Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-24
JOSEPH'S BIRTHDAY.
The Saints Of The Sixteenth Ward
Conduct Anniversary Exercises.
A GATHERING AT EAST JORDAN.
Tho fr phe's Memory Revsrsd and
"reminiscences Of His Career Re-
called by Those Who Knew Him.

According to general custom the
Saints OF the Sixteenth ward Assem-.
bled In tho ward meeting house last
evening TO pay honor and tribute to
the memory Of tho Prophet Joseph
Smith ON the ninety-frst anniversary
OF his birth. 1t was an occasion
which is annually looked forward to
In pleasant remembrance by the people
o, the Sixteenth ward aud as q result
the ball was crowded anu good spirit
prevailed.
Tho meeting was opened with the
singing Of hymn Hail to the man, etc,
and after prayer The seer, the seer,
Joseph, tue seer, was also sung.
Bishop Frederick Kesler OF the
Sixteenth ward was the first speaker.
He stated the object OF the meeting
and recalled reminisceuoes OF the
carly life OF the Prophet, with whom
he said he was Intimately acquainted.
The Bishop spoke OF the land OF Y on
ana coupled his remarks with
prophesies uttered by Joseph Smith
during his career, showing that many
OF them had been literally fulfilled
with others to be verified In future
time.
A c0rnet colo was well executed by
Geg. II. Thomas, after which Elder
Angus NJ. Cannon, president OF the
Salt Like Stake, addressed the assem-
blage. He tnid that IN his boyhooi
he knew the Prophet am his
faith In him as u true
Prophet OF the Lord had been
given strength by what had been
told him by his parents. His connec-
ton with the Lhttet-day work had
| also given him "A testimony of the
divinity OF the Prophet Joseph's mis-.
sion. He was u man whose memory
he had learned to love and revere Tor
In him he recognized servant OF the
Most High aud ono who had been
blessed with heavenly visitatious.
An original poem, entitled The
Chosen of God anu the Friend OF Man,
Joseph Smith the Prophet, was Teclted
Ivy the composer, Sister Elizabeth j.
RouDdy, followed by O duet by the
Misses Ida Bett and Hannah Peterson.
Elder Francis Nj. Lyman OF the
quorum OF the APP .sties made lew
remarks, tsuching upon the life OF the
Prophet anu his mission. His expert
ence with tho Church OF Jesus Christ
Of Lstter-day Saints hau proved to
him beyond doubt that Joseph was
indeed all that tho Saints ciaime1 for
him.
A song by Sister Jane Ransom was
the next number, after which President
Joseph f. Smith addressed those as
eembled. His remarks were very ip-
teresting, touching as they did upon
Incidents connected with the Prophets
lie. The speaker reviewed the enrly
history OF the Prophet's life and told
how, at tie age OF IA years, he had
been led to 20 into the woods to pray.
Tho heavenly visitation OF God the
Father and the Son wasl spoken
of, following this up with events that
transpifed subsequently,. President
Smith told OF the delivery OF the plates
TO Joseph by the Angel Moroni; OF
the tran station OF the Book OF Mormon;
OF the organization of the Church OF
Jesus Christ OF Latter-day Saints; of
the restoration Of the Holy Priesthood;
OF the treatment to which the Saints
were subjected at the hands Of lawless
men, together with the association OF
tho Prophet and the expulsion OF the
Saints from Nsuvoo. He closed by
bearing testimony to the truth OF the
Gospel as restored TO the earth though
Joseph Smith anu said that II sDy
were seeking after truth, 1t was easily
found and II lived up 10 would bring
It's own reward.
President George q. Cannon was
the next speaker. he advised the
Saints to live In strict accordance with
the word OF God as received through
His prophets. Then, esid the speaker,
all would bs well anu G3d would pour
out His blessings upon those who
loved Him and showed their love for
Him by keeping His commandments.
The seer, the seer, ETC., was sung MS
a s)lQ by John Robinson, after which
brief but appropriate remarks were
made by Patriarch John Smith. anu
| Elders John Henry Smith and HeOer
J. Grant OF the Council OF Apostles.
There were thirty people present
who had seen the Prophet and fifteen
who were related TO him, anu at the
close OF the services all went away
feeling well repaid Tor having attend
gu,