The Utah Conference and Camp-Meeting by E. W. Farnsworth

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 5, 1911

The Utah Conference and Camp-Meeting

By E. W. Farnsworth

In company with Elder J. N. Loughborough and Brother J. J. Ireland, I attended the tenth annual session of the Utah Conference, at Salt Lake City, August 28 to September 4. The camp-meeting was held in connection with the conference, though it could hardly be called a camp-meeting, as there was but one tent pitched, and that was the pavilion in which evening services were held. Meetings in this tent had been held evenings for some time by Brethren W. L. Sims and L. E. Leavett. There was a good interest manifested by the people who came.

The conference and other meetings held during the day convened in the church. This building is a modest structure, yet was large enough to accommodate all who came to the conference. The meeting was small, not more than one hundred being in attendance at any time; but the conference membership is small, numbering only two hundred.

The meeting was a good one. Not a discordant note nor impatient remark was heard in any of the proceedings. The Spirit and blessing of God was present in every meeting, and brotherly love prevailed.

There was great freedom in speaking the word both to our own people and to those who came from without. Elder Loughborough’s labors were very helpful, and were greatly appreciated by all.

The business of the conference was transacted with despatch and harmony. Elder D. A. Parsons was elected president, with Brethren W. L. Sims, W. O. Willard, Samuel Elsner, and L. E. Leavett associated with him on the committee. Otis J. Fisher was elected secretary and the treasurer, and J. G. Smith field missionary agent.

Resolutions were adopted expressing gratitude to God for his goodness, and for prosperity; expressing sympathy and love for Sister B. Winifred Hunter, the former secretary and treasurer, in her serious illness; recommending that their portion of the $300,000 Fund be raised during the present year; approving the plan of starting a conference school; voting to discontinue the health food department in the tract society; guarding the sacredness of the tithe; favoring the raising of funds for the poor by contributions; contributing ten per cent of their tithe to the General Conference; recommending the raising of fifteen cents per capita each week for foreign missions; and urging the revival of the missionary spirit in distributing our truth-filled literature.

In the discussion of all these resolutions much interest was manifested, and the brethren and sisters showed a willingness to do all in their power to forward the message. Utah is not an easy field in which to labor. The “Gentile” element, as it is known, is not large. The Mormons control and mold everything except in Salt Lake City. Their organization is so complete, their opposition so intense, their prejudice so blind, that it is difficult to make rapid progress; and yet there has been a steady gain.

It is in Utah as elsewhere,—opposition from without may do something and may hinder somewhat; but that which hurts and hinders the cause the most, and wounds it the deepest, is the wounds “with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.” The church, the cause, can truly say with the individual member,—

“But of all the foes we meet, None so apt to turn our feet, None betray us into sin, Like the foes we have within.”

The laborers in Utah are drawing together, and the believers are drawing near to one another, and God is drawing near to all. We confidently expect there will be prosperity in the third angel’s message in that conference the coming year.

E. W. FARNSWORTH.