Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-11-29
CAUSE FOR GRATITUDE.

No people has greater cause for graft
ltude than the Latter-day Saints, and
those who have their hearts and minds
open to the divine light and are walk
Ing In It's rays, are truly thankful, and
anxious 10 express their gratitude IN
words OF praise, and deeds OF we'll
doing and righteousness.
The Saints came TO these valleys, a
little band OF pilgrims looking for a
place in which to worship their Maker
according to the dictates of their con-
sciences. and enjoy the privileges
granted to every American citizen BY
the Constitution. In all human prob
ability they were doomed to destruc-
tlon In this then lnhospitable region.
They struggled manfully against hun
ger and cold. and attacks by savages,
but their faith was strong and in that
strength they conquered all obstacles,
and built a commonwealth under the
Stars and Stripes that now bids fair
TO become one Of the greatest states
OF The Union.
A great many Of the Latter-day
sants can look back TO the day when
they received the Gospel message. as
the turning point In their lives. The
call came to them when they were
Indifferent to spiritual things, or wan
dering about in the dark. They were,
perhaps. pursuing a course that would
Inevitably have led them to destruc-
ton. They were, perchance, ignorant
poor the slaves OF vice. But they
accepted the outstretched hand of sal
walton. and today they are respected
citizens, well to do, leading morally
pure and clean lives, and enjoying
fair degree Of education. All they
have. and all they are, they owe to the
blessed fact that they became con-
WINGED of the truth when they heard II,
embraced II, and became "Mormons."
Here is cause for gratitude We adj
mire the genius OF the Prophet Jo-
seph. President Brigham Young, and
the other instruments In the hand Of
the Almighty 10 build UP the Church
under the adverse circumstances that
confronted them. hut It was the
Gospel that made them great in the
history OF the world. Through faith
they became mighty men of God In
this age and generation. The Saints
who are faithful In the performance
OF their duties, know that they can
never fully appreciate the blessings
that have come to them through the
missionaries of the Church.
The archenemies OF righteousness are
still active, but In vain. HE that sit
teth In heavens shall laugh; the Lord
shall have them In dersion. Then shall
He speak unto them In His wrath, and
yex them In His sore displeasure. Yet
have / set my King upon my holy hill
Zion" psalm II; 8, 50 This is the
decree of the Almighty The lions on
both sides of the road are
tied. aud their chains are not
SO long that the savage beasts
can reach the pilgrim who Keeps IN
the middle Of the road, and hurt him.
The Lord omnipotent reigneth Let
the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom
he hath redeemed from the hand Of the
enemy and gathered them out Of the
lands. from the east, and from the
west. from the north, and from the
south. They wandered IN the wilder.
ness in a solitary way they found no
city TO dwell in Hungry and thirsty,
their soul tainted in them. Then they
cried unto the Lord In their trouble,
aud He delivered them out Of their dis
tresses, And He led them forth by the
right way, that they might go to a city
OF habitation. o that men would praise
the Lord for His goodness, and for
His wonderful works to the children OF
men," psalm lo1 2-S)