Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-23

WiIl ElIlN III wv" -
u" ,helr reward. Let the name oil
1osooh the Prophet and OF Hyrum inc
TY, he ever honored in Israeli
and nav The day soon dawn when 'heir
a aa.s tor the benefit Of fallen humanity
shall be fully known ana appieV''''D
n,yINE SEAL ON THE TESTIMONY
------~-
rhore are several characteristics oi
nr No and work Of the Prophet 90
sonb which will appeal strongly TO me
intelligent Investigator and searcner TOT
NINTH. who approaches that suoj'c'
without prejudices'
one IS the fact that that work de-
yeoped gradually, each succeeding Ie2
ture following naturally those already
ostablIshed until the entire structure
assumed perfection and grandeur
admired even by opponents 1t IS per
foctly clear that the building, from 'he
vory foundation, was superintendent ny
= n,nerler intelligence, that could see
tho end from the beginning" just as an
architect lays his plans ana directs
every part Of the work towards one
Grand end no matter who is employed
to execute the details
7. vas 80 with the Prophet, He was d
builder, d faithful laborer but the plans
were Divine, At the time he had the
glorious vision In the secusion OF the
woods, he no more knew what that
wenld lead to- than did Luther fathom
the consequences Of mailing his famous
thesis to the cathedral In Wlttem-
BERG He could not then have predict
ed the subsequent developments, any
moro than could John Wesley, when the
latter conceived Of the idea of reducing
religious life to a system, or method.
lie was an inexperienced youth.
He desired a satisfactory answer to the
question that has echoed throughout all
ages "What Is truth?" But he had
no more idea Of receiving q call to the
prophetic Office than had probably,
the Prophet Elisha previous to the
memorable day when Elijah found him
ploughing IN the field. But he had the
vision, and testified thereto. He con-
tinued to listen to the voice of God,
and was led step by step, receiving line
upon line and precept upon precept,
gradually understanding the full truth
as revealed TO him. He was well
aware that earthly honors and emol-
uments could not be won by his testi-
mony From the first persecution ragged
against him. There were more enemies
than friends, more scofrers than adj
mirers He knew that there was no
earthly glory for him to gain, But he
could not deny the fact that God had
called him, any more than could Paul,
after he had seen the heavenly vision,
In the face of III treatment by mobs,
notwithstanding Imprisonment, hard
ships Of every kind, and finally mar
tyr DEATH he firmly testified to the
fact In all this, the seal Of truth was
placed upon his testimony. The fact
stands out prominent that the Prophet
was, what he claimed to be, an instru-
ment in the hands Of the Almighty, to
lay the foundation of most glorious
work.
Another notable feature is this, that
the honest in heart who had the priv
llege of knowing the Prophet loved him
and honored him. And those who knew
him best loved him most. The eSmity
he provoked can be traced to his love
for truth The world hated him. as It
hated Christ and for similar reasons.
Hypocrtes hated him, because he saw
through them, and rebuked their wick
edness with the greatest impartiallty.
Apostates were numerous at times.
And they denounced Joseph. They
were individuals who thirsted for hon
or, or for gain and would sell religion
for such base purposes They were
persons who refused to repent Of sins
which they loved more than righteous
ness. They could not remain IN the
presence Of the man whose motives
were pure and so different from theirs
But the honest in heart, the pure. the
noble Of all nations, clung to him, and
would willingly have died FOR him
This is a matter Of history. II Is a fact
stu notable, whenever the few survIv.
os Of the primitive days OF the Church
stand up in the congregations Of IN,
Saints and speak Of the Prophet. II /.
also a fact that God has blessed thos.
who befriended His servant, while hii
prosecutors have died In misery.
To anyone who viii consider thes,
features, it must become clear that tn,
testimony Of the Prophet bears the sea
OF divine approval, as It bears the sea
Of martyrdom. The world has little ex
euse for rejecting a testimony so ampll
confirmed