The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-01-04
SUNDAY SERVICES.
The opening hymn at the services
in the Assembly Hall on Sunday
aflarnnnn uas fhe nna beeinning:

2IL6FnOOn Vas tES OuC DSBsuniB6s
A.ll hall the newborn year!
Thrice welcome to the saints,
Whose coming Lord Is near,
TO end their long complaints;
Sweet hope sEill perching on thy wing,
Anticipates happier spring.
PRAYER by Elder Elias Morris.
The choir sang the hymn begin
ming:
How sweet communion is on earth
With those Who've realized the birth
or water-Sho the Spirits powers
Receive, in genial quick'niDg showers.
ELDER JOHN L. SMITH addressed
the congregation briefly. He said
with regard to the principles OF the
gospel, his feelings we're the same as
they had always been. He knsW 1t
was the gospel OF truth, and wal glad
o again bearing bis testimony to the
fact. His labors had been late-a in
tAe south, and he reioiced that his
labors had been satisfactory at least
10 himself In travelling about he
found many changes among the peo-
pie, some having died in the faith,
and others had gone astIay. he
warned all to look to themselves, and
know that they were in the right
path, having with them always the
spirit and power OF God. He had
earned to be obedient to those who
we're placed to guide the people Of
Israel, and that knowledge had been
4 source Of much comfort to him. II
the people would do as the leaders
told them, there would be nothing
that they could not accomplish.
Elder Smith declared that be was for
Israel to the death, and when be got
so that be could do no good he hoped
the Lord would pass him behind the
veil.
ELDER O. w. PENRosE Was the
next speaker. He said that when
Jesus vac on earth, he declared that
"WhOsoever therefore shall break one
of these least commandments, and
shall teach men 90, ne shall be called
the least in the kingdom of heaven;
but Whosover shall do and teach
them, the same shall be called great
in the kingdom OF heaven" The
speaker believed it was the duty of
ell to keep the commandments Of
Jesus Christ, and teach them to
others. It was not enough 10 believe
in Christ, TO have faith, to have tes-
timony that Joseph Smith was pre-
phet-the saints were called upon to
ACT. The gospel wac practical reli-
gIon, all were expected to take an
active part, and not leave the work
to those IN authority. They are
called to be saints ID every condition
aud position OF life. They should be
come holy before the Lord, and de
vote their time and energies TO him.
Rsbgisn was not a matter of sent
menI or emotion, bat Was something
to make man better, affecting people
temporarily and spiritually. 1t tells
tnen how to act at the time, and
there was no condition In lie when
religion ought not to direct and in
Euence the believer. All should
strive to become saints - saints indI
vldually and collectively. The reli-
gion that had been revealed to the
saints implied that those who &C.
cepted 1t had put eff the old man and
put on Christ, and that they were
preparing to live with the Lord here
after. Salvation did not belong to
sect, simply. The saints would not
be taken to the presence Of the Lord
unless they were fit to live there, un-
less they were governed by his laws,
and influenced by the same motives
that acIuste him. all of Gods rules
and ordinances were essential to SAL
walton. and all must be observed by
MIN who is saved. There was a law
given by God, peculiar TO each king
dom, each society and each govern
ment, and that law must be observed
IB all its particulars. In no other
way can exaltation be attained. God
dld not force any man to heaven or
20 he'll; be permitted each to act in
Gependently and for himself, but il
ths man did not choose the right path
he would not be saved and permitted
TO enter into the presence of God.
There was a spirit of independence,
OF rebellion, to throw of restraint,
abroad IN the world, and it Was
having its effect here in Utah, and
particularly among the youth. The
ssints should understand taat spiritu-
ally as we'll as temporarily, pleasure
came only from obedience to law.
The practice OF right exalted people,
and of wrong degraded them. A
man who lived according to the laws
of God, so far as be had ability and
knowledge, was better, and if he
continued in that course he would
finally go up to dwell with Christ.
The promise had been made and
would be fulfilled. No one need be
in the dark as to his acts. There
was always voice telling which was
the right. and if the individual were
humble before the Lord, and would
seek for the true course be would hear
the voice. Concerning the blessings
that mad been promised to the saint,
the latter would not obtain them un-
less they were faithful, living accord
ing TO the law OF righteousness. God |
his promises, but with all bis
blessings promised there were condi.
tons, and these must be obsyed. /
The saints expect to obtain celestial
glory. They were not satisfied with
the glorY-thst of angels-which the
sectsrian world was striving for, but
they could find the celestial glory
only by practicing the conditions
which had been laid down. They
should seek TO know what we're
hose conditions, and if they
10 seek the knowledge would come
President JOHN Taylor followed
With a brief discourse. He wished
he congregation happy new yesr
The saints did Mt consider that their
xistence ended with time, but
cached into eternity. While they
Tere here, performing their duties as
sints, they had hopes and aspira-
ions beyond the grave. They antici-
isted that Gs generations succeeded {
eneEations, if they were faithful,
wing their religion. they would asso-
late with the just in the eternity to
ONE, and they we're working to that
nd. They did net look upon thi-
fe as the only one in which humanity
Tss interested. They had been taught
iherent from this bJ men with whom
tod had communicated, and by the
siesthood which had been given to