The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-09-13

S,OnaTy experiences in Colorado. where
he has be'sa engaged in missionary work
during the past eight months. He said
the elders there were travelling without
money. and as an Illustration of the
kind of reception tshey were encounter
ing, that they had been turn
ca away from 80 houses where
they sought entertainment in
one day. He looked upon this
as the kind Of test the servants of
Christ had always been called upon to
endure, and expressed the belief THAI
bsitter results would follow the labors
CT the elders later on. Elder Roberts
spoke briefly ON the spread Of the true
gospel in the world.
At the afternoon meeting considerable
time was devoted ito the reading of sta
tiS9tical reports. When this was con-
oluded Elder B. H Roberts delivered
tlle sermon.
He began with a reference to the GUS
tom among elders of the church of ask
ing for the faith and prayers of the
Saints when arising to address an audi
ence. As am explanation. the speaker
quoted from a lecture by Joseph Smith,
in which it was stated that the elders
spoke as they were moved upon by the
holy ghost and that their remarks were
scriptural.
The elders. he continued, desire the
prayers of the Saints in order that
they may speak in the voice of warm
ing, of instruction, of reproof and in
order that the volume of scripture may
produce full effect.
The objct of instruction is to Gre
ate faith in the hearts of the listen
ers. Faith is of primary and first
Importance because it is the incentive
to action. In a religious sense, falth
implies primarily a belief in the exist
ence of God.
Speaking of the beginning of faith,
the speaker said it was received first by
the child from its mothers lips Trac-
ing this faith back. faith came down
originally from men who knew God,
and their faith had been transmitted
unto later generations on the wings Of
tradition. Tradition is scoffed at by
( negatists, but in this they are unwise,
for in reality it is one of the surest and
safest guides. Men in their crudest
state hold to the idea of a God and
from this extreme the belief can be
traced to the most cultured minds.
Even the idolatrous Worship of the
heathens has a strong significance
! While he WorstaiDS before q material
object, he looks beyond this and fears
the God he does not see. This manner
| of worship bears out the idea of a
mediator-an idea which must have
/
and which bears out one great principle
on which Christianity rests. Tradition
regarding God comes in reality from
men VINO walked and talked with him
The testimony of such men added tC
tine traditions which has followed, gives
| double strength TO the assurance 81
| faith. Latter-day Saints have more
! testimony of this nature than any other
people. Angels have personally visited
I he Nf
! their multiplied evidences of God Saints
| should be ashamed if they show not
multiplied works in his behalf There
/ is such a cloud Of evidence that it
would be madness for infidelity to real
its head
The speaker then referred TO the ply
! steal testimony of the existence of Gcd
exhibited by the universe. Something
! else, he continued, is also necessary tc
! knowledge of God. Knowing how
hard it is to curb proud
spirit and with what difficulty
| the appetiteS of the flesh are
subdued. it would be discouraGine
outlook if we did not know Gods at
| tribute of mercy. The best way tc
study the qualities of God is to study
| his Son, who was likened TO him botl
! in his person and in his life.
! Recently a minister" said Mr.
| Roberts. With an apparent reference &c
| DR.. Tiff, who has lived here for q
years. referred to Mormonism as being
unspiritual. l challenge him to produce
anything in the creed 10 which he be
longs SO simple and yet so inspired as
the teachings of Joseph Smith,
Was Brutality Murdered.
! Cincinnati, Sept Eat Pleasant Ridge