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


Arise. o glorious Zion.
Thou joy OF latter-days.
Elder VIM. L. Binder offered the open
ing prayer and the choir sang another
hymn:
'Twas on tina, dark. that solemn night;
When powers Of earth and hell arose.
The Sacrament was administered by
the priesthood of the Seventeenth Ward.
ELDER ANDREW JENSEN addressed the
congregation and said: see before me
a large audience of Latter-day Saints,
and doubtless some who are not. In
our experience in this life We are con-
stantly endeavoring TO Learn IN reference
TO the future. We have ABUNDANT eVl-
dence that God loves all His children,
and that He is perfectly willing TO IN
form all mankind how to return TO His
presence. The Latter-day Saints realize
that there is as great necessity Tor
revelation from God to-day, as there
ever was. and consequently they are
pleased TO receive His divine commands.
through his divinelv appointed servants.
But there are many people. the Chris
tan world, who are not inclined to
believe in new revelations, considering
that those given eighteen thousand
wears ago are all sufficient. They, how
ever. are mistaken, for God did reveal
Himself through His angels to the
prophet Joseph Smith, and restored
again the everlasting gospel. There are
means by which all can test the truth OF
these assertions. The Saints have rea-
| lized the promises made unto them by
the elders, and know they have not be
deceived God by His holy spirit has
testified unto them of the truth of the
work in which they have engaged. They
have not relied upon the wisdom OF men
/ for the knowledge they have obtained.
If the principles they believe IN, had
originated with man. they could con
sistently modify them to suit the wishes
Of men. But no. Joseph Smith taught
that only which God revealed unto HIM,
and he could not retract nor alter what
ever was revealed unto him. With God
rests the responsibility for that which
| He requires of His Srints. We cannot
help il il the principles of the gospel do
not suit all men. We are anxious to
discriminate between truth and error
and the "still small voice" of the Holy
/ Spirit is necessary TO be our constant
monitor. In reference to the principle
of plurality of wives, we have, after
wears Of experience, tested its truth. as
a divine command of God. The world
cannot so understand il, because they
have broken the ordinances and trans
crossed the laws of the everlasting
gospel. The book called the Bible
contains numerous instances showing
that the Withdrawal of the Spirit OF God
follows transgression. and that the
things of God can only be understood
by the spirit of God: The revelation
authorizing a plurality of wives was
received by Joseph Smith. and obeyed
by HIM. not from any choice. but from
a sense of duty that he could not avoid.
The Lord has given that law as com
mand to us and the Sam. 5 cannot deny
il, but are willing to suffer and undergo
ANYTHING and everything rather than
sacrifice or relinquish the principles OF
God. We desire all the world to inves-
> tigate "MOrmOnism, that they may
sense our position. When they realize,
as we do. that God has commanded US,
they will understand that we cannot
consistently relinquish any part OF our
religious belief. We bear testimony
that God has revealed these things unto
! Us. and that we know them to be true.
7 This is our position to-day before the
world.
ELDER WM. B. DoUGALL said the spirit
of God testified unto MIN, that what
: Brother Jensen had spoken is true
Various opinions are held about the
"Mormons." The trouble is that ths
Latter-day Saints are the victims OF mis-
representations. Their mission is one
of peace and love. the plan of the ever
lasting gospel, by which all homes
persons can obtain salvation. Tn,
: Saints accept the Holy Bible as th'
foundation of their faith. believe i
literally as it reads. while the Christian
: world do not. The Saints believe tina
: God is the same yesterday, to day ant
forever. We believe He has as mucl
right to reveal His mind and viii unit,
US to-day as He had to speak unit
y Moses or any of the other ancien
prophets. We believe aud know tina
He did reveal -ilimself unto JOSEPH
Smith. The principles of the gospe
taught by the Latter-day Saints ar
identical with those which were laugh
: by our Savior Jesus Christ when OF
: earth. 1t can only be opposed to tn
beliefs of man, inasmuch as truth mus
be opposed to error. The actions Of tn
Saints cannot be a menace to the world
l. when their numbers are considered
Right must eventually overcome al
wrong. We trust in the unerring guild
of the Holy Spirit. to lead uscontinuall,
unto tie end.
10 rrt,o 1919, sbo ,,+l,r... ssn....l: