The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-08-14

Praise ye the Lord my heart shall join
In work so plea ant, so divine,
Now while the flesh is my abode,
and when my soul ascends to God.
Elder G. V. Spencer offered prayer.
The choir then sang:
sc children of our God,
Ye saints of latter-days,
Surround the BILE Of the Lord,
And join to sit 6 His prai-e.
ELDER WILLIAM SPRY
addressed the congregation. Sensible
of his own heIplessness to address q
congregation of Latter-d day Saints, be
realized the necessity Of depending
upon the Almighty and upon the faith
and prayers of his brethren and sisters
that he might be enabled to say some
thing which would edify all those as
sembled. The Latter-day Saints as
semble together from Sabbath to Sab
bath for the purpose of being strength
ensd in the faith which they have
espoused, and that they may be in
structed in the ways of the Lord.
There was a time when many of them
were ignorant of things pertaining to
eternal life, but through the prompt
ings of the Holy Spirit and the admin
istrations of the servants of God, they
covenantrd to serve the Lord and kee o
His commandments. Consequently,
they have been brought to the gather
ing place which God has appointed for
His people. They also enjoy the
privilege of assembling from Sabbath
to Sabbath to partske Of the en- blems
of the broken body and split blood Of
the Redeemer. BY so dong, they OBJ
tain renewed strength their faith is
increased in the promises of the Al
mighty, and their testimony strength.
ened in regard to His work. Having
partaken of the Holy Spirit, the Lat
ter day Saints are in many respe cts a
peculiar people. Christ, on promising
this gift TO His d:ciples, gave them to
understand that it would lead them
into all truth. bringing things past to
their remembrance. and showing them
things to come. In short, it would be
as comforter unto them. The Latter
day Saints have had portion of this
spirit conferred upon them through the
ministrations of the servants of God.
Owing to this, they have received a
greater knowledge of spiritual things
In this respect they differ from the
Christian world. Although thus differ
ing from the various sects of Chlisten-
dom, they claim to have right to be-
lieve in and worship God who is
capable of hearing and answering their
prayers. They also allow to the peorle
of the world the right to worship &C
cording to the dictates of their own
consciences. permitting them to Wor-
ship where, h~w, or what they may.
The Letter-day Saints have no right to
ind fault with them on this point, but
are willing to show unto them that re-
spect which they are entitled to receive,
expecting the same in return. An elder
OF Israel who has travelled abroad and
associated with various asses in the
world has often observed The contrast
between them and the Lafter-day
Saints. Although destitute OF the
spirit of the gospel, the people of the
world should have considerable charity
shown unto than by the psople of God.
The Saints should rot ascribe unto
themselves any glory for their epiri ual
position. They, owe that to their
Father in Heaven. Apart from The
gospel, they are in no way superior to
the Christians of the world. The gospel
makes the Later-day Saints free peo-
pie. 1t has freed them from The sins to
which Il ey were addicted IN the past;
and if they will continue to keep faith
full to their covenants. they will be
placed in position to enjoy the bless
lngs of their Father in Heaven, even
eternal life. The Saints should be will
ling to make known uoto those who are
IN darknt S. the peculiar blessings and
privileges which are derived through
obedience to the gospel. Ire day will
yet come when IL shall be preached To
every creature, leaving noue witto {
excuse. for all sail have the privilege
of either accepting Or rejec leg the
same. To-day. there are hundI eds Of
men abroad in ditfe1eut parts OF the
earth proclAimipg the principles OF
truth. + is labor of love Oh their
part, because they desire to place their
fello@men In the same position WHOM |
thew themselves occupy. While the
servants of Gcd receive no pecuniary
benefit for such labor, they are laying
up for themselves treasures in heaven,
where moth cannot corrupt nor thieves
break through and steal. Such treas
ures are far more precious than gold or
silver or the things of this world. By
serving the Lord and carrying ont the
principles of the gospel IN their every
day lives, toe Latter-day Saints viii,
hereafter, occupy position far more |
enjoyable than they could ever attain by
making hobby of heaping up to them
selves the treasures of this earth.
The speaker, in closing. added
strong testimony to the truth of Gods
work, and desired that it might be the
ot of every Latter-day Saint present |
% be ready to receive their Lord at His
coming. and to enjoy his society here
after.
ELDER VI. H. JONES
also spoke. He desired the faith and
prayers of the Latter-day Saints in his
,ehalf. He had been out n the world,
md felt it q prnQfar task IN address a |