Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-12-19
PRESIDENT JOHN R. wINDER.

PRESIDENT JOhN " NiNDEi"
am very glad brethren and sisters,
% have another opportunity Of meeting
with you IN this conference, and l pray
that the Spirit Of the Lord may be
ohundantly poured out upon us this
orernoon. as It has been thus far.
Two or three things were mentioned
Yesterday that / have thought about
,odoy. one was IN relation TO gather
ing. A comparison was made between
the gathering of the Latter-day Saints
opd the colonization or gathering OF the
salvation Army. II struck me very
forclbly that there was no proper COM
narlson between them. The gathering
Of the I.atter-day Saints was inaugural
cd BY revelation, through Joseph Smith
the Prophet. 1t is part and parcel Of
the Gospel Of this last dlspensation, and
II was preached in very early day.
remember distinctly that when l
first heard the Gospel there was little
said about the gathering; but, 1t was
very remarkable that every person who
received the Gospel began to prepare
10 gather with the Saints. When they
received the Gospel they received the
splrlt of gathering with II. Az UNDER
aiand Il, the Salvation Army IL simply
colonizing. Consequently, | think there
ia considerable difference between the
gathering OF the Latter-day Saints and
the colonization OF the Salvation Army.
Another matter mentioned was in re-
latIon to tithing, 1t was stated that
some OF the Christian denominations
are commencing to pay tithing, Now,
remember that as long ago as when |
was a member of the Church of Eng
land, the principle OF tithing was
taught I'm that church. But, there was
one difference between the tlthing coll
lected there and the tithing OF the
Iatter-day Saints: one was collected by
law. the other Is a voluntary contribu-
tlon. have known a parson to send
his team into the grain field and take
the tenth shock OF grain out of the field
II the man did not pay the money.
have seen this done myself. So 1t Is
nothing particularly new to them,
though Il may be TO the Methodists.
look upon the tithing OF the Latter
day Saints as entirely different to that
practsed by other denominations. The
principle of tithing came to US by reve-
lation, the same as did all the ordin-
ances Of the Church.
Again, while the brethren were speak
ing Of these organizations accepting
some Of the principles OF the Gospel, II
occurred to me that 1t would not be a
bad thing Il they accepted every one OF
the principles Of the Gospel. provided
they practised them, because It would
have the effect to better the condition
Of all the people in the world. | have
the same opinion regarding that as |
have IN relation to the ordinances In
the temples. II has been said that
things are taught in the temples which
cannot be spoken of outside. ! want to
tell you-and you who have been there
know what say is the truth--that
every principle taught there is of
holy and sacred character. They are
all calculated TO make people better, to
make better fathers, better mothers,
and better citizens of the United States.
This statement could be verified by
thousands In this congregation, So TRUE
Is this that one president of a stake
has commenced to organize the people
IN his stake 10 go TO the temple and
work for the dead and one reason he
assigns for doing this is that the people
who attend 10 ordinance work In the
temple make better members of a ward
better fathers and mothers and better
citizens consequently he wants all the
people In his stake to go TO the temple,
and partake Of the blessings and spirit
OF that holy house ] think this Is an
example that might wen be followed
by other stakes of Zion, where they
are SO situated that they can do Il. The
Prophet Joseph Smith said shortly be-
iore his death. that the one thing that
was exercising his mind more than
any other was in relation TO the ord
inances for the dead 1t Is true, a con-
siderable work has been and Is being
done In our temples. About 2,49O,00O
ordinances have been performed In all
the temples, and about $4,000 have been
performed during the past year In the
Salt Lake Temple But we can do more,
II TINS Is as important as the Prophet
joseph said Il was surely 1t is our duty
10 attend to 1t, and not put It off when
we nave the opportunity. This is a
matter worthy the consideration of all
lhe presidents Of stakes, Let them en-
uVuIase their people to 60 to the house
Vi the Lord. and redeem the dead
May the Lord bless US I'm all our
..9Dols' and may we so live before |
we Lord that we may always have a |
va va. upon His promised blessings, is |
NY prayer IN the name Of Jesus. Amen.