The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-04-26
SUNDAY SERVICES.

The opening hymn at the services
IN the Tabernacle on Sunday after
noon was the one beginning:
Hark! listen to the trumpeters
They sound for volunteers;
On ZiOn's bright and fJWery mount
Behold the officers.
Prayer by Elder Theodore Nc
/ Kean.
The choir sang the hymn begin
ming:
Behold the great Redeemes died, etc.
ELDER JOHN NICHOLSON ad-
dressed the congregation. He re-
| joiced at having the glorious privi-
lege of being identified with the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
day Saints, which has been restored
through revelation from the Most
High. The saints claimed that God,
in this generation, had raised up a
prophet for the purpose of estab-
fishing his church on the earth for
the last time. If the saints posi-
ton was correct, there must have
DCCll a OCDdl IllC III tllC hO1lu
the system that was preached by
Jesus and his apostles anclently.
That there had been such depart
ure should be plain to ali those who
read the sacred history. The ancient
system had in connection with it the
principle of communication be-
tween heaven and earth. Holy men
wrote and spoke as they were
moved upon by the Holy Ghost.
which was a spirit of revelation.
The officers of the ancient church
enjoyed the gift and power OF
prophecy, by which the church was
governed. When it was desired to
receive the word of the Lord on any
subject, the word was sought and
obtained. The organization OIL
Christ's church was made plain in
the Scriptures, and if it existed to-
day 1t would be similar in its organ
lZation and its officers to what il
was formerly. The people now,
however, almost invariably repudI-
ate that organization, the apostles,
the seventies, the elders, the gifts,
etc. The fact was, the churches OF
the world did not have those officers
and gifts; but that was no reason
why they were not needed. If we
say they are no longer necessary,
then the ministry is no longer re-
quired, for the gifts and powers
were given for the prosecution
of the work of the ministry.
All the gifts, powers, organ
ization and officers that be-
lOnged to the church anciently
were necessary now, and for the
same purposes as they were for
merly A church that claims to be
the church of Christ, but denies rev.
citation, has not the holy ghost and
its consequent gifts. The true
church of Christ had not been on
the earth since revelation from God
ceased, ard without revelation no
man knows whether he is serving
God acceptably or otherwise. The
spirit of revelation was a gift to the
church as q whole, and not to indI-
Ylduals, excepting in one particular
All things relating to the govern
ment OF the church as an organiZa-
zion must come through the head.
which now was President John
Taylor. But as to all else, each per-
son was entitled to revelation for
his own guidance. The ancient
ANTS looked forward to realiZa-
ton of the promises given them
from the earliest ages; that is, when
the Saviour would come, and when
there would be an era of peace ana
all would know the Lord from the
least to the greatest. Some ex-
pected that period earlier than the
time appointed for its coming; but
Paul had said the day should not
come until there had been a falling
away from the church established
by Christ and the apostles. The
saints say the falling away has oc-
CURED, and that there has been a |
restoration of the gospel which |
Christ said would be one of the
signs of his second coming.A Christ
said the gospel should be preached |
to all the earth as a witness, and |
then should the end come. The
principles and doctrines now being
preached were identical with those
taught by Christ, and the organiza-
ton of the church was the same to-
day as formerly; hence the time of
the second coming was near at hand,
this being the last dispensation.
PRESIDENT GEORGE @. CANNON,
follow. d, saying the principles that
had just been advanced were sol
strictly in accord with those taught
in ancient days that every one must
that in order to have a
church of Christ, there must be the e,
spirit of revelation. In the Bible,
the record of Gods dealings with
MS people, from the days of Adam,
down 10 the last apostle of Christ,
we are tod that every man who was
/ follower of the Lord enjoyed the
spirit of revelation. There were
any number of churches, prOfeSsingl
20 be churches of Christ saving the I
canon of scripture was full, that
III the revelations to be given by
Christ had been given, that God had !
ceased to speak and communicated
his mind and will to his children:
hat the channel of revelation had I
brewer closed The natural con- /
fusion from reading the Bible is thatI n
very person belonging to the g
;hurch Of Christ has the privilege n
f receiving revelation, which was +
he Distinguishing characteristic of n
jhrist's Church. II seemed a sim
ular idea that God should leave his Y
kildren to grope in the dark, without
ny means of learning his divine
hind and will concerning the affairs
f the earth. Elder Cannon was
Apply that he lived in day whenI
-Od had again spoken from the
communicating his will to
very person who humbly seeks for
= 1t was cause for thanksgiving
nat people had been gathered who
ere relieved from the discussions
points of the doctrines
Christ. TWAS a natural desire of
ian to know something of God and
is plans OF salvation, and concern
e the future of mankind. Because
cd does not coincide with mans
lea of Him, many deny that there
a God, saying if there were
ne, he would certainly reveal
mself. We cannot comprehend !
cd, nor dictate to him the plan he
lal pursue reg Arding his children.
EN- say it would be easy for him to
veal himself, so that none could
)ubt When the saints preached
lat God had again revealed him.
If they were met by the question,
4 "a 10 - -