The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-07-26
SUNDAY SERVICES.

The opening hymn at the Taber-
nacIe services on Sunday afternoon
was the one beginning:
Bow firm a foundation, ye ssints of the
Is LAID for your faith in lis excellent
word!
What more can he say than to you be
hath said
You who unto Jesus toF refuge have
fed?
Prayer by President H. S. FL
dredge. The choir sang the hymn
beginning:
Well sing all praise to jesus name, etc.
PRESIDENT GEORGE @. CANNON
addressed the congregation, reading
first the 18th chapter Of the reVela-
tions Of John. he said the chapter
contained a series of predictions
concerning Babylon. 1t was four
chapters after another prediction
concerning the restoration OF the
gospel. The 9th verse of. the 18th
chapter read: "And / saw another
fly in the midst Of heaven, having
the everlasting gospel to preach
unto them that dwell on the earth,
and to every nation, and kindred,
and tongue, and people," President
Cannon said that he would infer
that one of the consequences of
preaching the gospel would be tn G
downfall Of Babylon. The saints
were not in doubt as to the meaning
Of the term Babylon" One Of the
consequences Of preaching the Cos
pei would be the downfall Of Baby
Ion; but before that fall voice
would cry: "Come out OF her, my
people, that We be not partakers OF
her sins, and that We receive not of
her plaques" There should be a
CRY to come out of Babylon, that
had made all nations drunk with
her iniquities. Various predictions
by the ancient prophets had
been made concerning the gathering
Of the people. The saints believe
those predictions are being fulfilled,
and have been for many years. One
of the most remarkable features and
testimonies of the divinity Of the
work was the gathering Of this
saints. The elders Of the church
had testified from the beginning
that it was necessary to establish
the gospel upon the earth, before the
fulflIment Of the prophesy could be
brought about. The gospel had been
taken from the earth, notwithstand-
ing the Christian denominations
claimed that they had the same. If
the Church of Christ really did eX-
ist, which was it and how could it
be distinguished? Which had all
the ordinances in their originality !?
Some Christian churches to-day, be-
lieved in three forms OF baptism,
while Paul says there was but one
baptism. 1t was so with almost
every cardinal doctrine Of the Chris
tan religion. One would bepuZzled
TO know which was the true church,
unless he could obtain the knOWl-
edge from God. II was on this &C
count that the elders Of the church
had certified that there was necessity
for divine revelation. The Church
of Christ had been organized accord
ing to the original pattern, with apoS-
ties. prophets, teachers, evangelistS
and all the essential features of the
primitive church: the same form Of
doctrine, the same ordinances, gifts
and blessings were believed in and
taught, as anciently, and they be-
lieved the same results would at
tend the observance or belief in
those doctrines, as attended them
formerly. There were hundreds
OF instances where this had
been demonstrated. Some ask /:
Why cannot signs be given, that
they may see for themselves that
the gospel is divine? Those who
ask this forget that Jesus gave no
sign to convince the unbelievers.
He refused to work miracles when
appealed to to do SO. The signs
were to follow faith. Yet there
We're hundreds and thousands in the
church who have seen evidences of
the power of God. The speaker
could not be convinced Of the di-
Yinity Of a system by the working
of miracles by men. The Scrip
lures said that false prophets would
work miracles. We frequently see
seeming miracles performed by
magicians. There was scarcely a
miracle wrought by Moses that the
magicians did not initiate. Now,
oId the Lord ever have a people on
earth who did not have communica-
ton with him? If so, the Bible
IalIed TO mention the fact. God
communicated his mind and viii in
great plainneSS to his people in all
ages. John had revelations from
Goa, and propheSied in great plain
ness, though he performed no mir
acIe. There were evidences con-
nected with the church that were
greater than any miracles. Elder
cannon did not believe that men
could be convinced as they should
0e, by miraculous manifestations
They required a succession Of such
manifestations, but when they re-
ceIVed evidences through constant
prayer, they were likely to be firmer
IN their belief. Wherever the
elders had preached the
gospel, though nothing had
been SAID concerning the doc
Tlne OF gathering spirit
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