Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-11-16
The Mission of MormOnism Clear
Iy Defined by Bishop 0rson
+. Whitney
QUERY: WHAT ARE We HERE FOR?
To Build Up Gods Kingdom Here Upon
The Earth, Is the Answer Given
Yesterday Afternoon.

tended and We're presided over by Pres
ident Angus NJ. Cannon. The speaker
was Bishop Orson f, Whitney, who
slearly defined the mission of Mormon
ism and in answer to the question,
What are we here for?' stated that
the Latter-day Saints were here to
build up Gods kingdom upon the earth
The choir sang the hymn;
Great God attend while Zion sings,
The Joy that from Thy presence
springs.
Prayer was offeren by Patriarch
Samuel Claridge.
The choir further sang.
On the mountain tops appearing,
Lo, the sacred herald stands.
Bishop orson r, whitney He said
that the part of the prayer offered
which had most impressed him, was
that part which asked the Father TO
help us to realize what we are here
for The speaker felt that this prayer
had reference not only to our presence
in the Tabernacle this afternoon, but
also to our existence here upon the
earth. ana particularly to the Saints in
their being gathered out from all ma
lions.
Bishop Whitpey then took up the mis-.
mion OF 'Mormonism" and In answer
TO the question What are we here
for?' stated that the Latter-day Saints
We're here to build up Zion, to establish
Gods kingdom to prepare the world
for the glorious coming OF the Re-
deemer, whose advent would bring
about the resurrection and inaugurate
the millennial reign Of peace, We were
to realize that this work was one of
great seriousness and solemnity. Such
was the burden of the instructions Civ
en- by the Prophet Joseph Smith to the
Elders IN early days, when they were
admonished to cease from loud laugh
ter and all light -mindodness, and to
let the solemntes of eternity rest upon
their minds. After your testimonies,
he said, come the testimony of cath
quakes wars and calamitles. He i'm
pressed upon the brethren the necessity
of uttering a solemn warning to the
nations, giving all men ample oppor-
tunity to repent and to cease from evil
before the judgments OF God should
come upon them
In obedience to this injunction the
Elders Of the Church had been going
forth for many years delivering their
solemn message, and using every en-
deayor TO bring men unto the Lord. And
He win keep His word as to the judy
ments that are to follow. He first used
kind persuasion, and II that IL scorned
then violence. having In view always
the salvation even OF the wicked whom
He Furnishes.
The speaker dwelt upon the destiny
of the human race, as portrayed 10 Jo-
seph the Prophet In February, 1882 In
the great vision vouchsafed to him he
saw the glorles Of the celestial, terres-
trial and celestial worlds, typified re-
spectlvely by the sun, moon and stars,
and depicted the character and qualifi-
cations Of the beings who would inherit
these different degrees of glory, accord
ing to their works here in the flesh. In
this connection the Prophet Joseph
gave to the world vastly more than did
the Appetite Paul, who said he knew a
man In Christ who was caught up TO
the third heaven and there saw things
unlawful 10 be uttered, Joseph Smith
said that he knew q man who was
caught up 10 the seventh heaven and
saw things which could not be spoken
upon earth even TO his closest friends.
In the vision given to the Prophet II
was shown that celestial beings were
those who received the Gospel In the
flesh Cor would have received II had Il
been upon the earth in their time) and
were valiant and faithful to the end;
that terrestrial beings were those who
DELAYED obedience until the future life
after being offered the Gospel here, or
were saved without law as the heather;
while the celestial world was peopled by
those who had been thrust down TO hell,
where they had paid every debt prior
TO being redeemed, Men would and
should be judged according TO their
works, said the speaker Equality is
not always justice, IL Is a mistake TO
suppose that God will treat all men
the same-saVe all In one degree or
glory. but He win treat all justly-give
TO each soul its fulness-according TO
it's capacity 10 receive. Christ declared:
In my Fathers house are many man
sIons, and those who were to be with
Him were those who were like Him
those who followed In His foot
steps-not the wicked world Mt large.
Rishop whitney touched upon the
subject of baptism tor the dead, ana
showed how Gods great plan of univer-
Pal salvation could be carried out and
Justice melted to every man. In the
DAYS OF the Apostle Paul such an ordi-
nance was clearly understood for he
himself had said, III the dead rise not
at all, why are ye then baptized FOR the
dead" For the purpose of attending to
this ordinance, among others, the
Saints built Temples in which yicarlous
work was carried on for the benefit OF
the departed
The reason the Latter-day Saints
were called Of God to do these things
was because they We're iiueal descend
ants of Abraham. Isaac and Jacob, In
whom and in whose seed Is salvation.
The speaker alluded 60 the faith man
Tested by Father Abraham, and the
promise made TO him that IN him and In
his seed should all the nations OF the
earth be blessed That promise was
mainly fulfilled I'm Christ hut also In
the dispersion OF the children of Israel
among al nations. As I'm the fall Of
Adam and Eve, there was a destiny a
divine intending in this calamtous
event, and the Lord brought good out
OF Il. for the human family, Adam fell
that man might be, and man IL that he
might have ioy" Israel was scattered
anclently. that he might be gathered In
modern times The Latter-day Saints
We're being brought together In fulfill
ment OF predictions made to their an
cestors. Israel Of old, They We're near
~ all OF the lineage OF Ephralm, who
mixed himself with the people" the
GENTLE nations. Joseph, the Prophet OF
the latter days, was a llneai descendant
OF Joseph who was sold into Egypt
The speaker declared that q new era
was dawning upon "Mormonism." He
saw II In the establishment OF colleges,
universities and schools In all parts OF
this land. He saw II in the starting
OF bureaus of information through
which the truth could be disseminated
20 strangers from far and near. He
could see II in the adoption OF new
methods looking to u advancement
OF the youth OF Zion, and the preaching
OF the Gospel. All such things were In
harmony with the genius OF the lat
ter-day work and In line with the
standard established by the Prophet