Deseret News April 5 49 Brigham City Woman Named Utahs Mother RECEIVES HONOR Mrs. Abbie Rees Madsen, Brigham City, has been named Utah Mother for year 1949 PRICE Mrs. Abbie Rees Madsen of Brigham City, has been named Utah mother of 1949, Mrs. Sheldon Allred, Price, chairman of the American Mothers Committee of the Golden Rule Foundation, announced Tuesday. Mrs. Madsen, wife of Roland A. Madsen, automatically becomes the Utah candidate for the American Mother of the Year selection which takes place in New York in April. She will attend the American Mother Institute at New York City, May 4 and 5 at which time the National mother will be officially presented. The Utah mother of 1948 was born Dec. 22, 1893, in Brigham City, Utah, a daughter of David and Laura Burbank Rees. She was married to Mr. Madsen Jan. 24, 1906, in the Salt Lake Temple. She is the mother of fourteen children, thirteen of them living. Mrs. Madsen is a gifted writer, her poems having appeared in various Church publications, as well as in both issues of Utah Sings. She has also written several songs. During the last war she completed one hundred hours service for the American Red Cross. Her Church activities have been many and varied. She served fifteen years on the stake Relief Society board, president of the YWMIA, Relief Society class leader, and on the stake Sunday School board. In addition, she served as library board member, newspaper correspondent, and on the county board of National Home and Family Living program. Her sons and daughters are Roland W. Madsen, Salt Lake City; Mrs. Lola M. Tingey, Logan; Mrs. Mildred M. Stowe, Ogden; Clyde R. Madsen, Elko, Nev.; Mrs. Grace M. Pratt, Ventura, Calif.; Mrs. Amy M. Beecher, Brigham City; Mrs. Laura M. Webber, Greeley, Colo. Mrs. Afton M. Bingham, Honeyville; Carl R. Madsen, Logan; Milton R. Madsen, Salt Lake City; Dorothy Madsen, Ogden, and Delbert R. and Fred R. Madsen, Logan. There are thirty eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren EDITORIALS We stand for the constitution of the United States with its three departments of government as therein set forth, each one fully independent in its own field. Salt Lake City, Utah The Deseret News Friday, April 8, 1949 A Twentieth Century Conference A SPIRIT of unity, and especially of practicality application of the truths of the gospel here and now was an outstanding feature of the 119th General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. Restored to health after recent illness, President George Albert Smith spoke with power and inspiration at four of the six general sessions and also in the general priesthood meeting. An apostle of love and good will himself, he attracts the same affection he feels toward all men; it is doubtful if there has been anyone in our generation who has been loved so much by so many. His people were filled with a deep sense of gratitude and thanksgiving that he was back again to bless, counsel, warn, and exhort all of which he did with vigor and authority. Speaking Monday morning, April 4, the 79th anniversary of his birth, he told of his life, labors, and call to the ministry. He renewed the age old counsel of all the prophets that the people should keep Gods commandments, thereby meriting happiness in their lives. Stay on the Lords side of the line, he said. All righteousness is on his side of the line; all happiness is on his side of the line. Current use of eternal truths as guides to life and conduct was stressed by the speakers at this conference. They were not befuddled by the higher criticism of the faithless, nor was their vision beclouded as to the concrete applications of the ageless truths to modern conditions. The theme that ran through the Conference was that the gospel is not static, but alive and vibrant. It meets present needs. A soul is just as important in the sight of God in this day as anciently. At this conference the counsels of the brethren were more concrete than abstract, more practical than theoretical, and as modern and up to date as the twentieth century. The modern leaders wrestled with modern problems, applied the eternal laws of the gospel to them, and announced the Churchs stand on the specific moral issues of the day. The people were told, without circumlocution, to support those in political office who would uphold and sustain the standards of right living. Utah legislators who fought off attempts to give the state sale of liquor by the drink, who put down a move to legalize gambling in connection with horse racing, and who strove to enact a Sunday closing law for business were commended. The Saints were not left to guess whether they should join secret and oath bound organizations. They were told to withdraw from them, to leave them entirely, and to devote their time and energies in their priesthood quorums. Sunday golf, Sunday skiing, and other commercial Sunday amusements were condemned by name. Slot machines, cards, gambling, vulgar stories, and vulgarity and obscenity of every sort were cited as offensive in the sight of God. Petting parties, unchastity, disloyalty, irreverence, and faith destroying teaching by educators were named as offenseg against God and man. Divorce was specified as a serious evil, not just in general terms, but husbands and wives were told the dreadful consequences to themselves and their children of the modern trend toward drifting apart. Strong appeals were made to preserve the sanctity of the home, to teach children the principles of truth and light, chastity and morality, to pray, and to have faith in their Redeemer. It was pointed out that the elders of the Church are to both warn the people and preach the restored gospel. Warning was given concerning efforts being made by both religious and secular groups to make inroads among us, teaching that there is no religious significance to the use of liquor, tobacco and kindred things, and that one may be a good Christian and still indulge. The Saints were warned to view these teachers in their true light, and to accept the inspired direction of the leadership of the true Church of God.The 119th Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints filled its purpose. The work was established more firmly on the earth. It was a great gathering, of a great people, for a great purpose. Those who attended were not disappointed.