The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-12-13

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The choir then sang the hymn on
page 16I:
Ye children of our God,
Ye saints Of latter days,
Surround the table of the Lord
And join to sing his przise
PRESIDENT JOHN TAYLOR adj
dressed the congregation. L am
pleased to again meet with the
saints here. Since our last confer.
ence [ have travelled a great deal in
different parts Of the territory, ac-
companied by some of the brethren,
and personally l have visited all the
leading settlements of the saints,
north, south, east and west. 1t may
not be unintereSting to hear brief
statement OF the position occupied
by the saints in their various lOca-
lions, because all should feel inter
eSted in all. 1t has been very inter-
esting to me and the others, to find
the true position which the saints
occupy, and know what their
standing is in a religious sense,
and to ascertain what their moral
status is, and how they conducted
themselves, not only religiously, but
socially; and to inquire as to the
educational sentiments of the saints;
also as to how they stood IN relation
to the nation Of which we form a
part. We felt DESTROYS TO do this be-
cause many of the saints live far
from here. We have not travelled
less, perhaps than 500 miles in a
straight line north and south, be-
sides the settlements east and west;
and the sentiments we have heard
expressed are very encouraging
Temporarily, the people seem to be
in the possession of fair share of
the comforts Of life; their self
abnegation, and the disposition to
adhere to moral and religious prin-
ciples, and their indomitahle indu-
STRIP, have induced the Lord to bless
them. We do not find very many
wealthy persons, as may be found
elsewhere, but in regard to the ne
cessarieS and comforts of life, no
place and no people, to my know
ledge, are better provided for in this
regard than the people of Utah, and
those in the adjoining territories
which we have visited. We find
thousands of happy homes filled
with a God-fearing people. Gene
rally they have good houses, farms,
orchards, cattle, sheep, etc., and all
that tends to promote the enjoyment
of life. The season too has been a
very successful Ole; the Lord has
blessed them, and their crops have
been increased fully % per cent.
They are generally seeking to OBJ
serve their religion and to keep
the commandments of God.
Similar organizations to those
which we have here prevail in all
the settlements. All of these insti-
buttons are in a very credltable con-
ditiop, and are managed by men and
women of acknowledged honor.
Very great progress is being made
in our district schools. a superior
class of intelligence being employed
as teachers, and it is apparent that
the operations of the University
and of the Brigham Young Ac-
ademy at Provo are telling favor
| ably upon our youth. AS better
teachers are obtained there seems TO
be a greater desire among the peO-
pie to obtain these teachers. There
are some thirty normal stu Tents
turned out of these schools every
year. They return among their own
people qualified as instructors, and
they are doing a great deal OF good
in their respective communities.
In regard to the building of tenn
pies, the people also ares progressing
very favOrably. [ need say nothing
of the one they are building here
The one at Logan is covered in. 1t
is beautiful building and occupies
a commanding position. In Sanpete
County another temple is being
built, which also occupies very
eligible position. A large amount
| of labor has been expended in pre-
pairing the position. The point of
mountain has been removed and
three territories are built, which
surround the temple in a sort OF
semi-circle. The plan of the temple
is very beautiful, and they ex-
pect to put up another square
next season; they have put III
| twenty-eight feet this season. The
rock is very white. It is interesting
to find how strong the feelings OF
| the people are drawn out for the
prosecution of the labor on these
edifces. There have been in the
neighborhood of 800 men steadily
| employed on these buildings since
their commencement.
We did not receive our ideas from
any theologian or any scientist, but
| from the Almighty; and TO him
we are indebted for all light and al
intelligence. Therefore we feel oul
dependence upon him. Nor are We
indebted to any man for any doc
trine, for our organization. or fOl
any priesthood; but to the Lold
Had he not given these things te
us, we should have been as ignorant
of them to-day as are the rest o.
mankind. Thus the dispensatiOn o
time having been reached, it became
necessary that men should be laugh
of the Almighty, and that Coo
should be their instructor, and tina
fhovy should i-nOxr ThOSn princInl p,