The Gospel Down to Date

The Gospel Down to Date To look into the faces of ten or twelve thousand people is always in- teresting. Usually it is inspiring. Men of international importance frequent- ly attend a general conference of the Church. The beautiful music from organ and choir, the unusual building, and more than all else the great crowds of people, gathered from most of the nations of the earth, have filled these visitors with wonder. They look upon faces which indicate high intel- lectual attainments, professional peo- ple, university professors and scien- tists. About them, too, are men and women from the common walks of life. These visitors often express sur- prise at the interest manifest by all who attend. One man was heard to say, "The remarkable thing about the con- ference is the simplicity of the counsel given which even an untrained mind can comprehend, and yet statements sufficiently profound are made to en- gage the best intellects of the world." President Grant's succinct report of conditions, financial and otherwise, ex- isting in the Church, given in his opening address, was heard with in- terest. His instructions and explana- tions imparted in the general Priest- hood meeting were most timely. He rose to great heights in the brief testimony given Sunday evening in the Sunday School session. The thousands who were crowded into the spacious tabernacle listened raptly to his im- pressive words. Out into the darkness of the night his voice carried, over mountains, through valleys, across state and even national borders and into private homes, where conversation was suspended. His testimony pene- trated, too, as has been reported to us, into pool halls, where playing ceased, and men, all of them non-members or indifferent Church members, listened intently. Altogether unnumbered thousands were thrilled by the President's inspired message. None who listened could for a moment doubt his knowledge that God and Jesus Christ live and that they appeared to the boy who asked in faith for wisdom. He spoke "as one having authority and not as the scribes." As is usual in our general conferen- ces, many subjects were treated by the various speakers. Tithing was touched upon, and cogent reasons given why we should be "honest with the Lord." The practical value of the Word of Wisdom, scripture reading, obedience to law and kindred subjects were dis- cussed. A graphic picture was painted of the dangers arising from laxity in regard to the moral law. It was shown that personal purity is an essential to salvation. Mob violence, it was point- ed out, has failed to disturb or seri- ously impede the growth of the Church; hardships and privation of the most disheartening kind have failed. The people were admonished to see that prosperity and forgetfulness do not accomplish what persecution was not able to do. Perhaps the one outstanding theme of the conference was the Book of Mormon. The external and internal evidence of its divinity were consid- ered. For a century it has withstood the vicious attacks of bigots as well as the most searching investigation of critical but fair-minded men. Today it stands before the world stronger than at any previous time. This book, its divine character attested by twelve witnesses and by a mass of other in-