The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-17
AT The TABERNACLE.
ELDERS D. M'KENZIE AND T. TO-
BIASON THE SPEAKERS.
Missionary Work in Sweden
Madam Genevra tombstone Bishop
Sings a Solo.

Elder David Mckenzie and Elder
Theodore Tobiason made the addresses
yesterday afternoon at the tabernacle
A pleasing variation in the services was
the appearance Of Miss Genevra John
stone Bishop. who sang in her finished
and beautiful manner Jerusalem
Elder Tobiason, who has been laboring
for over two years in the Swedish mis-
sion. began by eulogizing the people of
Scandinavia. They are honest, he said.
and good hearted, and there is much
scope for missionary work among them.
The present corps of laborers is entirely
too small. Prospects are now eXcep-
tionally bright, and a great many
! Swedes are being converted. 1t is
probable that thousands more viii be
converted to the faith sooner or later.
/ The opportunities for the elders are
/ better now than formerly. The intense
prejudice against the Saints which ex
listed a few years ago is now fading
away. Elders can now visit places
where they were formerly denied ad-
mittance.
Most of the Swedish people belong to
! the state or Lutheran church, although
there are several other sects which
have a strong hold upon them. There is
much conflict between the different de-
nominations. and this fact in itself is
helpful to the elders in their labOrs, for
instead of the Earring dogmas of other
sects they present the simple beauties
of the gospel The faith which the ell
ders preach has stood the test, and
cannot be shaken or even weakened by
the learning of the wise.
The people of the world are taught
that simple faith in the Lord Jesus is
all that is required for salvation. That
is exactly the impression which the
Latter-day Saints have to combat. 1t
is the teaching of MOrmOnism that, as
Paul expressed it. there is a form to be
observed and he cOmDlimented the
Saints for having embraced it. 1t is
hard for the people to understand why
the elders travel so far TO Dromulgate
their beliefs. One of the first lessons
which it is desired to impress upon
their minds is that faith alone is in
sufficient. That is a perniciouS doctrine.
directly contrary to the teachings of
scripture, and it is difficult to under
stand how intelligent people can be-
lieve in such a false dogma
Another false belief which prevails
among them is that the gifts of the Cos
pei are done away. That is a doctrine
for which there is no justification in
the scriptures. The gospel does not
change. The mistake is that they de-
pend upon the learning of their wise
men. instead of placing dependence in
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit They
are tangled in the meshes of sophis-
tries and conceits.
Elder Mckenzie. in beginning, said
the Latter-day Saints made very high
pretensiOns. They stand, he continued.
upon a very high platform, when they
take uDOn themselves to state that all
the world of ChristendOm has gone
wrong and that they alone have the
true gospel in their midst. This is a
-Sfh W
take upon themselves. The question is,
can this position be indicated?
1t was a bow of - years, Joseph
Smith, who made the statement that all
the denominations of the world had
gone astray. When he made that mes
sage known he did not fail 10 point
out wherein the sects of the world were
wrong.
In discussing the question of whether
the Saints have indicated their pO-
sition. attention must be called to the
dealings of God with Slen in all ages
1t will be observed that when he opens
A new disnensatiOn. he always gives
suitable and adequate evidence that it
is his work The thunders Of his voice
rolled upon Sinai: marvellous miracles
were performed at the time OF the
exodus from Egypt. AT Lebanon, when
the Son of Man came with the Sospel
dispensation. he gave a demonstration
The great fact of that dispensaton
centered in the resurrection of Christ
This last dispensatiOn, the one which
Joseph Smith usered in, is based upon
fact which can be as easily demon
strated as the fact of the resurrection.
There is a testimony of Joseph Smith
about the visitation of the angel and
the plates and also the testimony of
the three witnesses. These latter said
that they personally saw the anger ana
the mates Eight other witnesses saw
the plates. and this makes a total of u
who testify to the fact.
Many things are established by the
credibility of witnesses. In this world,
life. property and the fate of empires
have been decided upon the testimony
of witnesses.
The three witnesses. Oliver Cowdery,
David Wilmer and Martin Harris, re-
NAMED true to their testimony
their whole lives. notwith-
standing the fact that each one after
wards became disassociated from the
church.
This demonstrates that the Lord is
consistent. He is now beseeching the
world to come into the fold of Christ.
for it is only through the channel of his
gospel and his priesthood that men can
obtain eternal life. He has established
his words and the truth of his work in
the mouths of creditable witnesses
This he has done in order to leave the
world without an excuse.
Besides these things, there is cir
evidence that God has
opened a new dispensatiOn. Since 1880.
when the church was established, the
United States have waxed stronger
and more powerful, and the great in
ventionS in electricity have startled and
advanced the world.
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