The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-10-13
SAINTS IN CONFERENCE
Record Breaking Attendance al
Eighty-flrst Semi-Annual Meeting
Of Mormons in Salt Lake.

Salt Lake City-The expectations
of the church authorities of tremen.
dous attendance at the eighty-first
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 convention of the
Genealogical society was held in the
Assembly hall.
Members of the faith we're present
from all part Of the world, but espec-
Tally from Utah. Idaho, and a number
Of the nearby colonies Of the church.
On Sunday the authorities of the
church were sustained by the mem
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 prominent feature OF
the conference. In addition to the
great organ and the famed Tabernacle
choir, number of the best soloists
gram.
Although it had been feared Presi
dent Joseph f. Smith would not BIZ
able to be present, owing to recon
illness, he presided at the opening SEES
sion Of the conference, having riser
from sick bed. His speaking wa
an effort, however, and several time
during his talk of twenty minutes hi
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 larg
assemblage at the first meeting, Pres
ident Smith talked on honor an,
truth. He said there was never
time within his life when he had don
anything dishonest, nor had he eve
broken faith, he said. He declare
that he had been true to his God, t
his church and to his fellow mer
and that there was nothing in hi
life which would make him qua
when he came before the Almighty O
the day of reckoning.
1t was with voice of challeng
that President Smith defended hi
honor and character against attack
coming, he said, from men within tn
church. 1t was not a defense of tn
church position upon any matter, mo-
in general, in regard to the policie
of President Smith. There have bee
some attacks against the presideI
by members of the church, it is ul
derstood, and these President Smft
answered in no uncertain terms,
spite of his weak condition.
The rest of the work of the openin
session of the conference consisted {
addresses by Anthem H. Lund an
John Henry Smith, counsellors in tn
first presidency, and four of the seve
presidents of seventies.
There are 2,000 missionaries in IL
field, said President Lund. who al
working diligently in the cause. +
urged attendance of children ar
membership in the various organic
, lions for their benefit He said Il
juvenile courts we've doing good VOL
and he hoped the coming legislatu
would sustain them.
I President John Henry Smith said Il
apostles of the church had new
counssled the Latter-day Saints
steal, to lie, to bear false witne
against their neighbors. They had I
ways exhorted the people TO pay the
r debts and to live the upright life.
urged the extreme necessity OF v
tue among young mcu, 40 Woii
: among the maidens of Zion.
S At the afternoon session the spes
: ers were Seymour B. Young. Rulon
!, Wells, Joseph w. McMurrin a
d Charles II. Hart.
IS Elder Hart talked upon the doctrin
X of the church, and declared that t
:, Book of Mormon was of divine orig
r. Elder McMurrin dwelt at some lene
!, upon education, as a part of the wo
of the Mormon church Seymour
n Young declared that he was absolu
O. ly certain that Joseph F. Smith h
p never broken pledge or a promi
:. and that he believed in the preside
n, without qualification. Elder You
H. said he had been in the stakes OF
ic John and st. Joseph in Arizona, a
~ reported that all was fourishing
OF that wonderful country. Rulon
p- Wells declared that the children