Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-25
ABLE ADDRESS BY
BISHOP WHITNEY.
Reviews at Length the History
And the Mission Of the
Prophet Joseph.
EVIDENCE OF DIVINE CALLING


Nearly six thousand people assem-
bled In the Tabernacle yesterday at
ternoon and listened 10 most excel
lent address on the birth and mission
of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Bishop
Orson #, Whitney. The meeting was
presided over by President John II.
Winder, but was under the auspices Of
the Liberty, Pioneer, Ensign and Salt
Lake stake prcsidencies, who had ar
ranged special program for the oc-
casion.
The meeting opened with an organ
prelude by Prof John j. Mcclellan,
after which the Tabernacle choir, under
the leadership OF Prof Evan stephens,
sang the hymn, Joseph, the BEST"
Prayer was offered by Elder Joseph f.
Taylor. The choir sang, Vermont, the
Birthplace of Patriots and was foi-
lowed by Prof. Charles Kent, who rem
dered In his usual excellent style, "The
Seer, the Seer, Joseph, the Seer"
Bishop whitney then took the
stand. and for fully an hour and half
reviewed the history OF the Prophet
Joseph. pointing to his teachings and
their effect upon the world at large as
evidence Of the divinity of the proph-
cts mission. Elder Brigham IL. Rob-
erts was on the program for an adj
dress but at a late hour Elder Roberts
sent word that owing to lndsposition
he would not be able to be present In
consequence of which Bishop WHIT
ney occupied all OF the speaking time.
quartet consisting of Miss Lottie
Owen, Miss Mabel Cooper George ID.
Pyper and Horace S. Ensign, rendered
sweetly, 'One Hundred Years" after
which the choir sang the anthem,
Gospel Restoration" with solo by
Mrs. Lizzie Thomas Edward The bene-
diction was pronounced by Elder Rud-
ger Clawson.
BISHOP WHITNEYs ADDRESS.
The following is comprehensive
synopsis of Bishop Whitney's address;
Bishop Whitney began his discourse
by reading the 18th and i4th verses OF
the 18th chapter Of Isaiah, relating to
the marvellous work and wonder lore.
told by that prophet, and declared that
1t was In fultillment of these sacrel
words, uttered 700 years before the birth
OF the Savior. that Joseph Smith, am
other prophet OF the Almighty, had
come forth to inaugurate the work
which the world calls "Mormonism." II
was marvellous work indeed, usnered
In by miracles as startling and stupen-
dous as any recorded upon the pages
Of holy writ, work loved and labored
for az zealously, and hated and pc! Sc
cuted as intensely. as the cause OF the
divine Nazarene In days of old.
We stand today. said the Bishop, up
on the narrow isthmus OF the present
with the ocean OF the eternal past and
the Infinite future upon either hand. We
are also between two great anniver-
saries. Tomorrow II 'xill be nineteen
hundred and Ave years, according to
our accepted chronology. since the Son
Of God was born In a manger at Beth
lehem In Judea, and one hundred years
ago, on yesterday, the Prophet chosen
by Him to stand at the head OF the last
Gospel dispensation, opened his eyes
upon the light OF this world, as a farm
er's boy. at Sharon. Windsor county
VI. Said the speaker, 1--WE do not
parallel the twain. We do not worship
Joseph Smith. We do worship jesus
Christ, who was the God of heaven
manifest In the flesh. the Savior Of the
world. the only name given under
we revere the memory OF the Prophet
who was his forerunner In modern
times. and upon whom devolved the
great mission of beginning a work that
should prepare the world for the second
and glorified coming of the Son OF God.
One marvellous things about Nor
monsm" was the fact that II was not
more widely appreciated, 1t Is full Of
beauty and sublimity, replete with poet
ry, science and philosophy, and yet the
wise and prudent" as a general thing,
pass It by as thing OF naught. Why
Is this? Is all intelligence outside tho
Church OF Jesus Christ Of I.atter-day
Saints? Are the Gentiles all philoso-
pliers, and the "Mormons who were
once Gentiles, all fools? There must he
better explanation. II Is thls--that
the things otgiod knoweth no man, hut
the Spirit of God, The finite. however,
wise, cannot grasp the infinite. Human
wisdom, unaided, unillumined by divine
intelligence cannot comprehend eter-
nal truth. II IL only those who have re-
celved, after faith. repentance and hap
tism, the gift OF the Holy Ghost, that
can understand "Mormonlsm," the mar
Vicious work and wonder OF our God.
A MARVELLOUS WORK.
II was fair to presume. the speaker
thought. that the intelligence embodied
IN "Mormonltn" would more readily
commend itself to intelligent minds. so
that II would be given at least a re-
spectful hearing were 1t not for the
claim put forth Of its miraculous or
igin. II Joseph Smith had originated
Il himself, and had so declared men
would have listened 10 him. But the
world Is so afraid of being hoaxod and
humbugged, that II refuses to receive
the marvellous the miraculous. and one