Editor’s Table: Important Conference Themes

Editor's Table. Important Conference Themes. In his opening address at the first session of the 81st Annual Conference, April 6, 1911, President Joseph F. Smith expressed thanks to our Father in heaven for his many blessings, and called attention to the duty of all Latter-day Saints to acknowledge the hand of God in all things. Trials and afflictions come to us sometimes, in the wisdom of Providence, for our good, but all the proper affairs of life will be overruled by the providence of God to the good of those who love him,keep his commandments, and exercise wisdom and judgment in the care and protection of their lives, the preservation of their health, and the maintenance of a pure, moral character and manner of life. He expressed himself as grateful for the beautiful day, and for the presence of so many Latter-day Saints. Not one but should feel a personal interest in the welfare and upbuilding of Zion, and contribute every influence and effort possible for the upbuilding of Zion and for the joy, peace, comfort, happiness and well-being of all her inhabitants. The Church is in a prosperous condition in the world, and we may justly say, "Zion is enjoying the favor and blessing of Almighty God!" From personal knowledge, he was enabled to say that those who are intrusted with the watchcare of the people in the stakes, wards and organizations of the Church, are exercising their influence and power for the good of the people. This he could say of every stake president, and every bishop of a ward. They are men of truth and soberness, honest, faithful, prayerful, upright, disposed to do right and to shun the appearance of evil—men who enjoy the Spirit of the Lord. Not only may this be said with reference to all the authorities of the regularly organized wards

EDITOR'S TABLE. 637 and stakes of Zion, but also in regard to the officers of our various missions. They are men of integrity, who have the love of God and the people in their hearts and souls, and are willing to sacrifice time, many precious ties and dear associations to devote their talents and energy for the salvation of those who sit in darkness. He referred to the presidency of the Church, whose lives are an open book to all the Church, and whose integrity and labors are known to all associated with them, both in business and in the spiritual affairs of the Church. They are accessible to all who seek them upon business pertaining to matters of the Church, temporal and spiritual, and the people are left to judge of their standing before God and in the Church. With reference to the Twelve, they are faithful men, willing to comply with every requirement to the utmost of their strength and ability. This may be said also of the general authorities of the Church—true to their covenants, faithful to the people and to the Lord who has commissioned them to the labor for the salvation of souls and the building up of Zion. Some Church Statistics. President Smith stated that he had ordered prepared a few statements indicating the condition of the Church in some lines during the year recently closed. He read from this statement which set forth that two new stakes,the Duchesne and the Carbon, had been organized in 1910, and fifteen new wards in the same period. There are now sixty-two organized stakes of Zion, 696 wards, and twenty-one missions, all requiring the constant supervision and attention, not only of the presidents of stakes, high councils and bishops, but of the presidency of the Church, who answer many enquiries from almost all of the wards. The number baptized in the stakes of Zion and in the missions, during the year, was 15,902. The birth rate of the Church for the same period was thirty-eight per thousand, the highest birth rate in the world, so far as available statistics show. The death rate was nine per thousand, the lowest death rate in the world, so far as published statistics have shown. .

638 IMPRO VEMENT ERA. There were 1,360 couples married in the temples in 1910, and 1,100 couples of Church members married by civil ceremony during the same year. There was one divorce to every 5,000 members. The average divorce rate in the United States is one to every 1,100 souls. This shows that our divorce rate is only about one-fifth of the average rate in the nation. There were 2,028 missionaries laboring in the various missions on December 31, 1910. For maintaining missions, and fares for returning missionaries, the sum of $215,000 was expended. This does not include the very large sum in the aggregate furnished by the people to assist their sons and daughters, husbands and fathers, in the mission field. Upwards of $300,000 was paid by the Church for maintaining Church schools, and over $200,000 was paid out in the Church to assist the poor. The expenses incurred on account of the general authorities of the Church, operating expenses of the President's, Historian's and Presiding Bishop's offices,were paid out of revenues derived from investments made by the Trustee-in-Trust, within the past few years, leaving the tithes of the Church to be used for the building of ward meetinghouses, stake tabernacles, and the maintenance of Church schools, temples, missions abroad, and the support of the poor. On the 31st of December it was reported that there were 444 high priests, 632 seventies, and 3,200 elders not enrolled in any of the organized quorums of the priesthood. He stated he would say nothing about the long list of nontithepayers recorded in the archives of the Church, who hold membership in the Church; but there are many who faithfully honor this law, and who provide of their means voluntarily for the revenues necessary to carry on the great work of the Church in building meetinghouses, temples and schools, and for missions and the poor. President Smith referred to Amusements. Gymnasiums have become apparently a very urgent necessity of late, also places of amusement. We must not only provide places of worship for the youth of Zion, as well as for their fathers and mothers, but also find places for the rational amusement of

