Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-07-24
PIONEER DAY.

the most important days OF my NV
and In the history Of the Church 'i
Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints. tie
might have added ut Is one OF me
great days in history" on that day
the main body of the Pioneers entered
Salt Lake valley
Eve gazed," says MILFORD woodruff
in wonder and admiration upon the
vast valley before MS. with the waters
of the great salt Lake glistenlns III
the sun, mountains towering to the
skies and streams of pure water run
ming through the beautiful valley. II
was the grandost view we had ever
seen tin this moment Pleasant
thoughts ran through our minds at the
prospect that not many years hence.
the house of God would be established
In the mountains and exalted above the
hills; while the valleys would he con-
verted into orchards, vineyards and
fruitful fields, cities erected to the
name of the Lord, and the standard Of
Zion unfurled for the gathering OF the
nations"
1t was an important day II marked
the entrance, after a long, p-mIcu
Journey. to a peaceful place of refuge
of the vanguard OF a people unlawfully
exiled and cruelty driven frca
borders OF civilization. 1t was the
day of salvation to the principles of
religious liberty and other fundament-
al principles OF American government,
so brutally outraged in Missouri and
Illinois. 1t was the browning day OF
heroic faith in God. 1t was the full
fliment of the ancient prophecies re-
latipg to the establishment of the
House of God in the tops OF the noun
tains. which Is but prelude to the
final establishment of the reign OF
peace in all the world. Pioneer day
is, indeed. an important day in the
history of the Church. and the entire
human family.
The exodus was, primarily, brought
about by wicked men. Wherever the
Lord has established His Temple, the
adversary has always built his chapel.
And between the two there always
has been enmity, as between the SER
pent and the Seed OF Woman. Against
the I.atter-da Saints the adversary
ragged from the first. IN Wild fury. His
active servants were iawess outcasts,
who assailed them for the sake of
plumber; bIgoted fanatics who mag
ined themselves serving God by perse-
cutting His people; interruptions poll
ticians who hoped to further their ann
bition by supporting auti-"Mornon"
Inobs, and, finally. corrupt apostates
who saw In anti "Mormonism" a chan
mel through which to discharge their
venom OF hatred. Such forces, gen
eraled and inspired from the lowest
abyss, brought about the massacre and
expulsion from Missouri. the tragedy
of Carthage and the forced exodus from
Nauvoo
But he who looks beyond primary
causes win discover the hand Of the
Lord in the remarkable history of tho
Latter-day Saints as in tho
history of ancient Israel Today tho,
Latter-day Saints can truly say. I'm the
words of Joseph To his brethren who
had sold him into bondage: God did
send me before you to preserve lite
so now II was not you that
sent me hlther, but Cod" The great
mission OF the Church could in no Other
way b. fulfilled. Only in the top or
the mountains could the Church be-
come Il light to al the world, wit.
ness for God. The Latter-day Saints
try to acknowledge the hand Of the
Lord I'm all things and especially ia