From Deseret News archives:
Church out of debt, faithful told in 1907
"Profitable investments made long ago furnish the revenue necessary for that purpose Past year has been prosperous and people are happy and united as never before," the News article continued.
Among the more obvious differences from General Conference today to 100 years ago is the technology available. Without radio and television, those who wanted to hear it had to at least be within Temple Square.
And without a sound system to amplify the sermons meant a "three-ring circus" at Temple Square. Three separate meetings actually were being held at the General Conference gatherings of that era.
Approximately 6,000 people were in the Tabernacle hearing President Joseph F. Smith and other general authorities. The overflow convened in the nearby Assembly Hall, where they heard a different slate of speakers, under the direction of Elder Heber J. Grant of the Quorum of the Twelve.
Sunday, April 7, 1907, also featured "the greatest number of people ever gathered on the tabernacle grounds," the News reported.
Another General Conference difference was that the semi-annual gathering lasted three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Friday agenda included a special evening concert in the Tabernacle, following morning and afternoon sessions.
"Crowds throng city's streets" was a News headline from April 4, 1907. "Conference visitors coming in from all parts of the West." It was reported that 700 people arrived for conference on one train, many of them from Richfield. At least 3,000 people were expected to come to town just for conference, jamming all hotels. Merchants prepared for record business, and fair weather prevailed.
Spectacular floral displays on the Temple Square grounds delighted visitors then, as they do now. Even in the absence of a yet-to-be-created Church Welfare System, church leaders reported that year that the church was sending 20 tons of breadstuff to famine sufferers in the Orient.
Other topics covered by conference speakers a century ago:
Comments
- Lawmaker warns of budget shortfall 11:09 p.m.
- Fewer H1N1 cases reported in S.L. 11:09 p.m.
- Conference touts locally grown foods 11:08 p.m.
- Sports briefs 11:08 p.m.
- Refinery video to be released 11:07 p.m.
- Weber's Toone gets another honor 11:06 p.m.
- Activist's necessity defense barred 10:58 p.m.
- National news capsules 10:54 p.m.
- World datelines 10:53 p.m.
- Gunmen abduct, kill 13 in Baghdad 10:50 p.m.
- MWC expand? Get rid of deadweight
- Relieved Cougs prep for Falcons
- Wounded Utes limp home
- Jazz rookies had to grow up quickly
- Big games keep UHSAA coffers full
- Barzee is expected to plead guilty
- Sloan misses practice
- RSL surprised by Chicago's Fire
- Low in vit. D? Beware heart disease
- Jazz notes: Young bigs ride bench
- TCU creams U.
233 - BYU happy to escape with victory
232 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
226 - Will state consider gay rights law?
162 - RSL heads to MLS title game
134 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
133 - MWC expand? Get rid of deadweight
122 - TCU stays 4th in AP; Y. 19th, U. 23rd
115 - 5A: Bingham rolls to title game
108 - Bennett at center of GOP storm
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