The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-08-24

silver mines and opportunities lOr
making money. but they had no
attraction for the people. In the
early days of AS and 40, though the
SAINTS were destitute of many things
necessary to their comfort, the gold
fields had no attraction for them.
They were content to remain here,
because they felt that God had called
them to live here. 1t was wonder
to the outside world how the saints
were held together. Formerly it
was attributed to the personal in
fuence of Joseph Smith. Many
thought if he could be killed,
the church would go to pieces.
Afterwards Brigham Young took
the lead, and brought the people to
these valleys. The truth was they
were inspired and held by SUI
perior Influence, the same as were
Joseph and Brigham. Were it not
for that influence it would be i'm
possible to hold them together.
Many had made great sacrifices to
come out among a strange people, Of
whom they knew nothing except
that they possessed the same spirit
with them. The work that is going
on here is a greater sign, a more
wonderful miracle than would be
the raising Of the dead in the pres
ence of the congregation. 1t was
unparalleled in the history of the
race. Here were people from every
state and nation bearing testimony
IN their own language that they
we're impelled to come here by the
Lord. Before they heard the gospel
they never dreamed of breaking up
their homes; but with the gospel
came voice commanding them to
gather to the place that God had APP
pointed for his Zion. Learned
men had not done this. The preach
erS were chosen. from the lower
walks of life, who could give no one
but God the glory. They were first
ordained and sent forth to warn the
world that God had restored his
gospel and was preparing for the re-
demptiOn of the race. They had
gone forth in humbleness and in
meakness borne the testimony
which had brought good fruit. If
there be d remarkable feature con-
nected with this work it was this:
that from every land where the
elders had gone, people had come to
embrace the gospel They could not
be restrained. They would not stay
away from the people who were
their brethren i'll spirit. Eleven
months beforethe organization of the
church Joseph Smith received a re-
violation ffOmGod saying the work Of
gathering would commence, and
five months after the organization
the Lord told him that Zion should
be built up and peOpled from every
nation Gnder heaven. Elder Cannon |
here read portions of the revelations
as recorded in the Doctrine and |
Covenants. Those revelations were
given before there was any gather |
ing of the saints, and were in them
selves striking evidences that they |
were inspired of God, as they were |
being literally fulfilled, even to the |
dwelling in peace as predicted, for |
wherever one goes among the saints |
he will find the people living
together in peace and quietness.
The work had gone forward just as
Joseph had predicted. Two years
after the revelation was given God
designated the gathering place and
the saints there assembled. MObs
fell upon them and drove them out
from place to place and finally they
came here. Gods work could not
fail even under such adverse cir
Persecution could not
destroy the desire to gather. When
the elders first went to England they
were told not to preach the
but though they held
their lips, the converts had
dreams, and the Lord in
5pired them with the spirit Of
gathering to Zion. When the saints
could no longer live in the states
they took up their line of march in
poverty and sickness and crossed
the trackleSs plains, willing to risk
any and all suffering and danger in
their efforts to find the spot
that God designated for their abid-
ing place. When they reached this
valley the serenity Of peace rested
upon them, they feeling that at last
they were at the place where they
could dwell without annoyance
from mobs and prosecutions.
And still they were coming from
every nation in Christendom,
because they felt that it was Gods
will for them to come here to the
place that had been designated as a
house for his people. This was GER
5ainly miraculous, and should be a !
sign to the world.
At the conclusion of President
JannOn'S discourse the choir sang.
Ind Counselor d. H. Wells pro-
bounced the benediction.