The times., 1898-09-12

exalted in the Celestial Kingdom because
they Were not baptized in this world in
proper form.and that these must wait for
the supreme joy until some one here be-
low shall go through the form of baptism
in one of the temples of the Latter Day
Saints.
Therefore the aged man who had given
his life to the religion wished above all
that he could take with him to the new
existence the prestige of having begun
the work of salvation. Thirty thousand
voices uniting in the hymn ""rhe Spirit of
God Like Fire Is Burning brought to
him the great triumph of his life.
His Strange Prophecies.
He told those about him that he had
had vision of heaven the day he had
first blessed the great granite structure,
and that angels brought to him messages
which told of power and prosperity for
his people in the years to come.
Mormons will tell you today that his
prophecies are already being fulfilled. He
told them they We're soon to become great
factors in the life of the nation, to spread
out over North and South America and
finally TO govern the world and prepare
the way for the second triumphant COM
ing of Jesus Christ He said there were
earthquakes and discomfort of peoples be-
fore the end of the century to point the
way for their great power; that the He
brews We're to begin to gather back into
Jerusalem and become again a great and
united people, and that the Indians were
TO resume the intelligence and faith
which Were theirs before the beginning of
history.
Assuredly there have been wars and rt-
mors of wars in plenty since these words
We're spoken in 1891. What continent has
been free from them? Nor have disturb
ances of nature and discomfort been lack
ing. The Hebrews who have just met in
the Zionist conference in Switzerland
and are forming closer union made no
secret of their desire to rehabilitate the
land of their fathers and gather there
Selection of Prophet
Who will succeed Wilford Woodruff?
This is the question the Mormons are now
asking themselves. 1t must be answered
soon, for the October conference is at
hand and it would be inadvisabie TO let
this meeting pass without some one being
named as the leader. Such a question
was answered once before when Joseph
Smith was stricken down in Nauvoo. Ill
He had not fixed rule of succs ssion
and the church was in perplexity.
AiAN sun Vi JOStpH oiillH CldlntEu the
leadership. The first counselor, who
formed one of the triumvirate known as
the first presidency of the church, and
who corresponded to a vice president or
1t might be said, to a prime minister.
also demanded the place But Brigham
Young, as the president of the twelve
apostles. declared it was the will of God
that the succession should be governed by
his quorum and that the leader there II
should be the mouthpiece for divine COM
mands. He grasped the church presi-
dency despite schism. and the law he
made has been honored until this time.
The time is ripe. however, for a coup
At this moment the strongest leader IS
rot in the quorum of the twelve, but is in
the place of first counselor George Q.
Cannon, since the death of Brigham
Young, has been the ruling spirit In the
Church. Recognized as an able diplomat
list and politician. the most important af-
fairs of the sect have been committed TO
his care by both John Taylor and Wilford
Woodruff
Under such circumstances all power has
come to him. His sons have been steadily
advanced into positions of Influence and
his supporters placed where they can ex-
ert great pressure if necessary.
Theoretically the Mormon people will
elect their president. Ia each semi-an-
nuaI conference they go through a form
of voting on the officers. But the list is
always prepared by the presidency and
apostles beforehand, and for years George
Q. Cannon has gravely read it to the
thousands assembled in the tabernacle
and has never been embarrassed by a
dissenting vote.
He has always used the formula, 1T is
moved and seconded, etc, though no.
body has made a motion, and his right
hand arising has been the signal for all
right hands to rise.