MINUTES OF THE SCOTTISH CONFERENCE.

THE Scottish semi-annual conference was held in Kingston Halls, Glasgow, March 22nd, 1908. There were present President Charles W. Penrose, President W. A. Budge and twenty traveling elders of the Scottish conference. After opening exercises, the sacrament was administered by Elders James Ritchie and Charles W. Burt. President Budge greeted the congregation and extended to all a courteous welcome. The statistical report of the conference was read and accepted. The general and local authorities of the Church were presented and unanimously sustained.

Elder R. S. Ballantyne addressed the conference. He gave a good account of his work in Edinburgh, where he has labored since last conference. Said our religion teaches us to be better men and women and to fit and qualify ourselves for our many duties. The saints should so conduct themselves that they would show what the gospel had done for them, thus aiding the elders in their labors. He also bore testimony to the pleasure he had in his labors.

Elder Wilford J. Burt then spoke for a short time, expressing his willingness to do at all times what he could for the spread of truth. He bore a strong testimony to the truthfulness of the gospel restored in these last days in fulfillment of prophecy.

President Penrose then addressed the conference, explaining the benefits derived from obedience to the gospel. In this life we are making a preparation for the life to come. We cannot dwell in the presence of our Heavenly Father unless we become like Him, and in order to become like Him we must obey His commandments. He referred to the necessity of men obeying the ordinance of baptism. When we are baptized the old man of sin is put away, and we are made new, or born again. Unless we receive the new birth we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. The Bible contains but a small portion of the teachings of Christ. Impressed upon the Saints the necessity of acquainting themselves with the modern revelations, which are God's word to us in these days. He called special attention to the fifty-ninth section of the Doctrine and Covenants, and commented on the same, exhorting the Saints to comply with the teachings set forth in that revelation. After benediction, meeting adjourned until 2:30 p.m.

At the afternoon service the hall was well filled. Elder David Shand told of his experiences as a missionary, and under what circumstances he received the gospel in his native land years ago. Many people have not had the privilege of hearing the gospel, therefore a great work rests upon the Latter-day Saints. Elder J. G. Bunnell expressed the pleasure he had in bearing testimony along with his brethren. The testimonies of the servants of God in this day are just as binding upon those who hear them as were the testimonies of Peter and Paul.

Elder William E. Eccles, who had received his release to return home, expressed his thanks and gratitude to the saints and their friends for their kindness to him while he had been laboring as a missionary in this conference. He also said he felt sorry to leave, yet he considered there was plenty for him to do at home, and intended to continue his labors there. Bore testimony to the truthfulness of the gospel and counseled the saints to be faithful. President Penrose opened by saying what a glorious meeting there would be at the restitution of all things; when Zion shall be established, when the city of Enoch shall return to earth, when the earth shall be renewed and receive its paradisical glory, when Christ shall come and reign personally upon the earth for one thousand years. The old prophets were permitted to see this eventful day, when all things in Christ would be gathered together in one. He said the coming of Christ is near at hand, and preparations are being made for His coming, but the people of the world cannot see them because they are in darkness. Darkness came over the inhabitants of the earth when Christ and His apostles were put to death. The little truth that remained was amalgamated with paganism and called Christianity. In this condition of affairs the Book of Mormon came forth, and God and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith, who was the instrument in the hands of God of ushering in the dispensation of the fulness of times. He (Joseph) received divine authority from those who held the keys in former dispensations, and was given power and authority to act in God's stead upon the earth. He then pointed out the glories that are in store for those who are Christ's. He concluded by pleading with those who had not seen the glorious light of the gospel to compare the Church of Christ and its teachings with those churches established by man, who teach for doctrine the commandments of men.

Congregation sang, "Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation," and, after the benediction was pronounced, adjourned until 6:30 p.m.

The evening service was held in the large hall, before an appreciative audience of two hundred and fifty saints and investigators. Elder John F. Dick called attention to the valuable instructions that had been given during the day, and exhorted all to profit by the same. He bore testimony of the divinity of the latter-day work, and spoke of the benefits the saints enjoyed by hearing living oracles of God and receiving counsel from them.

Elder J. G. Johnston spoke interestingly upon the religious customs of the Scottish people. They profess to have great respect for the Bible, but they do not believe nor practice the teachings of Jesus Christ and His apostles found therein. He said, further, when men spoke in former times as they were moved upon by the Spirit their word was law. So it is to-day when the servants of God speak. Elder William H. Russell commented upon the con

ditions of the so-called Christian world. Spoke of the necessity of walking in the light of the gospel of Christ.

President Budge quoted the following: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." He said, in part, the plan of salvation is plainly portrayed in the New Testament, and was written by inspired men, thus it became the word of God. If mankind desire to obtain salvation and exaltation in God's kingdom, they must live by His word. Consider the message of the restored gospel, which is no other than the gospel of the kingdom, and concerns every individual who lives on the earth. See whether the message the Latter-day Saints bear corresponds with the teaching of Christ and His apostles. He said, "I bear my testimony to you in all soberness that what is commonly called 'Mormonism' is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is that Gospel which Christ spoke of when He said, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come."" Men shall be judged according to the gospel. Let us all live by every commandment that we have received from God.

