The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-04-07

SlOHS Of enLlIe anu complete SuDSer-
vience to His laws can dwell In Hi:
eternal presence! Let US also remem-
Der that the condition of q community
as whole, depends upon the condi-
ton of the individuals composing 1t;
as are its component parts, so Is it in
its entirety. II the individual members
OF people are wise, Just, intelligent,
honest, honorable aud pure, that com
munity will be distinguished among its
fellows by those peculiar virtues. To
apply the lesson TO ourselves, each one
for himself, it is, If we wish TO see the
Church of Christ prepared as bride
for the Savior, We must, individually,
live our religion and eXemplify in our
own lives those virtues which we know
must adorn the bride before she can
enter the presence of her Lord. This
matter of personal purity, faith, dill
gence and good works is one that we
cannot delegate TO our neighbOr, or
place on the shoulders of otner men
and women; but each must do mis- own
duty, each bear his own responsible
ties, each set his own house in order,
each magnify his calling, each live near
unto God, il he expects God to draw
nigh unto him.
We are pleased to be able to report
that the Lord is abundautly blessing
the labors of the brethren aud sisters
engaged in the performance of ordin-
anceS pertaining 10 the Temples of our
God; and great work is being done
therein in the interest of botn the liv-
lug and the dead. We have been
panied, however, to learn that IN some
few instances, either through misua-
Outstanding, careleSsneSs, or Partially,
recommends have been given 10 I'M
worthy persons. This is grave error,
- !, J. A -
with every possible care. The Bishops
AMI Presidents of Stakes should take
every precaution that the House of the
Lord is not defiled by the intrusion OF
the unworthy through their recon-
mendation. We strongly advise more
caution and greater care in this regard.
To the Saints we say that those who
desire the blessing of entering into and
officiating in these houses dedicated To
the Most High, should render them
selves worthy thereof. They should
liYe in harmony and peace at home,
they should settle all their differences
before attempting TO enter this holy
place, which should be house
of peace, a house of order. They
should pray with their families
morning and evening, and not neglect
secret prayer; they should honestly
pay their debts TO all men, and not only
to man, but remember also that which
is due, as tithes and offerings, to the
Giver of all. They should observe the
Word of Wisdom in the spirit and
meaning thereof, for it is most incon-
sistent to carry the smell OF whiskey
and tobacco into the sacred precincts
of the Lords House. Or in \ word,
they should observe to do and TO keep
all Gods holy laws and command
10 shnx-
House they can enjoy that spirit which
gives Zest, power and efficacy to their
ministrations.
The reports from the Elders engaged
in the active field of missionary labor
are far from discouraging, though the
results in baptiSms in those lands
where our brethren have labored the
longest, will not equal the showing of
former years. The annual number of
baptisms, as well as the total member
ship of the Church, in Scandinavia,
now exceeds those in Great Britain.
But the most marked results of our
labors, of late, have manifested them
selves in New Zealand, amongst the
MaorieS, the abcrigines of those Is
lands, who being q remnant OF the
house of Israel, nearly allied to the
Sandwich Islanders, have received the
Gospel with gladness, and snow great
firmness and integrity in cleaying TO its
truths.
In the present depressed state of
business, and consequent lack of en-
ployment, the Bishops must not forget
the duty which, as fathers of the peo-
pie, they owe to the poor and inexpe-
rienced. Meme must be permitted 10
suffer. But we have learned long
since that benevolence to be worthy of
its name must be guided by reason as
well as by sympathy; and aid should be
given primarily with the view OF doing
real and lasting good to the recipients,
and must be bestowed in q manner to
discourage improvidence and the
growth of spirit of pauperism. Our
aim should be TO develop the powers of
the worthy poor through that thought
full help which will utilize the re-
sources ofthe newcomer or unfortu-
nate, and assist those who, If able, are
willing TO help themselves. In these
labors of love we trust the fullest CO.
operation and most perfect har-
mony will exist between the
Ward authorities aud the Relief
SOCIETIES, that thereby they may
mutually strengthen, and enhance the
value of each others efforts. Nor must
the families of the missionaries be
forgotten; those whose whole time IS
spent IN prOclallnl0g Tue lguIuS OF the
everlasting Gospel must not have rea-
son 10 complain of want OF considera-
ton by their brethren and sisters. II
the counsel heretofore given to the
Presidents of Stakes and Bishops with
regard TO the establishment of mis-
sionary farms had been more widely
carried out, we believe. the results
would have been more encouraging.
Brethren, there Is still time for action
il this matter. tt.rnt.
Inthese times, when many men, be-
cause of being faithful to religious
convictions, are immured in prison,
if proper precautions are not taken,
there is danger OF their families suffer-
ing on account of their absence. Great
care should therefore be taken by the
Presidents of Stakes, the Bishops of
wards, the Priests and Teachers, and
by the people generallyEt to see that, in
the absence of their natural guardians
and protectors, they are protected in
their persons and property. Where
there is any lack of means, they should
see that it is amply supplied; not in
the shane of CHARITY Int AS q duty we