The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-04-26

this. and God comprehended it all
Christ was ordained to atone for the
fall from before the world
God designed that we should
come here, struggle and con
tend with this probation with
a little knowledge, but he had prom
| ised that to him that knocks the
door shall be opened. But he only
revealed himself through the eXer-
else of faith; if he showed himself
as some desired there would be no
faith. Because we could not see
God, or hear his voice, should we
say there is no God? Certainly not.
He would enable all to comprehend
what was necessary for them to do.
And they would know and under
stand for themselves, if they were
faithful, all that was good for them
to know. They need not be in doubt.
When the gospel was restored to
the earth, and the elders went forth
to preach it, they found people ready
to receive it, earnestly praying for
the restoration of the ancient order.
They felt that the religions of the
day were deficient, and not from
God. When they heard the teach
ings of the elders, and humbled
themselves before the Lord they be-
come convinced that they had at
last found the truth. They fOrsook
all to embrace the gospel of truth,
suffering social Ostracism and
persecution, enduring all manner
of hardships, because they knew
they were in the path of righteous
ness. A brotherly feeling, a spirit
of unity brought them together and
cemented them by a bond of
union that could not be
broken. Nowhere else on the
earth could anything like this
brotherhood be found. 1t was fore
taste of heaven, where it had orig
mated. 1t takes faith and a great
love of the truth to embrace the
gospel, which act carried with it so
much hardship and suffering, so
much scandal, and such malicious
libels as were imposed upon and cir
culated concerning the saints. But
the saints knew they had the truth,
and could endure whatever was put
upon them through their adherence
to the gospel. They were striving
to reject the evil influences of the
world, leading upright, pure and
righteous lives, in the hope of OBJ
tanning eternal salvation. They
know that God gave revelations and
that he answered the prayers of the
faithful. They had proven him. 1t
was his arm that had preserved and
rescued them when it seemed
there was no escape from
destruction. There had been
no end to the plots for destroying
the people, and many attempts
in that direction had been made, but
God was with them, shielding them
by his protecting hand. The mObs,
the opposition and prosecutions had
served to purify the people and
make them better, binding them
more closely together. Ifeverything
did not go as they thought it should,
if wickedness did not cease, they
ought not to be discouraged. 1t was
their duty to withstand and combat
evils, doing all in their power to
bring about righteousness, but
should not borrow trouble. They
could not do everything, and should
not be discouraged if they failed to
accomplish all the good attempted.
God oYerruled everything for the
eventual triumph of good. Elder
Cannon urged the saints to be
happy as they progressed. When adj
versity came they would be as well
prepared to meet it as if they bOr-
rowed trouble from the future.
he choir sang the anthem Beau
tiful are thy towers, o Zionr Ben
ediction by Counselor d. o. Calder.