concerning the interview which he says he had with the Lord on Mount Sinai, and also concerning the two tablets of stone on which he said the Lord wrote with His own hand the ten commandments for the children of Israel, they would promptly reply, "Believe it! Yes, we believe every word that Moses has written concerning these things." And yet these people have not a particle of evidence, apart from the testimony of Moses himself, that such an interview ever took place or that the two tablets of which he spoke ever had an existence. Who was with Moses on the mount when he saw and talked with the Lord? No one. Who else has testified to seeing the tables of stone and to hearing the voice of God declare that the writings on them had been engraven by His own hand? No one. Yet the Christian world believe all this implicitly. Well, we are glad they do. We commend them for their faith; but at the same time we cannot help marvelling at their inconsistency in rejecting "Mormonism," seeing that it is supported by ten thou sand times more evidence than they have got to prove the truth of Moses' statements.-W. A. M.

MINUTES OF THE NORWICH CONFERENCE.

THE semi-annual Norwich conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened in Gordon Hall, Duke Street, Norwich, Sunday, October 18th, 1908. Three services were held. President Charles W. Penrose of the European mission, President John A. Horton and fourteen traveling elders of the Norwich conference were in attendance.

The morning service commenced at 10:30. After the usual opening exercises and the administration of the sacrament, President Horton welcomed those present and spoke of the privileges Latterday Saints have in meeting to hear the principles of the true gospel. The statistical and labor reports of the conference for the last six months, ending September 30th, were read and approved. The general and local authorities were unanimously sustained. Elders Richard Hemsley, Jr., and Thomas Edgley gave encouraging reports and spoke interestingly upon principles of salvation. President Penrose occupied the remainder of the time. He commended the elders for their labors and spoke of the way the gospel is being spread, notwithstanding the opposition it receives. Why does opposition come? It is not because of doctrine, for our doctrine is scriptural. Most of the religious bodies read the scriptures differently. The scriptures say, "Whoso readeth let him understand," and that understanding comes through the revelation of the Holy Spirit. The Savior said, "I am the way, the truth and the life." He was the life and light of the world. The way we can get this light and salvation through the Savior is by keeping His commandments, and in no other way.

The gospel in its fulness is now upon the earth. It was brought here by revelation from Christ, and therefore the Church having that gospel is the Church of Jesus Christ, which has the living oracles of God to give us light and receive revelation upon the principles pertaining to the salvation of mankind. Christ promised something besides the "letter"; He said, "I will pray to the Father and He shall give you another Comforter." The Latterday Saints believe in the Bible; they love it, but they have also the word of God in these days, and this opens their understanding and teaches them the truths in the Bible in clearness. He encouraged all to live worthily before the Lord, to appreciate the glorious gospel, and to not stand still, but go on to perfection, growing not only in knowledge of the truth but in living the truth.

The conference reassembled at 2:30 p.m., and the first speaker of the afternoon was Elder L. Vern Toolson. He said that authority to officiate in spiritual matters was just as necessary and essential as it is in temporal matters, and bore a strong testimony that divine authority has been restored to the earth, as was predicted in the scriptures.

Elders E. M. Perkins and D. R. Allred spoke of the necessity of having latter-day prophets, and of people enjoying the Holy Spirit in order that they may be guided into all truth.

A solo was then rendered by Sister Elizabeth Woods. President Penrose then addressed the conference. He said, in part: Although most people in the world to-day accept the idea of the resurrection and the life hereafter they, strangely, do not seem to believe in pre-existence. One is just as reasonable as the other. The scriptures tell us of the pre-existence of our Savior, and many accept the same, and if they would search they would find the scriptures just as plain in regard to the pre-existence of all mankind. We have been sent down upon the earth to perfect ourselves, and that we might prize the light. We cannot appreciate light without first encountering darkness. The Lord, therefore, permits all the evil in the world that we might, by seeing the same, note the contrast, and distinguish the difference between good and evil. To help us to so distinguish and to get back into His presence, He has given us the gospel. God has prepared for us places that after this probation we may gain rewards according to our merit, and those who have obeyed His will shall inherit the celestial glory, as spoken of by the Apostle Paul, and shall be permitted to see God, To gain this we must seek to follow the Savior's words, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." The more good we do the more repulsive sin becomes to us. We are privileged above many in being permitted to come to the earth in a dispensation when the gospel is here and when there are prophets divinely inspired of God to teach it. We should, therefore, strive with all our might for the one thing above all else-our eternal salvation.

The evening meeting commenced at 6:30, with the hall well filled. A goodly number of investigators were present.

Sister Nellie C. Taylor, a visiting sister from Zion, and a member of the General Board of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations, said she was pleased to be among the Saints in Norwich, and proud of the name of Latter-day Saint. She bore a humble testimony concerning the truth of the gospel.

President Horton then addressed the meeting, speaking of the restoration of the gospel and showing in detail how the organization of the Church in these days is identically the same as that which the Savior established when He was here.

A duet, "O Give Me Back My Prophet Dear," was sung by Miss Edith Nimham and Brother Frank Burleigh.

Elder William G. Jay spoke on the principle of obedience. He related how he had received the gospel and the joy which obedience to its message had brought him, and that it would bring the same to all who would seek diligently for the truth.

