The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-06-07
SUNDAY SERVICES.

The opening hymn at the services
in the Tabernacle on Sunday after
noon was the one beginning:
Ere long the vail will rend in twain,
The King descend with all bis train;
The earth shall shake with awful fright,
And all creation feel his might.
Prayer by Elder William B. Bar
ton. The choir sang.
While Of these emblems we partake,
In Jesus name and for his sake.
BISHOP O.. F. WHITNEY addressed
the congregation. He felt that he
could do nothing without the assist
ance of the Lord, and therefore
asked an interest in the prayers of
the congregation that he might
speak by dictation of the Holy
Spirit. He said we were the instru-
ments of providence, and most cap
able OF doing good when we forget
ourselves, or throw ourselves upon
the Lord. He did not mean that
one should not exert himself, for
God helped those who helped them
selves; but all should place their re-
lance upon the Supreme Power.
One was more powerful when he
was humblest and relied upon
heaven, for God would support and
sustain those who trusted in him.
1t was necessary that one should be
ID constant enjoyment of the spirit
that he received when the elders
laid their hands upon his head after
he had repented of his sins and been
baptized for the remission of those
sins. The spirit might direct one
against his own inclination, but if
he obeyed it he would always go
right, being led into the ways Of
God. One could not comprehend
the things of God unless he had the
spirit Of God, just as a child could
not comprehend the things of man
hood. The gospel must be embraced
humbly, and he who thus accepted
it and Obeyed its commandments,
would grow up to knowledge of it,
just as the child grows to knowl-
edge of the things of manhood.
One must repent, which was deter
mlnation and resolve to sin no more.
Then, by going down into the water
and being baptized by one having
the authority to administer in that
Ordinance his sins would be re-
mitted. This would be followed by
the reception of the spirit of the
Holy Ghost, which would enable him
to progress towards the kingdom of
God. The gospel of Christ was a
gospel of progress, leading on to
perfection. There was no standing
still in it. One must go forward or
he would so backward, but in order
to advance there must be constant
effort. The spirit of God was the
light that ighteth everything that
has come into earth. 1t was uni
Versal, every one being animated
by it; but there was an additional
gift of the spirit for those who &C
cept the ordinances of the gospel.
But this spirit was not all bestowed
or obtained at once. 1t came little
by little. 1t must be sought after,
as salvation must DO worked for.
The gospel believed by the saints
was the everlasting gospel, the same
as was preached by Jesus Christ.
The saints believed they had no right
to change it in any particular. 1t
had been restored in this age for the
same purpose that it had been given
anciently-for the salvation of those
who accepted it. 1t was for all, and
all were invited to partake of its
Comparatively few, how
ever, had embraced it. 1t was to-day
as it always had been-the weak
and humble were the believers, and
they were despised and prosecuted
by the mass of mankind. Still they
knew this was the gospel of Christ.
1t was being preached to every
nation on the earth, and all who hear
it will be held responsible for
its acceptance or rejection.
The Lords house had been
here in the tops of
the mountains, and the righteous
were coming to it from all lands
and races. No one need think that
because God had restored his gospel
he would be saved. Each must work
out his own salvation, the gospel
merely pointing out the way. The
destination of man was a glorious
one if he would only walk in the
way that had been indicated, and
that way was by the gospel of Jesus
Christ, the gospel which the Savior
preached and for which he suffered |
and death. The gospel
was unpopular, though the saints |
must not regard the opinion of man
kind, but go ahead, regardless of
persecution, working out the things |
Of God. If they will do this they |
will one day feel pity for those who |
prosecute them, for the lot Of the |
latter would be worse than an hun
1red fold more miserable than they |
can can make the saints, for all will |
be Judged according to deeds done in |
5he flesh. The saints must become |
better than they who abuse them,
good for evil, praying for |
those who prosecute, revile and |
SANDER them. Christ had COM
handed this and practiced it. When
hey reviled him he opened not his
and when they spat upon
him he passed by in silence. Even