The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-10-12

fervof of the Saints has increased tire.
mendously in the years since tbs
world war began, with greater NUM-
bers seeking divine solace and guild
ance through unequaled perils, was
set forth in the sermon of President
Joseph r.. Smith and addresses of 9TH
er authorities at the opening session
October >, of the eighty-eighth semi
annual conference of the Church Of
Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints.
The conference was one of the lar
gest attended in the history Of the
church.
Payment of tlthes. said President
Smith, has been greater since the en-
trance of the United States into the
war, than heretofore.
When President Smith, a smile light
ing up his venerable countenance, an
nouneed that the conference was in
session, eager faces Of young and old
shone from every pew of the Taber-
nucle's great auditorium. The attend
ing spirit, commented authorities, new
err was more reassuring and they add
ed that the blessings which have been
bestowed on the people of the church
bespeaks the truth of wonderful guild
arce.
Selecting as a keynote TO a stern eN-
hortation to faith and charity, the im-
portance Of living up to the truths of
church doctrines, President Smith
closed his opening address with a
thought which thrilled the great con.
gregation Live the religion the Lord
has given and look not for further
revelation Or knowledge, so long as
there is yet so much truth already re-
vealed that is not being lived up to
in its fullness.'
Golden Rule Key to Peace.
Earlier in his sermon it was pointed
out that IF the people of the world
will love and live in God and dwell
in the spirit Of His righteousness,
there would be no need of prisons.
courts, lawyers and p~ettifoggers /;
there would be no suffering, no i'll
feeling and no evil He called at
~tention to the fact that the Golden
Rule still is the key and forever Will
be the key to peace among the peo-
pies of the world. Emphasis was
made by President Smith on the i'm
portance of keeping the Sabbath and
he exhorted parents of young men and
women to inculcate in them the sig
nifcance of the Sabbath.
Call to Army Service Divine.
That service in the armies of the
United States may be regarded as a
divine call was pointed out as the
conference had progressed toward af-
%ternoon both by Charles w. Penrose,
of the first presidency, and Patriarch
Hyrum G. Smith. The latter said
They are the best OF us who are go.
ing into The conflict He urged the
Saints to pray for them that they may
return clean and prepared for further
magnification of the priesthood.
In Il report which attracted the at
teution of the entire congregation
President Smith showed that the
church now has a total of I97 wards
and 50 independent branches, q
/ SldkGS anu - lIilSSlpllN. III 1OiiitNNAitA
with the fund of the Relief society
he urged that the children of all the
members of the church donate one
penny a week to the temple fund for
helping to complete two temples I'M
der course of construction, one in Can
ada and the other in Hawaii. Presi-
dent Smith said that recently he was
handed a check for $12,074, the aggre-
gate of the Relief society's temple
fund from all parts of the world.
The origin of the temple penny fund
movement started in Nauvoo for help
suited in a signal success which lasts
even today. He expressed his graft
tude to the entire church and he added
that the Latter-day Saints had been
blessed in very many ways during the
present year. Payment of tithes
years. President Smith said he was
highly pleased with the strengthening
faith, declaring that he loves the work
before him today more thar during
any other period of his life.
"Live Religion" Is Advice.
Constantly have | prayed that the
Latter-day Saints live their religion
said President Smith, for there is
nothing else under heaven, in tbs
whole universe, so important as the
gospel of Jesus Christi
In a review of the inspiring history
of the Mormon church, PreSidenr
!, Smith paid homage to the former
t presidents, dwelling on the character
and achievements of all from Propher
! Joseph Smith down to his present ad
ministratiOn.
Following President Smith, Anthor
H. Lund of the first presidency sale
that Il very bright future will be il
: store for the Mormon people if they
will adhere to the words of Presidenr
! Smith. Temporal activities Of tht
) church consumed some of the atten
| ton of President Lund.