The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-20
At the Tabernacle.
ingd.

The large auditorium of the taber-
nacle was crowded almost to its full
capacity at the 2 O'Clock services yes
terday afternoon The death of Apos-
tie Abraham H. Cannon had become
generally known throughout the city,
and it was this event that brought to-
getller the unusually large audience.
In the opening prayer, which was Of
feredI by Bishop Elias S. Morris, divine
comfort was asked for the sorroWing
family and relatives of Apostle Cannon.
Elder Edgar Best, who has been de-
ing missionary work in New Zealand
for the past three years, was the first
speaker.
Preaching the gospel there, he said,
is a great task to the elders for more
reasons than one Ordinarily the cid
ers know little of the gospel when they
leave here and adj their spiritual educa-
ton comes after their arrival in other
lands. Il is also necessary for those
who go to the islands to become veTsed
in a foreign language. The Maoris who
have received the gospel are progress
sing with remarkable strides, both in
a temporal and spiritual sense Many
of the native members know more about
the gospel than the new elders who
are sent there.
In conclusion, Elder Best spoke a. few
words in the musical tongue of the Ma
oris.
Elder Samuel Wells of st. George, a.
missionary lately returned from Texas,
spoke for a few minutes. He said the
people in the south were pious and hos
pitable and given TO religious thoughts.
In this resepct they would be an eX-
ample to the Saints at home. After the
first suspicion and prejudice had worn
off, the elders were treated with the
most open hospitality and kindness
Texas is becoming, he continued, one
Of our best missionary fields in the
south. A great many people have been
baptized within the last two years and
several Sunday schools have been orga-
nized by the elders. Those who labor
in the Lords vineyard know that the
hand of God is over them.
Apostle Lorenzo Snow addressed the
audience briefly. He was much graft
fed, he said, to hear the words of the
young elders. He himself was a mis-
sionary once and expected always to be
one
Apostle Snow then referred feelingly
to the death yesterday morning of
Apostle A H. Cannon. He said the
fellow laborers of the late apostle felt
his death almost as keenly as his i'm
mediate relatives could. The vacancy,
he said, it would almost seem to hu-
man eyes, is one impossible to fill. God
works out his purposes mysteriously,
but we know that ne does all things
well and for a wise end
This life should be a time of prepara-
ton for the next. In proportion as we
obtain rfghteouness and truth here, we
will receive advantages in the next
world. There will be a. work to do on
the other side, and we should equip our
elve here to begin, when we pass away,
the great work of the future. If we
live in this life in conformity with the
will Of God, we not only lay up treas
ures in heaven, but our enjoyment here
is manifold more than it would be
otherwise.
The Latter-day Saints should be
thankful for their opportunities and
environment. Rich blessings are prom
Used us, both temporal and spiritual, if
we remain faithful during this proba-
ton. We came to this world from the
world of spirits Of our own volition. We
knew, when we consented to do this,
that there would be many duties to
perform, many hardships met with on
the way, but doing Gods will brings
IFS own reward After a time our Ia
bors cease to be a task and become
the greatest source of enjoyment
In each of US is placed a soul. This
is susceptible of continual improve
ment That soul belongs to US and is
an eternal being. We can add to it,
intelligence upon intelligence and truth
upon truth. That is how to prepare for
a glorious future and obtain pure en-
joynent here.
No good thing, it should be remem-
bered, comes spontaneously and with
out effort. If we would have the di-
vine gift of faith, the greatest of Gods
blessings 10 man, we must obtain it
through good works and faithful lives
When we receive that. it will work
supernatural things and reveal to us
past and future events.
Apostle Heber j. Grant preached the
concluding sermon. He said he re-
joiced in being able to say that he had
a. testimony of the truth of Gods
work. The fact that people are skep-
teal about this testimony does not
change it.
There can be no earthly joy like the
knowledge of Gods truth. But this
testimony must be kept up by the per-
Torrance OF good works, otherwise it