"Galilee" was sung by a quartette of elders.

President Penrose then gave a forceful address on the restoration of the gospel. People have always rejected the prophets, he said, as also they did the Savior; but still the Lord had been merciful and sent prophets to them again in different ages. This has been done in these days. But this time the Lord's work would not be thrown down nor given to another people. This last restoration was predicted from the beginning. He advised all to read and study the prophecy of Daniel recorded in the second chapter of his book. He explained in detail the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, tracing it down through history and showing its literal fulfillment, including the setting up of God's kingdom as typified by the stone cut out of the mountain without hands. That kingdom is being established in these days. It was not the Church established before by Christ, as a complete apostasy had taken place from it before the days of the ten kings. Men for hundreds of years have tried to set up kingdoms and religions, but they have not brought peace, equity, unity or those things most sought for. God has now set up His Church, to grow into a mighty kingdom, and bring people to unity and prepare them for the coming of the Savior, and the great last day. That kingdom has all the gifts and blessings and fulness of the gospel. President Penrose, in concluding, bore his testimony, with great power and force, to the restoration of the gospel. He seemed to deeply impress all those present, and thus ended a successful and instructive conference. President Penrose met with the elders in Priesthood meeting Saturday evening and heard the reports of their labors. He gave them much valuable instruction, and a spiritual feast was enjoyed by all in listening to his timely counsel and explanation of gospel principles.

A. LE ROY TAYLOR, Clerk of Conference.

CERTAINTY AT LAST.

MY DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

I thank God for sending the elders to our home. I had for some years believed in salvation through faith alone, but after having had the gospel, as taught by the Latter-day Saints, explained to me, it appeared in a new light. I read "Mr. Durant" and the Book of Mormon. The truths contained in them were so apparent that my heart rejoiced, and a voice within me seemed to exclaim, "This is indeed truth!" My former comrades then said they desired to save me from "Mormonism," and brought along some anti-infidel tracts and some extracts from an encyclopædia. These disturbed my mind so much that I sent the elders away and thought I would have nothing more to do with them; but I had no peace, my conscience telling me continually that the reports were false, and I longed for the elders to return. The Lord knew my longing, and gave me my desire. I again investigated the gospel, reading "A Voice of Warning," also the Doctrine and Covenants, again being convinced of the truth of "Mormonism." But through reading reports in the papers, my mind got troubled again, and I requested the elders not to call unless I sent for them. Now, I would like to testify to the good spirit in which they did what I requested. In the meantime I prayed and agonized before the Lord to make known to me in a very definite way what I should do. I then attended some meetings being held at Fulham, and finally decided, after fourteen months' investigation, to be baptized. This decision brought the testimony firm and sure that this latter-day work is divine. I then wrote telling Elder Allred that I would be baptized. He came to see me, and after the interview I discussed the matter with my wife and daughter, with the result that I and my daughter were baptized the following Sunday, August 16th, and on August 20th my wife and three sons were baptized. Now, in conclusion, let me say, having done the will of God by obeying the gospel, we all have the witness within us that we are the children of our Heavenly Father, and my testimony is strengthened daily, bringing with it the blessings of peace and the answer of a good conscience toward God.

Your brother in the gospel,

136 Garratt Lane, Wandsworth, Surrey.

JAMES TAGG.

"THE right-minded man, ever inclined to righteous and lawful deeds, is joyous day and night, and strong, and free from care. But if a man take no heed of the right, and leave undone the things he ought to do, then will the recollection of no one of all his transgressions bring him any joy, but only anxiety and selfreproaching."-DEMOCRITUS.

THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS' MILLENNIAL STAR.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1908.

THE KEYNOTE OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE.

THE seventy-ninth semi-annual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held in Salt Lake City, October 4th, 5th and 6th, 1908, President Joseph F. Smith presiding. It was a grand occasion. The great Tabernacle was filled to overflowing at the opening session on Sunday morning, notwithstanding the downpour of a steady rain, so the Assembly Hall was also utilized, but both buildings proved inadequate to hold the vast crowds that attended, and in the afternoon the Barratt Hall was thrown open and speakers were appointed in each place, so that all might hear the word of God and partake of the spirit of the great gathering of saints from all parts of the world.

The opening address by President Smith was listened to with close attention, and his remarks formed themes on which the several speakers enlarged, to the edification of all present. All the general authorities attended during the conference, except one of the Twelve Apostles, who is presiding over the European mission, and one of the Seven Presidents of the Seventies (Elder George Reynolds) whose health did not permit of his presence. The attendance was very large every day, and the services, with the singing of the great choir and the music of the grand organ, were strikingly impresssve.

One of the most prominent topics dwelt upon by President Smith and by a number of the speakers from day to day, was the promotion of the temperance movement in progress throughout the United States. It was strongly endorsed and advocated. Prohibition was favored wherever practicable, and the closing of drinking saloons and places for the sale of intoxicants was urged, also the enactment and enforcement of Sunday laws. He read Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants, containing what is known as the Word of Wisdom, which forbids the use of intoxicants, tobacco and hot drinks, (i.e., tea and coffee) by the Latter-day Saints, pointed out its benefits and remarked:

"If this law of the Lord, not at first given as a commandment