The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-04-11
URGE LOYALTY TO
CHURCH OFFICIALS
OBEDIENCE TO DOCTRINE is COM
MANDED BY SPEAKERS AT
ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
Principles OF Church Government and
the Succession Of Presidency the
Principal Topics Discussed by
President Smith in Address.

Salt Lake City-There was the larg-
est attendance at the opening session,
on April A, of the eighty-third annual
conference of any recent spring con-
ference, at elast 1000 persons being
present.
The presidency of the church, with
all of the apostles of the church ex-
cepting two and all of the first seven
presidents of seventies of the church
were present with the presiding patri-
arch and the presiding bishop and his
counselors.
President Joseph F. Smith and First
Counselor Anthem H. Lund were the
speakers at the opening session, while
G. A. Calls, president Of the southern
states mission; Melvin j. Ballard, pres
ident of the northwestern states mis-
sion; Joseph E. Robinson, president
OF the California mission, and Ben E.
Rich, president of the eastern states
mission, spoke at the afternoon ses-
sion
Principles of church government and
the succession of the presidency of
the church were the principal topics
discussed by President Joseph T.
Smith in his opening address. In COM
menting on the attendance at the
opening of the conference he said that
he was particularly well pleased be-
cause conditions permitted practically
all of the leading Officials to be pres
emit, with the exception Of Reed Smoot
and Rudger Clawson. President
Smith, in commenting on their abb
sence, said that Senator Smoot was
engaged i'll a good cause and doing
mach for the ministry and that his
personal spirit and influence is ser
mon for good and his example is
alNa avs praiseworthy. AS president
of the British mission, he said Rudger
Clawson was performing great service
for the church.
President Anton H. Lund, first coun-
selor in the first presidency, gave a
brief historical review of the confer
ring of authority by revelation. He
also urged greater activity in the or
ganization of religion classes.
Ben E. Rich, president of the east
ern states mission, spoke on the rela-
tive Importance of the Mormon
church and the belief in the Bible and
in the death and resurrection OF
Christ.
c. A. Calls, president of the south
eastern states mission, referred to
prophecies of storm and flood and de-
scribing conditions in Ohio and In
diana; he asserted that these devasta
ions were in fulfillment of prophecy
If the events that would come before
the end of the world
Melvin ]. Ballard, president of the
northwestern states mission, delivered
! a stirring address in which he outlined
The growth of the church in strength
Influence and membership and men
toned the requirements of member
ship in the church as factors in retard
ing the growth of Mormonism, saying
that he believed that this slow growth
was for divine purpose.
The second day of the eighty-thirt
annual conference of the Church o
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wal
devoted to addresses by mission ant
stake presidents. Only one address
| was delivered by high official of th'
church That was brief talk at tn,
opening of the forenoon session b,
| Apostle George Albert Smith.
! The stake presidents and mission
. presidents, with one exception, repre-
sented the younger men in the minis
; try. All of them were of the third an,
s,.urth generations, fact which wa
1welt upon as indicative of the con
sinnation of the faith throughout tn
! generations. President Joseph F
J Smith remarked that while most o
those who had spoken were of tn
third or fourth generation, he coul
produce at least dozen of the fit
generation, who are just as good a
am"
: The burden of the addresses G
stake and mission presidents was tina
: the church is growing steadily, an
. that the spirit of its members is III
finching. They each and every on
q agreed with the remarks of tn
church president on Friday when h
declared that the.evasion of duty an
the Sinking of responsibilities on tn
part of some of the heads of organic
lions must cease. 1t was stated tina
the duties of each, from the highest
the lowest, was defined in revelation
and any who did not observe ths