The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-11-18


/ The opening prayer was offered b,
Elder William Willes and the choir sang
another hymn;
He died; the G-ea. Redeener died.
And 4srael's daughters weRt abound.
TIE priesthood of the Eighteenth
ward administered the Sacrament.
ELDER B. H. ROBERTS addressed th'
congregation saying: 1 am pleased t.
meet and associate with you 10 day
and to partale With you of the Sacra
ment of the Lords supper as an eEidenc,
that we are willing te take upon US Hi:
name, and Dc, His will. When we come
! to look around Us, one cannot hslp being
reminded OF the position we occupy
Located in the Western Valleys, we
have gathered around US many of the
comforts. While pursuing a peaceful
life, and showing no beligerence towards
our government, yet we have provoked
! their opposition. Our faith and ideas OF
religion are different from the rest OF
/ the people of the United States. But
/ our peculiar views $50 called) on the
marriage question: very great and
grave one-is Ostensibly the bone OF
contention, that has subjected US TO
| their ostracism and to be cast out as IN
worthy to associate with them. We are
asked to change our views on this sub
! iect, we reply that we cannot do so, be-
cause it is a subject of our conscientious
belief part of our religion, revealed to
US by God. Therefore we say we cannot
surrender this principle. They do not
accept our reply, but expect Us TO for
sake our belief in that which we know
to have emanated from God. Our wives
have believed in this holy principle and
relying upon our honor have become
wives and borne US children, depending
upon our manlinesS that we would not
desert them no. matter whatever might
come to pass. Our government asks US
to abandon them, to betray our most
sacred covenants, and to brand our
wives with dishonor. This ne cannot
do. Well what is the result. Many Of
our fathers, men whom we have every
cause to honor, have been disfran-
chised, deprived of the right TO vote.
Some have been imprisoned for various
terms, and fined in large sums. The
clouds are still gathering and becoming
blacker, so that it would seem, as If the
Saints viii be overwhelmed. Many are
looking and asking what viii be the re-
suit, and are waiting for the dawn uf de-
hYerance. Judging the future by the
past, we are enabled TO be assured what
the outcome viii be. Looking over the
handiwork OF Gods dealings with His
people, away back in ancient times. we
find that He has always wrought out
their deliYeranee. And this in spite of
the opposition of the nations and rulers
Of the governments of the earth for God
has decreed that His people shall be
free. He revealed His. viii unto His
servants, and His prophet in the days
of old, commanded the people to stand
still and see the salvation of God. That
same God still lives, and has power to
control men as He did the Egyptians.
Sacred history has several other instan-
ces of a similar character. Instance the
city of Babylon, the pride of the Chal-
deans, encompassed by an immense
wall, and containing the hanging gar
dens, said 10 be one of the seven won
ders Of the world. Enclosing fine pala-
ces and buildings, the inhabitants
had amassed great wealth. The king
considered himself secure from every
Ill, but when revelling in the feast, the
handwriting was seen on the wall, and
which filed everyone present with
fear. Daniel the prophet inter
preted it "God hath numbered thv
kingdom and finished it. Thou art
weighed in the balance and art found
wanting. Thy kingdom is divided. and
given to the Modes and Persians." And
from that time onthe glory OF Babylon
commenced to depart and her immense
walls began 10 crumble. The prophe-
cies of Isaiah were fulfilled and that
nation which had sought to oppose
Gods work and bring disgrace upon
that which He had made sacred Was
DESTROYED and nothing remains but
history TO tell Of its once greatness.
Again the nation OF the Jews IS another
instance of opposing Gods will, which
resulted IN cruCifying the Son of Ged.
Scarcely forty years had elapsed until
they were overcome by the Romans
and today are 4 hiss and by word
Their cry Of Let his blood be upon
us, y etc, mas been realized. The Roman
empire also suffered the fate OF being
DESTROYED and broken up for making
war upon those who were endeavoTing
to fulfill GODS purposes. To-day. we
have the United States Government
having one OF the most glorious consti-
buttons ever organized among men, and
a government, that il conducted III
as contemplated by its
founders. would be inYuinerable and
could not be overcome. But its wealth
and prosperity has brought about cor
ruptton. and those who can realize its
course. nOg tremble for its safety. This
land has been reserved BIZ God Tor the
dwelling OF a righteous people. He has
decreed that il IS land Of promise, and
whenever its inhabitants cease TO serve
Him in righteousness. they shall be de-
stroyed and swept OF, when the cup OF
their inisuity is full and His wrath de-
sends uDon them, There Is no mis-
taxing the fact that Gods DEGREES viii
h ACCOMPLISHED. The wickedneSs OF
me rreat cities OF civilization III this
country is appalling. The inhabitants
have arrayed themselves against God
and their destruction is sure. The con-
sfitl,tiOn with its glorious principles OF
eouaIitv liberty and freedom viii en-
dI,re forever. But the perTerslty and
rickedpess Of man viii inevitably bring
shout Gods judgements. We have no
faal;nps of treason against the govern
,nenf' but contend for the liberty OF all
non the liberty Of conscience, and the