The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-06-08

George A. Smith the church
was once compared 70 q stalk OF corn
1t comes out of the, earth tiny blade
II grows into three blades; il develops
and increases until the silken tassels ap-
pear and the ears of corn show them
selves. One who sees it at hrst and
again after the lapse of little time
would not recognize il as the same. So
II Is With the church. Some say this Is
not the church that existed in the days
Of Joseph Smith or in the days OF
/, Brigham Young. because II Is con-
stantly growing and increasing Inere
| is a sect termed the Recognized
Church of Jesus Christ OF Latter.
day Saints, composed chiefly Of
a. estates. who denounce AID
preach against the doctrine OF
plural marriage, claiming that IL Is an
innovation. a heresy. and that Joseph
Smith never believed IL, practiced u or
preached it. Joseph. however, did both
believe and practice it. For some years
he kept il secret after the Lord revealed
it, foreseeing the great preludice II
would engender. But the time came
when an angel with q drawn sword
commanded him on peril of his life to
establish Il, and il was done. (Here
the bishop read a portion OF the revela-
ton given July u. 1881 This effect
ually disposes of the charge that IL is
no part OF the religion of the Latter
day Ssints. II the saints expect to at
tain to the glories of the celestial world
thew must observe the laws govern
ing that degree of exaltation. Those who
are oblig ated to receive and practice it
If they reject it they will be damned.
Damnatlon does not necessarily mean
eternal fire and birthstone. There are
different degrees of punishment. and il
is damnation TO knew that we have lost,
through our own neglect. what others
will enjoy for their faithfulness.
1t is demanded of the Saints by the
world that they break their covenants
with God. He had heard of men saying
a man was q fool who would not say the
simple monosyllable yes in the Dis
trict court, when asked to renounce his
belief, rather than go TO prison for 1t.
And such men profess to be Lat'er-day
Saints. Fool IS mild term TO describe
their condition. Socrates, sooner than
renounce what he knew to be true,
drank the cup of hemlock and suffered
death for his belief. According to some
mems opinion he died a fool. Martin
Luther would not renounce his belief in
ALE DAOANf AC AENNAN1 ~ 1-N @OA
il. The examples of such men are
glorious. Thank God for such men and
their examples They may be called
fools, but they are the heroes of his
tory. Thank God for a Washington.
and his comrades. who took their lives
in their hands and fought for religious
liberty. Men who are now uninsured in
the Penitentiary for the sake of their
religious convictions. will livein history
and their names will burn side By side
with those of Washington. Luther and
Socrates, and grow brighter with the
lapse of years. The traitor and turn
coat will be despised and forgotten. II
the Latter-dsy Saints should back down
from their honest convictions the Gen
tiles would despise them, and their own
children would rise up and curse them.
The Saints are fighting battle for all
and if such a thing as re-
ligious liberty exists a hundred years
hence il will be because OF their heroic
stand in its defense. Posterity will yet
bless them for the stand they have
taken to maintain and perpetuate the
principles of freedom.
After the singing of the solo, 20, for
the Wings of a Dove" by Miss Merrill,
and the anthem. Praise the Lord, /" by
the choir. Elder G. G. Bywater pro-
nounced the benediction.