The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-24
AT TIL TABERNACLE.
UNUSUALLY LARGE ATTEND
ANCE YESTERDAY.
Discour5es by Elders Willard Done
and Nephi Morris on Doctrinal
Subjects.

Elders Willard Done and Nephi Nor
ris preached the sermons yesterday
afternoon at the tabernacle. The de-
lightful weather brought out an un-
usually large attendance.
Elder Done began with a reference
to the newly revealed gospel, and said
that a restoration had been necessary
in order that the whole human family
might be saved. The restoration had
been made by a visitation of God HIM
self, whom the Latter-day Saints be-
lieved to be a parsonage in the same
general image as man. God, he said
was the literal father of the spirits Of
all men, and consequently the general
parent of the human race.
Gods qualities were apparent in man.
such as righteousness, love and charity
Since the father of the race had these
attributes it was his desire that all
men should be saved, and the reason
he was displeased with those who had
no faith was that without faith it was
impossible for any son of man to be
saved.
1.-The old dogma he continued, that
God delights in the destruction of some
of his children is erroneous. His reve-
lations to Joseph Smith showed that
he desired the salvation of all men.
The prophet was told 10 teach that all
men might be saved through the atone
ment by obedience to the doctrine of
Christ. He is no respecter of persons,
and the only condition of salvation is
that the lives of his children shall con-
form to the principles of salvation.
Earthly parents delight in bestowing
good gifts on their children, but their
desire is that the children shall so live
as to be worthy of the gifts. God
works on the same principle towards
the children of men. He has said that
his greatest gift is eternal life. but he
cannot bestow this precious gift where
it would be unappreciated or I'M
deserved He cannot give out his gifts
promiscuously. where there is no
power of appreciation.
It should not be imagined, because
Paul says salvation is obtained by
grace that the gift is to be obtained
without good works and obedience. 1t
was by his obedience and his good
deeds that he obtained the name OF the
Friend of God. Faith, when it is un-
accompanied by works, is imperfect
and powerless.
The prevalent belief that simple
faith and reliance upon grace is suf
ficient is a popular error. The Latter
day Saints give Christ credit for what
he did for them in the atOnement.
They believe that the extent of the
benefits to be gained by the atonement
is almost unlimited. They believe in
practically unanimous salvation, and in
this respect are more liberal than any
other denomination.
All men, according to the belief of
the Saints, will be saved in some de-
gree of glory, depending upon the
higher or lower laws which he obeys.
There are very few who, by their acts
while in the flesh. will shut themselves
out from the salvation of Christ.
Elder Morris amplified the subject of
the liberality of Mormonism, and said
that this was particularly noticeable in
their conception of God and their in
depreciation of the range and signi
ficance of the atonment.
Mems conception of God, he said, has
been an index TO their intellectual de-
velopment In early days the Creator
was looked upon as arbitrary and
cruel, and he was credited with various
other absurd attributes.
There are still many foolish notions
extant as to the nature Of God. Men
still believe in the dogma that people
are either irresistibly saved or ir-
redeemably lost. 1t is difficult to under
stand how men can believe such alb
surdities The opinion still prevails
among men that God died alone for
his elect, and that they are the only
ones who will be saved. We should be
better without any religion at all than
to have such mislea ding dogmas spread
abroad.
The gospel of Christ did not extend
to merely one race or one particular
class Of people. He told his apostles
to go into all the world and to teach
his truth to every creature.
Elder. Morris then spoke of the first
principles of Mormonism and some of
the other distinctive beliefs OF the sect