The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-06-10

! President MILFORD Woodruff said
| that it was a privilege and pleasure
/ to speak to the young people OF zion
God has always chosen the meek and
humble to be his chosen vessels IN
/ the priesthood.
There has never been generation
! born TO greater responsibilities than
/ the young men of Israel. The mu-
! tual associations and primaries are
! strong agencies in preparing the young
+ for these duties. The Sabbath schools
/ have also been an important factor
! There they can become learned in the
! knowledge of God and the things OF
| his kingdom. The mutual improve
/ ment associations are and should be
! the natural nurseries of missionaries.
/ The young men are taught in child
hood that if they will live pure lives,
! IL will be their privilege and duty to
! carry the message of truth to the ma
tons.
Joseph Smith told a number of the
early fathers that unless they pre-
! pared for this responsibility they
should meet with the displeasure of
! God. The spirits of the young of
Israel have been kept in the spirit
world for centuries to come forth in
! these DAYS to deliver Gods word.
Jehovah looks to this generation to
carry out his purposes and to fully
establish his kingdom. God and the
angels have often wept over the sins
of his people. The young men should
/ realize their position and keep I'M
/ spotted from the Vanities and iniquity
! of the world.
/ Those who are about to start upon
/ missions should be careful to respect
/ the beliefs of others. To tear down
! others creeds is not the function of
/ elders. Show them the beauties of the
/ gospel and they will accept it. The
] alHar.c chn1rlI nix ba 10 NC nf
/ the countries in which they are So
/ journing. In the early days of mis-
/ sionary work in England. an elder in
weighed against her majesty and the
/ British government. This was inju-
dicious and wrong and occasioned
much inconvenience to the elders.
Above all things the elders should
/ give heed to the promptings of the
spirit. The lives of many of Gods
anOinted have been saved by following
this rule. The old and young of Israel
should magnify their callings and be
worthy instruments in Gods hands for
the contamination of the Latter-day
work.
Dr.. NJ. H. Hardy said that
4 the work OF mutual improvement
had developed into great proportions
in the past few years. This is one of
the most practical and effectual labors
in the instruction of the young. The
I spiritual training they receive in these
associations enables them to fill mis-
sions with honor and credit.
Apostle Grants Address.
Apostle Heber J. Grant, an assistant
/ to the general SUPPLEMENTARY, said
that his laboTs in this connection were
among the most agreeable he had to
/ perform. Young men stand upon the
brink Of usefulness or failure, and
+ these associations are the instruments
which will make of them faithful Lat
ter-day Saints. The work performed
by Elder Goddard and his aged CO.
! laborer5 in this connection will cause
him to stand always in the love and
esteem of the young people of Israel.
Elder Joseph II. Felt spoke of the
mutual improvement work being done
in Salt Lake and reported prosperity
and progressive conditions.
Elder John F. Alfred represented, in
a. brief speech, the Sanpete stake or
CARNATIONS Elder John +. Pettigrew,
president of the Juab stake aSSOcia-
ton, spoke of the success being
achieved in that county, and Elder
James II. Wilcox talked encOuragingly
of what was being done among the
young in the Davis stake.
Elder Douglass NJ. Todd represented
the Cache stake, showing that the
past year has been unusually success
full in that county in Improvement
work.
James H. Moulton, of Wasatch, and
3. 5. Hinkley, Of the Utah stake. re-
ported favorable conditions in their
county associations.
The evening services began at o'clock,
with a very full attendance After the
usual prelude Of singing and prayer, a
brief report of the NJ. /. A. work in the
San Louis stake was made by Elder En-
manuel Hunt Elder Victor Bean spoke
for the Sewer stake organization, ard
stated that a good work was being ac-
complished in that section.
Bishop Whitney's Address.
The discourse was then delivered by
Bishop Orson F. Whitney. He took as his
text a lengthy quotation from the Book
of Mormon. which enlarged upon the Bib
lical assurance that men are to be judged
by their fruits.
These words he said, were uttered by
one of a long line of prophets who min
iStered to the people on this continent
The record upon which the wordS were
subscribed was laid away by Moroni and
were eventually discovered by the Latter
day prophet.
These words of Mormon are timely at
the present day. The doctrine is not new
for Christ said that he would submit his
works to such a test. By their fruits
he said. we shall know them" He told
the people in that day how to judge right
eously. All prophets have been willing
to have their works tested by so safe a
criterion.
Latter-day Saints live in a time when
their knowledge will be tested. It will
not do to rely upon the testimony of 9TH
ers, but each must know, by the witness
of the spirit, that this Is Gods work. Il
have faced a time when," said Bishop
Whitney, though reared under the drip
pings of the sanctuary, L must know the
truth or falsity of Mormonism. There
were times in my younger days when
other attractions were stronger; when 1
found safety in religious ceremonies. But
point came when "A knowledge was nee
eSsary. This was when l went into the
missionary vineyard. It was there that
in a dream. ana what / learned on that
occasion showed clearly that when God
calls one to any labor He expects such
a servant to devote his whole attention
to the work.
Bishop Whitney then eloquently de-
scribed dream in which he saw a real
istic and striking mantle station Of heaven
ly power.
The dream, he said, was so vivid, that it
was impossible to believe that it was
not from God. Its effect was to shake off
the slumber of indifference. and gave
birth TO a firm resolve to serve God unfal-
tertngly in the future. That was a vivid
testimony that Jesus was the Christ
Soon after that many other marvellous
gifts We're exhibited. The Sick were heal
ed, the gift of tongues was manifest. But
none of these was SO enduring a testi-
mony as that Which came with the dream.
There are many evidences around us
of the truth of Mormenism let many of
those who have had testimonies burning
within them have permitted them to go
out for want Of fuel. A one-time member
of the church. who had strayed into the
darkness, said that he still knew Nor
monism was true. If for no other reason
he felt that Il was so because. of its ex-
ternal evidences. A gentleman from New
York once said that MormOnism could
be no fraud because frauds do not pro-