The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-06-15
TABERNACLE SERVICES.


thing that all we're interested In. Inc
gospel had been revealed IN this, the
dispensation OF the fuluess OF times,
hence the saints we're highly priv
legsd people in living in Ihis genera
ton, and meeting together and
speaking concerning the ways OF God.
Il was very important that the saints
should learn and understand the
Lords will concerning them and what
hs desired at their hands. 1t was
true they bad the Bible. containing
tae word of God as spoken many
generations age; they had the Book
OF Mormon. which had been revealed
in tits age; but they also had revela-
tions received from heaven, through
| Joseph Smith, the organizer OF the
church. telling them how they should
live and whsl they SHOULD DO. Some
refused to receive and believe these
revelations, though hundreds and
| thousands were ready to testify to
taeir truth. II ell believed and &C.
ceDtsd the warning, the Scriptures
would not be fulfilled, as the latter
had foretold the unbelicf. The ssiutl
we're engaged in 3 great work,
namely, the building up of Gods
kingdom, and the establishing of his
principles Oh the earth. 1t was little
to them what the world thought of
their work; their dutiea remained the
same. Fifty years mad passed away
since the Lord had said his coming
was nigh. He warned the world tina!
certain judgments would come upon
the earth. and the speaker thought
some Of them had already come,
though the world refused to acknow-
ledge them. But this rejection did
net relieve the saints from their
duties, which were 10 go ahead and
prepare for the coming OF the Lord
and Savior, who would soon be here.
In times past the Lord had COM
manded bis people to perform certain
| LAHORE. and row be had told the
saints what they were to do. They
must not neglect his commands, and
should ask themselves If they had
obeyed his orders. and were prepared
for hig coming. The Lord had COM
manded the building of certain
temples in lhis territory. He had
communicated to the saints the
objects and purposes of those temples.
and the people should work faithfully
in completing the structures. Elder
Rich believed this was being done.
Referring again to revelations from
heaven the speaker ssid those given
in ancient time did not seem TO
answer for all that was required In
these times. It seem d to be that
revelation was necessary nov and at
81! time, TO teach and direct The peo-
pie in their duties. 1t was important
tba. the people should know cOntinu-
ally what the Lord required OF them.
Elder Rich declared that he knew for
himself that God had revealed bis
gospel in this generation. He cared
not whether others believed lis lesti-
mony or rejected it, as it vas trus,
and the responsibility rested with
MIN who rejected it. The kingdom
OF GCd now established upoa the
earth you'd stand, and nothing could |
prevail against it; God had said it,
and his word would come true. The
speaker exported the people 70 be
faithful to Gods commands in order
that they might receive the blessings
promised by bin to those who obeyed |
him and accepted his teachings
ELDER OLSON PRATT next addressed !
the congregation. He regretted his
III health, which made it somewhat
Difficult! 1T timsg to spesk for the
instruction and ediGcaiioG of the
saints in relation to the principles CT
salvation, though he was ever ready
to do all that be cOlld. Turning TO
the subject of revelation from heaven.
the elder said that without the spirit
of revelation it was impossible for one
to be saved in the kingdom OF God.
Some would question this statement
ia view of the fact thai revelation had
not been OF the earth for eighteen
hundred yesrs, which would argue
lhat our fathers were not saved. The
sneaker said that he did lot mean
that our fathers were not saved Ia
come place, but they we're net saved
in the kingdom and presence OF God.
There we're degrees OF glory hereafter,
and the children OF this earth would
receive all that they we're entitled 10;
all that they had lived for, hut
nothing more. The gospel was IL
tended to exalt those who accepted 1t
to the highest degree Of glory, where
God himself, and bis son Jesus Christ
dwell. The speaker did not mean to
SAY that God was confined 20 one
place, to one mansion, to a celestial
abode He had power TO watt him
self to all parts OF his vast dcminions,
and tina. going implied time. How
much time was involved, Elder Pratt
could not say, but he believed the
going was much swiiter than the
velocity of light. 1t was cut OF the
question for Us to believe that God
could be IN two places at one time;
though some of the religions asserted
that be was everywhere IN infinite
space st the same Instant. II Il good
man dies 1t is said he is in the pres
ence Of God; does this mean that he
has traversed space to the celes'la!
abode o! God? The speaker thought,
not. His idea was that il the veil
surrounding the earth we're removed,
We could see God, and would be IL
his presence; and that there belng 70
veil before Gods eyes, he wac COLI
stantly in our presence. After death,
after the veil had been removed,
mortal eyes ceuld pierce illimi'ab.e
space, and man could zee God, as he
sees us. The speaker WAS ID hopes
that when be got on the ether side OF
the veil, it would not be so difficult
for him to understand tie science OF
this earth. He was 10 hopes OF being
able in y short time to gain moe
kno3ledpe OF the universe snd Its
laws, than it Was possible 10 obtain
on earth in thousands OF years.
| These thoughts inspired bis hesIt
with joy. he did not conhne his
| hone to the learning in this little
/ earth. but ne looked forward to the
great hereafter when he could learn
further and more, and where men
might become sons Of gods, and even
gods. they we're the children OF God,
and WY should they not become like
their faiheIl He thought they would,
and that men would be gods IN
heaven, It might be said tbst two
1 "a 81, -, a o. 70