At the general conference of the Church held in April, 1920, the one hundredth anniversary of the Prophet’s vision of the Father and the Son, was fittingly observed. The remarks of the brethren who spoke had a bearing on the great work accomplished by the Prophet and the authenticity of his vision. The Improvement Era, the organ of the priesthood quorums of the Church, and the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association, devoted the April number to special articles dealing with the theme of the Vision, and other magazines did the same. A cantata by Evan Stephens, “The Vision,” which was prepared for the occasion, was rendered before a crowded house in the tabernacle, and special topics were considered in the several wards, following the conference.

Ninety years before (1830) the Church was organized with but six members. In 1920 it numbered several hundred thousands. Its property in meeting houses, tabernacles, temples and other necessary buildings, was valued at many millions of dollars. There were 83[1] stakes of Zion, 871 organized wards and 83 branches within those stakes. Missionary work had been carried to various parts of the earth, and there were 24 regularly established missions with numerous conferences and branches. Each stake of Zion contained a high priests’ quorum, and there were 209 quorums of seventy. The total number of men holding the Melchizedek Priesthood was 57,600 and the total number holding the Aaronic Priesthood was 49,780. Many thousands of young people were enrolled in the auxiliary organizations of the Church, and it was conceded by many ministers of other churches, that the “Mormon” Sunday Schools were the best that could be found in all the world.[2]

The Church at the close of the first one hundred years of its history, dating from the Prophet’s vision in 1820, was looked upon as a power in the earth for good by the great and wise men of the nations. Knowledge of its work had been brought to the attention of kings, presidents and rulers of the earth. The prospects before it for advancement and growth were bright, and it appeared that the prophecy of Isaiah was about to be fulfilled:

“Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; . . . lift up a standard for the people.

“Behold the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

“And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD; and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.” —Isaiah 62:10–12

Notes

[1. ] Three other stakes have since been organized.

[2. ] At a synod held in Salt Lake City, in September 1921, at which the ministers of the Episcopal Church of the Fourth Province of the Pacific assembled, Rev. W. F. Bulkley said: “We may learn much from the Mormon Church; it has the best Sunday school organization of any church in the world.” —Salt Lake Tribune, September 9, 1921, p. 15.

Appendix: The Auxiliary Organizations of the Church

In addition to the quorums of the priesthood, there are in the Church a number of helpful organizations known as the auxiliary organizations. These are: The National Woman’s Relief Society, The Deseret Sunday School Union, The Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association, The Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Association, and The Primary Association. There are two other organizations which are not classed as auxiliaries, namely, The Religion Classes—an adjunct of the Church School system —and the Genealogical Society of Utah, which is closely related in its work to the temples.

A brief statement of the organization, accomplishments and aims of these societies is here given.