Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-23
BIRTHDAY OF THE PROPHET.

was one OF lHt SiNaNeSb -
che wonderful drama OF the nineteenth
century. No prophet Of God, save the
Redeemer Of the world, was mightier
than he as a Tevealer OF truth re-
storer, a healer, translator and
seer.
Born into the world December 29' 1919,
he was raised in obscurty with his par
ents In Sharon, Windsor county, YER
mont, and in his illiterate boyhood was
favored Of God with a glorious, divine
manifestation. When but little more
than fourteen years Of age the Father
and the Son appeared to him In answer
20 simple, trusting, fervent prayer and
warned him against following the vain
religious systems Of men, promising him
that the pure plan Of salvation should
be subsequently made known TO him.
Three years later the angel Moroni re-
yealed 10 him the everlasting Gospel as
written in the records OF the ancient In
habitants Of this continent, which ne
afterwards obtained by the aid Of the
heavenly messenger and translated into
the English language, by the gift and
power Of God.
Then came John the Baptist as
mlnisterlng angel and ordained him and
his scribe, Oliver Cowdery, to the Aar-
onic Priesthood. This was followed by
the appearance Of Peter. James and
John, who conferred upon them the
keys of the Apostleship and Of the holy
Melchlsedek Priesthood,
Thus the dispensation Of the fulness
Of times was ushered in, preparatory TO
the advent OF Christ as the King OF
nations, the royal Ruler Of the earth,
the Resurrection and the Life.
Joseph the Seer also translated the
Book OF Abraham found with an Egyp-
tian mummy. He received rev.
citation upon revelation bearing
precious truth for the enlighten-
ment and salvation OF mankind.
All the heads OF previous dis
pensatlons visited him and conferred
upon him the keys and spirit OF their
ministry.
He organized the Church Of Christ
in Its former perfection with all Its OH
GERS. principles. gifts, ordinances, cere-
monies ana institutions, endowed with
the same powers and inspired with the
same spirit that was poured out on
Pentecost, He made known the plan
Of redemption for the dead who knew
not the way Of life while dwelling In
the flesh. He made plain the doctrine
Of the Godhead, which 10 the world Is
a perplexing mystery. He showed the
plan OF the Temple OF God in which the
ordinances may be administered that
prepare men and women to enter the
Divine Presence, and for eternal union
In the family order wherein is eyerlast-
ing glory and perpetual increase
He drew aside the veil that hides
the infinitude Of creations peopled with
the sons and daughters Of the AL
mighty Father, in their various stages
Of progress through darkness, suffer-
ings and strugglings, towards ineffable
and ceaseless bliss. He demolished the
follIes and vagaries Of man-made re-
ligions ard introduced the obedient be-
liever TO the path Of sure knowledge
and personal communion with the
Source OF all light and truth.
He founded towns and cities, pro-
jected the plans for sacred temples,
taught pure principles Of government
religious and secular, encouraged edu-
cation, built fine city to which were
gathered many thousands OF people
from various nations. pointed the way
20 the future home Of the Saints In
the Rocky Mountains, drew TO his heart
the love and admiration Of some Of the
strongest Of earth's noble spirits, en-
deared himself 10 his faithful follow
ers, and lifted their souls from the
perishing things Of this lower world TO
the immortal glor!es Of the heaven OF
heavens.
He predicted the great civil war near
ly thirty years before its irruption, and
showed the way by which 1t could be
avoided. He prophesled Of many
events that have come TO pass He
healed the sick with a touch: stirred
the religious world to its inmost
depths, endured the SCOTS and taunts
OF blgots and sectaries; suffered i'm
prlsonment and mobocracy; devoted
all his powers 20 the cause Of human
redemption; fell martyr to the hate
Of the wicked, and sealed his testimony
with his own blood.
The ecclesiastical system which
he established, by divine direction, is
the most complete. compact and power
full organization extant 1t is the Won
DER and admiration OF all who examine
1t impartially. and Of thousands who
denounce 1t while adding to It's praise
The truths which he made known will
never perish from the earth The spirit
which he administered will never be
suppressed The light that he shed
forth will never be extlnguished. The
inks which he furnished for the chain
mat unites the past with the present
ana The future, for the completion of
The work OF universal redemption, win
never be sundered The dlspensation
mat he Introduced is the last before
'he eonsumma,ion Of all things, the
overthrow Of error and Of misrule, the
binding OF Satan and his hosts and the
coming Of the earths Redeemer and
Ruler the Son Of God.
~ h's everlasting Kingdom, among