The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-06-28
Sunday SERVICES.


day, June 26th, 1881.
The choir sang the hymn on pag
100:
Lord, we come before thee now,
At thy feet we humbly bow;
Do not Lord our suit disdsiD;
Shall we seek thee, Lord, in vain?
Prayer by Elder Edward Smell
grove. The choir sang the hymn
commencing:
We here approach thy table, Lord,
At thy command through chosen men;
Oh. may each heart with one accord
Thy spirit feel, inspiring them
This pesc full Sabbath day we come
To drink this cup, to eat this bread,
In memory Of the days to come,
When we shall cit with our great head
ELDER JOHN NICHOLSON adj
dressed the congregation: 1 have
been unexpectedly called on to adj
dress you. I desire that you give
me your faith and sympathy, that
may speak clearly whatsoever may
be put in my mind by the holy spirit.
l rave no special subject laid out on
which to speak, and am therefore
dependent on the inspiration of the
moment. 1t has ever been the priV-
llege of the servants Of God to en-
JOY portion of this spirit to aid
them in their ministry. This con-
gregation is very largely composed
of those who believe with myself in
the doctrines of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. There
are doubtless many who do not I'M
derstand these doctrines and who are
DESTROYS of gaining information
regarding us. There is one particu-
lar point to which | desire to call
the attention of this congregation.
A prevailing opinion exists, that
there is among the Latter-day Saints
a species of bondage, or serfdom,
and that two or three men exercise
a power almost despotic. From an
experience in this church lasting
half my life, my Judgment has been
taught that the Latterday Saints
are free people. The very element
of the doctrines is freedom, for the
greatest serfdOm Of the world is the
result of evil. l do not wish to say
the church or the people are free
from evil. Such would not be true /;
it would not be consistent; but
there is one feature connected with
Cur church which is glorious-that
so far as the laws are concerned all,
high or low, must subscribe to
them alike. However, there is an
organization and an order, and it
extends to the beautiful from that
all the main measures Of this work,
in order to be in accord with the
strict law Of this church, must
have the consent of the people be-
fore they became binding on the
people. We have a book, called the
Book of Doctrine and Covenants,
containing the revelations Of Jesus
Christ, through the Prophet Joseph
Smith. To show you that what |
have said is according to the
law Of the church, | will read
4 portion from the Doctrine
and Covenants, found in the revela-
ton of July, 1S3O-that all things
shall be done by the consent of the
people. Therefore, here is no one
man power here; there can be no
despotism. There exists among this
people a reverence for law that [
have not seen in any community in
which l have mingled. There is q
despotism, almost phenomenal, now
existing in the world, particularly
in Europe; a desire to throw off
every species of restraint. Because
of the increase of this influence in
the hearts of the people, the govern
mentS of Europe are being shaken
from centre to circumference. We
not only hear Of threateningS to de-
stroy governments that are existing,
but attempts are actually in pro-
gress. l might draw your attention
to the fact that the revelations of
Joseph Smith pointed to this cOndi-
ton of affairs, and that his revela-
lions referred directly to the exist
ence of such things. 1t is the spirit
of this church, however, to recog-
nize and observe laws that tend to
the good government of mankind.
1t is true, that European govern
ments are not based upon correct
principles. 1t may be asked: If you
Latter-day Saints have such great
regard for the law, why is it that
you make exceptions? Why is it
that you refuse to obey one
law referring to the polyg-
gamy law of 1862. The rea-
son is that we regard the
Constitution of the United States
as sacred, and the will of the Lord
as supreme The Constitution of this
land says that Congress shall
have no power to pass laws taking
away or interfering with the rights
of religious worship. 1t may be
argued, it is nevertheless law; but
l lay it down as my own individual
opinion that no law can be legal
which interferes with my just rights.
It is said that our system is not a
part Of religion. 1t is my fervent
hope that [ may never get into
position where any person or
persons are allowed to dictate what
Shall be my faith. When that day
comes, then farewell to religious
liberty! 1t is said that our religion
iS ObnOxiOuS tO others on the same