The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-01-24
THE MORMON AT SERVICE,
RELIGIOUS ExERcIsEs, AT THE
SALT LAKE CITY TABERNACLE
The Brig Edifioe Described = A
Mixed Congregational Bishop
Expounds the Mormon Faith

Expounds the Mormon Faith.
In the west central part Of Salt axe
City stands plain elliptical structure
$50 feet long, $50 wide aud so high. Its
roof is oval form and is self supporting
arch whose bents rest on forty-four
sandstone pillars, each varying from
fourteen to twenty feet in height. The
building was begun in 1864 and com.
pleted three years later. II is the Nor
mon tabernacle. The church OF Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints of Zion and
vicinity worship here every afternoon.
The interior is no less remarkable than
the people who built it. In the rear on
platform is an organ whose front tow
ers have an altitude of fifty-eight feet
1t is thirty eight feet by thirty. The
bellows are supplied with air by water
power. This organ has tifty-seven stops
and 264S pipes, ranging in length from
two to thirty.two feet; it is operated by
eight couplers and the same number of
pedals.
To the right Of the instrument sit the
female members of the choir; to the left,
the male. Between the organ and the
pulpit is mounted harp. The pulpit
seems as If it were a fight Of three steps
descending to the ground floor. The
first fight or stand is the seat of the
prophet and president of the Mormon
church. This Office is vacant at present.
MILFORD Woodruff is prophet pro tenn
pore.
The second stand is occupied by the
twelve apostles; and the third or lowest,
by the presidents of the high priests of
seventies. To the south the Mormons
designate position in their sanctuares
by the cardinal points of the compass
of these dignitaries sit numerous elders
and seventy high priests to the north,
the bishops and the counselors. This
corps of ecclesiastics is separated from
the audience by ratings, except where
the pulpit makes descent. en- the
ends of the ratings repose two huge
lions. Ten feet above the ratings be.
gins the gallery. which runs around the
building in horseshoe curve, and on
its lower edge are three hundred gas
Jets, studded with porcelain globes.
The ceiling is concave and hung with
decorations that were placed there thir-
teen years ago in commemortion Of 9
Sunday-school jubilee. The auditorium
makes gradual ascent from the pulpit.
1t is two o'clock. A gentleman seats
himself at the organ and plays volun
tary. We survey the audience. Every
State and Territory is represented. All
nations of Europe have sons and daugh
tiers present. The Ethiopian with hi,
smiling countenance add his presence
A few forlorn Indians sit among the con
quorers of their race. Even poor de
spised John Chinaman is not absent. The
voluntary is finished. One of the twelve
apostles announces hymn. The con
gregation, with the choir, rise and sing
While this takes place, nine elders ART
seen behind the communion table, busily
breaking bread. TIE congregation il
seated. Prayer and preaching. A prizes
offers prayer. He lmplores the Creator
to bless all assembled, especially tn
Latter Day Saints. They must keep un
sullied the revelations of the ancien
prophets, as we'll as those of the moderl
prophet, Joseph Smith. God has favored
them with the true light, hence they
must be more vigilant than tn.
Gentiles. May the outside world
soon discover that salvation is only
within the pale of the per
secuted Mormon church. He winds uI
with an emphatic "Amen," which is
heartily responded to by the members
During the invocation the saints arr
slightly bowed in reverence; the Gcntiles
are in an attitude as if witnessing an
opera. Another hymn is sung; the con
gregation remains seated. An elder al
the communion table asks blessing or
the bread, which is then distributed il
silver baskets among the faithful. The
Mormons commune on every Sabbath
While the bread is being passed,a bishop
resembling a ward politician arises anc
states that the lot has fallen upon hin
to address this people "The most I'M
portant duty of a servant of Jehovah i
to feed the bread of life to his flock
The prophet, Joseph Smith, commanded
that no one should speak unless thu
spirit of God was stirring him up. W.
come not here to listen to rhetorical
phrases, but we are assembled to hea
those revelations from the other world
with which we are in constan
communication. In olden times
the Lord spoke to his people
through his prophets. The spirit OF
prophecy lay dormant for 1900 years
then an angel appeared to Smith, ane
gave him the keys to institute tht
restoration of the ten tribes of Israel
We have gathered together under TIT
conviction that we are these tribes
Abraham settled in new country; 81
have the Latter Day Saints. Thu
geography of our land corresponds te
that of Palestine. This is the kingdom
of God. Christ will reign here person
ally among His people. There arr
numerous signs that Christ will soor
make His second advent"
Here he read from the Mormon Bibl
and a part of St. Matthew xxiv., t.
corroborate his assertion. The onl,
difference he could see between the tw,
prophecies was that Smiths was cleare
than Christ's.
This ends the first part OF the sermon
The elders have by this time supplied
each member with bread. A blessing
pronounced on the water-the Mormon
generally use water instead of wine
The water is passed in silver chalises
The bishop resumes, but makes war il
another direction. God and Lucifel
could not agree as to the peopling o
this earth, and rebellion was the result
One-third of the heavenly hosts joined
their fortunes with Lucifer. God con
quered this prince of devils with his con
federacy, and they were thrust out o
heaven. These spirits now permeate tn
earth. They cannot tabernacle in tn
flesh, but work mischief where the tru
Gospel is not preached. Whatever credi
is attached to any act as being the glor
of man, is the work of the Lucifers
Behind the apple We find Newton
the god of revelation. Was j
Newton2 The Gentiles answer ''yes.
The Latter Day Saints say ''God.
The mission of Israel is spiritual
the mission of the Gentiles is temporal
The Gentiles are building railroads
steamships, and identifying the earth i
general. The Saints are purifying soul
for eternity 'Our blood has commingle
with the Gentiles. Israel's blood lift
us to God; the Gentle blood in our vein
draw us to earth. To-day some Latter
Day- Saints. instead of being in tn