Elder William Russell then rendered the solo, "Beautiful Zion for me."

President Penrose followed in a powerful discourse, taking for his text the words in the above-mentioned solo. Said he composed the song over fifty years ago, and in hearing it many thoughts passed through his mind. He can still say as he said then, "Beautiful Zion for me." He proceeded by reading prophecies from Micah, Isaiah and Malachi concerning the establishment in the last days of the house of the Lord in the tops of the mountains. These prophecies have been fulfilled by the Latter-day Saints. The temple of the Lord has been established in the top of the mountains, and people out of every nation are going up to it, that they may be taught the ways of the Lord and walk in His paths. People of many nations have been privileged to gather to Zion and perform ordinances for the living and the dead, which are essential to their salvation. People do not learn the gospel from the Lord, but prefer the precepts of men, who have transgressed the laws and changed the ordinances. We find fragments of the gospel in the Bible, but not until God spoke through the prophet, Joseph Smith, was the plan for the building of Zion given to man. Through the revelations from above, the saints have learned this great plan and are enjoying privileges in Zion that they could not have in any other land. Some people would have us believe that the prophecy of the messenger spoken of in Malachi who was to prepare the way for Christ was fulfilled in the coming of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Christ at His first coming. John was indeed the messenger; but Malachi's prophecy was not fulfilled at that time. Part of it has been fulfilled in these last days; the messenger (John the Baptist) has come to prepare the

way for Christ's second advent. The rest of Malachi's prophecy will be fulfilled in due time. President Penrose called attention to Christ's second coming and the manner in which He would come, not as a lowly babe, but in great glory with ten thousand of His saints. At this time the restitution of all things will be accomplished, Christ will reign personally upon the earth as King of kings. He concluded by asking all who had not accepted the restored gospel to investigate and not pass it by unheeded, and exhorted those who had obeyed its principles to purify themselves and be ready for the bridegroom when He shall appear. After singing the doxology, the benediction was pronounced and conference adjourned.

A priesthood meeting was held on Saturday, at which the Elders reported their labors and received much valuable instruction from President Penrose. All the brethren reported feeling happy in their labors. The conference has gone on record as being one of the best ever held in Scotland. The Spirit of the Lord was made manifest in all our meetings.

A. H. BURT, Clerk of Conference.

AT THE SET OF THE SUN.

At the set of the sun
When our work is done,

With its tangled web;

When the clouds drift low,
And the stream runs slow,

And life is at its ebb.

As we near the goal,
When the golden bowl

Shall be broken at its fount;
With what sweetest thought
Shall the hour be fraught.

What precious most shall we count?

Not the flame of the sword,
Nor the wealth we have stored
In perishable things of earth-
Not the way we have trod
With the intellect broad,

Though that were of precious worth.

Nor the gain we achieved

Through the hearts we have grieved,

And left unhelped by the way,

Nor the laurel of fame,

When, for worldly acclaim,

We toiled in the heat and the fray.

Ah, no! 'tis not these

Will give our hearts ease,

When life sinks low in the west;
But the passing sweet thought
Of the good we have wrought,
The saddened lives we have blest.

And the love we have won
And the love beckoning on
From His islands far and dim;
Love out of the light,

Shining into the night,

The night which leadeth to Him.

SELECTED.

THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS' MILLENNIAL STAR.

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1908.

A VITAL POINT.

SINCE the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints there have been several small sects that have copied some of its leading doctrines, and have gathered a following which has given them some encouragement. The leaders in those movements have been able to see the beauty and consistency of the first principles of the gospel as revealed from heaven in these latterdays, and have found it quite easy to point out their harmony with the teachings of the Church established by the Savior and His apostles in early times. Faith, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost are so prominently set forth in the New Testament, that when presented plainly and fortified by quotations from the gospels and epistles, they find ready acceptance from many people whose minds have been prejudiced against the Latter-day Saints, and who hesitate at being associated with a people so much maligned as the "Mormons." By preaching these "Mormon" doctrines separate and apart from that which is called "Mormonism," these sectaries have been able to make some headway.

A few of them have also taught the "Mormon" doctrine that the signs which Christ said should follow believers may be enjoyed in this age of the world as much as in former times. This being different to the commonly accepted theory that they were all doue away with the first age of the Christian era, attention is directed to the truth and the orthodox error is exposed. Some other principles of "Mormonism," such as the second advent, the resurrection of the body, the millennial reign, etc., have been adopted by some of these sects, and these have helped to build up the new denominations. The old so-called "Christian" organizations, too, have adopted some of the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith and have used them in their public discourses and private conversations. All that has, doubtless, had an effect upon the public mind which will eventually bring about a better understanding of the doctrines of Christ; and the Lord, who "works in a mysterious way his wonders to perform," will overrule it all for the ultimate triumph of the truth and the accomplishment of His great latter-day work. But there is one thing lacking in these imitations and adaptations and copyings of the doctrines revealed from heaven in this