would not permit those who did not
hear the message of salvation IN the
body to be eternally lost" and explained
that the work of the society lies in pre-
pairing records as a basis for temple
work. Joseph F. Smith Jr. made the
address Of the afternoon. He said, in
part:
Many become interested in the sal
walton Of the human family through
the work for the dead. The society
which was organized November IS, 1894,
by Franklin d. Richards, numbered in
the first thirteen years only 800 men,
bers, but it has now grown to 500 and
should increase until every family In
the church is represented. The work of
the society is to prepare records Of the
dead, which may be used by their
descendants in performing the ordi-
nances necessary for their salvation.
The records Of the eastern genealogical
societies are purchased so far as our
means will permit and the Utah Genoa
logical and Historical Magazine IS pub
lished to secure exchanges with east
ern publications and for the furtherance
of the work in the church."
Purpose of Society.
Continuing, Mr.. Smith declared that
the dead soul is as precious in the sight
of God as the living. and that temple
work is as great as that done by mis-
siOnaries in preaching to the living. The
society was organized for the purpose
of preparing place where records could
be filed and the people have access to
them in order to perform the ordinances
necessary to the salvation of their dead.
Let me put this question to each
of YOU" said the speaker: What are
you doing for the salvation OF your
dead? We can not be saved with a per-
feet salvation in the kingdom of God
until we have performed the ordinances
for those who are gone"
Apostle A. w WINS was the next
speaker. He made an appeal for in
creased membership and for support to
the society magazine. He explained
that the temples are for the dead as
we'll as the living and dwelt upon the
Importance of the work In closing he
said that the dead are to be made to
rejoice because of the fullness of the
gospel of Christ, which is being EXTEND
ed everywhere. Mr.. WINS was followed
by Mrs. Susa Young Gates, who told
an interesting experience of yesterday,
when a visiting friend was led to the
library of the society, and in it's records
found complete accounts Of her family,
including her grandmother, uncles and
mother. This friend was so pleased
that during her visit east she will de-
vote a part of her time to research work
in the interests of the society. Mrs.
Gates also explained the membership
fees and described the society pin
WHICH OCclIS tAC BCA AAAtCAAL lAAoNt ApAAOns
1.-THE hearts of the children shall be
turned to the fathers"
Bishop Joseph Christensen. who was
present at the last annual meeting of
the New England Genealogical society
in Boston, said that discussion of the
purpose of that organization revealed no
higher motive than pride of ancestry,
whereas the Mormon church society has
as its object the salvation of the souls
of the dead.
I'VE are called to the redemption of
the human family" he said. "aTsd our
salvation is not made perfect without
the salvation Of the dead"
1t was also made clear by this
speaker and others during the afternoon
that the men ana women who devote
their time to this work are not paid for
their services. The fees and other
sources of income are entirely devoted to
the purchase of records. He mentioned
the new joint building that it is pro-
posed to erect for the use of the his
torian's office and the Genealogical So
ciety.
Duncan McAllister followed with a
few remarks in which he again urged
the duty of membership and support.
The meeting closed with the singing Of
God Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing
by the entire assembly.
Everybody ready for grand ball to-