Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-01

In one respect I consider myself a
visitor at these services, inasmuch as
| this is q conference OF stake to whicf
/ do not belong. 1t may be of Interest
to those visiting with us to learn that
Iit Is n custom and a practise In the
Church to hold, at stated intervals,
usually once every three months. a
conference jn each OF the stakes of
Zion. The territory inhabited by the
Latter-day Saints is divided into stakes.
and each stake is subdivided INTO
wards. In each of these territorial d.
visions there are certain officers, estat-
lished according to the revelations on
Church government, who are charge l
with the conduct OF the affairs OF Ihe
Church within that respective ward or
stake. In like manner the Church az
Seml>lcS as a whole once every six
months in general conference; ard
these conferences are somewhat diff
ferent from the ordinary assemblies "t
the people. True, they are 10 be re-
gardcd as worshiping assemblies
nevertheless, the necessary business
pertaining to the ward, or stake. or
Church as a whole, is presented by the
anu 10 tittehuNN -
and passed upon by the people. Thus.
in n ward conference the names OF
those composing the bishoprlc. and the
names of the other officers of the ward.
are presented for the vote of the peo-
pie; and in n stake conference. those
chosen to preside. the three high
priests who constitute the stake preSi-
dency. the 10 high priests who con-
stitute the high council of the stake.
and the other officers. are all presented
TO the people for their vote; and when
voted upon aftirmatively these officers
are continued in their office for the
next period. and the people are under
promise to sustain and support them
in the proper and legitimate discharge
of their sacred duties.
CHURCH NAMED AFTER FOUND
Err.
II will thus be seen that the Church
Is a democratic institution. founded
upon the principles of true democracy
every member of the Church having a
voice in the sustaining, or the refusal
to sustain. the officers who are nom-
mated and presented for their vote.
This condition Is expressed in the name
which the Church bears, and. by the
way. that name Is significant in many
respects-The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. II was made
known among the ancient inhabitants
OF this continent when. after his Cruci-
fixion on Calvary. after his rcsurrec-
ton from the tomb. and after his as
cension from the Mount OF Olives. the
resurrected Lord appeared among his
people here and established his Church
on the western continent. by calling
and ordaininE men to offices in the
priesthood, and by conferring the
priesthood upon the people, say, afler
he had done this. he made known unto
them the name by which that Church
should be called. The people had been
somewhat disturbed as TO the selection
of a name. We think Il great deal Of
names sometimes Most Of us have
some reason or fancy for the names we
choose for persons or things. for times
and for places. But names may be
more than passing designations, they
are Important az expressing facts: and
the one great fact which the Christ
would have expressed in the Church he
established here in early DAYS was that
this was no Church of men-but his
Church After the people had prayed
for light, information, instruction,
knowledge upon the subject, he APP
pearcd amongst them and reasoned
with them and, in a manner. gently
rebuked them for their hesitancy and
their uncertainty: why contend ovec
this NATTER" said he in effect why
lie troubled2 Whose church Is it? II
Ii be the church of Moses, call II by
the name OF Moses. If II be the church
OF any man. call it by that mans name:
but. II it be my Church. call it by my
name" And the Church established
on the western hemisphere was known
as the Church of Jesus Christ.
So, in the nineteenth century. when
the gospel with all its powers and
privileges. the priesthood with all its
authority came again to earth, Hhen
the Church was again established after
its disruption when the night of the
great apostasy had passed away, and
the light Of the day of restoration WAS
shining the question came up again:
BY what name shall this Church be
known? There were many churcaes
known of men. churches named after
their founders; Luthcrans, Calvin!sts,
WeSleyans. named after worthy men.
men who were In VerY truth servants
OF God; men who had founded churches,
sects. religious societies, denominations
the members of which were proud to be
called after the names of their great
leaders And there were then. as there
are now, many churches that We're
named after their peouliarities OF or
Observation-Disclosures Episcopalians.
observation-disclosures founded rpo1
good intent. churches well named. with
proper regard to their purpose, But
did you ever think OF the great and
solemn and awful fact that until the
year in which the Lord restored his
priesthood to the earth, through the
boy-prophet Joseph Smith. there was
not on earth church bearing the name
OF the Christi II it be Luthcr's church.
call II by Luther's name: and as long
as he does not take unto himself and
arrogate unto himself the powers OF
Deity and is thus free from the taint
OF blasphemy. let him be honored as
the head OF that great religious organ
Ization that has done so much to leal