Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1910-10-14
SAINTS IN CONFERENCE
Record Breaking Attendance q
Eighty-first seml-Annual Meeting
of Mormons in Salt Lake.

Salt Lake City.-The expectations
OF the church authorities of tremen-
dous attendance at the eighty-irst
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 it 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 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 a prominent feature of
the conference. In addition to the
great organ and the famed Tabernacle
choir, a number of the best soloists
of the state were on the musical pro
gram.
Although it 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
ion of the conference, having riser
from sick bed. His speaking was
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 large
assemblage at the first meeting, Pres
ident Smith talked on honor ant
truth. He said there was never ;
time within his life when he had dom
anything dishonest, nor had he eve
broken faith, he said. He declares
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 quai
when he came before the Almighty o.
the day of reckoning.
1t was with a voice of challeng
, that President Smith defended hi
honor and character against attack
/ coming, he said, from men within tn
a church. 1t was not a defense of tn
church position upon any matter, no
q in general, in regard to the policfe
. of President Smith. There have bee
some attacks against the pres1der
by members of the church, it is III
derstood, and these President Smit
e answered in no uncertain terms,
o spite of his weak condition.
n The rest of the work of the openin
d session of the conference consisted
e addresses by Anthem H. Lund ar
Il Joh4 Henry Smith, counsellors in Il
e first presidency, and four of the seve
1t presidents of seventies.
l. There are 1000 missionaries in tt
10 field, said President Lund, who a
& working diligently in the cause. I
urged attendance of children al
membership in the various organic
tions for their benefit. He said Il
lie juveE2e courts were doing good wo
IS and he hoped the coming legislatu
n would sustain them.
1e President John Henry Smith said t
1t apostles of the church had nev
ir counseled the Latter-day Saints
Or steal, to lie, to bear false witne
Of against their neighbors. They had
IN ways exhorted the people to pay th'
r. debts and to live the upright life.
urged the extreme necessity of v
tue among young nen. as well
:. among the maidens of Zion.
- At the afternoon session the spei
- ers were Seymour B. Young, Rulon
= Wells, Joseph w. MeMurrin a
= Charles H. Hart.
- e der Hart talked upon the doctriI
a. of the church, and declared that
Nd Book of Mormon was of divine orig
a. Elder McMurrin dwelt at some lent
upon education as a part of the We
of the Mormon church. Seymour
Young declared that he was absolu
is ly certain that Joseph F. Smith
Ter never broken a pledge or promi
en- and that he be ieved In the presid
to without qualification. Elder You
on. said he had been in the stakes of
is John and st. Joseph. In Arizona. +;
as reported that all was flourishing
IA that wonderful country. Rulon
Wells declared that the children