Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-12-26
impressive Services 10 Honor Of
The Savior aud the Prophet
Joseph Smith
TWO EXCELLENT ADDRESSES.
Elder George A Smith DlscOurses on
The Rsdeemer aud Bishop Whitney
90 the Prophet Joseph

Impressive services commemorative
NJ Christmas and the birth Of the
Prophet Joseph Smith. we're held In the
Tabernacle yesterday afternoon. The
meeting was presided over by Presi-
dent Richard w Young Of Ensign
stake, whose quarterly conference It
was and the singing was a special fea-
ture Of the exercises, the choir and So
loists adding greatly to the spirit OF
the occasion. The speakers we're Elder
George A. Smith and Bishop orson f.
whitney, who dealt respectively with
the birth OF the Savior and the life OF
the Prophet Joseph Smith.
The choir and congregation sang the
hymn;
Praise to the man who communed with
Jehovah,
Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer
Prayer was offered by Elder David r,
Lyon,
Prof. Charles Kent then rendered In
mastery style, 1.-THE Seer, the Seer
Joseph, the Seer" after which the choir
sang beautifully the anthem, Wonder
fu Counselor" and Prof John j. Nc
Clellan rendered on the great organ, In
his usual excellent style, "1he Pill
grIm's Song Of Hope" During the ren-
ditlon Of the piece q solemn stiffness
pervaded the assemblago, indicating to
81 oil l..
sted by those present
ELDER GEORGE A. SMITH.
Elder George A. Smith OF the council
OF the Apostles, was the frst speaker
He expressed his gratitude at being
privileged TO meet with the Saints on
such an occasion. and hoped that the
remarks he would be led to make would
be indicted by the Spirit Of God.
The speaker called attention 10 the
event which the children OF men gem
orally were celebrating today-the birth
OF our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Something over 1904 years ago obedi-
ent 10 the will OF His Father In Heay-
en-. the Son OF Man came TO earth, His
was an humble origin, but the mission
entrusted 10 His care, was the most
important ever performed upon earth
He mingled with the meek and the
humble. He had as His companions
the simple fishermen OF Gallee He
carried His message 10 the poor and
taught them such principles as those
calculated 10 make the world better,
10 upllft and elevate mankind
Though prosecuted and opposed on ev-
cry hand He bore unnlnchingly the
abuse heaped upon Him, and when He
had completed His work, gave up His
life upon the cross His was an exam
pie worthy the emulation Of ALL His
was a life a purer than which history
does not reveal
Elder Smith referred to the
birth OF the Prophet Joseph
Smith, whose nlnety-ninth anniversary
occurred on Friday last. lie spoke OF
the mission Of the Prophet and the
work he had established among men
and invoked the benedlctlon OF the
Father upon the efforts OF those who
had embraced the Gospel Of Jesus
Christ.
Elder william d. Philips then rem.
dered sweetly q tenor solo, entitled
Gloria In Excelsis.'
BISHOP wHITNEY's ADDRESS.
Bishop orson F. Whitney then adj
dressed the congregation, He began
by quoting the passage, For God 80
loved the world that He gave His only
Begotten Son, that whatsoever believeth
on Him, should not perish. but have
everlasting life" This, said the speak
er, was the first great Christmas gift
The next IN order Of lts ln,nostanoe
was the birth OF the Prophet Joseph
Smith, These two great events were
separate and distinct ones These per-
sonages each had a special mission 10
perform, and In this the Latter-day
Saints did not confuse one with the
other As compared with the Savior
Of the world, Joseph the Prophet was
but an a star In the armament. One
was the servant, the other was the
Master. yet each came to earth for a
specific purpose and one, too, which
each carried out 10 the very letter,
Bishop Whitney quoted the words OF
Ablnadl concerning the coming OF the
Savior, who was to be called the Son
OF God II had been charged that
The Latter-day Saints worshlped 10.
teph Smith. This was not so, They
honored his name, they reVered his
memory, but never yet had they paid
to the one, the homage which belonged
only 10 the other.
Pointing out the difference between
The two, and the attitude OF the Lat
ter-day Saints toward each the speaker
defined clearly the mission Of the Re-
deemer and the debt we owe Him FOR
His sacrifice upon the cross Then he