Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-12-29
SUNDAY SERVICES.


Caanen at the Taberaaele.
Religious services were held at
the Tabernacle, Salt Laks City,
Sunday, December q, 1890, COM
mencing at 2 p. m, Counselor
Charles w. Penrose presiding.
The choir and congregation Gang
the hymn beginning:
We thank thee. o God. for Prophet,
To guide rs In taese latter days.
Prayer by Elder William r. Bar
ton.
The choir sang the hymn:
Mortais. awake, with angels 1oin.
And chant the solemn lay.
The Priesthood Of the Eleventh
Wari ofiiciated In the alministra-
ton Of the Sacrament.
APOSTLE ABRAHAM II. CANNON
addressed the congregation. We
were living, he said, in very remark
able times. The events which were
daily occurring in the world were
bound to excite the attention and
wonder Of the people. Looking at
these things as they happened. from
. natural standpoint, We could not
at present see the object Of them;
the reason was hidden from our
sight. Yet when We viewed them
rs Latter-day Saints, with the eye
Of faith and with q partial Under
standing Of the work which Col
was performing In the earth, His
hand was clearly visible in the
affairs Of men and nations. We
saw movements In empires, thrones
cast down, emperors removed, re-
publics arise, and various other
changes taking place in different
parts OF the world; and though
there seemed to be no order nor
regularity in these matters, yet
there was certainly q controlling
power governing them for the nc.
compllshment OF certain purposes
As Latter-day Saints we believed
that God designed 10 bring the in
habitan,s Of this globe under the
rule and dominion OF His SJn
Jesus Christ, who would reign as
King of kings and Lord Of lords.
We believed that nations would be
brought under His sway, and af-
fairs so directed as TO accomplish
those marvellous predictions made
centuries ago concerning the latter
days. We looked for the iulfiln.ent
OF that prophecy uttered by Daniel,
even before the advent OF the Mes
siah among men, when the king
dom, power and dominion would
be given unto the Saints Of the
Most High; for we believed that the
kingdom spoken Of by Daniel had
been established. The stone to
which he referred had been cut cut
OF the mountain without hands,
and would continue to roll forth
until IL should grind TO powder the
great image which the king had
seen, and which Daniel told him
represented the various nations Of
the world from his time till the
latest generation.
The Latter. lay Saints did not.
however, anticipate that bloodshed
would be necessary in the establish.
ment Of the kingdom Of God among
men; they did not look for a combat
of carnal weapons in the accomplish
ment of that Of which God hal
spoken; they did not look for Jesus
70 send forth His legions among {, g
chill iren Of men 10 destroy the
who received nos His word or sui
mitted not to His rule; but they & 4 |
look. for the establishment of q
kingdom of peace and good will
towards all men-the establishment
Of q government under which men
ami women might exercise the full
est freedom aud have the most per
feet liberty. II we understood the
Gospel right; II we had not been
iotaris in the study OF that which
tod had revealed, we must know
this-that the Lord never designed
to rob man Of his agency, to deprive
him Of the right 10 choose between
right and wrong, truth and error.
The Gospel, rs had been declared by
the Apostle Paul, was q perfect law
Of l;oerty, law under which MEN
and women were expected 10 de-
veiop their highest powers, 10 be
free agents, doing that which SEEM
eth good unto them.
In all ages il had been the rule,
the obJec, sought, in preaching the
Gospel TO teach men and women TO
be free, TO relieve themselves OF the
burdens Of oppression and walk as
children Of God, seeking to know
His will. When the J. ord placed
oar first parents in the garden Of
Elem He gave them perfect liberty.
Bat there was one particular tree
the fruit OF which they were CON-
mauded not 10 cat, ami the penaity
Of death attached TO a violation OF
that command. When Adam
reached forth his hand to pluck the
fruit, and when they were about 10
"a. Of il. they Were not restrained
by God in the exercise Of their free
dom; but they were guilty Of dis
Obedience, and thus was death
brought into the world. When
Abel, that righteous son Of Adam,
Tas slain by his brother, there was
10 Intervention of the Almighty 10
preven. the commission Of his foul
crime. When Gains hand was
raised to STAY Abel, though the
power existed 10 prevent the muir.
,ierous act, Gsd did not stay that
hand, but permitted the deed to be
done; for Cain was acting upon his
own agency. When, however, the
murder had actually been commit
ted the eternal curse followed. 50
In regard to the Israelites Of old.
The Lord continually sought TO lead
His people in a kindly way, by
showing them the results OF dis
obedience. He did not force them
into a position OF serving Him, but
the two plans were placed be-
fore them-the plan Of salvation and
that Ut death AMI eternal damna-
ton.
The Gospel Of God was designed to
give more freedom to man than could
any earthly government. We spoke
Of the glorious principles under
which we lived, which lay at the
lOuilu8liDu Vi tuis oDI-SiHcn htiiuo>
lie; we spoke Of The inspiration OF
the Lord which directed the framing
OF this sacred Constitution; yet the
fvrmerdid not give the frcedomwhich
the Gospel gave to man when prac'
siced in its perfection. The govern
ments Of the earth were Of God;
there was no power but came Of God,
and He had ordained these king
doms, empires and republics for o
wise purpose. 1t was well that gov
ernments were Instituted among
men, even though some Of them had
laws which were injurious to the in
habitauts Of the cou airy in which
they prevailed. Still, 1t was better
to have the oppression OF enc u'an. of
the autocrsi, than 10 have no govern
ment at all, or to be living In q safe
Of anarchy.
The Lord would bring all things