The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-10-11
MISSION IN MEXICO
TO Be ABANDONED
PRESIDENT SMITH SAYS SAINTS
ARE RELEASED FROM DUTY
IN SOUTHERN REPUBLIC.
Head Of Mormon" Church at Semi.
Annual Conference Discusses
Troubles Of coIoniGts-ses-
sion One of Interest.

Salt Lake City.--At the opening ses-
sion Of the eighty-third semi-annual
conference Of the Church of Jesus
Christ OF Latter-day Saints, held IN
this city on Friday, October 4, Presi.
dent Joseph r. Smith spoke OF the
trials Of the Saints in war-stricken
Mexico, and declared that the mission
there Is, at least for the present, at an
end, and that the brave men and
women who had risked their fortunes
and their lives in the attempt to build
up a branch of the church in that
country are released from further duty
In the southern republic.
The president paid glowing trib.
ute to the members OF the church who
had gone to Mexico to make their
homes, declaring that they have suf.
Tered great deal at the hands of
degraded, wicked, unprincipled grade
OF men, many Of whom unquestionably
have good hearts in them, and will
manifest the goodness of their hearts
when under the Influence of good men
and OF favorable surroundings"
The American government said
President Smith, has played the part
Of wisdom In standing aloof and let,
ting dog eat dog
The church dignitaries were well
represented at the conference. only
two of the apostles being absent,
Rudger Clawson, who is In Europe, and
George F Richards. or the first seven
presidents Of the seventies, there were
present: ]. Golden Kimball. Seymour
= Young, Rulon S. Wells, j. w. Nc.
Murrin, and Charles II. Hart Brshon
Charles w. Nibley, presiding bishop Of
the church, and his counseiors, o. P.
Miller and David A. Smith, were pres.
,ent Scores OF other high churchmen.
including PatriaEeh Hyrum q. Smith,
occupied seats of honor.
Fully 5000 persons, many of them
pilgrims from throughout the world,
far and near, where the branches of
the church are located, were present,
the attendance exceeding. that of any
opening session in years.
Following the address of President
smith, President Anthem Fl, Lund
made brief doctrinal address, follow
ing closely the line marked out by
President Smith in the closing OF his
sermon.
Four of the first council OF seven
Ties, Charles III. Hart, Joseph w. Nc.
MurFin, Rulon s. Wells and Jonathan
g kimball also spoke at the opening
Day sessions, each delivering an in.
structiVe and entertaining address.
At the Saturday session, the vast
audience listened to three more of the
drst council of seventies, Brigham H.
Roberts, Seymour B. Young and Levi
Edgar Young, the principal address be.
ing delivered by Elder Roberts.
In the afternoon four of the Apostles
spoke, including President Francrs M,
Lyman and Apostles Heber ] Grant,
Reed Smoot and Hyrum M. Smith.
In his address at the Saturday ses.
sion, President Smith said: God, in
His boundless wisdom and gracious
mercy, has provided means and has
shown the way to the children of men.
whereby even in the realm of freedom
and the exercise of their own iudg-
ment they may individually come to
God in faith and prayer and find out
what should guide and direct their
human Judgment and wisdom; and 7
don't want the Latter-day Saints to
1t Is estimated that there were -.
o00 persons in the tabernacle at each
OF the meetings on Sunday. and, in
the afternoon, there must have been
10000 persons in the tabernacle, as.
semhly hall and outdoor gathering.
The closing sessions rounded out a
conference that has been gratifyingly |
1t was mighty exposi, |
ton of the wonderful and close fellow. |
ship which binds together a great |
people in one faith, one hope and |
united worship of one supreme being.
Especially In the afternoon did the |
overwhelming throng typify the com.
pact unity of the Mormon people.
Speakers at the tabernacle meetings
we're Elder Charles w. Penrose. of the /
1rst presidency; Elder orson F.
Whitney, George A Smith, David o. |
Mckay, Joseph n Smith. Jr., and
James r. Talmage of the quorum of |
.welye apostles, and President Joseph !
4. Smith, who closed and dismissed |
he conference in brief address of 4
Elder George f. Richards |
S confined to his home on account of |
Illness, and President Smith asked !
he saints to make petition for his |
'ecovery a special subject of their
prayers.
One of the overflow meetings was
leld in the assembly hall, in charge
II Elder Anthony w WINS of the quo.
UNI of twelve apostles. Assisting |
lin as speakers were President Sam. |
lei o. Bennion of the Central States |
mission. President German E. ELS.
worth of the Northern States mission, |
President Charles A. Calls of the |
Southern States mission and Elder
David H. Cannon of ST. George.
Ten missionary societies of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints held reunions Friday night,
alked over old days while on mis-
ions, renewed old acquaintances from
tmong the many who are in the city
o attend the conference, enjoyed
music and dancing and listened to
short addresses of good fellowship
rom representative me1 from among
hem.
efolrr. .,,z,,.S.