Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-24
DISCOURSE
eed at the Lake Sunday December
PRESIDENT GEORGE O. CANNON
PRESIDENT GEORGE Q. CANNON.

.,,o are here now were not here this
s,n,rinr. ] do not know when l en-
a,,,od n meeting like the one held this
corning. There were very few present
,n, IA me 1t was most delightful
,,yoe / am warranted in saying that
president Woodruff also enjoyed 1t.
we exchanged views about it, and
soia how pleasant and interesting 1t
,ras THAT which was of interest was
,,a reports of the Bishops who spoke
rbere must have been some ten dis
courses this morning. They were very
,r,ef but they were very much to the
mint. believe that the Latter-day
ca,rts who are here this afternoon
,could have been edited, and strength
mod and comforted by the remarks
,hat we're made by the various Bishops
In describing the condition OF their
wards. / think that this should be one
~ the objects of our conferences; that
the people should have described to
them. by the men who are closely as
ISOLATED with the people in the different
wards, the condition of the Saints, and
the feelings that prevail. We may
know something about the ward we
live in: but it is gratifying to know
concerning other wards. Those who
labor in Relief societies, in Sunday
schools, and in Mutual Improvement
associations can all be benefited by
hearing what is being done elsewhere
We certainly are greatly favored as
people in our organizations. I do not
know how the people could be looked
after with greater care than they are.
We should appreciate this. By listen
ing to these reports we can per-
ceye the care that the Lord is
exercising over us in enabling
us to have these various organizations.
There is one thing that we are superior
in-we have the word of God without
money and without price. We have
the talent, and the inspiration, and
the gifts that the Lord has bestowed
upon men and women, at our COM
mand. II may be said; and we need
not worry about buying pews, or about
the paying of our pastors or ministers.
It is true that we pay our tlthing-
some of us do--but instead of that
being a cause of impoverishment, 1t
Is a source of blessing and strength
and a cause of prosperity. You can
not find today upon this continent
every direction, especially when we
consider how we came here, as the
Latter-day Saints are. l am war
ranted In saying there is not COM
munty where there is 10 little absolute
poverty and want; for If you had
heard this morning that which was
described to us, you would have seen
h5w thoroughly are the measures
taken to provide for the wants OF the
poor. Every man who spoke mentioned
the efforts that were made and the
means that We're expended to supply
the wants of the poor. In this re-
spect the Lord has blessed this people;
and If we would only appreciate that
which He is doing for us. and make
use Of the agencies He has put with
In our hands, there is no reason why
we should not be the most happy and
favored people upon the face of the
earth. He has given unto us the wis
dom, II the people would listen to 1t,
10 relieve this community from their
dlstresses, ana to put them into po-
stiUn where there would be no want
and no unemployed among them, l
do not say this boastingly; ! say 1t to
the glory of God. ! know that the
frame measures that would re-
suit in the employment of this entire
people and In the increase of their
happiness in relation to temporal
matters. But like Israel of Old, and
like the people of God In almost
every generation. the people are slow
to hear and to understand. They have
not faith they are distrustful: and
instead of sustaining that authority
which God has bestowed upon men in
His wisdom and kindness, they are
fearful of 1t and do not wish to be led
by IT,
would like to call the attention of
IntN 49,. 4 & - t..
would like to point out to you what
God has done for u.s. and how marvel
ously He has prospered this people
since We came to these valleys. Re-
member my brethren and sisters, how
poor the great bulk of this people were
When they came here. Hundreds and
thousands have come to this land en-
tlre strangers to our methods of max
hg a living, ignorant of agriculture
ana OF our manner of transactny bust
ness and unacquainted with our GUS
'ninei many Of them unable to speak
our lnnguage; and they have come
mere In poverty. 1t has been the poor
among men who have received the
gospel. II has been the poor who
nave been gathered from the nations
~ me earth. For several years five
hundred teams were sent from here,
ssason after season, to the Missouri
rysr loaded with flour, which they
rayneu on the way so that 1t could be
PICKED up on the return journey, and
my Wrought the poor Saints here in
,Al way What other community on
,h he luce OF the earth could do such
shinEs rs this7 Think of 1t. 500 teams,
sNel by 500 men, accompanied by
suaras' with two yoke of oxen to each
,maEon and In many instances four
iIhel Think of the magnitude of the
m,oor and the expense involved in this!
70 In nf no
~ men to go to the Missouri river
snu return again, And this was done
NJ. Fetly as the giving of glass of
"Ser 70 thirsty person. There was
@ mufmuring about It; but from one
~ Oh the then Territory to the other,
en Nv men came with teams loaded with
s W ana provisions to go to tine Mis-
,sull river and back again. and to feed
pose they brought back with them.
reople were brought here in this way
hvus0nds, and when they arrived
~. they received employment and
-, Hrramc independent so to speak:
is,, elst, they We're relieved from alb
wi,. poverty. and they We're supplied
M, I3od and clothing and shelter.
ha."' nat is n stupendoiis work. and 1t
Saints. 'o"e ny tue l",'er-oaS
MT hei ask where the evidences are that
e eus q he work of God. 1t is the most
r9'Iuofdlnary thing in the world that
,.ru are so blind and 70 densely
,fbTI s that they cannot sec that
rs ~ y marvellous work and q wonder,
N, we Lord said II would be. and
me- IS not the work of man. What
man man by his own power and wisdom,
nsi. stea by the Lord, could accom-
W. that which is before our eyes?
a-a ullk about tithing, and some who
II IL "eSk IN the faith feel perhaps that