The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-02-14

OIL page o:
The time is nigh, that hGppy time,
That great, expected, happy day,
When countless thousands Of our rae
Shall d we'll with Christ and him obey
Prayer by Elder Henry Beal.
The choir sang the hymn on page
125:
How sweet communion is on earth
With those who've realized the birth
OF water-who the spirits powers
Receive. in genisl quick'ning showers.
PRESIDENT CANUTE PET ERsoN,
of Sanpete County, addressed the
congregation. He said the elders of
the country, when they undertook
TO address an audience in Salt
Lake, were embarrassed. In the
country they knew everybody in
the congregation, and felt free and
familiar with all, but it was differ
emit here where most Of the people
were strangers, and also where the
leading men of the church were in
the habit Of preaching to the saints.
The speaker felt to rejoice that
thele were so many inspired men to
instruct the saints. Elder Peter
son, who had been much in
the missionary service in Scandi-
navia, related some incidents of his
ministry abroad. Referring to the
clamor III this country against the
saints, he said he presumed those
who were denouncing the Mormons
thought they were serving the Lord.
1t seemed strange that the people
away from here should know so
much more about the saints than
the latter did of themselves. The
saints were not in thralidom. as
supposed by the world, but were free
to do all the good they could. They
were bent on obtaining salvation,
and if they could not gain it in this
church they could obtain it nOwhere
else.
PRESIDENT JOHN TAYLOR next
addressed the congregation. He
said it was we'll for the people to
understand their relations towards
each other and towards the king
dom of God. The gospel is light.
When it was introduced by Christ,
it was said that light had come into
the world, but certain persons love
darkness rather than light,
because their deeds are evil.
There were many peculiar say
ings concerning this matter which
furnish food for reflection. The
gospel had always been obnoxious
to a great portion of the human
family. Its principles are too pure
to please the world. For this rea-
son people were opposed to it. They
do not comprehend it, and while
they think the saints are ignorant
and superstitious, the latter knew
the former were; hence they were
objects of cOmmiSeration. When
ever the gospel had been proclaimed
there had arisen spirit of hostility.
That spirit was manifested even in
the days of Cain, who rebelled
against God and his father, and in
stigated by the spirit of darkness,
killed his brother. Cain loved Satan
more than he loved God. He
offered up his sacrifice at the insti-
CATION of Lucifer, and God, knowing
the spirit which actuated him, re-
jected the offering. Abel believed
in God, hence Satan instigated. his
brother to kill him. twas rather
discouraging to begin the human
family by killing the righteous
son and permitting the wicked one
to live, but Adam had other sons
who believed in God and carried out
his purposes. The spirit of opposi-
ton hau grown from the beginning,
the seed of Cain having multiplied
in the earth. Wickedness spread,
and after a time the thoughts of
men were continually evil. 1t be-
came inexpedient for the Lord to
permit them to live, and perpetuate
their inquiries, hence he resolved
to cut them off, previously, how
ever, sending missionaries among
them to call upon them to repent
and obey the gospel, and warn them
that failure to do SO would result
in their destruction. Many believed,
and being gathered in Zion. were
taught in the principles of the son
of God. AS the righteous gathered
from among the people the spirit of
the Lord left the latter who spoke
all manner of evil of those who had
listened to the voice Of the Lord.
Armies were gathered to destroy
the saints, but the power of
God was with them, and the
armies did not succeed. Still
,he wicked spirit grew and in
creased. The saints, however, and
heir city were translated to heaven.
From time to time others were
translated. The spirit of antagon-
zing the gospel continued and the
iood came, sweeping the people
rom the face OF the earth, only a
lew being left. 1t seemed neces-
,ary that there should be opposing
good and evil, virtue and
vice. ETC., and that men should have
he privilege of receiving or reject
ng correct principles. Those who
lad rejected the gospel in the days
# Noah were preached to in person
~ Jesus sometime afte, ward. The
gospel is everlasting. Il began with
Tod and will CONTINUE ,drnughout
III time, until every desi concern
ne the human family lis ben 1ul-
He'd. There must be opposition IN
III things. The spirit of God pro-