The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-20
MORMON PEOPLE
ARE INDEPENDENT
Apostle Grant Denies That
They Are Dominated by
''Set" of ShreWd Men,.

The independence and the loyalty of the
Latter Day Saints and the present flour
ishing condition of the church were the
theme of the address of Apostle Herber
J. Grant, who was the principal speaker
at the tabernacle yesterday. 1t was the
quarterly conference of the Liberty stake.
A large meeting was held in the assembly
hall in the morning.
Apostle Grant was preceded by John c.
Howard, who spoke on the life of Joseph
Smith, the founder of the church, and
told of the organization of the church.
He declared that it was essentially d
church Of liberty to every man and
woman.
After commenting on the successful con-
ference of the Liberty stake that was
held in the morning, Apostle Grant said:
There never was more thrift among the
people than today; there never was a
time when the stake presidents and Of
fices were keeping the commandments or
God better and setting better examples
for the people to live than they are today
Considering the opposition that is eX-
pressed against the church, L particularly
rejoice at its flOurishing state. The lib
erty of the people of this church is often
attacked by our enemies; but the power
that the leaders of this church have over
the members is due to their knowledge OF
the fact that every member of the church
is doing the work God outlined.
All Are Independent.
1.-The Latter Day Saints have often been
locked upon as being people not gov
erned by their own minds, but governed
by a lot of intellectual and Shrewd men.
They are giving to us an honor which We
do not deserve The Latter Day Saints
are the most independent and self
supporting people in the world. They are
so because of the sacrifices that they
have made for the gospel"
Apostle Grant then told of a man in
northern country who had been converted
and after a fatiguing and perilous jour
ney he went to his home expecting
warm and hearty welcome. As he en-
tered the house he ran to his father and
exclaimed: Il have received the gospel,
for / am a Latter Day Saint" He was
Immediately asked to renounce the re-
ligiOn or leave the home. but rather than
give it up he severed the ties between
himself and his mother and father.
This, Apostle Grant said, was tes-
timOny to the loyalty aud independence of
the members of the church. Yet some will
attempt to tell me that a-elasS of people
who make such sacrifices and send their
sons thousands of miles away to preach
the gospel are class who are dominated
by number of shrewd men. The rank
and file of the Latter Day Saints is MADE
up of Independent people. believing in God
and keeping his commandments, and max
ing sacrifices of every nature for the gos-
pei.
What Is Measured
What is the measure by which the Lat
ter Day Saints measures his fellow man?
1t is by honesty. No man is a Latter Day
Saint who is not honest, and not man is
a Latter Day Saint who is not virtuous.
If we are loyal and honest and believe in
God, we are Latter Day Saints. We find
that revelations came to Joseph Smith
and year after year we find that his reve-i
lations have come true.
Il rejoice beyond words when find that
the work of God is progressing among
us; that the confidence of the people in
the leaders of the church is perfect, and
the cry from the president of every mis-
sion is. Send us more missionaries.
Thank God that some of the best men in
the world say that there are no more hon
orable. no more sober. no better people
to trust in business than the Latter Day
Saints. When they will offer their lives
and do all mortal man can do for their
country will men believe the falsehoods
that are written about them? ] rejoice
because we believe that Jesus was the
Son OF God and that Joseph Smith was
prophet of God.