EDITOR'S TABLE. 639 our children, in order that they may be kept under proper influences, away from the contaminating, degrading practices too common in the world with reference to and in connection with the amusement of the people. One thing I desire to say, not that it will amount to anything, I suppose, but it will be a satisfaction to myself at least to speak what I feel to be the truth, and it is this: I regret most deeply the sentiments that are expressed by the people generally with reference to their choice of amusements. We have some interest in the old Salt Lake Theatre here, built by President Brigham Young to afford high-class amusement, intellectual, entertaining, interesting and instructive to those who desire such entertainment. It has been conducted along these lines for many years, but when we get a really high-class performance in that theatre, the benches are practically empty, while the vaudeville theatres, where are exhibitions of nakedness, of obscenity, of vulgarity and everything else that does not tend to elevate the thought and mind of man, will be packed from the pit to the dome. When you have performances of high class that are intellectual, people do not largely patronize them, but when you bring a class of performance that appeals to the vulgar, sensual and evil propensities of men, the seats are full. I do not speak of this as existing merely here in Utah, I speak of it as a common thing throughout all the length and breadth of the land. It shows a degradation of sentiment, a lowering of the standards of intellectuality, the purity of thought, of nobility, of desire for proper association of the people generally. I regret this, I am sorry for it, but I wish to say to the Latter-day Saints that I hope they will distinguish themselves by avoiding the necessity of being classed with many who prefer the vulgar to the chaste, the obscene to the pure, the evil to the good, and the sensual to the intellectual. I hope you will stand by our principles, abide by that which is gooduplifting and ennobling in character, rather than fall in with the habits of the world and patronize that which is beneath the dignity of pureminded and intelligent people. Blessings Arising from a Payment of Tithes. President Smith again referred to the Saints who voluntarily provide revenue for the purposes enumerated; namely, the poor, houses of worship, the temples, the schools, the missions, and other necessary things for the building up of Zion, and said: "God bless you for your faithfulness to this law of the Lord, for it is a

640 IMPROVEMENT ERA. law of the Lord; and yet, like all the other laws of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is obeyed voluntarily by those who obey it; and those who do not obey it voluntarily, choose to disobey it, and the consequence will rest with us all in accordance with our works and faithfulness. He referred to the necessity that the First Presidency and the authorities were under in cutting down to the limits of their resources the assistance to the various wards and stakes of Zion. All the aid they asked could not be given, ''but we have given and are giving, to the extent of the means within our control." Hundreds of wards have no suitable meetinghouses. They conemplate building; and some buildings are now in the course of erection. The Church is doing what it can to help complete the work, but the heft of the burden still rests upon the people of these wards, because there is not means enough in the general treasury to help as the presidency would like. If this multitude of non-payers of tithing would only honor the law of the Lord and live up to their privileges, I believe we would soon have ample means to meet every necessity of the Church. If they would do it! But will they or will they not? If they will not, of course the consequences will rest with themselves. We are dealing with our faith and conscience. You are dealing not with me, not with the presidency of the Church, but with the Lord. I am not dealing with men respecting my tithing, my dealings are with the Lord; that is, with reference to my own conduct in the Church as a tithe-payer, and with reference to my observance of other laws and rules of the Church. If I fail to observe the laws of the Church, I am responsible to my God, and I will have to answer te him, by and by, for my neglect of duty, and I will have to answer to the Church for my fellowship. If I do my duty according to my understanding of the requirements that the Lord has made of me, then I ought to have a conscience void of offense; I ought to have satisfaction in my soul,with a consciousness that I have simply done my duty as I understood it, and I will risk the consequences. With me it is a matter between me and the Lord; so it is with every one of us. Theory vs. Faith. President Smith then referred to the officers of the auxiliary organizations instituted for the benefit of the youth of Zion, and stated that the officers of the Mutual Improvement associations,

EDITOR'S TABLE. 641 both men and women, are doing their duty as faithfully as they know how. This could also be said of the board of directors of the Sunday School Union, who are faithful in their duties, willing to take their part and responsibilities, to go and come as they are sent to minister to the youth of Zion. This may also be said of the Primary associations and Religion classes, and one of the most important auxiliaries of the Church, the Relief society, as well as the officers and faculties of our Church schools. He prayed that the Lord would bless them abundantly. They are all doing their duty according to their best understanding and wisdom, and the strength they possess. He believed that most of the Latter-day Saints were sufficiently intelligent and wise to decide between truth and error, right and wrong, light and darkness. He believed that they had sense enough to abide by the simple, pure, truthful principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in preference to all the vagaries of philosophers or scientists, or anybody else. No science nor philosophy can supercede God Almighty's truth. "The Lord has said, 'My word is truth,' and indeed it is; and I believe that the Latter-day Saints know enough about the word of God to know it is his word when they see it, and shun whatever is not; and that they will abide by the word of God, for it is truth. As the Savior said, 'If ye will abide in my word,then are ye my disciples indeed. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free' . free from sin, error, the darkness and traditions of men, vain philosophy, untried and unproved theories of scientists that need demonstration beyond the possibility of a doubt." Science and philosophy through all the ages have undergone change after change. Scarcely a century has passed but they have introduced new theories of science and philosophy, that supercede the old traditions and the old faith and the old doctrines entertained by philosophers and scientists. These things may undergo continuous changes, but the word of God is always true, is always right. The principles of the gospel are always true, the principles of faith in God, repentance from sin, baptism for the remission of sins by authority of God, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost—these principles are always true, and are always absolutely necessary for the salvation of the children of men, no matter who they are or where they are. No other name under heaven is given but that of Jesus Christ, by which you can be saved or exalted in the kingdom of God. Not only has God declared them, not

