The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-05-01

OihdClS OA OOnuay dllcI uOOus 1u6IS
was a large attendance, and the SER
vices were opened by the choir and
congregation singing:
The great and glorious gospel light
Has ushered forth into my sight,
Which in my soul have received,
From bondage and from death relieved
The opening prayer was offered by
Elder George G. Bywater.
The choir then sang:
How sweet communion is on earth
With those who've realized the birth
Of water-who the spirits powers
Receive in genial quick ning showers
ELDER JOHN NICHOLSON
delivered and excellent and instructive
discourse, of which the following is
brief synopsis:
The speaker did not assume to address
the congregation in his own name, but
desired that he might be assisted by the
Holy Spirit, otherwise he could not
properly exercise his duty in instruct
ing the people. 1t is one of the most
profitable reflections for the Saints to
consider the character of Christ. and
the work of redemption which He
wrought out for the children of men.
The Latter-day Saints have gathered
together from the various nations of the
earth in response to peculiar procla-
nation that has been made known to
the world in this generation. After the
long period of silence, that for centuries
prevailed between the heavens and the
earth, prophet has been raised up as
medium of communication between
God and man. The gospel again exis is
on the earth as anciently, with all its
powers, gifts, blessings and Its various
authorized officers. Men 90 forth, not
as the Scribes and Pnarisees, but with
divine authority, inviting men to obey
the message which has been revealed
from heaven, that they may no longer
sit in spiritual darkness, but become
the children of light. The great dis
tinguishing feature that characterizes
the people of God from the rest of the
world is that they have within them
the Holy Spirit, which bears witness to
them that they are engaged in the SER
vice of God. Had they not this Spirit
to sustain them, they could not be able
to Withstand the attacks which are
made upon them by the enemies of the
truth. Among the signs which the
Savior taught His disciples should ap-
pear prior to His second advent and
the end of the world, one Of the most
conspicuous was that The gospel of the
II oh hn f1
word as witness before the end should
come. The speaker presumed that the
congregation were familiar with the
various other signs which were to tran
spire as recorded by Matthew; but
more light had been given on the same
subject through Joseph Smith. Elder
Nicholson thereupon read the account
as recorded in the Book of Doctrine
and Covenants, and said that nearly all
Christians believed that a time will
come when Christ shall reign upon the
earth; but many of them probably put
off such an event until a later period,
while the Latter-day Saints believe that
it is even at The door. The Savior had
also predicted great things to trapspire
in the generations of the Jews who
lived while He was on the earth. He
predicted that the temple, which was
then their glory and admiration, should
be destroyed. and that calamity would
come upon them, rendering them desc
late, and the Iemnant was 10 be scattered
over the earth, and become hiss and a
by word among all people. 1t was also
predicted that in the latter times, they
would be gathered again to their own
land, which was promised them as an
everlasting inheritance. The fact that
these prophesies are partly fulfilled,
should increase, in the hearts of the
Saints, belief that there will be com.
plete fulflment of them. The speaker
also dwelt, az some length, upon the
present aspec of the social and politi-
cal affairs in lie different nations Civ
ing clear and demonstrative evidence
that we are now living in the days of the
Son of Man. The Saints may antici-
pate that His appearing is not far dis
tant, and it is the privilege of the faith !
full disciple to understand the signs
that are to precede that great event.
These indications are multiplying on
every hand. It was predicted that there
should be earthquakes in divers places
At the present day, many occurrences
OF this nature are taking place-the
sudden upheavings of the earth ID diff
ferent parts causing the death of thou |
sands. 1t was also predicted that wars
and rumors of wars would also be
among the events that should transpire
prior to the second advent. Never be-
fore was there an age in the world when
rnmors of wars could be so rapidly
transmitted over the globe as at the |
present day. There are also various
disturbances in society perplexing the |
nations. causing one to rise against the
other. There is, among certain classes.
sentiment which threatens disaster to |
the governments under which they live. |
in many respects, the hearts of |
men to fail them with fear All these |
conditions are but manifestations of |
the near approach of Uhrist's second |
advent. Elder Nicholson also referred |
to the parable of the ten virgins, five of |
whom were wise, and five foolish. 1t |
might be inferred from the lesson which |
this parable was designed to teach, that |
the people of God there would
be many found unprepared when the
bridegroom should make his appear
ance. They are now confronted with |
various forms of temptations, which ar +,
detrimental to the cause of truth. By