Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-09-08
President Smith at
Excelsior Hall, Rotterdam.


Rotterdam Holland. Aug 2. 1906
Ny beloved brethren and sisters II
gives me great pleasure 10 have the
privilege NJ meeting with YOU here
this evening. and | have been very
much delighted In listening 10 tine re-
marks that have already been made,
anc the testimonies that have been
born " tho divinity Of the mission of
the Prophet Joseph and Of the divinity
Of this great work. Il has been a
source OF great pleasure to me 90 visit
Holland. and to see the great number
Of ht,le children ! have beheld. Ia
many Of our cities I'm the United States,
you may travel Tor miles aud scarcely
see the face of single child. Many OF
our rich people DO not believe in bear
ing children. they would rather nurse
poodle dog than "a child. This Is q
sad statement 10 mako NJ the people
Of my country We 90 not find this
condition among the Latter day
Saints. Our children ARE called "Utah 3
best crop" because We are blessed with
numerous children as you are blessed
here In Holland 50 far as ] have been
able to observe. | am pleased TO say
this. see a grand providence In IT,
Where children are numerous, the ma
ton is bound TO be prosperous ana Is
bound to grow and gain power ana
numbers and wealth throughout all the
land The Scriptures tell US that chill
dren are a heritage Of the Lord. So my
dear brothers and sisters. take care or
your chlldren--teach them NJ their
childhood the principles OF truth;
teach them to live pure lives; teach
them to have faith IN God, how to pray
and to call upon the Lord In faith that
they may obtain full fellowship with
the Lord and become heirs Of salvation
I'm His kingdom. sincerely hope that
the children viii love their parents,
heNrken 20 their counsel, honor their
fathers and their mothers that their
DAYS may be long I'm the land when
the Lord their God shall give to them
II Is destined by the wisdom OF the
Lord and His Gospel principles that
fathers and mothers shall live pure
lives together, that their children may
be united with Them, and that the al
fections that exist between them may
reach beyond this world 10 the world
10 come. The Lord has planted IN
the human heart one OF His own at
tributes which is immortal love. We
shall never forget our fathers who
have passed behind the veil NOV our
mothers nor our children, The love
that we feel for them is not love that
pertains TO this world alone but II
destined TO bloom more closely IN the
world TO come, Then let us exercise
that love and charity that forglveih
and that will bring to us the affection
of those with whom we are associated.
that we may be united In the bond OF
that greatest law OF God, to love God
with all our hearts, and like unto 1t,
our neighbor as ourselves,
These Young elders have come out
here TO preach the Gospel They have
left comfortable homes, and fathers
and mothers: some Of them have wives
aud children. and what have they IN
View What object have they? SIM
ply TO carry the message TO the Notlu
that the Lord has spoken from the
heavens again In our own days; that
God has restored His Holy Priesthood
which is the authority of God delegated
10 man. by which man can act IN the
name OF the Father and OF the Son ana
Of the Holy Ghost and administer III
all the ordinances OF the Gospel ac-
ceptably TO the Lord. II Is not the
design or mission Of these elders 10
pull down your houses, TO tear down
your beliefs. to make any KIND OF as
sault upon you. but Il Is their business
10 come 10 you and show you the
greater light. that your eyes may be
opened that your ears may be un-
stopped. that your hearts may De
touched with a love for the truth, mat
IL YOU have been guilty OF wrong-doins
YOU NAV forsake il and turn unto the
Lord. learn Of His WAYS and walk IN
his paths. 1t is against the principles
OF our Church 10 try 70 persuade nus
hand TO forsake his family or 10
slacken his love or care for them, but
II is the law Of the Church TO induce
men 10 be more true and faithful 10
their wives and to their families. 1t Is
not our province TO persuade women
10 leave their husbands or families
for the Gospels sake. We have not
come 10 bring the sword IN your midst
They have not come here TO SOW dis
cord among YOU or TO cause differences
or contentious. but 10 simply preach
the simple teachings OF life ana truth
and leave the results IN your hands
one OF the fundamental principles
laid down by the Prophet Joseph Smith
was that ali men should be protected
I'M their worship, no matter what their
religion. no matter what they wor-
ship. though they should worship an
image or build objects 81 worship out
OF wood or stone or gold or silver let
them worship how they please, our
only duty being TO protect them In
their rights and privileges, and TO pro-
teet al others IN the similar enjoyment
Of their freedom The time must never
come In the Church OF Jesus Christ OF
I,atter-day Saints when the batter-day
Saints shall take up arms against
others for religions sake but II is our
duty. Il is the duty OF these Elders who
have come In your midst TO say that
God lives. that lie has revealed Himself
10 the children Of men In the latter
DAYS. spoken with His own mouth, sent
His angels to visit men IN the world
and TO reveal unto them His viii and
His law. aud the principles o. life
which are faith in cd. repentance n sin.
baptism by immersion, being buried
with Christ In baptism. and the laying
ON Of hands 10 rthe gift OF the Holy
Ghost. and obedience 10 an other or
dinances o fthe Gospel, 10 do unto
Others as we would that they should
do unto US. and 10 obtain peace on
earth and good win 10 man wherever
We 60. IN out land our bitterest enc.
mics are as sacredly guarded In their
rights and enjoy - great liberty as our
best friends. and this has been The his
Tor, W the Church Of Jesus Christ
since ID wss established by the Pro-
nhet Joseph Smith IN 1850.
know that these principles viii az.
neal 10 YOU. You are descendants ~
4 noble people who have done. perhaps.
as much as any other " the old nations
Of the world m establishing the princi.
rle Of freedom and governmental