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Show CHAP. VI. THE MORMON CONFERENCE. 303 the "Prophet" and his associates, and the influences that draw the multitude to Conference is comprehended. Up to within a few years this country has, I am told,* been rarely visited by showers of rain, the husbandmen depending almost entirely upon the melting snows of the mountains for irrigating fields and gardens. Very recently the snow and rain had fallen in great abundance, and the muddy roads were rendered almost impassable. Notwithstanding this obstacle, the faithful screwed up courage and traveled in droves from every part of the Territory, and filled the streets of the city during Conference like a county fair. Early on Saturday morning the carriages and wagons, equestrians and pedestrians, thronged into the city, and long before the opening of the Tabernacle doors the people were gathering in groups, eager for admission to obtain a good seat, fearing the general rush. On the Sunday preceding, Brigham had requested the citizens here to stay at home, and afford their country brethren and sisters an opportunity of getting within the Tabernacle; otherwise there would have been a poor show for the strangers, and as it was they were themselves vastly too many for the dimensions of the building. THE CONFERENCE FIRST DAY MORNING SESSION'. At 10 o'clock there were on the stand, according to technical rank and authority: Of the First Presidency-Presidents Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Daniel H. Wells. Of the Twelve Apostles-Orson Hyde, Willford Woodruff, John Taylor, George A. Smith, Ezra T. Benson, Lorenzo Snow, and Franklin D.Richards. Of the First Presidency of the Seventies-Joseph Young, Levi W. Hancock, Henry Herriman, Zera Pulsipher, Albert P.Rockwood, and Horace S. Eldredge. Of the Presidency of the High Priests-Edwin D. Woolley and Samuel W. Richards. Of the Presidency of the Stake-Daniel Spencer, David Fullmer, and George B.Wallace. Of the Presidency of the Bishopric-Edward Hunter, Leonard W. Hardy, and Jesse C. Little. Of the Patriarchs-John Smith and Isaac Morley. Apostle Hyde called the meeting to order, and in a moment all talking was hushed, and a choir of about a dozen persons, accompanied by a fine-toned organ in the centre of the building, sung: The morning breaks, the shadows flee, Lo! Zion's standard is unfurled! The dawning of a brighter day Majestic rises on the world. The clouds of error disappear Before the rays of truth divine; The glory bursting from afar, Wide o'er the nations soon will shine. * The article is probably written by a Mormon elder. It is the fashion, however, in newspaper correspondence-as the columns of the "New York Herald" prove-to assume Gentilism for the nonce. |
