Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1916-10-13
CHURCHMEN MEET
IN CONFERENCE
THOUSANDS LISTEN TO WORDS
OF ADVICE AND COMMUNICATION
FROM CHURCH LEADERS.
Gratifying Attendance at semi-AnnuaI
Conference Of Church OF Jesus Christ
OF Latter-day Saints and Much
Interest Shown by Members.

Alt Lake City.-Stormy weather
lay have KEEP. number of people
from attending the eighty-sixth semi
annual conference of the Church o.
Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints, helt
here october 6, and s. but the at
tendance was most gratifying and the
conference ONT of the most successful
In every way in the history of the
church.
Fully 5000 members of the church
Hooked into the Tabernacle to heal
the keynote address delivered by
President Joseph f. Smith.
Pleas by Pre- sident Smith for great
er activity in the work of the church
both on the part of stake and ware
officers and among the members of the
church, and exhortations to Mormons
In general to be guided by spirit Of
brotherly love and settle differences
that members sometimes take before
church and civil courts were the fea
lures of the opening session.
With but two exceptions the gener
al authorities of the church were
present for the conference. George r
CT the church, who is in Liverpool
presiding over the vast European mis-
mission, and Levi Edgar Young, one OF
the first seven presidents of seventies
who was unavoidably detained else
where. were the only two absentees.
President Smith delivered the open
ing address, and Anthem H. Lund, first
counsellor, was the only other speak
er at the morning session. Practically
what as to numbers, If possible, heard
what as to numbers, If possible, heard
Charles w. Penrose, counsellor OF the
first presidency; Francis NJ. Lyman
president of the twelve apostles, and
Apostle Heber ]. Grant speak at the
afternoon session.
President Smith exhorted his audi.
ence to greater interest in the activi.
ties of the church, and spoke regret
fully of the tendency OF many of the
members of the faith, and he referred
particularly to the bishopric, to step
down and pass their duties along to
others. He chided the bishops for
what he likened to carelessness in fail
ing to gain a better knowledge Of the
personalities of their charges, and de-
clared that members of the church
should strive to settle whatever diff
ferences that might arise between
them without recourse to either church
or civil courts.
President Lund's talk urged a great
er and more regular attendance at
sacramental meetings. He warned his
hearers of the dangers of spiritual
starvation. and he dwelt upon the ad-
visibility OF encouraging singing as
part of the religious services inasmuch
as the more attractive the service is
made the greater will be the attend
ance.
Joseph Smith, founder of Mormon
ism. and the relationship which he and
the present head of the church bear
20 the Divinity furnished the theme of
the principal address at the afternoon
session delivered by Charles W. Pen
rose, second counsellor of the first
presidency of the church. President
Penrose emphasized his conviction
that Joseph Smith was a prophet of
the living God. adding that in his be-
lief he was one of the mighty" re-
ferred to in Holy Scriptures as reserv-
ed to come on earth In this last dis
pensation to revive religious princi
pies that had been lost for ages.
Active and inactive membership
furnished the theme for Mr.. Lyman's
talk. He said that although only
small percentage of the membership
of the Mormon faith was present at
the conference, he hoped that all who
were IN attendance were active mem
bers. The whole membership could
not be present, he said, but the words
uttered at the cburch's conference
would be carried to every branch of
the church and he expressed a hope
that they would have the effect OF
stopping the necessity OF reports from
bishops TO general church officers call
ing attention to the number of mac
tive members. Inactivity tends to
darkness" he said. Activity to light"
He drew attention to the tact that
everybody is industrious in temporal
matters and decried the fact that they
were not as industrious in insuring the
success OF the religious side OF their
natures
Heber j. Grant member of the
twelve apostles. delivered the conclud-
ing address, He, too, decried the
tendency to sidestep religious duties.
The tendency of the American peo-
pie to live beyond their means and TO
indulge in practices that cannot help