Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-04-10
CHURCH GROWING
AND PROSPEROUS
SPIRIT or OPTIMISM PREVAILS
IN ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT
AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
Declares That Every Branch Of Vast
Work Of Church Has Improved
During Past Year, and Predicts /,
Greater Improvement in the
Future.

Salt Lake City.-A spirit of optim-
ism prevailed at the eighty fourth
conference of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. held in
this city April 4th to 9Th, inclusive,
two sessions being held each day
President Joseph f. Smith, al
though suffering from a heavy cold,
made the opening address, and was
in most optimistic mood, declaring
that the church is stronger, more unit
ed and in a generally better condi
tion today than it has ever been. The
president quoted statistics to show
that every branch of the vast work
of the church had improved during
the past year, and showed evidence
of greater improvement in the future
Therefore, the Latterday Saints had
reason to be optimistic.
Members were urged to put forth
greater effort in an endeavor to fulfill
their duty to the church. They were
shown wherein they erred, and adj
vised as to how they could better
their physical, mental and spiritual
condition.
President Smith spoke of those who
had worked against the interests Of
the church, and said that he believed
that in time those who falsely ma
ligned the people of God would be-
come ashamed of themselves and
would cease to wag their tongues
George Albert Smith, member of
the quorum of apostles, who spoke at
the opening session, urged his hear
ers to take the words Of the presi-
dent home, with the idea of improv-
ing their daily lives.
At the afternoon session, Charles
w. Penrose of the first presidency,
and Rudger Clawson and Heber ].
Grant of the quorum of twelve apos
ties, were the speakers, church OBJ
serVance, marriage and prohibition
being discussed. Apostle Grant cleo
trified the gathering with powerful
oratorical attack on the liquor traffic
and declared that if the Saints were
given chance to vote on state wide
prohibition, there would be an end of
the liquor business in Utah. Apostle
Clawson's address was largely doc
trinal, dealing with the divine au-
thority of the church and dwelling
with emphasis upon the covenant Of
marriage for time and eternity. Apos-
of the church and of the different
phases of the Mormon religion,
wherein it is different from other de-
nominations.
A feature of the conference was
the excellent musical program, many
of the leading musicians of the state,
and the west, being present.
Two overflow, meeting were
necessary Sunday afternoon to accom-
modate those who could not even find
room in the doorways of the thronged
| tabernacle. One overflow meeting
was necessary in the morning Maya-
bers of the council of the twelve apos-
ties were prominent among Sunday s
speakers.
President Joseph F. Smith presid-
ed at the sessions in the tabernacle.
| President Francis NJ. Lyman of the
| apostles quorum, Apostle George r.
Richards and Apostle 0rson F. Whit.
ney were the principal speakers in
the tabernacle at the morning meet
ing. Apostle A. w. WINS was in
charge of the overflow meeting in the
morning at the Assembly hall.
Vital principles of the Mormon Faith
| were expounded at the morning ses-
sion of conference on Sunday. Reve-
latfon, the performing of miracles and
| the healing of the sick were cL.ef
among the subjects discussed.
At the afternoon tabernacle meeting
sermons were delivered by Apostle
David o. Mckay, Apostle Joseph f.
Smith, Jr., and Apostle James b. Tai
mage. Apostle Heber ]. Grant CON
| Quoted the overflow meeting in the As
sembly hall, with Charles II. Hart,
Joseph B. Geddes, L. N Marsden and
Walter p. Monsen as speakers. Elder
Benjamin Goddard was in charge of
the open-air meeting, with Andrew
| Jensen, Samuel o. Bennion and Ger
man E. Ellsworth assisting. The
| Murray First ward choir sang at the
morning assembly hall meeting, and
| the Ogden tabernacle choir at the af.
| ternoon meeting. The tabernacle
choir rendered the musical program
| in the tabernacle.
At the afternoon session, an exposi-
tion of the gospel and the word of
| wisdom, advice to teachers, with a
| word of caution regarding the respon.
sibility that devolyes upon them, the
| duties of the church members and a
REPUTATION of those who seek to decry
! the Bible and to cast doubt upon the
| gospel were subjects dwelt upon by
| the speakers.
Among the interesting features Sun
day afternoon was the reading, at the
request of President Smith, of state.
ment from the church auditing com
mittee. The statement was read by
Apostle Joseph F. Smith, Jr The
committee reported that. after a care
| full and searching examination of the
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Plans for the publishing of the of
fetal organ of the Society Island FL