The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-05-06

BE js near us to protect US. Tt q
effo'ts of our enemies have been
futile to iniure or destroy US, so that
to-day we enjoy peace and liberty,
throughout the settlements Of the
Saints. This is sublime evidence
to heaven of our faith in God, and
that we rely unwaveringly On His
promises, and are willing to trust
Hin TO the uttermost, knowing
that He is near and not afar off.
The orld have scarcely an idea OF
God, other than that He is a spirit.
This is true, but does not define the
actual character of God. Moses says
that "God said let US make man In
our own image, ETC., male and
female created He them." In
another place Moses says: SIN
His likeness created He Them"
Again we are told by Paul that
Jesus was the "express image of His
Fathers person" Again abraham
talked with God face to face as one
man talketh to another" Abraham
was called the friend of God, and
pleaded with Him. Moses talked
with Him, and tells US that He
wrote on the tables OF stone with
his own finger. Moses requested to
see the person Ct God and hid him
self in the cleft of the rocks while
God passed by and Moses was per-
mitted to see His hinder parts.
Jesus the Son of God, was
the express image OF His
Fathers person, physically and
mentally, so the Bible tells us.
Nothing can therefore be clearer
than these testimonials establishing
the true character and personality
of our God. Jesus himself said
"This is eternal life, to know the
only true and living God and His
Son Jesus Christ whom He hath
sent" What can be plslnerI The
true faith had faded out, giving way
to erroneous ideas, and conceptions
of the Diety as fe MINNIE 'ook ing
parsonage, with wings growing cut
of the back, until the Prophet
Joseph Smith, through the power
Of God. made known INTO men in
these days the true char Acter of and
faith in The living God. President
Cannon reading from the Pearl of
Great Price DO k, gave the outline
of the Prophet Joseph's tes imony,
who saw the Father and the Son as
literal personages. john he Reve>
lator, in the New Testament, de-
cribe5 how he saw the miDis'eEing
angel and having true conception
of the character of God m'stook him
10 be God and fell down to worship
the angel, who reproved him, telling
him to worship G)d, etc. Sidney
Rigdon and Oliver Cowdery in q
visi n ifty-tWo years ago. heard
the voice Of God, and saw His Son
sanding at his right hand. Suisse
quenty Joseph smith and Oliver
COwdery, at the completion Of the
Nauvoo Temple, saw the
personality of the Son of
God. Thee testimonies are suppie-
mented by these of hendricks of
others who have since heard his
voice and witnessed his powers
among them, Can it then be won
dered, that with these evidences.
which cannot bs retuted, that our
faith in God has increased and
grown among US. The Jews re-
jected the Savior, and becoming
subject to the powers of darkness,
shed his blood. That same disposi-
ton, | am sorry to say, has been
pstici ated in by lhis nation. who
shed the blood Of the prophet, Joseph
Smith. This man brought message
from God, and being foully MUIR
dered, while under the care Of the
State Of Illinois, sealed his tests
mony with his blood. Our PresIs
dent John Taylor is living martyr,
he splitting his blood on the coca
sion of the death of Joseph Smith,
and is a witness OF the truths of
God. Satan and his emissaries have
warred upon the servants of God in
all ages, endeaVOring to prevent the
spread of the knowledge Of His
work. To-day professedly Christian
min sters are opposing the tru b in
the came manner, but they will be
unsuccessful. While all the mem
bers OF this church have not faith
enough at present to see God, yet
that faith is increasing, and thou
sands, indeed all the members of
the church are entitled TO enjoy the
spirit Of God and be enabled to recog-
MIA His handiword in protecting
His Saints. Such Will eventually
enjoy the blessings Of salvation in
the kingdom OF God, which I ask
may be the lot of US all, in the name
of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Stake conference adj burned until
10 am. on the I'd day of August
next.
Choir sang "All Hail the Glorious
Day"
Benediction by President Joseph
F. Smith.