The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-10-13

emily Father, was the theme OF Apostle
Reed Smoot at the morning session OF
the conference on October Z.
President Joseph f. Smith presided
over both sessions. Apostle Smoot de-
ciared his belief that in the end the
Mormon church will accomplish the
work that the Lord designed for it and
added that If the teachings of the
church were put in force throughout
the world. the world would be a great
deal better place for IT,
Apostle Clawson spoke briefly in de-
nunciation Of moving picture houses
and other forms OF Sabbath amuse-
ments for their tendency to keep the
young from religious observance.
The irresistible growth Of Mormon
ism from faith having but six fol-
lowers in 1880 to the church's present
day magnitude, together with predic-
ton that the Fathers decree that the
world should be redeemed by means
Of the latter-day dispensation as pro-
mulgated through Joseph Smith.
formed the nucleus of the opening ad-
dress at the afternoon session. Apos-
tie George Albert Smith, the first
speaker, likened the members Of the
Mormon faith to the leaven which
shall some day accomplish the leayen-
ing Of the world. at the same time
calling the attention TO the fact that
even among the followers OF faiths
opposed to Mormonism there is a no
ticeable tendency to incorporate in the
revision of their creeds some of the
basic teachings of the Mormon faith
That Mormonism is not a book
taught religion and that instead OF be-
ing held down in its teachings and
operation to con old tenets, it follows
the last word of God, was the crux Of
the address delivered by Apostle Or
son F. Whitney. Mormonism, he de-
cIared. is the fulfllment OF prophecy
OF the coming of a marvellous work and
wonder made 700 years before the
birth of Jesus Christ, and he said that
the fulflment of this prophecy in
these latter days was such wonderful
thing that most men rejected it as
fable
Apostle Whitney followed the build
ing up Of Utah and the far west
through the early days and Of the
gradual improvement that resulted fol-
lowing the arrival of the Mormons in
the oxcarts He declared that it is
/ Gods will that man should avail him
self Of progress and make use Of the
new things as they we're introduced
and not to follow ideas either in re-
| ligion or life that have become anti
quated.
/ Apostle David o. Mckay made teach
ing the subject of his address. He
decried the fact that many Of the
members of the priesthood believe
/ that their work is not of much i'm
/ portance and declared that no work in
the church could be considered more,
/ or less, important than another.
| The music, as usual. was one of the
enjoyable features OF the conference.
I At the morning session on Sunday,
October 5, it was necessary to hold
overflow meetings.
/ Present day extravagances, both
| by individuals and by the governing
bodies of cities, states and nation. and
the seeming tendency of members OF
| the church to take part in Sunday
lamusements and card playing, fur
nished themes OF addresses delivered
by Apostles Anthony W. WINS, Joseph
F. Smith. Jr., and James E. Talmage.
4 War was another topic touched on
by Apostle WINS. In my travels" he
said. Il met men who advocated war
They told me that our national dignity
had been injured and they demanded
in return that the guilty be Inundated
+ The only redress they could see was
the humiliation of the other fellow.
/ Mexico is Smaller than the United
i States and it may have looked easy to
/ Austria to enter Serbia, but one never
can tell where these things will end
If war comes to this country. l say
let it not be OF our making. Let US
\ stand for peace-an example OF kind
ness and peacefulness TO the world"
i The modern dance. picture shows
Sunday amusements and card playing
/ came in for denunciation at the hands
of Apostle Joseph F. Smith, Jr
Should the Redeemer return tc
earth" he said. ''he would find faith
among the people. That Is, a small
percentage OF the people. He would
not find it generally among the nations
Of the world"
1 Apostle James E. Talmage reviewed
the benefits that have been derived by
members of the church in attendance
upon the conference session by the
words of the speakers. Praises had
not alsne been given, he said, but
warnings also.
During the afternoon service the
general authorities Of the church we're
sustained. President Francis NJ. Ly
man of the quorum of apostles read
the list OF authorities. and as the
names were called $4,000 hands were
raised in affirmative approval OF the