The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-05-19
RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
At the Tabernacle on Sunday
Afternoon.
N ABLE GOSPEL DISCOURSE.
-,aer F. A. Mitchell Occupies the
stand, Speaking of the Fruits
of Mormonism.


sunday afternoon, commenced with
fine choir singing the hymn,
See! all creation joins
To praise the Eternal God.
Opening prayer by Elder Theodore
Mexican.
The choir sang another hymn;
q Lord of hosts, we now invoke
Thy spirit most divine.
The Sacrament of the Lords Supper
mas administered by the Priesthood OF
the Thirteenth Ward.
ELDER F. A. MITCHELL said the Latter
dav Saints occupy very peculiar po-
sition. The very name causes the world,
when ignorant of our faith and belief,
70 look upon US with distrust and to
+reat us with contempt and ridicule
The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is
mon the earth, and the Latter-day
Saints claim to be its representatives.
IF our claim is genuine We are entitled
to respect, if spurious we deserve the
derision and contempt of the world.
The Savior said, "by their fruits shall
ye knoW them, and we asked to be so
Judged. The plan of salvation has
copfinued to be the same from the
sDcient of days, and will continue the
same unto the end of all things Our
Savior gave US a pattern, for Sin Him
was found no guile" He was
baptized by immersion, not for His
sins, no, but to render perfect
obediences unto the plan of the gospel
1t requires that men have faith, repent
ing OF their misdeeds, and that they be-
come baptized by immersion for the re-
mission of their sins, when they shall re-
ceiye the gift of the Holy Ghost by lay
ing on of hands. This is the perfect
plan of the gospels first principles.
Nevertheless, we have religious den0m-
nations to-day, who say that the ordi-
nance of baptism may be dispensed
with; that it is not absolutely necessary
unto salvation. If God, our Father, is
Interchangeable, and the same to-day as
in ages past, then the Gospel is one and
the self-same, and all its ordinances are
necessary and must be observed to en-
title as to salvation. The Spirit of God,
the Holy Ghost. cannot be obtained
without strict observance to the first
principles of the gospel; and without
the Holy Spirit to inspire mankind,
they cannot understand the purposes
and requirements of God. The Latter
day Saints are firm believers in the
gospel, as declared by the Lord Jesus
Christ. 1t is necessary that there
should be power and authority upon
the earth, authorized to administer in
the ordinances of the gospel. Those
who have this authority must be in
spired of God. Why. men give to the
representatives of their governments
commissions which entitle them to be
recognized by other nations. God, our
Father, also gives commissions to His
servants, to act for Him and obtain the
recognition of His divine power. Those
who assume to be His servants and to
have the right and authority to act for
Him, will be discounted. We must do
the viii of God. to insure to us knowl-
edge of the truth of His work. This is
where the Latter-day Saints differ from
the rest of the world. They have proven
by obedience that they have the truths
Of God in their midst. The inspirations
Of the Almighty gives them constant
assurance of the truth of their religion
There cannot be any doubt about 1t.
The opposition of the world only con-
firms them in their faith. The Spirit of
the Lord will not associate with evil;
II is directly opposite to the powers of
evil. Paul, the Apostle, said that men
should have the form of goodness but |
deny or lack the power thereof. And |
this is the position of the world to-day. |
The power and authority of the gospel |
was taken away after the death of the |!
Savior and His apostles. Hence John, |
the Revelator, saw the angel flying |
through the earth in the last days, hav- |
ing the gospel to preach unto the chill |
dren of mens Daniel saw that in the |
last days the God of Heaven shall set up |
kingdom which should never more |
be thrown down, etc., etc. These |
prophecies foretold the condition of the |
world in these last days, when kthe |
angel did come and deliver the gospel |
70 the young man. our Prophet Joseph |
smith. The gospel he received from |
Sod is the very same gospel as taught |
~ Jesus Christ, having the same doc |
IrInes, principles, and ordinances. The
Efforts being made to-day. to destroy |
Inc work of God, are similar to the OPP I
position manifested toward the Savior |
and His apostles. There has ever been
IKE opposition, whenever the in
spired servants of God have endeavored
Nll4 OUI Ills VIII. Inc T6dSON JndI
our gu Apostles are not with us at this
1Iaoernacle meeting to-day, is because
Ihey are avoiding that persecution
winch is endeavoring TO destroy them
ana the work of God because they are
saIdeayoring to do His will. The Pro-
Plet Joseph Smith suffered continued
persecution and finally suffered death,
,gteeanse of his endeavorS to help establish
.ne work OF God Condemnation will
IIoMe upon this world. because the in
Ga9ltants refuse to listen to the prin-
Iples Of life and salvation offered to
u meM through the gospel. God does
t Vt intend that this earth shall con-
~HSe to be inhabited by those who are
S licked. No, but He has decreed that it
S nan be purified by fire. Those who
H. She and labor for the increase of pur-
and virtue will be preserved, while
t An who do wickedly will be destroyed.
er a men are the offspring of God, !
AN eaIed in His image, and have
S;n inherent and natural desire to do the
Nv vn u God, which would control their
Of civ ~; they would heed the invitation
W. ms servants and obey His gospel.
inscan only benefit or fellow men
ana nlh as they will listen unto us,
Fvs ooey that which we offer them.
az individual must purify him