Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-05-20
SUNDAY SERVICES
At TABERNACLE
Interesting Discourse by Elder
0rSon F. Whitney OF Quorum
OF Apostles.
LARGE CONGREGATION THERE,
Designs of The Almighty Relative to
Man Was the Theme of the
Address

l'ns purpose of God In forming the
earth and His designs relative to man
whom He created and placed thereon,
formed the theme of an interesting dis
course by Elder o. f. Whitney. of the
quorum of apostles at the Tabernacle
yesterday afternoon The sibject was
handled in the speakers usual master
tul style. and was fitting prelude 70
the peace meeting that convened imme-
diately after the close Of the regular
services. The selections rendered by
the choir, too, were in keeping with the
day, the numbers being Earth With
Her Ten Thousand Flowers" Behold
the Mountain of the Lord" and
There's a Sound From the Vale.
There's a Voice From the Mountain"
The words of the last named anthem
are from the pen Of Elder Whitney,
music by Prot. Evan stephens, and
deal with the overthrow or Cog and
Magog, previous 10 the ushering in of
the reign Of peace.
There was very large congregation
present President John r. Winder pre-
siding over the meeting. Elder Arnold
IL, Schultess offered the Invocation.
and the benediction was pronounced by
Elder Seymour b. Young
Elder Whitney said that the day had
been set apart for the holding If peace
meetings throughout Christendom, the
purpose of which was to awaken a feel
Ing that II is hoped viii yet bear fruit
In the disarmament Of the nations and
the ushoring in Of the milennial reign
OF peace. No people are more interest
ed in such a grand contamination than
are the Latter-day Saints, and no re-
llgion is more calculated to weld an In
fuence to that end than IL the religion
called "Mormonlsm" Peace on earth
and good viii to men forms the key
stone to the structure. The mission of
Joseph Smith was to restore the Gospel
Of peace, preparatory to the coming Of
the King Of Kings.
REVELATIONS OF ST JOHN.
on one occasion. said Elder whitney,
the Prophet Joseph Smith was asked
the meaning OF certain visions seen by
the Apostle John while upon the Isle
Of Patmos. The questions propounded
'e,sfJoset ehhSkdprhmith
and the answers thereto are contained
IN the 71the section of the Doctrine and
Covenants, aud the SAM were read by
the speaker. Commenting upon the in
depreciation he said that some people
understood Mormonism so imperfectly
that they imagine II 10 be narrow, evil
and selfish. while those who really do
comprehend II know that the very re-
verse is true concerning It, Tha descrip-
ton given by Joseph Smith Of the Crea-
ton of the earth and the destiny of
man was the whole sum and substance
Of the Makers design and execution.
The earth was not made of nothing,
neither was it formed IN six tags of "a
hours each. Matter as well as spirit
Is eternal and the earth was created.
Of material already In existence, In
period of time after Gods own rekon-
lng
After a dwelling place had been pre-
pared for him, man was created with
the purpose in view to see whether he
would obey the commandments of his
Creator. There had been first estate.
prc-eXistenCe, and the promise had
been given aforetimes that they who
Kept their first estate should be added
upon. Mortality is the second estate,
and those who keep the same are TO be
added upon eternally, The conflict in
heaven when a Redcemer Of the world
was to be chosen was briefly rehearsed
by the speaker. The plan of Luclfer
was TO have men whether they We're
willing or not, while Emmanuel pur-
posed TO extend to all a free agency
and to redeem men from their sins AT
the cost OF His own life. The purpose
of the Father Is 10 make OF earth a
heaven and eventually to bring about
universal peace. This planet is yet TO
become celestialized and viii he the
eternal abode OF the meek and right
eous. God never did create anything
to- destroy H. ana neither the earth nor
its inhabitants are 10 be subjected to
such fate,
The sixth day OF earth's existence
Is well nigh over, declared Elder Whit
ncy and the dawn of the seventh day
draws on apace. We are living I'm the
Saturday evening OF the history OF this
planet. The times and seasons We're
set aforetimes aud the plans for the
publication Of Gods footstool aud the
redemption Of man were provided for
before either were created tempor-
ally. The gospel Of Jesus Christ is
pre-eXistent and eternal and there is
no other Because the Billie is not a
fun and complete record OF Gods deal
lngs. IL must not be- concluded that
lie has neglected any creation Of His
hand Adams apparent step down
ward was I'm reality nm act NJ progress
sion; he fell that men might be He
was redeemed by obeyiug the gospel.
looking forward 20 the Precipitation
wrought by the Savior. as we must
needs look backward 10 the same event.
MormOnism IS not q new religion but
Il is the eternal gospel restored anew.
through tho fundamentally 81 modern
prophets. II proclaims the second adj
vent Of the Son or God, the resurrection
or the righteous, nnd the usheriug I'm
A. tho f1f1lrnuluf raipn ~ UaagH