Themes at the 98th Semi-Annual Conference

Themes at the 98th Semi- Annual Conference The observance of law and order, and the commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the delivery of the plates of the Book of Mormon to the Prophet Jo- seph Smith, were the leading themes of the authorities of the Church in the October general conference. President Heber J. Grant in his introductory remarks called attention to a statement made by the Atty. General of the U. S. in Bedford Springs, Pa., last June 22, in which it is said: "When intelligent, educated men hold up to ridicule the rules for its conduct which society has made, intimate and by innuendo and suggestion advise that such rules ought to be violated; ridicule and revile as un- desirable members of a community, men sworn to defend and enforce its rules; de- vote their intelligence, wit and resources to making crime and criminals interesting and attractive, why is it not expected that the thoughtless, the unfortunate, the ignorant, the vicious, will try to get rid of the op- pressors of the criminal in any way, by any means, any violence that will be most effective? Because someone pays for the doing of it, and because the great body of law-abiding citizens is complais>ant and say nothing to show its disapproval, flippant, jeering writers, publishers, soap-box ora- tors, cabaret performers, sow the wind; and society reaps it in whirlwinds which blast and destroy." "The attorney general," said President Grant, "without mentioning prohibition, asserted that in buying any commodity, traffic in which is forbidden by law, the purchaser is directly sanctioning and re- warding a violation of the law in exactly the same manner as does the receiver of stolen goods, by making the transaction profitable." "It will not do," the attorney general asserted, "to say in the same breath: 'I believe in and demand enforcement of the laws of the country, and I will pay well any man who will violate these laws.' " President Grant impressed the need of searching the commandments of God as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants, and encouraged the Saints to live in con- formity with these commandments so that they might be a shining light to the world. He referred to and read from the revelations these significant instructions: "Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. What I, the Lord, hath spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." President Grant expressed the wish that he had the ability to impress upon the Latter-day Saints the necessity of searching the commandments of God, the revelations from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth, as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants. If we as a people would live up to those wonderful revelations that have come to us, we would be a bright and shining light to all the wide world. He quoted further: "Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land. "Wherefore, be subject to the powers that be, until he reigns whose right it is to reign, and subdues all enemies under his feet. "And for this purpose I have establish- ed the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto

80 IMPROVEMENT ERA this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood." President Grant held that all Latter-day Saints believe absolutely that the Constitu- tion of our country was inspired of God, and that he used wise men, noble men, as instruments in his hands for establishing that Constitution, and when any law is enacted and becomes a constitutional law, no man who spends his money to help men break that law can truthfully say that he is a loyal citizen. "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world upon which all blessings are predi- cated— "And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." Concerning the Word of Wisdom he was very emphatic. He read most of the revelation on that subject, and in the course of his remarks said it was as necessary for the Saints to obey the commandments of the Lord which are laws to them, as to obey the laws of the land. He stated that every Latter-day Saint knows that tea, that coffee, that tobacco, that liquor, are the things that this Word of Wisdom says it is not pleasing unto God that we should partake of. There are many Saints who say: "Oh, that is> not by way of com- mandment;" but it is "the order and the will of God." And this is what the Lord promises to you and to me and to every Latter-day Saint who observes this Word of Wisdom: "And all Saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow in their bones; "And shall find wisdom and great treas- ures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; "And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. "And I, the Lord, give unto them a prom- ise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them." Many of the brethren who spoke, and there were fifty altogether, made his re- marks their texts in one of the most en- lightening conferences ever held in the Church. — A. Choose Happiness and Health It is conceded generally that the use of tobacco is detrimental to mankind. Its bad effects upon digestion, the heart and blood vessels, the eyes, the hearing, the nerves, and upon mental effort, should be generally known. Education coming from a thorough knowledge of the poison of nicotine is a better preventive measure than restrictive laws, however much legisla- tion may help. Hence the need of educat- ing the youth in this matter. Example, too, is needed. A father who uses to- bacco can not expect his child to escape its damning influence. But the Latter-day Saints have the di- rect word of God on this subject in the Word of Wisdom that tobacco is not good for mankind, and the promises point to physical strength to the observer, and to intellectual superiority — hidden treasures of knowledge. These are gems of wealth worth seeking by any young man or woman, who wishes physical vigor and intellectual superiority. Character and integrity are the prime factors in success and progress. Will power is required to insure obedience to the commandments of the Lord, and observ- ance of the principles produces integrity. Presiding Bishop Sylvester Q. Cannon stated at the recent semi-annual conference of the Church, that those who observe the Word of Wisdom and endeavor to live in accordance with the spirit of it, will re- ceive blessings, temporal and spiritual. They develop physically, mentally, and spiritually, and with it their will power to resist the things contrary to the advice of the Lord and their own well-being. Medical authorities agree that the use of cigarettes is harmful and weakens the moral fibre of men and women, and that in the case of women not only it weakens their moral vitality, but interferes also with the physical functions of motherhood and the welfare of their children. Bishop Cannon stated further that those who use tobacco are weakened thereby, and any success they