Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-12-26

time seemed 10 completely ovcrpower
him. but he wrestled with It and just
az he was about to give up I'm despair, "a
light descended from the heavens, ana
IN an instant two heavenly messengers
were at his side. one, pointing to the
other said unto him' This Is my be-
loved Som hear Him" He listened and
was told thaht his prayer had been an
swered that he should Join none Of the
chut hes then organized, that all had
fallen from the faith, but that I'm a day
to come, n he continued faithful he
would be the instrument In the hands
OF God, OF establishing His Church
anew
After the vision the boy Prophet told
the story 10 his friends They sneered
az him they rdIculed the idea that he
had seen Cod they affirmed that he
had been deceived and the ministers
who formerly had been so SOLICITORS Of
his welfare, turned against him and
gave him deaf ear Nothing daunted
the boy reaflrmed the story Of the
heavenly vision, while those who
sought to oppose him, heapod all man
ner Of abuse upon him.
Bishop whitney then followed the
AANANA va AlN lNHllNA AlNlll AllN lANli' Va
receiving his FIRST vision. down to his
martyrdom In Carthage jail June o.
1874, He called attention to the visits
Of the angel Moroni who entrusted him
with the golden plates, 10 the work OF
transatns the Book Of Mormon; to
the restoration Of the Priesthood by
John the Baptist and Peter, James and
john 10 the organization OF the Church
az Fayette, Seneca county, N. Y, April
Q, 1890 and to other incidents
connected with the llte's work Of the
Prophet Joseph The speaker paid spe-
oial attention TO the revelation concern
ming baptism, and showed the folly OF
the story attempting 10 connect the
Book OF Mormon with a romantic mar
ratlye by Solomon spaulding, the manu-
script Of which was now IN the library
OF oherlIn college, state Of Ohio
Bishop Whitney traced the meander-
lngs OF the Saints through the states Of
Missouri and Illinois, he told Of their
gathering from the distant nations OF
the earth OF the prosecutions endured
by them IN Missouri and OF their final
driving TO The west led by that great
coonzer and statesman, Brigham
Young Such was the work established
by Joseph Smith, and though he himself
was put 10 death by a mob. his work
still lived, for II was the work OF God,
destined TO endure forever AZ evil
dence OF his strength OF character, the
speaker, In conclusion, reclted Farley
r Pratts description Of the scene IN
Jail. when the Prophet joseph rebuked
The guards for their misconduct II Is
as follows.
JOSEPH REBUK1NG THE GUARDS.
I'm one Of those tedious nights we
had lain as II IN sleep I'll the hour Of
midnighth had passed, and our ears and
hearts had been pained, while we had
listened for hours 10 the obscene tests,
the horrid oaths, the dreadful basphe-
mics and filthy language OF our guards,
Colonel Price az their head. as they re-
counted 10 each other their deeds of
rapne, murder, robbery etc. which
they had committed among the Nor
mons while AT Far West and vicinity.
They even boasted OF defllng by force
wives, daughters and virgins, and OF
shooting or dashing out the brains OF
men. women and children
81 had listened an I became so dis
gusted, shocked, Mortified. and 80 filed
with the spirit OF indignant justice that
] could scarcely refrain from rising up-
on my feet and rebuklng the guards:
but had said nothing TO Joseph or any
one else although | lay next 10 him
and knew he was awake on sudden
he rose 10 his feet, and spoke In a voice
OF thunder or as the roaring Hon, ut
terlng, as near as / can recolect, the
following Words
Silence, ye flends OF the Internal
pit. In the name Of Jesus Christ re-
buke you, and command you 20 be stu;
| Will not live another minute and hear
such language. Ceace such talk, or YOU
or I die this instantl
HE ceased 10 speak He stood erect
IN terrible majesty Chained, ana with
out weapon, calm unrufned and dig
nified az an angel he looked upon the
quaiing guards, whose weapons were
lowered or dropped 20 the ground;
whose knees smote together, and who
shrinking into a corner, or crouchIng
at his feet, begged his pardon, and re-
malned quiet I'LL a change OF guards.
VI have seen the ministers OF Justice
clothed IN maglsterial robes, and Grim.
inals arraigned before them. while life
was suspended on n breath, In the
courts Of England; I have witnessed
Congress In solemn session 10 give laws
10 nations; ! have tried to conceive OF
kings. OF royal courts, OF thrones and
crowns; and OF emperors assembled 10
decide the fate Of kingdoms; but dlgni-
~ and majesty have seen but once, as
Il stood n chains at midnight, I'm
dungeon In an obscure village OF Mis-
souri,"
As time would not permit for the
rendition Of other musical numbers. the
choir and congregation sang the "pox-
ology," and the benediction was pro.
nOunced by Elder William w piter