642 IMPROVEMENT ERA. only has Christ declared these principles, by his voice to his disciples, from generation to generation, in the old time, but in these latter-days they have taken up the same testimony and declared these things to the world. They are true today as they were true then, and we must obey these things. Must Obey the Rules of the Church on Marriage. Another thing, we must obey the rules of the Church with reference to marriage, at least we ought to do so. We do not all do it. You will see by what I have stated that during the last year eleven hundred marriages of our people have been contracted or solemnized in a manner not provided for in the law of the Church, I refer to civil marriages, so that we do not all do our duty yet with reference to that. And another thing, as we have announced in conferences—as it was announced by President Woodruff, as it was announced by President Snow, and as it was re-announced by me and my brethren, and confirmed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, plural marriages have ceased in the Church. There is not a man today in this Church, or anywhere else outside of it, who has authority to solemnize a plural marriage—not one! There is no man nor woman in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints who is authorized to contract a plural marriage. It is not permitted, and we have been endeavoring to the utmost of our ability to prevent men from being led by some designing person into an unfortunate condition that is forbidden by the conferences and by the voice of the Church, a condition that has, to some extent at least,brought reproach upon the people. I want to say that we have been doing all in our power to prevent it or to stop it; in order that we might do this, we have been seeking to our utmost to find the men who have been the agents and the cause of leading people into it. We find it very difficult to trace them up, but when we do find them, and can prove it upon them, we will deal with them as we have dealt with others that we have been able to find. Constitutional Amendment Regulating Marriage. Now, with reference to the threat that is made upon us, from time to time, that in order to stop plural marriages among the Latterday Saints, it is recommended to amend the constitution of the United States, giving to the parental government the exclusive right to deal with polygamy and prevent it. So far as I am concerned, I am just as ready, this moment, as any other man in the world to consent to

EDITOR'S TABLE. 643 Congress taking the measures necessary to bring about the amendment of the Constitution, and pass laws to regulate plural marriages. We want them, while they are at it, to regulate marriage and divorce as well. We will turn it all over to them, and we are just as ready for it today as any people on God's earth, no matter where you go. Now, in reference to this, I want to make this distinction, for it is a distinction with a difference, and that is this: I don't mean to interfere with men who had their wives before the Manifesto was issued by President Woodruff, men who entered into this covenant when it was the law of the Church, or who took wives under the authority of the presiding officers of the Church. We do not mean to interfere with them. To them I say, take care of your wives. If you do not, you are not genuine men at all. Take care of your families, take care of your children, educate them, feed them, clothe them, house them, and do everything in your power to make of them men and women who will be an honor to our nation, and to our state, and to our Church. I mean future plural marriages must stop; that is what I have reference to, the marrying of more than one wife in the future in plural marriage. That is what we have undertaken to stop, in conformity with the laws of the land; and we are doing our best. Now let the United States authorize Congress to pass an amendment to the constitution regulating marriage and divorce, throughout all the nation. I think it will be a great blessing to our country. When we read of the vast number of divorces, and of the heartaches, and the sorrows that are occasioned by them, and by vanity, profligacy, lust and corruption, throughout all the world, we feel as if it would be a Godsend to the people to have some strong hand take hold of the matter and regulate it, so that there will not be so much of this evil as exists today. Closing Testimony. President Smith closed with the testimony that he loves the gospel with all his heart, and knows that it is right. He expressed himself as having a purpose to continue while he lives, in the discharge of his duty to the best of his ability. "Whatever that duty may be, I propose to do it as well as I can, and leave the results in the hands of the Lord." He then pronounced a blessing upon the presidents of the stakes of Zion, their counselors and the high councilors; the bishops, who are the fathers of the people, and their counselors, and prayed that the Lord would give them wisdom,a fatherly spirit, and kindness to deal mercifully with

644 IMPROVEMENT ERA. the erring, laboring diligently to reclaim them from the error of their ways, and to keep those who are in the paths of righteousness and truth steadfast and firm. He also asked the blessings of the Lord upon the presidents of the missions, throughout the land. "How we feel to appreciate them, and how satisfying is the feeling that we have men presiding over the missions who are true to their covenants, true to their people, and true to their mission— faithful, bright, intelligent, and active in the performance of their duties. And those who labor in the temples, the Lord bless them and all Israel. I need not ask especially for blessings upon those who do their duty, for I know that they will be blessed; but I do pray that the Lord will bless those who are luke-warm, who are indifferent and uninterested in the work of the Lord, that they may awaken to their duty, and learn to earn the reward of the faithful, that they may not be ignored when God shall choose his own, and set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left, and shall say to the latter, 'Depart from me' " (Matt. 25: 31-41).