nation began its career. It is almost impossible for us in this day to realize how little our revolutionary ancestors knew of the great store of natural resources whose discovery and use have been such vital factors in the growth and greatness of this nation, and how little they required to take from this store in order to satisfy their needs.

"Since then our knowledge and use of the resources of the present territory of the United States have increased a hundredfold. Indeed, the growth of this nation by leaps and bounds makes one of the most striking and important chapters in the history of the world. Its growth has been due to the rapid development, and alas! that it should be said, to the rapid destruction, of our natural resources. Nature has supplied to us in the United States, and still supplies to us, more kinds of resources in a more lavish degree than has ever been the case at any other time or with any other people.

"Since the days when the Constitution was adopted, steam and electricity have revolu tionized the world. Nowhere has the revolution been so great as in our own country. The discovery and utilization of mineral fuels and alloys have given us the lead over all other nations in the production of steel. The discovery and utilization of coal and iron have given us our railways, and have led to such industrial development as has never before been seen. The vast wealth of lumber in our forests, the riches of our soils and mines, the discovery of gold and mineral oils, combined with efficiency of our transportation, have made the conditions of our life unparalleled in comfort and convenience."

In the fulfillment of these remarkable predictions, the hand of Providence is clearly discerned by those whose eyes have been opened by the Spirit of Light and Truth to behold them, and while the people of the world perceive it not, the saints of the Most High acknowledge His hand in all these things, and give praise to Him from whom all blessings flow.-W. A. M.

FAILURE OF PETTY PERSECUTION.

THE following account of an exhibition of spite and intolerance which failed of its purpose is sent to the STAR by Elder K. H. Fridal, Jr., secretary to the Bergen (Norway) conference of the Scandinavain mission:

"A baptism performed here the last of April was witnessed at a distance by a couple of newspaper reporters, and the next day an article appeared in two of the papers giving an account of the same, and also calling the attention of the sanitary commission to us, saying that the ordinance had been performed in water that was used for drinking purposes, which was not true.

"The day after, a police inspector summoned President Borup to appear before the police court, which he did, but nothing was done. They wished him to appear again in the evening with the person that had been baptized, also the elder that had performed the ceremony. As the complaint was against him he did not feel like bringing the others, for it was not for befouling the water that they wanted us punished but for baptizing, as it is against the Norsk law for dissenters to perform that ordinance; so instead he appeared at the appointed time with a lawyer, and then they had to admit that the water used was not drinking water and that the charge would be dismissed.

"It was published in one paper that the complaint against us had been dismissed but all the others were silent, although they had been telling how we were first to be fined for befouling the city water, then for performing the baptism without authority. They do not seem to realize that the authority to baptize comes from God and not from any human government.

"It is not likely that we will be prosecuted for performing the baptism, for there was a similar case in Trondhjem two years ago, when one elder was fined five hundred kroners for baptizing, and two others fifty kroners each for administering the sacrament, but the lower court's judgment was reversed by the higher court, because the 'Mormons' were not counted as 'Christians' in Norway. This case has done much to bring us before the people, as the country papers have taken up the article written by the city papers, and instead of doing us harm has helped us.

"People do not take very much interest in the principles we teach, but it seems that the spirit of indifference is giving way to a desire to investigate, and the outlook is very encouraging that many will accept the truth.

"Our conference convened on the 19th of April, and we had a spiritual feast. The meetings were very well attended, better than they have been for years, and many strangers heard the principles of the gospel for the first time."

MINUTES OF THE sheffield CONFERENCE.

THE Sheffield annual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints convened at 10:30 a.m., in the Cambridge Hall, Sheffield, on Sunday, May 31st, 1908, President James Nisbet presiding. There were present Elder Charles W. Penrose, president of the European Mission, Elder Julian M. Thomas, Manchester conference, Walter M. Jones of the Newcastle conference, and eighteen traveling elders of the Sheffield conference.

After singing and prayer, President James Nisbet made opening remarks, expressing great pleasure in meeting with the saints and friends, and extended a hearty welcome to all present. The general and local authorities of the Church were presented and unanimously sustained, after which the statistical report for the last seven months was read, approved and ordered filed.

Elder Thomas Kirshaw reported the Doncaster branch as being in a progressive condition, love and unity abounding and all enjoying the blessings of the Lord.

The Higham branch was reported by Elder John J. Hendry. The saints are united and show their love of the gospel by attending meetings. The M. I. A., Sunday School and Bible classes are also well attended. Bore testimony how he had been blessed by

spreading the truth amongst the people, and exhorted all to live up to the requirements of the gospel.

President Penrose expressed great joy in meeting with the saints of the Sheffield conference again and listening to such favorable reports. Stated that we were called Latter-day Saints to distinguish us from the former-day saints. We should examine ourselves to see if we are saints or mearly called saints. Each person must judge for himself. Instructed the saints concerning tithing and fast offerings. The Lord has promised blessings to those that are obedient. As Christ is at the head of the Church so should the husband be at the head of the family. The husband and wife should work unitedly together that there may be joy and peace in the home. The children should grow up to respect the teachings of their parents in the same way that mankind should obey the teachings of God.

At the afternoon session Elder Stanley H. Rich reported the Sheffield branch. He said the auxiliary organizations are well attended and much good has been accomplished. Spoke briefly upon the personality of God. Elder Joseph Davison spoke upon the organization of the Church and its growth. Bore a strong testimony to the truth of the gospel and that it is a saving power to all that obey its principles as taught by the Latter-day Saints. Elder Joseph Tingey was thankful for the testimony God had given him concerning the great latter-day work, and of being called to proclaim repentance unto mankind.

