The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-01-11
SUNDAY SERVICES.

Lake Stake, and the occasion upor
which the hall was 10 be dedicated
the services opened by the choil
singing the hymn on page 40:
Thu nc we dedicate to Thee,
Our ~ d, our fathers God,
Wilt I hou accept, end deign 10 bless
TIE paths our feet have trod?
/ PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH of
fered the dedicatory prayer.
The c4oir then sang the hymn OF
page 155:
He di.di the Great Redeemer died, d
And Is Sel's dauxhte wept around;
A solemn Darkness veil, d tn sky,
a sudden trembling shock the ground.
APOSTLE ERASTUS SNOW adj
dressed the congregation. 1t was Z
pleasure and source of thanksgiving
that the saints were permitted tC
worship in so elegant building
and he congratulated them that the
house had been paid for. 1t was a
Sitting memorial for the elders OF
Israel. 1t was designed originally
for the assembling of the priest
hood in this stake of Zion and visit
ors from other stakes. who came
here to receive instructions
cOnct rning the will of the
Lold Ill the building up of
the Kingdom Of God on earth
and bringing about the salvation of
those who would believe. He hoped
the elders would be permitted to oc-
cupy the building in the service of
tAe Lord. 1t had often been said
that whenever the people set them
selves at work to erect temples to
the Lord it had greatly stimulated
the enemy to all good and increased
the opposition to the work of GGd.
1t had seemed as if this were true.
The building of the temple at St.
George and the sacred work therein,
while they had united the people, had
increased the opposition on the
part Of the enemies 10 God. The
laying of foundations for other tenn
pies and the building of places of
worship while they had Strengthens /
ened the faith OF the people, had in
creased the opposition. At no period
in the history Of the saints had
the enemy been more united
than to-day, when all religious bod
les and social organizations of peo-
pie, as well as departments, were
seemingly waging war upon the
kingdom Of God on earth. The
warfare was not against individu-
ais, or flesh and blood, but the war
was between the powers of earth
and those of hell, between the
wicked one and Jehovah, and those
united with God in righteousness
and truth. Were it not for the faith
Of the Saints, the gospel they be-
lleye, their firmnesS, resolution and
perseverance in testify1ng to the
things of God, there would be no
occasion for this opposition. If they
were the wicked and corrupt people
charged, they would scarcely excite
notice; or were they the victims of
feshly last, the world would regard
them as 1t did an equal number of
corrupt people at home. Sober
large-hearted men must
come to the conclusion that the few
of people IN Utah who
amplify and carry out their faith in
a plurality of wives, could not be
the cause of the outcry of the world
against the saints. Before the doc
.rlne was practiced a similar outcry
was heard, and as much evil spoken
Of the saints. Jesus and his fol-
overs were also as much belied and
spoken against as are the saints to-
lay. To-day the printing press.
steam and electricity, giving rapid
communication, explained the gen
eral knowledge found in all the
civilized world pertaining to the
saints. The advantages enjoyed to-
lay for the dissemination Of truth
md light, became in the
hands Of evil ones engines
# power to oppose the truth and
larken the minds Of the people and |
cad them from the truth. BY these
agencies mankind would sooner
earn of the work of the LORD, who
would hasten the time for cutting
lis work short in righteousness. IL |
vas for the saints to be upon the |
watch tower, faithful and energetic,
elying upon the support of God in
lighting the battles in honor Of his
lame and cause upon the earth.
That he would support them there
vas no room for doubt. The opposi-
ion was assuming a more violent.
7iTUlent and unscrupulous power,
nd was supported by those who
tand forth as guardians of Chris
ianity and the leaders in religious
matters. The press and forum also
resented the same determined op-
ositiOn. Shoald this be a source
f annoyance to TIE saints or should
hey LOOK Tor anything different?
Yearly al the saints, When the light
f truth first came 10 their under
and they were born again
0 the light Of the holy spirit, felt
hat they could present it to their
riends, that they too could not fail
0 see and believe; but how many
ad been disappointed because their
elativeS and friends could not be
lade to see and realize? They :
1ere made TO realize that
o man could see except
e was shown by God, and then he
lust enter through The only door,
amely baptism, or the birth Of the '
7ater and the spirit. Those who {
ntered thus were made 70 realize /
lat they were heirs OF God and