Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-06-29

Gus faiths were holding camp meetings.
Joseph then fourteen years of age.
could not persuade himself to Join any
of the religious denominations, be,
cause each was contending that 1t was
the true church. He was deeply con-
cerned, because he was an homes,
seeker after truth and desired to know
which of the scots he ought to join.
IL was the fashion at that time for
nearly every one to belong to some.
church. Now there are many who
hold themselves aloof from all the re-.
ligious organizations. The former con.
dition is preferable to the present one.
for 1t Is better to be member of
some religious society than none at all.
II abstaining from communion with
churches indicates a disregard for the
great things of life. such as eternity
and the salvation of souls.
SOUGHT WISDOM OF GOD.
Amid all the conflicting claims made
oy the ministers of the different sects.
the youth stood bewildered He did
not possess enough wisdom to decide
the question as to wphich church had
been commissioned of God, and no
man seemed able to help him out of
MS Difficulty. He therefore did the
very sensible thing Of remaining apart
from all the churches and going 10
,iod for solution of the problem. Ho
tells us that he went out into the grove
near his fathers home. He had read
in the Scriptures that if any lacks
WISDOM he should ask of God. who Civ
eth TO al literally and upbraideth not.
ana 1t shall be given him. Among the
trees then, he repaired. for the west.
ern part OF New York state was then
Il Dtl1J 0f the
down before God and asked that cod
would let him know which of thess
Uhurches was the true one. Al frs,
me powers Of darkness overwhelmed
nIhi, so that he could not speak. When
ne thought that he was about 10 he
destroyed by the evil one. n lipbt do,
sce1ueu revealing two glorious beings
rn,, and His Son. Jesus Christ
me boy was told that he sbouId io;,,
80. VI we ohurches for they had ali
gone astray, teaching for doctrina ~
commandments of men. havinsr tne
OF goodness, but denying the noyar
.hereor The church of Christ was NOT
then upon the earth, but II was ahnut
10 oe established and the ancient eoss
pei restored, and work was soof, 10
Degln that would prepare the world IN.
tne second coming of the Son of God
VINO would rule over the whole earth.
1850 W iiiS stSlOntSnfnant. that
he had been selected to Introduce This
work and to stand az pronbet 81
the head of the last gospel dispense
ton. 10
ANGELS VISIT THE EARTH.
He received the visitation or anpeIs
one of whom gave his name as Nor,
oni and revealed 10 him the place of
concealment of an ancient record. Civ
history no A a,-s.,,
emit from the earliest times down to
about the fourth or fifth century of
the Christian era This record was en-
craven In strange characters and had
been hidden in a hill called Cumorah.
Four years after this visitation of the
angel, the record was given into the
custody of the youth and from It was
translated the Book of Mormon. I'M
der the inspiration of the Lord.
PRIESTHOOD RESTORED.
While engaged in the work of trans
lation, John the Baptist as resur-
rected being. appeared TO him and
upon him the Aaronic
priesthood. which has authority in the
temporal things of the gospel. Later
the MelchisedelS priesthood, which
exercises authority In spiritual mat
tiers, was bestowed by Peter, James,
and John, who in former times had
labored in Chrlsts ministry. Under
Christ of Latter-day Saints was organ
lied with six members, on April G.,
1880.
A year after It's organization, the
Church migrated to northern Ohio and
its headquarters at a place
called Kirkland, near the southern
shore Of Lake Erie. There temple
was erected, IL apostles were chosen,
and the first presidency organized to
preside over the entire organization.
Various Industries were established
and the great law of conservation was
introduced, a doctrine which involved
equality in temporal as Well as spirit
ual things,
In the summer OF 1881, a colony of
Latter-day Saints settled In MISSOURI.
and In Independence. Jackson county,
established Zion. which Is to be inc
new Jerusalem. Soon misunderstand-
lngs arose between the saints and the
other inhabitants and the former were
expelled from the state. The refugees
were received into the state of Illinois
and soon built the city OF Nauvoo, in
Hancock county. The Church then
numbered about 10000. Its converts
had come from all parts of the United
states, from Canada, and from Great
l1illNlns II was bilHkitk W ttSNAi fiAN
best blood of America and Europe
THE MARTYRDoM.
on June 81. 1874. the prophet and
his brother Hyrum fell victims to the
fury of the mob. They We're not law
breakers, they had injured no one,
thew were willing TO answer for all
their acts. Their prosecutors had said
mat the law could not reach them but
that powder and hall would: So, while
the helpless prisoners were IN jail, the
noh In collision with the guards and
With The connlvance Of the state au-
thorities, shot down these two inno-
cent men. 49,. ,.,,
Some thought that WIN the death
~ Tosanb smith the end OF the Church
had come. But God had another. lead
err in the person Of Brigham Young.
who stood Mt the head OF the twelve
apostles. Under his mighty leadershln
an exodus was made from the conhnes
t,Jl,..tton into thls then deseret