Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1911-04-13
ARE NO PLURAL MARRIAGES
President Smith Assures Saints That
Plural Marriages in Church Have
Ceased and That No Man Has
Authority to Perform Them.


plural marriages have ceased in the
Mormon church and that no man has
authority to perform them, and invit-
Ing the national congress to bring
about a constitutional amendment Civ
ing the government the right to han
die plural marriages, President Jo-
seph +. Smith delivered the principal
address of the eighty-frst annual con
ference of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints at the opening
session OF the conference at 10 o'clock
Thursday morning, April 8, in the tab
ernacle.
According to officials Of the church,
the address of the president was the
most important made by any high of,
ficer of the church since the mani
festo was issued by President Will
ford Woodruff in October, 1890.
Among other things, President
Smith declared the church to be in
good financial condition, that the
birth rate among the members of the
church is the highest in the world,
that the death rate is the lowest. that
the rate of divorce is approximately
only one-fifth the size, prOportionate-
ly of the rest of the country, and that
plural marriages have absolutely
ceased in the Mormon church.
In connection with this last. Presi-
dent Smith declared that there is not
man in the church VINO is author
lied to perform or solemnize plural
marriage, and that efforts are being
made to find the persons who are
leading the people astray in the mat
ter, and that when they are found
they will be dealt with as others have
been in the past.
President Smith announced, during
he course of his address. that in 1910
the church had spent s2l5.000 in mis-
sions, 100000 for church schools, and
100000 for charity Baptisms in
stakes and missions in 1910 were 49,
l02. In the temples during 1910 1860
couples were married; LOO couples
of church people were married civilly.
n the church there is one divorce to
5000 members; the average rate in
he United States is one in LOO.
President Anthem H. Lund urged
the people to stamp out the liquor evil
and not to use tobacco lie was glad
the legislature had given the people
chance TO vote on the liquor ques-
ton and declared that in all commu-
lities where the MormOns are in the
majority, prohibition should be en-
acted
There was large attendance at the
ha - az. IN #
The church officials being present.
Apostle Rudger Clawson is in Europe,
Reed Smoot is in Washington in at
enhance on the United States senate,
while John Henry Smith, second cOun-
selor. was unable to attend owing TO
ickness
Francis NJ. Lyman. president of the
quorum Of twelve apostles; Apostle
Heber ]. Grant and Apostle Hyrum
NJ Smith addressed conference at the
afternoon session. Defense of the
church against the vicious attacks be
ing published in various magazines
we're the themes of the speeches by
, President Lyman and Apostle Grant
while Apostle Hyrum NJ. Smith eulo
gized the character of President 10
seph f. Smith as model for all men
: to follow.
Apostle C. w Penrose. the prnci
pal speaker at the morning session o:
, the conference on Friday, deplored
, the fact that so many Mormons are
married outside the temple urged
young people to adopt the Mormon
ceremony. which is for this life aud
all eternity. and denied that Christ
ever said there was no marriage in
heaven. He decried divorce. but
maintained that the Savior had never
said that a woman should live with n
man who abused her, declaring that
the power that can seal can unseal
Other speakers at the morning SEES
sion were C. 4. Calls, president u
the southern states mission, who
, praised the authorities of the church
and Apostle George +. Richards.
The speakers at the Friday after
4, noon session of the conference were
Apostle Orson f. Whitney. Bishop c
: w. Nibley and Brigham II. Roberts
one of the presidents of the seven
ties.
| That Mormonism is the rolizatior
| of a prophecy made by Isaiah 70(
| years before the birth of Chris
| OF the coming forth of a mar
| yeous work; that the mission
| Of the Mormon church is tC
| reclaim the MISUNDERSTANDING spirit
| ual world; that if science and religion
| disagree il is because science has no
| yet discovered enough. and tina
| strength will come from God to con
| quer the world under the Mormon
| banner. were the features of the al
dresses delivered.
| Apostle Whitney explained where
in the Saints believe their faith !!
the realization of lsaiah's prophecy
Bishop Nibley declared that religion
was the only great work or science
The Eastern States Mission societ,
1 I,rtl,xr tho q