The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-02-01
SUNDAY SERVICES.

How firm a foundation, ye saints Of III
Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellen
world
What more can he say than to you b,
hath sid,
You who unto Jesus for refuge hav,
fed?
Prayer byElder Edward Stevenson.
The choir sang the hymn begin
ming:
School thy feelings oh my brother,
Train thy warm impulsive soul,
Do not its emotions smother,
But let Wisdom's voice control.
ELDER G. BYWATER addressed the
congregation. He said there waI
one unerring method OF deter
mining the value of subjects
and matters pertaining 10 humanity,
and the method was the one
determining the resultssot those sub
jects or matters. That method reached
Up into the realm OF mind, spread
ing itself over the entire field OF
thought. Jesus had given the rule
the tree is known by its fruit; men
do not gather grapes from thistles
nor figs from thoIns. The surround
ings Of the saints, their comforts and
pleasures did not determine the true
character Of their religion. At other
places there are costly churches,
mRgnifcentlY finished and furnished,
showing a remarkable development
of the sciences, arts and industries.
But here, what exciLes attention, lie
the faith Of the esints. There was 8
marked distinction between that
faith and the faiths Of the Christian
sects of the world. The difference
consisted in the saints having sc.
cepted Christianity as a whole,
whereas other denominations had &C.
cepted it in part. The saints accepted
it as heaven revealed it, with all its
obligations. ordinances, etc. They re-
cognized Christianity as all being for
and Supplying to man, supplying ali
his wants and developing all his attri-
butes. It was because the saints Rc-
cepted Christianity in its entirety,
that the Christian world fought
against them. The world said its
opposition was because the saints
Dracticed certain principles that we're
to Christianity, but this was
not true. The Christian world was
DOT engaged in the pursuit Of the Lord,
but we're developing secular ideas
and industries. The saints placed at
. discount the fractional, deteriorated
Christianity Of the world, and thereby
ave ofense. Envy marked our race
q oil stages Of progress. whether in
piritual or secular affairs. There
Vss a vein of charity running through
Ill phases of Christianity, yet the
Tickedest and bloodiest prosecutions
bad come from those protesting to be |
followers of Jesus. The ignorance
and superstition that hsd melted men
10 persecution of their fellows were
not the product OF Christianity in its
purity. The history of the Latter-dsy
saints had been before the world for
many years, and should convince the
.audid that the conduct of the world |
oRards them vas similar to the con-
luct Of the world towards former
lay saints. The saints had received |
he gospel through the several stages
II progress, since its revelation in this
until today; it came
gradually and by degrees, growing
stronger and showing more and more,
Until it was full. 1t came line upon
inc, prsoept upon precept, here q
title aud there little. They first
eceived it in the simplicity of their
minds as a message from God, not
ully understanding nor compre-
lending it; but they WeIe finally
enabled to grasp it, and were pro-
claiming it as the plan for universal
Aviation to the world. Very naturally
hey encountered opposition. Human
nature seemed to make opposition
necessary, though it was not pure
that melted to that oppo-
ition. Christ never taught to coerce
men into an acceptance of the gospel,
,ut taught peace and persuasion.
% also had not the saints employed
orce to bring men into the fold.
They had shown q degree of charity
which the Christian world had not
towards them. The saints
lad been prosecuted and oppressed,
,ut they had received evidence OF the
divinity of their faith, and had con-
inued to grow, spread and gain
trength. Opposition had helped
hem to advance. Those who thought
D crush or suppress the religion Of
he saints by persecution, we're poor
eaders of human history. Truth
would prevail. 1t could not be de-
troyed. The ssints we're seeking to
10 good to all men, and evil to none,
md they had come to the conclusion
hat God would approve their con-
luct. Storms may gather, and
rouble hover, but the darkest hour ia
ust before day.
ELDER @. w. PENRosE followed
With brief discourse on the subject
If the saints faith. That faith was
lot confined to q certain mum Der OF
enets, nor was it bound by. the Bible.
There were principles connected with
heir faith which went beyond all the
aiths of the Christian world. tt
,ontrsdicts nothing in the Bible, but
vent beyond that. The doctrines bad
been sent to them by revelation in
heir own time, and therein was the
Inference between them and the doc.
rines of the various sects, The latter
iound their doctrines in the Bible,
which was the foundation of all
,reeds. They did not look to present
but stopped with the writ
en word as it had been given in
iormer ages. They did not think
nan could commune with his maker,
lut that the canon of scripture is full.
The saints believe in the Bible, that
God inspired holy men OF old. believe
10 Jesus Christ and his teachings and
those of his apostles, but their faith
wss founded upon revelation from
God in the present age, through in
spired men of this time. They be-
lived the way WAS still open for re-
ceiyiDg further communication
the same source; hence
their faith was not full.
They believed that they had
the power to receive revelation from
the same holy spirit which had re-
vealed few things to them. and that
they would continue to receive reve-
lations as they required them, not
only in this world. but in the world to