Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-12-12
Elders Charles W. Penrose and
John Henry Smith Describe Con-
ditiOns in Old Mexico
WORK OF MORMON COLONISTS.
Abundant Evidence Of the Divinity Of
The Book Of Mormon Monument
To Elder A. O. Woodruff,

being done there by the Mormon
colonlsts and Of missionaries, and Of the
good feelings manifested toward them
by President Diaz and government off,
cials generally The meeting was
presided over BY President John r.
Wnder,
The choir sang he hymn
Though deepnmg trials throng your
way,
Press on, press on, ye Saints Of God.
Prayer was offered by Elder Hamilton
G. Park
The choir further sang:
o God Thou Great, Thou Good, Thou
Wise,
Eternal is Thy name,
Elder Charles W. Penrose Of tho
council Of the Apostles, was the first
speaker He expressed pleasure II
meeting with the Saints In the Taber-
naCle once more, and expressed the hope
that his utterancos would be guided by
the Holy Spirit The speaker ex-
planned that it was ever the desire OF
those called upon 10 speak, to be- d.
rected by that Spirit rather than to
Ventllate any personal opinions or In
dlyldual theories.
Elder Penrose then referred 10 hR
recent visit to Texas and Old Mexico.
In the latter country he had been priy-
legged to mlngle with the Saints resi-
dent there, both whites and natives, AZ
we'll as with the missionaries. who were
working patiently for the spread VI the
Gospel Of Jesus Christ. Among the
cities visited were Dublan and Juarez
IN the state OF Chihuahua, where the
Saints were living their religion and
we're being blessed abundantly Of the
Lord.
TO the work Of the Irrigation con-
gress. held at El Paso, Texas, Elder
Penrose referred IN complimentary
terms, the congress having been pro-
ductlye OF geat good In deylsng meas
ures for the reclamation Of the arid
lands. After explaining some Of those
projects, the speaker said II might an-
pear peculiar to some that such a
theme should be referred 10 IN rellgi-
Gus assembly but the l.atter-day Saints
regarded II as quite pertinent and
proper. Their religion was not only
spiritual, but one which comprehended
temporal things as well The "Mor-
moi" people believed that as the earth
was the Lords and the fulness thereof,
He expected His children 10 obtain
from Il lts natural productions and
thus provide for the bodily wants OF
man. This was feature Of the Nor
mon" faith and one which was referred
TO by a prominent speaker at the con-
gress mentioned. II was a point, too,
which appealed strongly 20 many OF
those present AS delegates.
Elder Penrose continued along these
lines at some length and made plain
to his auditors, by frequent reference
10 the Scriptures, that the religion OF
Jesus Christ cOmprehended not only
splritualtles, but temp0ralltles as well,
though both 10 God were spiritual and
OF an eternal character
The speaker alluded to the gather
ing Of the Latter.day Saints from far
and near I'm obedience TO the voice OF
God through His servants. BY their
acts they demonstrated 10 the Father
their willingness 10 serve HIN, and lie
IN turn prospered them for their obedi'
ence. In this connection Elder Penrose
referred 20 the Mormon colonies IN
Mexico and to the success attending
their Efforts 10 build up and make hab-
table certain sections OF that country
lie also referred 10 the early COLOMBIA
ton OF this continent by the
Jaredltes and Nephites, Of the Inter-
necine wars which In time desoated
the land and of the remnants Of that
people now known as Indians or La
NANTES. The history OF those peoples,
said he was set ont IN the Book OF
Mormon, and the prediction was made
that those remaining would some day
become white ANA delightsome pso-
pie. An effort was now being made
To COLOMBO and redeem them, and that
grand old man, Porfrio Dlaz, president
Of the Mexican republic, was doing
everything possible 10 assist In the
laudable undertaking Of eleyating the
natives OF that soil The speaker told
Of his visit To the National museum
I'm the City OF Mexico where reliCS
Of Aztec ana Toltec history were be,
ing gathered. Among these were tab
lets bearing hieroglyphics which were
very similar to those brought from
Egypt and now on exhibition in the
British museum at London. This was
merely an incident, but It was one
which aid much TO establish the truth
OF the Took OF Mormon, The charac-
tiers on the metallic plates were writ
ten, II was said, IN reformed Egyp-
tan" hleuglyphs.
Elder Penrose said he was surprised
- oil NuNu nd lU Ia 81
investigate the Book Of Mormon IN
reference 20 the origin OF the American
Indians But this was an age OF skep-
ticism, an age I'm which learned men
ignored things divine ana disputed the
existence OF personal Deity Therefore
they regarded anything claiming 10
have been revealed from God with
doubt and often with scorn and thus
were IN the dark az TO divine things
There were evidences OF Gods handi-
work. and His goodness and mercy 10
His children, exhibited In the heavens
and upon the earth and the Saints
we're humble enough 10 recognize them
The speaker closed with o feryent tes-
timony TO the divinity OF the latter-day
work.
The choir sang the anthem "Un-
fold yo Portals Everlasting"
Elder John Henry Smith, also OF the
Council OF the Twelve Apostles was
the next speaker lie said It had been
something like two months since he
had been privileged to meet with the
Saints In this Tabernacle, and he was
pleased 20 do so az this time. This
absence FOR 30 long d time was due
TO his attendance first on the Trans.
mississippi Commercial congress and
later on the Irrigation congress al III
PGso Texas. On the former visit he
was privileged 70 meet with the Elders
and Saints IN Chicago and addressed
them IN their new hall
Coming down TO his trip to III paso,
Elder Smith referred TO the visit made
by him and Elder Penrose and a COM
pany OF friends to the resting place OF
Elder Abraham O. Woodruff, who
passed away az that place. While gag.
Ing on the sacred spot, one OF the mem.
oers Of the party, gentleman not OF
me Mormon faith. made prefer OF a
handsome contribution toward the cree