Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-03-25
Elder B. H. Roberts Addresses a
Large Congregation on De-
velopment OF America.
HERITAGE or joseph of OLD.



America is Zion. ard that The same ~
the heritage Of Joseph, son OF Jacob.
was he contention Of Elder b. H. Rob
erts In o. discourse delivered NJ the
Tabernacle yesterday afternoon,
There was Il very large congregation
IN attendance and the speaker COM
inanded the undivided attention OF his
listeners Throughout an address that
lasted upwards Of an hour. President
John r. wluder presided over the SER
Vices, and the choir sang Tho Deep
'nius Trials Throng Your Way" AN
Angel From ON High and Untold
We Portals Everlasting Elder John
M. Knight offered the Invocation. and
Elder Hyrum NJ. Smith pronounced the
benedicttop.
Elder Roberts said that from Sep
tembor to December OF last year he
had travelled some II 600 miles, chiefly
within the confines OF the United States
The first 5000 miles of his journey was
In the arid and selnl-arid regions OF
the west, and The area traversed ves
so extensive that one might Imagine
that the whole OF the United States was
more or less barren He next passed
through the fertile sections lying east
of the Rocky mountains. and as the fast
train carried him for days and nights
past well titled fields. fruitful gar
dens and verdant meadows. 1t seemed
az though the whole face of the land
was fertile and yielding ahnndantly-
So1e the manufacturing centers were
reached In the middle New England.
Atlantic and southern states, where the
glow OF furnaces and the hum OF re-
yOlving wheels told of unceaslng ac-
ttvEty and prosperity on every hand.
Great as Is the development OF the
west THAI OF other portions OF the coun-
try Is no less satisfactory, he said
The agricultural condition Of conn
onWealth Is ever u test for other in
dustries, declared Elder Roberts, He
proceeded TO show the vast gains that
had been made during the last three or
four decades along Industrial lines. In
the value OF farm products, IN the out
puts OF coal, iron and steel, and In rail-
road mileage the increase had been
astounding, and the United States is
today easily In the lead of the world
in the directions indicated. IF the
present ratio of increase IN poputa-
ton is maintained by the middle Of the
present century the people OF this ma
ton win number 20O,OON00Q And it
must not be forgotten, said Elder Rob
erts, that In all this material prosperf-
" and growth, South America. Next
co and Canada are close rivals to this
republic.
What have these facts and figures
10 do With "A congregation met on the
sabbath day 10 receive religious in
srructlOn?" asked Elder Roberts, HE
answered the question by saying thar
since his return from the Journey
partially described. he had higher
conception OF and more appreciation
for the great country of his adoption
Zion. The land OF Joseph. He told the
story OF the son of Jacob who was sold
into slavery and OF his rise TO promi-
hence after having passed through
to the blessing pronounced by Jacob
upon Joseph and upon his sons,
Ephralm and hIanasseh; also to the
subsequent blessing given by Moses to
the tribe OF Joseph. His heritage was
greater than that OF all his brethren
combined. But where are to be found
evidences OF the fulfilhnsnt of the
prophetic utterances concerning Jo-
sephs All the tribes are supposed to be
lost. except that OF Judah, and he Is
known mostly for what he has suffered.
Is Joseph with his seed. annihilated
and are the promises vain that Were
made 10 him.
The LatteI-day Saints proclaim TO
the world, said Elder Roberts that de-
sceudants OF Joseph were planted upon
the west tern hemisphere, upon the soil
| given to their father as an everlasting
inheritance. Here they built cities as
great as ever existed In the old world,
and here arose men who rivaled in
wisdom and valor the sages and war
riors Of tho east. II the promises
made to Joseph have not been FULFILLED
upon this land, they have newer been
FULFILLED at all. and there can be no
hope OF their contamination In tho tu-
| ture said the speaker.
The gospel Is for all nations. but IL
has a special blessing for the house OF
| Israel--the gathering OF the scattered
tribes. II Is meet that he who through
faithfulness became the first born
should first be gathered, 1t was said
| OF him that he should push tho people
| together from the ends OF the earth
| Tho greatness and grandeur OF Ameri-
| ca above all other lands are corlparaDle
| to the superiority OF Josephs heritage
| TO those received by his brethren
The Prophet Joseph Smith pro-
| claimed as did also his brother Hyrum.
that Zion comprises North and South
America Elder Roberts said that he
sometimes wonders IL too marrow q
view is not generally taken regarding
| what Zion really u.s. Why should
stakes not be formed In eastern and
southern states. as well as In the west
and IN Mexico and Canada2 The pres
| emf is a period OF industrial expan-
sion and it should be also a tinc OF
religious eNpa nslou In this great coun-
try The work Of God is for the up
Hitting and redemption OF mankind. an l
/ sohar,,as and rOncAO lions for DOlitiCAl