The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-08-05

Woolley.
Choir sang another hymn:
Again we meet around the board
iltlf Jesus, our redeeming Lord;
With faith in His at ming blood,
our only access unto God
The priesthood of the Third Ward ct
tended to the administration OF the
Sacrament ErH ESQ s.
ELDER RODNEY c. BADGER addressed
the congregation, and. said he found it
an impossibillty to rely upon his own
strength and knowledge for power and
ability to say that which would be edify-
ing. Having been born of Mormon"
parents, in this city, he had been reared
here and consequently identified with
the church through his whole life-3 1t,
therefore, was not strange that he had
faith in the principles and belief of the
Latter-day Saints, which. after investi-
CATION and comparison with other religi-
GUS beliefs, he knew to be true. He
had relied upon the promise OF the
Apostle st. James: IF any man lack
wisdom. let him ask of God, who giyeth
literally and upbraideth not" The
gospel as revealed to Joseph Smith, the
prophet, is able to bless US and our pos
terity. In realizing the weaknesses and
failings of many of those who claim to
be His followers, he had failed yet to
discover that any wrong they had done
was attributable to the principles taught
unto them. On the contrary all sin and
wrong we're the dill ect result of disre-
garding the laws of the gospel. Some
people have an idea that the one aim of
life should be to become popular, in dis
regard to everything. The Latter-day
Saints do not believe this, but anticipate
opposition and persecution continually
in their efforts to do right. Living faith
full to their religion implies continued
sacrifice; and the laws OF the gospel OF
God come in direct opposition to every
feeling of selfshness. Those who be-
come members of the church, under
stand that in So doing they sacrifice the
good wishes and regard Of all their
friends, acquaintance and associates,
not because their characters have
changed; nc. but because the faith they
espOused is looked down upoL by the
| world with odium and contempt. But
these sacrifices, even to leaving home
and their native lands, to gather mp to-
gether to Utah with the main body OF
this church, are made cheerfully and
willingly, with rejoicing, because they
know all doubt has been removed from
their minds. that this is the church and
kingdom OF God, The Mormons know
| that God has spoken from the heavens
and reveale d His mind and will through
Joseph Smith, His prophet, and hence
are happy and contented in spite OF all
and every opposition. The Latter-day
Saints rely upon Jehovah to bless, shield
and protect them, and TO enable them
to perfect themselves, free from all evil
The Obligations they have undertaken
cannot be shirked or avoided. Their
situation to-day is not of their own
making. They cannot become recreant
to the responsibilities entrusted 10 them
| by God If God does not aid and pro-
tect us, we shall have to fall before the
opposition, for we cannot protect our
selves IN our own strength. Our mis-
sion Is to build up, create and bless, and
not to destroy or pull down. We are
not DESTROYS of defeating or overthrow
ing or defeating this or any other ma
ton, we simply desire to do the viii Of
God, IN living according to His laws.
| These are our sentiments. and feelings
and we would that all men wOuld De
come acquainted with this fact Bat l.
would seem that mankind are prone 10
believe that which is untrue rather than
the truth. May God helpu us TO continue
faithful, that we may obtain eternal life
in His presence.
ELDER GEORGE @. BYWATER said that in
assem- bling as a worshiping congrega-
ton, we acknowledge the obligations we
are under to the Supreme ruler of the
world. Those who disregard the COM
mon laws of civilized-life are considered
as barbarians; equally true, may 1t thus
be said of those who disregard be wor
ship of God. But there is such diver
siiy of opinion, as TO the mode Of wor-
ship, and bowling down the knee before
God. Jesus Christ is acknowledged by
the civilized world as the Savior of the
world. lie is acknowledged TO be- the
author. founder and fnisher of that
system or plan of faith, and that only
through Him can man obtain salvation.
His message was peace and goou ~ in to
all men. His disciples were simple. I'M
cultured fishermen and tiller- OF the
soil. To-day these humble disciples are
acknowledged to have been the vessels
Of the Lord, and the opinion expressed
that had they lived to-day they would
have been recognized, together with the
Savior. as the servants and the Son of
God. But the Christians of to-day for
get the promise of the Savior, "Woe
unto you when all men speak well Of
you, etc Jesus Christ and His follow
O. 8 had their names cast out as evil, be-
cause they were engaged in doing the
viii of Cod This was the reason vi y
they incurred the opposition and perse-
cution of the Jews and Romans. Ii
was 40, confined to particular locality
but was prevalent throughout the whole
of the then civilized world. The opposi-
ton against the humble Nazarsne and
his followers was universal, and lie was
considered worthy of death. becau.e
the principles of truth which he taught
were contrary to the dogmas of men
the seifshness of humanity promi leo
the then learned doctors of the law, TIT
profess ors and students Of law .oih
secular and divine were the bitter
ponents OF Jesus. How is it to-ds'
I 4 IL t-