The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-23
At the Tabernacle.

Apostle Brigham Young was the first
speaker at the tabernacle yesterday
afternoon. He was greatly pleased
that he had the privilege of addressing
his brethren again in the tabernacle.
He said he had been laboring in the
south and the north for the church
and was pleased to note the progress
of the Mormon doctrine there. and the
people here should be encouraged by
the work of their faithful missionaries.
He said he had noted during his
| travels a sentiment that the Mormons
were not really moral people, but
were given over to deeds of evil, and
that our fair city fostered this wicked
ness, and as Babylon of old, fell, that
! in the fall of our Babylon, many of
us would go down with her; this senti-
ment he was glad to state. is rapidly
dying out, as people of other portions
of this country are coming more and
more into touch with the Latter-day
Saints. But the Mormons he said have
the spirit of God in them, and people
shall come to know them by their good
works-without the spirit of God they
Mormon people are not losing their
faith, but on the contrary were build
ing 1t uD stronger than ever: the
Saints have not bowed the knee to
Baal, nor do they intend to do So He
said he was sorry to have our fair city
pointed out as the rendezvous for wick
edness, but he said he had heard
strangers speak of it as the paradise OF
wicked-doers; who was it then that
created this sentiment-surely not the
Latter-day Saints, they were not the
consumers of liquors nor the patrons OF
vice in any form; the labors of the Nor
mon people have been honest and in
dustry and morality were ever the
maxims of their lives. The Mormon
people were led to these beautiful val
leys by revelation from God; he led
them here, where they endured hard
ships for the sake of their creed, and
now they are in possession of a para
disc which should be known abroad in
all lands as the peaceful abode of a.
chosen people. He said it was the duty
of every member of the church to
preach this gospel-no man was ex-
emDt, and they should set an example
for those with whom they come in con-
tact. He said he hoped some day to
see the gospel Of Christ preached to
the wealthy and the proud of heart,
that it was always preached to the
poor, and hoped some day to see it
penetrate society. The Mormon faith
was rising in the estimation of the out
side world, and the missionaries were
doing splendid work. He said the
greatest part of the battle was won
when the enemy conceded the morality
of their foes. and this is what Mormon
ism has done throughout the world
George @. Cannon next addressed the
great congregation and said the testi-
mony given by Mr.. Young of the great
moral work accomplished in the north
and south was most gratifying and en-
couraging. He said there was a dis
position on the part of the people gem
orally to out away political divisions
from them; there was danger in this
sentiment, that it would disturb their
unity and peace; he had only to recall
a very serious and determined plan
which originated years ago, a plan that
had strong support, which was to strip
the Mormon people of their political
franchise and render them harmless as
a political factor in this nation; Of
course, he said. a little reflection upon
this would bring to their minds the
dreadful condition the people would
have been reduced to if such a plan
had been successfuI; they would have
been buffeted about much as the
Chinaman or the Door Indian who oc-
casionally Strays into our city de-
pendent for existence almost upon the
humane feelings of those who are dis
posed to be humane; by the mercy of
God this persecution did not come
upon them; their liberty, their lives,
their self respect had not been taken
away from them by law-tIle power of
God obviated such a. disaster; when
he thought of all this, he was proud of
the marvellous degree of patience
which the people manifested. Their
prosecutions were only parallel of the
sufferings (which Christ endured for
their sakes; because they submitted to
those prosecutions it was his belief that
God was testing them for their faith,
and God will give unto them the same
glory he promised in the ancient days
to his faithful servants. II man con-
fess his sins, he evinces the only true
repentance unto his God.