The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-04-07

should be- The general death rate
In the church last year had been Sc
per cent, total OF 2S41 deaths hav-
Ing occurred 3aS OF them having beon
caused by old sge
Denounces Narcotics.
A renowned lecturer who recently
visited Salt Lake said that war. lust
and narcot.sm made the greatest raw
ages upon human life the latter do
stroying moro lives than war We
have no war. and We desire peace.
The second plague was not the cause
Of many deaths among the Mormon
people. l am not go sure thet the
third afrliction-the use OF liquors and
tobacco-!s not the cause OF much
disease and death in the church.
This could not be tho case. how
eyyeC Il the people oessTyed the @ laws
mend TO Latter day Santa observance
Of the Laws OF God known as tho
SWafo MoTH % a WiSeU tMe General a a Of
observing the Word Of wisdom and
sustaining from tho uso of intoxicants
and narcotics.
Apostle George r. Richards arst called
attention to the fact that when there was
disturbance IN the great auditorium the
speakers were obliged TO exert themselves
so much as to confuse even themselves
In the hearts OF the l.atter-day Saints
two names were closely associated the
name OF our dear Savior. Jesus Christ.
and that Of our prophet, Joseph Smith,
no said The former was the Redecmer
of the world who gave Himself up TO
trial and aIflictlon. who denied To Him
self everything that was forbidden In
tho law or God: who did all required OF
Him, who finally gave up his life.
martyr and II sacrifice upon the cross at
Calvary,
we look upon Joseph smith" said
Apostle Richards. las one OF the nohlest
world to como TO earth in the last days
TO be prophet-yea. tho great prophet
Of tho nineteenth century IN the dlspen-
sation OF the fullness OF the times. lie
humanity and for the welfare Of the
Latter day Saints. He was persecuted
| rs was the Savior; no was wont to swim
in deep water all the days OF his life,
He wes prosecuted in the courts. thirty
nine charges having been brought against
| him, and he was as many times acquit
man. When he endeavored to avoid the
| great personal danger he saw approach
| Ing him, many of his close friends ac
cused him Of cowardlce. II my lie is
| he, Will return And just before 60
ing 10 Carthage to give himself UP to
his enemies he declared 7 am going like
| n lamb to the slaughter He died brave
| ly as a martyr to the cause OF qod."
In Foreign Mission.
Elder Thomas z. Mckay, just returned
from mission In which he had served
as president of tho Swiss and German
conference. said that II any credit were
due to him for having faithfully done
his duty, II should go to his father and
mother, He missed from their customary
places Patriarch John Smith and Presi-
dent. John Henry Smith. More than 400
missionaries In Germany were all young
men OF honesty and integrity, he said,
But two Of them had been unable to re-
these was making good" since having
arrived home. In the last three years
$500 converts had been added 10 tho
! church I'm the Swiss and German mission.
In Germany but these are greatly eXag-
geratsd. he said Missionaries are better
today in Germany shan In Esg
the Saints and the missionaries In
Hungary. especially, proselyters for the
gained through the efforts OF a young
lawyer who at first opposed them. but
who became friendly upon making inves-
tigation for himself American consuls
treat missionaries as American citizens
The main opposition comes from minis
ters and ignorant people The Saints In
Germany pay more honest tithing than
do those here at home. declared the
speaker.
Just before the close of the morning
session President Joseph F. Smith read
graduating the church and Its officials
upon the great and successful gathering
OF the eighty-second conference.
Powerful Testimonies.
At the afternoon session Apostle Orsor
F. Whitney took for his text. THE pure
testimony poured forth by the spirit cut.
like a two-edged sword He was re.
minded of this truth, ne said, by the
powerful testimonies heard at the con.
the missionaries travelling In the world
are young men who mainly testify and
exhort. This fact has been deplored by
critics. who sec in II a warrant for the
Latter-day Saints would turn from tho
faith. Young men, they say, do mo-
reach the learned men and men anc
women Of maturity, said Apostle Whit.
ney, II was simply the testimony OF q
boy. Joseph Smith. that opened up thi,
gospel dispensation. and II. would be a
good idea to call this testimony TO tn,
minds OF the Saints.
, Mr.. Whitney read the story told by
Joseph Smith concerning his receipt o,
heavenly visita,ions. y have neve'
heard an argument, an grafton, equal tC
that" he said. And as long MS we have
boys, striplings, who can testify by tho
holy spirit We need not despair Nor.
monlsm has in Its hand the most power.
full weapon that man can wIeId-tfe ties
timony that cuts like a two edged sword
Who can gansay tho assertion OF JOSEPH
Smith, Smith that he saw saw and heard and es
companied by the spirit OF God?'
Joseph Smiths Vision.
Because Joseph Smith. in his boyisf
simplicity. said that when he recovered
his senses after his vision he found him.
self lying on his back, some persons hav,
endeavored TO explain away these mani.
fcstations by saying that he suffered
from M OF epilepsy, said the speaker
This effort IS fruitless one. What Jo-
seph Smith saw was greater than wha
he heard. FOR he saw the Father and III.
Son. They were I'm the form OF men
These particular critics say that Jose pl
only imagined that he saw and heard
anything rather than 10 receive The
naked truth.
Joseph Smith a man like untc
Moses. declared the speaker, He brought
back to men a knowledge Of God ir
these days he saw God just as Moses