A solo was then rendered by Elder Julian M. Thomas, entitled, "The Promise of Life."

President Penrose then spoke, commenting upon the song just rendered. Took for his text the quotation from the song, “Heaven shall make perfect our imperfect lives." Our life at present is subject to the ailments of the flesh, having to pass through pain, sickness, disease and death. Spoke upon the creation of man prior to the fall, after which he quoted from the Book of Mormon to show that Adam fell that men might be. At present people often complain of the trials and the sufferings of this life, and wonder where the justice of God comes in. He showed the need of experience in opposites. He stated that when our life is made perfect we will understand the wisdom of God in permitting such conditions. God does not ask anything of us that His only begotten Son did not pass through. Spoke upon the sufferings of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. Exhorted the Saints to be faithful in keeping the commandments of God, and not complain when affliction comes upon them, but to feel that the Lord does all things for the best. Conference reconvened at 6:30 p.m., the hall being filled and a good spirit prevailing.

Elder Heber C. Mansfield, who had been honorably released to return home, bore testimony to the truthfulness of the Gospel, and said that it had been established for the last time.

Elder Richard Jefferies spoke upon the restoration of the Gospel, and exhorted those who had just received baptism to prove faithful and thus obtain the blessings.

Elder Julian M. Thomas rendered the solo entitled, "Calvary." President Penrose commenced by speaking upon the life of Christ and the atonement He brought about. Showed the respect that Christ had for the law and divine authority by waiting until He was thirty years of age before commencing His ministry. In order to officiate as High Priest it was necessary to wait until that age. He fulfilled the law of Moses and gave the higher law of the everlasting gospel. Christ obeyed the principles of the gospel in every particular. He entered the sheepfold by baptism in order to fulfill all righteousness. Proved from the scriptures that it is impossible to enter the kingdom of God without obeying this principle. He briefly mentioned the conflicting theories of Christendom to-day, which are in fulfillment of ancient prophecy regarding the universal apostasy. Showed how the gospel in its fulness would be established in the last days, and that a book, the "Stick of Joseph"-the Book of Mormon-should be joined with the "Stick of Judah"-the Bible-to confound the false doctrines that now prevail. Bore a strong testimony to the divinity of the mission of Joseph Smith and the restoration of the everlasting gospel.

All the meetings were largely attended, many strangers and investigators being present.

Priesthood meeting was held in the Building Trades' Exchange, Saturday afternoon, at 2 o'clock. The elders gave their reports for the past seven months, after which President Penrose gave many valuable instructions. A number of questions were asked and satisfactorily answered.

THOMAS ALSTON, Clerk of Conference.

KEEP THE HEART TENDER.

Keep the heart tender, kindly, and true;
Water it freely with Love's gentle dew;
Garner its harvests of rich burnished gold;
Let in the sunshine, and shut out the cold.

Keep the heart tender with flowers of kind deeds,

And the sweets of their perfume will choke out the weeds:
And the soft beams of Pity, of Mercy, and Love

Will yield to the glory that gleams from above.

Keep the heart tender with sweet, loving words,

And they'll fill it with music like the warble of birds

In the heart of the forest-so joyful and clear,
When the birds are awaking in the spring-time of year!

Keep the heart tender with holy desires,

And they'll freshen its altars and quench the fierce fires
Of Hatred and Envy, of sins ever new;

Keep the heart tender, pure, kindly and true.

SELECTED.

THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS' MILLENNIAL STAR.

THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1908.

AN OLD SLANDER REVIVED AND REFUTED.

SOME of the clergy in these parts are circulating an article from an encyclopædia giving purported particulars of the origin of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or "Mormons" as the term is popularly used, and prominent in the sketch is the oftrepeated, but thoroughly-refuted "fairy-tale" about the Book of Mormon having been copied from a religious romance written by Rev. Solomon Spaulding, but never published. The theory set forth was that Spaulding's tale, called "The Manuscript Found," was submitted in 1814 to a Pittsburg publisher by the name of Patterson; that it passed into the hands of Sidney Rigdon, and in some manner unexplained was obtained by the young man, Joseph Smith, born December 23, 1805, who palmed it upon the world as a revelation from God.

The connection between Sidney Rigdon and Joseph Smith entirely failed, except that after the Book of Mormon had been printed and published and the Church had been organized, two of the Elders traveling in Ohio met with Sidney Rigdon and showed him a copy of the book, and he subsequently joined the Church and became one of its leading ministers. The connection between Patterson, the printer, and Sidney Rigdon, was also a matter of conjecture, but it was stated that Rigdon was a printer in Patterson's office. That, however, fell to the ground, because Rigdon was not a printer and never worked in the Patterson office. That he knew nothing concerning the Book of Mormon or the Spaulding Story has been demonstrated in the clearest and most positive manner, by affidavits which have been published over and over again, but this seems to have no weight with the reverend gentlemen who circulate the falsehoods, as they need some theory to account for the Book of Mormon other than the truth, and the Spaulding myth seems to suit them better than anything else that could be concocted for that purpose.

The discovery of the original "Manuscript Found" written by Solomon Spaulding, ought to have put a quietus on the widely circulated claim, that it was in any way a foundation for the Book of Mormon. This discovery was made by Professor James H.