The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-05-27
At the Tabernacle.

tended as usual because of the threat
ening state of the weather. There was,
however, a large congregation. Presi-
dent Angus NJ. Cannon conducted the
meeting.
The singing by the vhoir was an
attractive feature of yesterdays SER
vices Prayer was offered by Elder
George B. Wallace.
Elder C. W. Penrose was the
speaker. He said that the elders of
the church are expected to be ready at
any time to administer the word of
God to the people. In order that this
may be successfully done. the elders
should follow out the early injunc ton
to the church that the priesthood
should store their minds with useful
knowledge. The elders should be
thoughtful men, reading men. observ-
ant men, so that when they are called
to speak they may give light and in
telligence to the Saints of the most
high. This is "A sacred duty and the
elders should strive to magnify it.
Truth is eternal and has existed
from before the beginning of the
world. Yet error has also been from
the first and is, according to our be-
lief, co-existent with the principle of
truth. Truth will overcome error
light will vanquish darkness, joy will
outlive misery and life will be
triumphant over death.
Contact with evil is necessary for
the experience CT the people that they
may have the reward of choosing the
good. God has made all the nations
of the earth of one blood and has
determined the bounds of their habi-
tatlon and all existing conditions are
here for foreordained and wise pur-
pose. God did not create those con-
ditions but they came because Of
transgression. Adam broke the law of
God in the exercise of his agency and
while God did not compel the act he
knew that the transgression must
come. Satan influenced our first
parents although he had no power to
compel obedience.
Thus the divine father gave them
freedom of action and will. Whether
this story of Adam and Eve be taken
as literal or as figurative, the princi-
pie is the same. showing mans liberty
to act as he may elect. God has al
ways permitted these principles to
operate among all nations of the earth.
Truth and error. light and darkness,
good and evil, have been before them.
Through the actions of the progeni-
tors of the present race, there are
numerous tendencies to evil in the
present generation. Yet the principle
of free agency runs through it all.
Very often. it is true, the will of Cnan
is weak and they perhaps are born
with evil tendencies, as for example,
an insatiate appetite for intoXicants.
inherited from some near or remote
progenitor. Men, however will be
judged in righteousness, and with a
consideration for influences and en-
vlronment. Pity and sympathy
should be exercised for those who
are thus erring. Men whom the
people see reeling through the
streets are unqualifiedly condemned,
when, indeed, many whose deeds are
more culpable are looked upon with
leniency.
The laws of centrariety and oppo-
sites are necessary to the advance
ment and education of mankind. 1t
should be remembered that it is Satan
Who influences to evil and not God.
1t is frequently a subject of query as
to why God permits evil to exist. Evil
is here because it is an eternal prin-
ciple and because Infinite Wisdom
knew that contact with it was essen
tial to mans development. The con-
ditions which make men manly and
women won1~nly, which develop and
ennoble both, are the result of strug-
Cling against evil. This earth. which
is saturated with corruption and in
which men crucified their Redeemer,
will yet become a blessed habitation
for the sons of men. The Redeemer
himself will come to this earth as its
king and chase all evil error and
misery from the world.
Satan is a tangible being. There
must naturally be someone who will
embody the eternal principle of evil,
just as the Eternal Father is the per-
feet impersonation and expression of
all that is good and admirable. Luz
offer is disorganizer, as God is the
grand organizer of the universe. Gre
alton is organization. The Father has
brought light, intelligence and beauty
into the world. Lucifer is the de-
stroyer, the power of darkness, and
has the power of death.
Rebellion against the divine will
opens the way for the influence of
Satan to prevail. But the harmony
with and obedience to law will lead
to the redemption of man and will be
the great factor in bringing about the
millennial day.
1t was essential for the son of God
to be tempted just as we are tempt
ed. He was constituted as man us.
the light of the father 1t
was the absence of this principle,
the adherence to the truth, that has
made Christ the head of all AS is
said truthfully by the psalmist, Thou
has loved Righteousness and hated in
iquity, and therefore God, even thy
God, hath anointed thee with the oil
of gladness above thy fellows" Jesus
rejected the overtures of Satan and
said that man shall live by every word
that proceedeth out of the mouth of
God. This is the keyword to eternal
progress and will enable the Saints to
overcome the powers of evil and
darkness. Christ was tempted in all
points, but he remained invulnerable
and because of this he is both Lord
and Christ. He suffered all the anguish
and sorrows of man that he might, by
enduring these agencies, be able to
comprehend mans condition and that
he might become perfect and develop
the qualities of deity that were in him.
1.-THE captain of our salvation was
made perfect through sufferings''
If the Saints will overcome the world,
the flesh and the devil, they will go on
from light to light and glory to glory
unto the perfect day. 1t is only by
obedience to law and order that the
Saints will be sanctified. The laws Of
redemption must be observed in order
TO obtain redemption. The gospel
brings perfect liberty, but it is the
liberty of law. 1t is only by obedience
TO law that man can become sanctif1ed
"That which is governed by law is
preserved by law and sanctified by the
same ''That which seeketh to be-
come a law unto itself and altogether
abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by
justice, mercy or judgment, but must
needs remain filthy still" Everything
that is salvable will eventually be