Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-08-28

,,,der such favorable circumstances. 1
,,ns thinking while / sat here this
morning how much President Wood
,ufs would enjoy meeting with you,and
h,v much you would enjoy his pres
,,ce Probably It would be interest
tho to YOU to know that President
woodruff's health is improving, and.
though not very strong. still he Is able
90 come 10 the office every day and at
fond to business. lie has surprised us
nh by the manner In which he has re-
covered from this severe Illness which
No has had. II would not have sur
rrlsed many, suppose, If he had sunk
under this sickness. 1t seemed at
times as though he was going to
icnve lis. But his recuperativc power
T., wonderful, and / attribute 1t to the
constant prayers of the Sains which
ore offered, have no doubt. every day
from every habltation where the
Saints dwell. 1t is a very delightful
,bought 10 realize that the Latter-day
Saints are bound togther by such
exceedingly strong.
I have Travelled good deal OF late.
md there is one thing with which
have been impressed: the difference
there exists between the Latter-day
Saints and those from among whom
I'VE have been gathered. outside of
our Church and our community
vol find the people, as n
rule. taking very little interest
in each others welfare. There does
not seem to be that love and affection
md kindly interest taken by the peo-
pie In each other. either in their al,
fairs or in their health, which is eN-
hlblted among us. The predominant
feeling appears to be for everyone to
take care of himself, to look out for
his own interests and those of his
family This is In striking contrast
with the spirit that has been brought
into operation by the Gospel of the
Lord Jesus Christ. We do not. as a
people, take that interest In each other
that we should do, because we have
come from the world and brought with
US its traditions. its habits.its methods.
and good deal of its feeling. We
have not yet outlived these nor shak-
en- them on. The Gospel has not freed
us entirely from these influences,
though IL has to very great extent,
so much so that there is n striking
contrast in this respect between us and
other denominations. The power OF
the Gospel has been felt in this direc-
ton. and will be felt more and more.
] have no doubt II gives us great Joy
TO know that there are others who feel
for us; that there are others who
take interest in us; that there are
others who pray for us: that there are
Others II we are sick, who will admin
lister to us. and whose feelings are
drawn out towards us. I do not sup
pose there is any one in this congre-
CATION that ever prays for himself and
family without praying for others,
without praying for his brethren and
sisters, without praying for President
Woodruff and the First Presidency and
the Twelve. and for all the officers in
the Church. without praying for the
sick and afflicted, the distressed, the
poor, the widow. the fatherless, and
for those who mourn, that they may
be comforted. l do not suppose that
these desires escape the attention OF
the members OF this congrega-
ton when they pray. What a
delightful feeling this is! How
II comforts PresidentWoo druff to know
that Throughout the entire world,
wherever Latter-day Saints dwell, he
that the blessing of the Lord is sought
for In his behalf! 1t comforts us all
10 Know that the Saints take this in
terest in us. They may not know the
Affections or the trouble that we
have to contend with; but they pray
Tor all OF their brethren and sisters
without regard to name or place. When
they hear of aftllction their hearts go
out In sympathy to those who are af-
flicted.
Brethren and Sisters. this, ] may say.
is comparatively new feeling In the
world MT but what there is love
sun remaining among the children OF
men; all are not destitute Of love; but
IL Is TO very great extent limited and
confined to very few persons.
Now. where has this love that I re-
Ter to come from? Has II come from
our gathering together and being in
our present state? Is 1t the mere
gathering together OF the Latter-d day
saints in this land that has brought
this love? Certainly not. However
much that may have contributed to
the existence of this love, 1t has not
been entirely due to that. You breth-
rem aud sisters. who embraced this
Gospel in other lands, where did you
Nfst feel this love, and how did 1t
come to your You doubtless can re-
oall the time when new love took
possession Of your heart, when feel
ings you never had known before were
aroused In your hearts, and you felt
mat you had been born again. Your
hearts We're changed. and you be-
came new men and new women, When
WV lNlS octurs All OF you VINO re-
ceiNed the Gospel In other lands can
turn your minds back to the day you
heard the Gospel declared by SER
want OF God for the first time. and how
new sensations took possession of you.
~ seemed AZ though n veil of darkness
mao been taken from your minds, so
mat yOu could perceive things In a
new light. The Bible. with which you
mad been so familiar from your youth
up, appeared in new light. You
Understood its contents as you
never had understood them be-
iere. Then you gave heed TO
the testimony of the servants of God
ana their exhortations to repent of
your sins, TO he baptized for the re-
mission OF them, and receive the Holy
Ihostnnd when you did this, you felt
mat you had indeed become new crea-
lures Your hearts We're touched,your
Feelings We're aroused and you became
new men and women in Christ Jesus
you We're literally born again by the
baptism Of the water and of the Holy
Ihust A love then entered into YOU
htnrt for everything that proceeded
from God such as you hnd never
known. You loved your brethren und
sisters. When you met with tht
SAINTS you had no desire to separate
from them; you wanted to he In thelf
society, to dwell with them. And this
was not confined to one: II extended
10 all who received the testimony ol
tht Elders. A great change was ell
iected In your feelings, In YOU
thoughts, and in your desires. fot
hhu no desire to remain where you
III. l.nN ha