The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-11-23
SUNDAY SERVICES.

To praise thy name, give thanks and
To show thy love by morning light,
And talk Of all thy truths st night.
Prayer by Elder W. w. Taylor.
The choir sang the hymn on page
Spirit Of faith come Down,
Reveal the things of God,
And make to US the Godhead known,
And witness with the blood.
ELDER DAVID EVANS addressed
the congregation. He had lately re-
turned from a mission to Great Brit
ain, and he gave a brief account of
his labOrs abroad. He had allayed
great deal of prejudice among his
relatives and former friends in the
old world. He had been a member
! of the Church of Jesus Christ Of
| Latter-day Saints forty years, and
during all that time had testimony
| of the truth Of the gospel.
PRESIDENT GEORGE @. CANNON
next addressed the congregation.
In his travels through the Territory
with President Taylor he had found
the people feeling we'll and prosper
ing in their temporal circum-
stances living in peace aud
happiness. 1t was a remarka-
BILE fact that Notwithstanding the
attacks made upon the Saints
and their religion from the outside,
they were undisturbed and quite
happy. 1t was remarkable that SO
quiet and inoffensive people should
create so much disturbance in the
world. They seemed so insignifi-
cant as to numbers that they might
be left alone to pursue their quiet
course; yet there was nothing in
the country which was subject of
greater discussion and study than
the Mormon question. Congress
men were making it a special study,
their purpose being to devise plans
to remedy its imaginary evils. Pres
ident Cannon considered this a re-
markable feature Of the work, that
these few people should excite so
much comment and disturbance.
Yet it had been foretOld in the ear
Hest days of the church that this
would be the case. When the church
was organized it created a sensation
in the neighbOrhoOd which was
aroused, and the excitement spread.
One Of the first predictions that the
speaker remembered was that the
work should excite the attention
of townships, counties, states and
nations, and call for action.
1t was also predicted that the
gospel should be preached to
all nations and peoples, gathering
members from every land and cline.
Among the earliest Of theTeyela-
lions given to Joseph Smith was
that the Lord intended to establish
Zion. to which he would gather his
saints from every kindred, tongue
and people. This revelation was
given before there was even an or
ganiZatiOn Of the church, or any
gathering place. There was moth
ing to indicate the taking place Of
such an event. Those living to-day
were witnesses Of the remarkable
fulfllment of prophecy in this in
stance. The circumstances sur
rounding the people have been OF
such a character as to work against
the fulfillment Of the prediction.
Two years ago Secretary OF State
Evarts sent abroad circular to
prevent the immigration of Nor
mons. There had been mobs to
brighten people from coming to
Zion, etc. Yet Notwithstanding this,
the peopl0 were coming and would
continue to come because God had
said they should. When the elders
first went out to preach the gospel
they were not qualified in the matter
Of education, to teach. Joseph
Smith himself was uneduoated, yet
inspired of God he stood up and
preached the word Of the Lord, MAX
ing many converts. He took men
from the plow and work
shop, and laying his hands upon
their heads, set them apart for the
ministry and they went forth in
meekneSs and humbleness carrying
the gospel to the world; wherever
they went they met with honest
people who accepted the testimony
and the latter were seized with a
desire to gather to Zion. God did
his work in his own way. In the
world if there were a great preacher,
he and not God got the glory for it,
as well as the salary. Neither God
nor the Holy Ghost was accorded
any credit. With the saints it was
different. Here the Lord was taking
the meek and loWly, and If they were
successful they must have Gods
spirit and power, hence the credit
was given to Him, not them. No
one thought Of giving Joseph Smith
praise for this great work, but to
God belonged the glory and credit.
The people look behind the man TO
the power which inspired him to
perform the work. The world said
it was the shreWdness add executive
ability Of Joseph Smith and Brig
ham Young which made a success
Of the church, but the saints
knew it was otherwise, that to
the Lord was due all the
praise. God was building up
the church. Men thought when
they killed Joseph Smith, the king
dom was gone, and there would be
going to pieces, but after his death
the work went on and would do so,
| because God and not man, was di-