Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-31
STRONG SERMONS
At TABERNACLE
PRESIDENT Joseph r. Smith and
Elder George Albert Smith
The Speakers.
ON INTERESTING SUBJECTS
,,.hle Changes in Religious
,,,.,, since the Advent OF Nor
monslm Into the World

c.o,qe Albert Smith, OF the
bluy' - The apostles. and President
q cu.nS F. smith were the speakers az
~ 'Sa tsbernacle yesterday aieerno ,'
'ho ,o,,ner speaking briefly in recital
'ne ,,,s,t recently made by him TO the
oi and southern states missions
e me church, and President smith
,.uyering lengthy discourse on the
u'1 ICES that have occurred in religious
.sorght since tho restoration OF the
49,, "a wears ago. Both speakers
gsp'i t,tened TO with rapt attention ny
We aaeongregation larger than Is usually
,or al the tabernacle, except oi'
speclal occasions. .,soa
sPpsnsident John r. Winder presided
M the services which were opened
.. 10 choir singing the hymn "Mortals
~ W. " president william McLachlan,
A" ne pioneer stake, offered the invo-
Oh Tan followed by the singing OF
Scome Let Us Anew Our Journey FUR
sns" by the choir and congregation
FIRST SPEAKER.
Elder George Albert Smith said that
since meeting last with the Saints who
assemble for Worship in the tabernacle,
he had visited many parts or the couh-
try PARTICULARLY the eastern and south
ern states IN company with Elder b.
n Roberts. Among the saints there
he had found prevailing the same
sweet spirit Of peace and good viii that
characterize the lives of the saints at
home Though as yet comparatively
few have accepted the gospel of the
Redeemer, yet thereS are millions of
honest people who are seeking TO know
the will OF the Father and the few
who have named the name OF Christ
are but the nucleus OF the hosts that
will IN time be brought TO a knowledge
Of the truth.
Elder Smith said that he found the
missionaries who are laborlng In the
fields visited by him as being men and
women of faith and faithfuness. He
admired the willingness with which
they made sacrifices in order to be
ambassadors OF light and truth, as we'll
as the persistency shown by them IN
bringing their message before the peo-
pie. The zeal displayed was winning
the praise of men. Who while not pro-
Tossing q belief In the doctrines taught
ty the Latter-day Saints, are compelled
to recognize favorably the manner In
which the Latter-day Saints seek To
spread a knowledge Of the principles
IN which they believe.
Many doctrines taught by the Nor
mon" people are receiving attention
from we'll meaning men and women,
said the speaker While not recognize
ing the name they are beginning to be-
lieye and practise some Of the most VI
tai precepts OF Mormonism Little
by little truth Is being stamped upon I,
the public mind
Never had there been n more favor
able time for disseminating the truths
Of the Gospel than at the present time' |
observed Elder Smith. A spirit OF In
duiry was found among the people more |
apparent than in times past. Speakers |
ana writer's are discussing doctrines |
that a few years before would have
been considered heresy. During his Wis
Il liberal minded persons had offered
money for the hirlnEsof halls, In which
the elders might state their views on
religious subjects. Some who had
doubted the charity Of the Latter-day
Saints for people of other denomina-
tons had been convinced by the lives
Of the Mormon people that they had
naught IN their hearts but love ana
good win for mankind.
PRESIDENT SMITH.
President Joseph f. Smith said that
as il was not often that he had the OPP
portunlty Of meeting with the saints
and friends In the Tabernacle, no
thought Il proper to say a few words
on the present occasion. He felt thank
ful for the most favorable report
brought by Elder George Albert Smith
from tho eastern and southern states.
Similar good tldings had been received
from members of the quorum of Apos--
ties and presidents OF the first council
OF seventy who had visited the confer
ences in the northern, north western and
California missions. There Is every
thing to encourage and but little to
discourage In the progress and pros
perity Of the people, both at home and
abroad II the world Is not growing
better in a moral sense, II peace on
earth is not becoming more apparent,
It may be safely said declared the
speaker, that the world Is moving for-
ward and Its inhabitants are progress
sing.
In retrospecton over a period of 70
years, President Smith said that many
present before him could remember
theories and dogmas taught almost uni
Yersally which today were scarcely
heard. They might still be IN the
creeds of some of the churches, but
iew persons are found who teach or
believe them. For instance. three quar-
teers OF century ago Il was taught
mat the canon Of Scripture was full,
that the heavens were sealed. and that
mere was only left for the people OF
latter days Gods handdeallngs with His
children OF the past. This condition of
relief obtained at the time that Joseph
smith was called and began his mission
m the world. II proclaimed that the
canon OF Scripture was not full and
that the Father did not disregard His
children on the earth. Soon after this
proclamation, spiritualism. spirit-rap-
ping and various other forms OF be-
!iels began 10 food the world. Even
inc clergy began investigation OF the